![2[1].jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/5abadf_f310244424a443b29215dadb17bba49b~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_5,y_0,w_1069,h_1080/fill/w_101,h_102,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/2%5B1%5D.jpg)
By Leila Shannon
Scenes of violence in Venezuela are often displayed in Western media. However, few references are made to the state supported groups, known as Colectivos, who play an important role in the proliferation of such violence.
What are the Colectivos?
Colectivos are armed civilian groups which, under the guise of community organisations, are used as tools of intimidation and repression by the state. They emerged from urban guerrilla groups in the 1960s, which drew their inspiration from the Cuban Revolution. When Hugo Chávez came to power, they supported him and in turn were supported by him. Nicolás Maduro, the President of Venezuela, continues to support them both financially and by providing them with arms. In some parts of Venezuela, notably poorer areas of larger cities, these groups hold immense power over the local population, for example through controlling food distribution networks. Their frequently violent methods of control are overlooked by local authorities. Whilst Colectivos typically act as an armed wing of Maduro’s government in Venezuela, it is important to note that not all Colectivos are armed, with some carrying out purely social functions such as promoting government community programs.
How do they support Maduro’s regime?
The Colectivos are an important asset to the Maduro regime, as they can control dissidence through violence and intimidation. This is evident when examining the 2017 protests in Venezuela, which were provoked by the arrest of opposition leaders and the removal of powers from the opposition-controlled National Assembly. Thousands of citizens took to the streets over a period of several months and were met with fierce repression. During the demonstrations, armed members of Colectivos would arrive on motorbikes, the fear provoked by their intimidating presence sometimes being enough to disperse a protest. A report by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights shows how the Colectivos were responsible for at least 27 of the murders arising from these protests. This same report also highlights the close ties between the Colectivos and the authorities, describing how security forces failed to intervene upon seeing protesters being assaulted by Colectivo members, or left the scene upon their arrival.
How do they justify their actions?
Colectivos are rooted in revolutionary ideology and attempt to justify their actions by claiming the protection of the revolution. In a rare interview between a France24 reporter and Valentín Santana, leader of one of the most violent Colectivos in Venezuela (La Pedrita), this attempted ideological justification is displayed when Santana describes his willingness to use arms to defend the Bolivarian revolution. The desire of Colectivos to protect the regime is manifested through violent action against opposition activities. In April 2019, Juan Guaidó, the interim President of Venezuela who is recognised by over 50 countries, was holding a rally in Caracas when armed, masked Colectivo members on motorbikes threw tear gas into the crowd. The day following this incident, Maduro made a speech proclaiming how he admired them, describing them as an ‘organisation of the people’. Statements like this are further evidence of how tightly linked the regime and the Colectivos are. Their apparent impunity discourages support for the opposition, especially in areas where they exercise high levels of power over the population.
A recent report on repression in Venezuela by Foro Penal, a Venezuelan NGO promoting human rights, exposes how Maduro has used the tight controls put in place to deal with the current pandemic for political purposes. By June, the number of political prisoners taken in Venezuela had increased by half in comparison with the year before, to over 400. This recent surge in the suppression of political freedom reinforces the importance of understanding and highlighting Venezuela’s system of state-sponsored intimidation and violence.
Comments