Mums and dads militia ready to take on world

VENEZUELA: Civilians sign up in force to protect nation from Chavez's enemies

A 54-year-old housewife fires a machinegun for the first time, lets loose a thunderous burst of gunfire and beams with satisfaction. A boot camp instructor shouts, "Kill those gringos!"

Thousands of civilian volunteers in olive-green fatigues are participating in weekend training at a Venezuelan army base, where they learn to crawl under barbed wire, fire assault rifles and stalk enemies in combat. Known as the Bolivarian Militia, this spirited group of mostly working-class men and women, from students to retirees, are united by their militant support for President Hugo Chavez and their willingness to defend his government.

From what exactly?

Chavez has warned repeatedly of potential threats: the United States, US-allied Colombia and the Venezuelan "oligarchy", as he labels opponents. He has urged recruits to be ready to lay down their lives if necessary to battle "any threat, foreign or domestic", even though Venezuela has never fought a war against another nation.

In the meantime, the militia is a practical tool for Chavez to engage his supporters, rally nationalist fervour and intimidate any opponents who might consider another coup like the one he survived in 2002.

One close aide, Public Works Minister Diosdado Cabello, said there were already 120,000 in the militia, and it could grow to 200,000.

Chavez opponents call those figures grossly exaggerated, but they still are alarmed that government loyalists are being armed across the country. They also condemn the more than US$4 billion ($5.5 billion) that Chavez has spent on Russian weapons, including guns, helicopters and Sukhoi fighter jets which now sometimes thunder over Caracas.

The militia "is a personal army, a Praetorian Guard", said retired Rear Admiral Elias Buchszer, a Chavez opponent. He said despite Chavez's talk about repelling a US invasion, the militia is really aimed at maintaining control, keeping him in power, and "making the country fear that if anything is done the militiamen are going to come out".

Members of the volunteer force range from the unemployed to electricians, bankers and social workers. Most of those interviewed during the training in April said they either benefit from free state education programmes or work as public employees. They are not paid to attend events but receive about US$7 each to offset transportation costs.

As part of the training, they line up at a firing range aiming decades-old, Belgian-made FAL rifles at red bull's-eyes on paper targets 75m away. They practise reacting to an ambush in the forest, camouflaged with mud-smeared faces and with dry grass stuck in the collars of their uniforms.

Their instructors, including experienced militia troops and army officers, say one objective is to ready them for a war of resistance against an occupying force. One of the militia's guiding principles is constantly drilled into the group as they salute in unison shouting: "Socialist homeland or death! We will be victorious!"

As troops gather for one drill, a fake grenade goes off and everyone dives to the ground. One woman is led away crying from the shock, and is given oxygen by nurses to calm her.

Osmaira Pachecho, the housewife who fired the machinegun, said with a giddy laugh that it was "marvellous" fun taking aim at the straw dummy dressed up in a military uniform. Growing serious, she said she does not like to imagine killing anyone, especially not a fellow Venezuelan.

"But if they attack us from some other place, I think we're prepared for it," said Pachecho, who is studying to be a teacher in a free government programme and fervently admires Chavez. "We're prepared to support the armed forces if they need us."

Some who belong to the militia say Venezuelans have nothing to fear, that their only purpose is to protect the country and that their guns are locked away in military depots when not in use. They also carry out missions including standing guard at state-run markets, and say they would be prepared to respond in earthquakes or other disasters. Others are trained in how to safeguard Venezuela's oil industry and keep fuel flowing in the event of a conflict.

Perhaps most important for some, they feel empowered because Chavez has included them in this effort.

"We aren't here because anyone forced us to be. We're here because we're patriots," said Maria Henriquez, an unemployed 44-year-old who emerged covered with dust after crawling through a trench under barbed wire. As for Chavez, she said, "We'd give our lives for him."

- AP