In the days following the attack on Caracas and the seizure of Nicolás Maduro, the country remains tense, frightened and uncertain – and divided about what should happen next

A flyer emblazoned with a white spread eagle and the words “It’s time for loyalty” began to circulate in Venezuela after the US airstrikes on 3 January which resulted in the capture and removal of Nicolás Maduro, the country’s president, and his wife, Cilia Flores.

“Anyone celebrating the extremely serious aggression against our country by the US will be brought to trial for betraying the country,” declared the flyer. It was printed by Venezuela’s DGCIM, or General Directorate of Military Counterintelligence, whose officials stand accused by NGOs of torturing prisoners.

Media coverage of the airstrikes has focused on global condemnation of the US’ flagrant breach of international law and the jubilation of many of the 7.9 million Venezuelans living in exile. But the voices of the 31.1 million ­people living inside the country have been largely unheard.

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