Francisco Miranda Front (Venezuela)

Country: Venezuela
Details of Formation: The group was created in Havana by Hugo Chavez and Fidel Castro on this date.
Details of Termination: --
Purpose: The group’s main stated purpose is to further Chávez’s Bolivarian revolution. Chávez founded it according to his vision of a revolution which needs social and energetic actors in the population.
Organisation: The group has direct ties to president Maduro.
Weapons and Training: The Francisco Miranda Front is equipped with Kalashnikovs and members are trained in the use of light and heavy weaponry and use of explosives. They received ideological training in Cuba. In Venezuela they were instructed by the Venezuelan government, Cuban military advisors and Colombian FARC rebels in doctrine and guerilla tactics.
Size: In 2006, the group was reported to have 15,000 members, and until 2014 this number had grown to more than 20,000.
Reason for Membership: The members are motivated by ideology.
Treatment of Civilians: The Francisco Miranda Front has been involved in several violent attacks on president’s critics.
Other Information: --
References: Information was taken from news sources listed in the PGMD.