Pro-Government Militias

Pro-Government Militia Website

Urban 'Chavista' Militias (Venezuela)

Basic Group Information

Name assigned by coder: yes
PGM ID Number: 455
Country: Venezuela
Date formed: Feb. 9, 2009
    Accuracy of date formed: day
Details of Formation:
Date dissolved: Unknown
    Accuracy of date dissolved: day
Details of Termination:
Termination Type(s): none

Former and Successor Group Information

Predecessor group(s): none
Successor group(s): none
Private Military Company? noinf
Former Group? no information
    Former Armed Group? no information
Former Rebel Group? no information
    Former Rebel Group UCDP ID: none
PGM Becomes Rebel Group? no information
    Successor Rebel Group UCDP ID: none

Government Relation, Support, and Training

Government Relation: informal (type 1)
Created by the Government?: no information
    Main Creating Government Institution: none
Government Link(s): unclear
    If link to party, name of party:
Training and Equipment: no information
Shared Information and Joint Operations: no information
Shared Personnel: no information
Type(s) of Material Support: no information
State Sponsor(s): none
Other Connection(s):

Group Characteristics

Membership: urban
Primary Membership: no information
Alternative Primary Membership: no information
Location: Caracas
Force Strength: [unknown, unknown]
Target(s): unarmed political opposition, government critics
Purpose(s): protect state, national or religious institutions; protect state, national or religious leader(s)

Ethnic Characteristics

Ethnic Target(s): none
    Quality of Information for Ethnic Targeting: not applicable
Ethnic Membership: none
    Quality of Information for Ethnic Membership: not applicable
Ethnic Purpose: none
    Quality of Information for Ethnic Purpose: not applicable

Other Information

Other Information:

New Variables from Meta-Analysis

Purpose

Purpose: The government uses the militias to do the dirty work without being responsible. The militia is described being a useful tool for the Venezuelan government facing many challenges, especially to act against opposition.
Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use deniability of violence

Treatment of Civilians

Treatment of Civilians: The militia acts violently against political opposition, such as critical journalists or the church, using teargas bombs. First the government tacitly approved but later Chavez denounced the violence and ordered the detention of the responsible militia member.
Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: unknown

Reasons for Membership

PGM Members Coerced? no information
PGM Members Paid? no information
Reasons for Membership: The members seem to be motivated by ideology.
PGM Members Killed? no information

PGM Size

Size:

Weapons and Training

Weapons and Training: The group has previously used teargas bombs.

Organisation

Organisation: The government does not have any formal ties to the group, but the group seems to follow the government based on their ideological commitment.

Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis

Information was taken from news sources listed in the PGMD.

Evidence