It's been a long day driving from Táchira to Caracas and I'm just now sitting with the emotions of what happened. As therapy I would like to tell you about it,so prepare for a thread #venezuela
Because the roads to the border were all blocked by military my security detail and I took the back roads. We were guided by locals but as soon as they left the colectivos showed up. They were 10 to 15, masked and heavily armed
They pull us out of the car and focus on me, yelling "periodista" (journalist) and pulling at my bullet proof vest. My wonderful security guys try to tell the colectivos that I'm swedish and have credentials from Iran (which I do) but they aren't listening or caring
They pull their guns and tell at us to get on the ground. They put guns to the back of our heads and I hear how they uncock. I'm quiet. Frozen. In the meantime our bags are opened and everything thrown on the ground. They find my cameras and start shouting again.
They shout at me that I'm infiltrating #Venezuela and that I'm trying to destroy the country and that what doing is illegal. I'm scared and all I can say is "ok". One of them, obviously high on something judging by his eyes,wants my vest.
He pulls at I but it won't come off because I have a shirt over it. He gets angry and hits me avisa the face. I say nothing. I Just take off my shirt and pull the vest off. But he's not done. He smiles and gestures at my shirt - he wants that as well. Just because he can
At this point they're pulling usboff the ground and taking all my things - cameras,computer, money, clothes and they say to my face that this is confiscated because it's contraband. I think they're a about to let us go,but then I hear screams
They've found a gun permit in the car, belonging to the driver,but no gun, and the colectivos are going insane. "Where's the gun" they yell and push us back on to the ground, guns pointed at our heads. Now I'm sure we're all going to die.
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