Revolutionary Government of Bolivia Begins Arming & Training Their People

[The Vegan Marxist]

Bolivia begins military training for civilians
CARLOS VALDEZ
AP News
Aug 05, 2010

Bolivia’s leftist government said Thursday it has begun military training for civilians at army barracks in what the opposition called a first step toward creating pro-government militias.

Weapons instruction and physical training began on Monday for hundreds at military bases in Bolivia’s east, a stronghold of the pro-business opposition, and army officials said it would extend to all bases.

The program is reminiscent of one that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez launched in his country after a failed 2002 coup attempt that he blamed on the United States. Venezuela claims it has 120,000 participants.

Chavez and Bolivian President Evo Morales are close allies.

Questions about the Bolivian training arose after a television station broadcast images Thursday of young men armed with rifles taking target practice at a base in the eastern provincial capital of Santa Cruz. Also seen in the video were indigenous women in their 20s and 30s in billowing skirts and bowler hats doing calisthenics.

Vice President Alvaro Garcia, a former leftist guerrilla, said the purpose of the training is to enable civilians to assist in defending the homeland. He called participation “a citizen’s duty.”

Officials said there were no plans to arm civilians.

“These training activities that we have with the citizenry are for the defense of the country,” Gen. Ramiro Siles, commander of the army’s 8th Division, told reporters.

The division is based in Santa Cruz, the seat of opposition to what Morales calls the “re-foundation” of Bolivia — returning power its indigenous majority. That has included confiscating ranches from major landholders including an American from Montana.

The commander of the Cochabamba-based 7th Division, Gen. Hernan Ampuero, said the military training was intended for people of all social classes. But he acknowledged that many participants came from indigenous communities.

Opposition Sen. Herman Antelo demanded an explanation.

“We are asking ourselves if the goal is the create paramilitary forces in support of the government,” he said.

The Morales government has repeatedly insisted that far-right extremists have conspired to try to topple it by forming armed militias, including with foreign mercenaries.

Questions still linger over the case of Eduardo Rozsa, a Bolivian-born Hungarian slain in April 2009 in Santa Cruz by an elite police unit. Authorities say Rozsa and two other men killed in the raid — an Irishman and an ethnic Hungarian from Romania — were involved in a conspiracy to create a separatist right-wing militia.

In May, a retired Bolivian general famed for capturing Ernesto “Che” Guevara was placed under house arrest in connection with the alleged plot. Prosecutors said Gen. Gary Prado exchanged “ultrasecret” encrypted e-mail with Rozsa.

Another man wanted for questioning in the case, Branko Marinkovic, is a soy magnate and opposition leader from whom the government has confiscated land. He has apparently fled the country.

http://wire.antiwar.com/2010/08/05/bolivia-begins-military-training-for-civilians-2/

[Adi Shankara]

It has begun...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZW8eaia9h4

[REDSOX]

Interesting development, looks similar to what hugo chavez is doing in venezuela

[Steve_j]

returning power its indigenous majority. That has included confiscating ranches from major landholders including an American from Montana.

Just want to pick on this bit, has the state been confiscating land (implying no compensation)? Or have they been providing some compensation (not including land gained fraudently)? If someone is better in the know i would appreciate it.

[TheGodlessUtopian]

A citizen's duty to participate in the exercises.

Isn't that kinda similer to conscription? If so I though marxists were against those kind of policies.

[mykittyhasaboner]

"Revolutionary Government of Bolivia"? Really?

[RadioRaheem84]

"Revolutionary Government of Bolivia"? Really?

I agree its a bit much. How about Progressive Government of Bolivia?

But I am glad this is happening. It's high time that the Bolivian government step up its game.

[Queercommie Girl]

A citizen's duty to participate in the exercises.

Isn't that kinda similer to conscription? If so I though marxists were against those kind of policies.

Technically you are right, but strictly speaking the very first phase of a worker's state isn't really a genuine socialist society. When so much reactionary forces are still present in the world, it is too utopian to think that we can all just lay down arms now.

But it's true that this current development strictly speaking can only be considered partially progressive.

[Proletarian Ultra]

A citizen's duty to participate in the exercises.

Isn't that kinda similer to conscription? If so I though marxists were against those kind of policies.

Without really having considered it strongly, I think a conscript army is a better field for revolutionary propaganda than a mercenary ('volunteer') one.

[Invincible Summer]

I wonder how Anarchists feel about this?

[Rusty Shackleford]

the 2002 coup attempt in venezuela and the overthrow of allende are 2 very good reasons why there need to be pro socilaist militias.

[The Vegan Marxist]

I wonder how Anarchists feel about this?


creating pro-government militias.

"BLAHHGHAH THEY NOT ARMED WORKERS!! THEY PRO-GOV ARMED PEOPLE!!!"

Something along those lines. Just saying.

[Raúl Duke]

I wonder how Anarchists feel about this?

They're armed people, the issue is if the militias are independent from the government.

There's nothing negative about these developments per se...but if let say this militia is used to crush a strike (like this one (http://libcom.org/news/indefinite-general-strike-bolivia-continues-17052010)) or something like that than this militia clearly becomes an anti-working class/pro-gov militia.

Their actions will show who's side they're on: not what they self-describe themselves as.

The same applies to the Venezuelan militias.

[Magón]

It sounds like Bolivia's sort of making a hybrid between something like the POUM in 30s Spain, and something of the Swiss Army which is more or less an armed populous who take their weapons home, but train at the military bases, etc.

Sounds like a good idea to me! VIVA BOLIVIA! VIVA EL PUEBLO DE BOLIVIA! :thumbup1:

[Nolan]

Revolutionary government my ass.

[AK]

first step toward creating pro-government militias.
Yeah, that's really going to help to destroy the capitalist system.

"BLAHHGHAH THEY NOT ARMED WORKERS!! THEY PRO-GOV ARMED PEOPLE!!!"

Something along those lines. Just saying.
Were you actually expecting a capitalist state to arm the workers for the overthrow of the capitalist system? Did you just forget that the ruling class and the working class have conflicting interests?

[Artemis3]

This is teaching the people (aka. workers) how to handle and use rifles. It's also organization for asymmetrical warfare (ie. urban/rural guerrillas).

In Venezuela they are not given the rifles to take home, the weapons are spread located in many places "close to the people", should the need arise to be distributed.

It is not compulsory, so conscription talks are nonsense. Not paid, mercenary talks just silly. As i said, the state is just teaching people how to use war firearms and organize themselves.

As for Bolivia... You should learn about their war for water and natural gas, how they overthrew pro USA governments and finally made an indigenous union leader for the first time ever in 500 years history in power, in a country with 70% population of indigenous origin, ruled in the past just by white men... And this leader proposed a new constitution voted by the people, just like in Venezuela.

[Magón]

Were you actually expecting a capitalist state to arm the workers for the overthrow of the capitalist system? Did you just forget that the ruling class and the working class have conflicting interests?

You do realize that it's the working class in Bolivia, has more power than this "ruling class" which I'm guessing you're referring to the Bourgeois of Bolivia. Evo Morales, the President of Bolivia has taken much away from the Bourgeois, and given it to the poor and working class of his country. So has Chavez, Correa, and many other South American leaders. Colombia's the only one that's probably got a problem with doing so, and the reason for FARC being there.

But this ruling class in Bolivia doesn't exist like it does in the Western World, or other parts of the world. Mainly because they've become the minority that knows they have too little supporters to get anything done, and so does the governments of South America.

[Nolan]

All the social democrats in this thread need to be restricted.

[Os Cangaceiros]

I wonder how Anarchists feel about this?

Best case scenario? They decide to use their guns and training against the government.

Worst case scenario? The militias get factionalized, and are used for the benefit of whomever is in power.

[Vladimir Innit Lenin]

Revolutionary government my ass.

Helpful post.

[Rusty Shackleford]

well, i disagree that morales or chavez are revolutionary in the full sense, i agree that they are the best things to come to latin america since the Cuban revolution. they have staying power which allende* didnt have and have avoided any major conflict so far. it may be luck but still i fully support them.

I think bolivia is slightly premature in developing these militias but then again i dont exactly know the level of class consciousness in bolivia. The militarization of the working class and peasantry in venezuela on the other hand i feel is on time and a correct move.

if places like Barrio 23 de enero exist then for fucks sake let the people have guns and military training.

* a HUGE reason why any latin american socialist government needs pro-party or pro socialist militias.

[Magón]

well, i disagree that morales or chavez are revolutionary in the full sense, i agree that they are the best things to come to latin america since the Cuban revolution. they have staying power which allende* didnt have and have avoided any major conflict so far. it may be luck but still i fully support them.

I think bolivia is slightly premature in developing these militias but then again i dont exactly know the level of class consciousness in bolivia. The militarization of the working class and peasantry in venezuela on the other hand i feel is on time and a correct move.

if places like Barrio 23 de enero exist then for fucks sake let the people have guns and military training.

* a HUGE reason why any latin american socialist government needs pro-party or pro socialist militias.

What about the FSLN/Sandinista's in Nicaragua in the mid-late 70s and their power in the 80s? They're a pretty interesting group of Latin Americans during those times after the Cuba Revolution. If you haven't already, you should read up on them. :thumbup1:

[Barry Lyndon]

Revolutionary government my ass.

I'm sorry Morales isn't a Hoxhaist. Better luck next time.

[Rusty Shackleford]

What about the FSLN/Sandinista's in Nicaragua in the mid-late 70s and their power in the 80s? They're a pretty interesting group of Latin Americans during those times after the Cuba Revolution. If you haven't already, you should read up on them. :thumbup1:
touche my friend. im not well read on the central american revolutions.

[Saorsa]

Hoxhaists are Trotskyists with a Red Alert fetish.

[AK]

Hoxhaists are Trotskyists with a Red Alert fetish.
I can't remember the last time I heard a Trotskyist dismiss anyone as an evil revisionist.

[Rusty Shackleford]

I can't remember the last time I heard a Trotskyist dismiss anyone as an evil revisionist.
because they are evil revisionists ;)

anyways. these governments need these militias anyways. it will serve to politicize the people.

[Nolan]

Hoxhaists are Trotskyists with a Red Alert fetish.

I've never played that.