People Bolivarian militia

Thousands of civilian volunteers in olive-green form of training on the basis of the Venezuelan army, where they are taught to crawl on their bellies under barbed wire, shoot firearms and hunt down enemies. It is called the formation of a "police them. Bolivar "- army, recruited from patriotic civilian men and women - from students to retirees, who are united by the fact that they are willing to arms to defend the governments to take and its President Hugo Chavez.

Chavez has repeatedly pointed to the potential enemies of Venezuela - is the United States, allied with them Colombia and Venezuela within the oligarchs, as he calls his opponents. He called for volunteers to be ready, if necessary, to give their lives defending the country against "any threat, internal or external," even though Venezuela has never waged war with another nation.






Police - a "private army, a Praetorian Guard," as Rear Admiral retired Elias Buhtser, Chavez opponent. According to him, in fact, the police are not created by Chavez to counter a possible threat to the US, and to maintain control over their country in order to remain in power, because "that happen on stage there will be armed volunteers." In the picture - the participant police sneaks through thickets during exercise in Charallave, Venezuela. (AP Photo / Fernando Llano)



Participant of police aiming during firing in Charallave, Venezuela. President Hugo Chavez has paid much attention to the formation of a people's militia, repeatedly pointing to potential enemies: the United States, allied with them Colombia, and oligarchic clans within Venezuela itself. (AP Photo / Fernando Llano)



Volunteers from the police march during a training exercise in Charallave. Chavez is using the police to combine their supporters to warm patriotic fervor citizens and intimidate opponents, so they do not try to take another attempted coup, as happened in the year 2002. (AP Photo / Fernando Llano)



Most volunteers seems to be a joy to march on solntsepёku and impregnated uniforms dirt and sweat. Some even izmazyvayut face burnt earth, remains in place wildfires. Volunteers are happy to be in the circle of friends and associates. "One day we walked and watched Chinese movies all night" - says one of them. (AP Photo / Fernando Llano)



Participant militias lipstick before the oath ceremony, which will take the president Hugo Chavez in Caracas. In the ranks of volunteers come all sorts of people - from the unemployed to electricians, bank clerks and social workers. (AP Photo / Fernando Llano)



Vigilantes fired from old Belgian FAL rifles at targets from the line 80 yards (AP Photo / Fernando Llano)



Instructor, including experienced militia and army officers say that one of their objectives - to prepare the police to resist the occupation forces. They allude to the insurgents, Bob with American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. (AP Photo / Fernando Llano)



Participants Venezuelan police chanting slogans in support of President Chavez before the inauguration ceremony in Caracas. "We're not here because we have someone made. We are here because we are patriots, "- says Maria Enriquez, 44-year-old unemployed, having appeared, all in the dust from the trenches and barbed wire. "We are ready to give their lives for our president," - she added. (AP Photo / Fernando Llano)



Volunteers in a cloud of smoke and dust after a shot of anti-tank gun during an exercise in Charallave, Venezuela. (AP Photo / Fernando Llano)



Volunteers run during a training exercise in Charallave. (AP Photo / Fernando Llano)



Participants learn how to respond to police ambush in the woods, camouflaged using twigs and dry grass on the uniform and with mud smeared faces. They hide behind the pigsty and shoot blanks at an abandoned building during the simulation operation hostage. echo of the shots repeatedly reflected inside the building and shoot shells tinkle on the concrete floor, and finally someone shouts: "all clear!» (AP Photo / Fernando Llano)



Members of the detachment of the Venezuelan police celebrate the end of artillery fire during a training exercise in Charallave. Some of the volunteers say that Venezuelans have nothing to fear, that their only task - to defend their country, and that all firearms at the end of the exercise is locked in military arsenals. Volunteers also perform a number of functions in a peaceful life in the country - for example, keep order in the state stores and markets, as well as ready to help in case of earthquakes and other natural disasters. (AP Photo / Fernando Llano)



Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez welcomes members he created the militia on the avenue Bolivar in Caracas just before the swearing-in ceremony. (AP Photo / Fernando Llano)



Recruits shouting in Spanish "I swear" during the oath of Militia Day in Caracas. "Socialist Homeland or Death! We will win! "- Shouting crowd of volunteers. (AP Photo / Fernando Llano)