Pro-Government Militias
Peasant/Campesino Militia (Venezuela)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: | no |
| PGM ID Number: | 500 |
| Country: | Venezuela |
| Date formed: | Feb. 1, 2010 |
| Accuracy of date formed: | month |
| Details of Formation: | The Peasant Militia was created in 2010 by the Chávez regime, based on a law reforming the Bolivarian National Armed Force. |
| Date dissolved: | Unknown |
| Accuracy of date dissolved: | day |
| Details of Termination: | |
| Termination Type(s): | not terminated |
Former and Successor Group Information
| Predecessor group(s): | none |
| Successor group(s): | none |
| Private Military Company? | no |
| Former Group? | no |
| Former Armed Group? | no |
| Former Rebel Group? | no |
| 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: | semi-official (type 2) |
| Created by the Government?: | yes | Main Creating Government Institution: | person/minister |
| Government Link(s): | state (institution) |
| If link to party, name of party: | |
| Training and Equipment: | yes |
| Shared Information and Joint Operations: | yes |
| Shared Personnel: | no information |
| Type(s) of Material Support: | domestic government; corporation |
| State Sponsor(s): | none |
| Other Connection(s): |
Group Characteristics
| Membership: | village/rural; peasants |
| Primary Membership: | no information |
| Alternative Primary Membership: | no information |
| Location: | Rural |
| Force Strength: | [unknown, unknown] |
| Target(s): | criminals; rebels, insurgents, or other armed group; foreign military |
| Purpose(s): | protect national borders and integrity; protect property and investment; self-defense and security; intelligence gathering; anti crime; fight insurgents |
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: | Members are examined and have to pass the following requirenments: moral solvency, not having drug or rape records, ethical behaviour, training, know how to read and write, have civic values, in addition to a community commitment. |
New Variables from Meta-Analysis
Purpose
| Purpose: | The Peasant Militia was primarily founded to counter vigilante group organized by landowners that reject the land reform; its purpose is to protect property, companies and peasants threatened by these vigilante groups. The government used the creation of the Peasant Militia to ease public anger against the peasant killings and to show that it is reacting to the problem. |
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use | local presence; coup-proofing |
Treatment of Civilians
| Treatment of Civilians: | The Peasant Militia protects peasants from vigilante groups attacking them. |
| Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: | unknown |
Reasons for Membership
| PGM Members Coerced? | no information |
| PGM Members Paid? | no information |
| Reasons for Membership: | |
| PGM Members Killed? | no information |
PGM Size
| Size: | The total PGM size is unknown, but the local units consist of up to 10 members. |
Weapons and Training
| Weapons and Training: | The government armed the Peasant Militia with advanced-model Kalashnikov assault rifles. The government also trained the militia, so it can fight together with soldiers. |
Organisation
| Organisation: | The Peasant Militia is structured after the Bolivarian National Armed Force, and as such there is supposed to be military discipline and adherence to act only on orders. |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Evidence
- Examine the evidence for this coding.