As the economic situation has worsened in Venezuela, lower ranked army personnel have begun to criticise their wages and lack of food Jorge Silva/ReutersMass desertions from the army have forced Venezuela’s government to call up reservists and retired officers to provide security during this month’s much-criticised presidential elections. According to Control Ciudadano, a Caracas-based military watchdog, in the past two years at least 10,000 soldiers have asked to retire early. The Venezuelan military has long been partially protected from the collapse of the country’s economy; some senior officers have even profited from the chaos by supervising illegal activities such as drug trafficking, unsanctioned mining and petrol smuggling. However, as the situation worsened the lower ranks have criticised their wages and lack of food and even uniforms, Control Ciudadano reported. Henri Falcón, a former soldier opposing Maduro in the upcoming presidential election, is counting on the votes of disaffected members of the military Andres Martinez Casares/ReutersThe presidential election on May 20 is being boycotted by Venezuela’s main opposition after the pro-government electoral council banned…

Source: The Times May 08, 2018 23:02 UTC