Chavez Takes Command of Venezuelan Territorial Army

Patrick O'Donoghue

Speaking to followers on February 4 at a march to
commemorate the February 4, 1992 failed coup attempt, Chavez
Frias claims that Venezuela history was divided into two on
that day in a before-after scenario.

"We are revolutionaries and not
coupsters ... and the revolution is
not complete," Chavez said.

Turning to the situation inside the FAN, the President
maintains that the military revolution seeks first of all to
strengthen the corps, secondly, the civil-military unity and
thirdly, the people's participation in national defense
through the territorial army.

The reason why he is taken over command of the reservists,
Chavez Frias says, is to take the weight off FAN components
since they have too much to do already, especially regarding
beefing up the country's integral defense.Reminding his audience at the Cipriano Castro Barracks in
(Caracas) La Planicie (former Military History Museum) that
high quality Russian assault rifles and helicopters will be
arriving shortly, the President says the FAN has the task of
repairing its war material ... "Venezuela will not
interfere with anyone and let nobody make a mistake about
Venezuela."

The President's speech has confirmed the key importance he
attaches to the territorial army and has indicated that he
will move a stage further creating popular defense units to
be organized by State Governors and military regional
command chiefs.

"I have taken the decision to pass the reserve army to the
Commander-in-Chief's Command and I will assign extraordinary
resources to build the Reserve in barrios and give birth to
popular defense units ... I have also decided to increase
individual assignations to reservists as a very modest
recognition for each day of training."