General information
First Active Year: 1992
Current Name: Military faction (forces of Hugo Chávez)
Current Name full English: Military faction (forces of Hugo Chávez)
Current Name full native language: n/a
Original Name: Military faction (forces of Hugo Chávez)
Original Name full English: Military faction (forces of Hugo Chávez)
Original Name full native language: n/a
Actor Chronology
This section contains information about (if applicable) group splinters, name changes, and alliances according to the UCDP definitions of these concepts.
Broke Away from Actor: Government of Venezuela (Government of Venezuela)
On: 1992-02-04
Conflict issues
Government of Venezuela - Military faction (forces of Hugo Chávez)
Conflict Goal Issues: The Rebel military faction(/#/actor/742), representing the forces of Lieutenant Colonel Hugo Chávez, was an armed group in Venezuela(/#/country/101) that carried out two unsuccessful coup attempts against the Government of Venezuela(/#/actor/018) on February and November of 1992(/#/dyad/575). The leftist and nationalist faction, named as MBR-200 and identified as a "Revolutionary Bolivarist Movement" by Chávez himself, intended to reorganize politics, the military and society in accordance with Bolivarian ideas and values, as a response to the on-going economic crisis, corruption and the government’s failure to protect national interest, removing corrupt leaders and putting an end to the neoliberal economic policy that was current.
Throughout 1992 the group presented many demands (identified as conflict goal issues) without losing its cohesion, even after the February coup’s failure and the arrest of Lt. Col. Hugo Chávez, Lt. Col. Francisco Arias Cárdenas and some of its supporters. In a tape from his jailed time Chávez mentions that he sought “real democracy”, as the rebels wanted to guarantee real democratic rule. The group sought improvements in public services, labor rights and the establishment of Rule of Law to fight widespread corruption. The reform of the executive structure was a priority, as affirmed by Lt. Col. Cardenas: “We don't want to establish a military dictatorship, but we are going to set up a civil-military government of national rebirth with the participation of prominent civilian leaders" (The Guardian, 1992).
It is possible to conclude, through a quick analysis of coded information, that the main conflict goal issues raised by the rebel military faction of the forces of Lt. Col. Hugo Chávez was the exoneration of the executive and its leaders, so the new power could proceed to a change of political system and economic reform.
Conflict Dynamics Issues: The project did not locate any statements concerning conflict dynamics issues through its coding process. That does not mean, nevertheless, the inexistence of conflict dynamic Issues.
Conflict Resolution Issues: In regards to conflict resolution issue it is possible to observe demands from the Rebel military faction for negotiations and accountability for the damages and problems that were caused by the previous government. For the attempt of coup that occurred in February Chávez had the goal of capturing the president with the intention of prosecuting him, presenting him on a “trial before the people”. Rebels were still pressuring the government throughout the year, even with most of its leaders jailed – attempts of negotiation occurred and demands were still to be heard by the government. “The expectations are that a civil war is very near if there are no negotiations” said Lt. Col. Cardenas to a newspaper.
Through a quick analysis of coded information and historical record of the episode, it is possible to state that the primary conflict resolution issues were the two shown above: accountability/prosecution and call for negotiations. The former as a concrete way to finish the first coup, led by Lt. Col. Hugo Chávez, and the latter as a continuation of efforts even after the first coup, as negotiation demands were constantly presented, and the rebel fight would continue if the government was not prone to accept those callings.
Type of conflict issues: *Conflict Goal Issues: * Basic needs, Constitutional issues, Corruption, CPS: Democracy, CPS: Socialist state, Economic reforms, Foreign policy reform, Labor rights, Oust full executive, Oust head of the executive, Public services, Reform executive structure, Reform judicial system, Rule of law
*Conflict Dynamics Issues: *
*Conflict Resolution Issues: * Accountability/prosecution/investigation, Call for negotiations
Annual information
This section contains annual information systematically collected by the UCDP.
1992
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
Government of Venezuela - Military faction (forces of Hugo Chávez)
Group Archive
This section contains annual information no longer systematically collected by the UCDP.
1992 Group Archive
Government of Venezuela - Military faction (forces of Hugo Chávez)
Comment on Name: Movimiento Militar Bolivariano, named after the Venzuelan liberation-hero Simon Bolivar.
Troop Size: > 1100
Comment on Troop Size: The total number of armed forces in Venezuela is 75 000 troops. It is difficult to estimate the actual troop size under Chavez control, but it included an armoured brigade, two artillery units, a paratrooper battalion and one infantry battalion. After the coup 1100 army rebels were arrested, this may serve as an indication of the minimum numbers of troops.
