Gunmen Of The Bolivarian Revolution

CARACAS, VENEZUELA - OCTOBER 2009: A mural in the Barrio 23 Enero area in the centre of Caracas, about La Piedrita, one of of the 'colectivos' of Caracas. 'Colectivos' are criminal gangs which have been armed by President Hugo Chavez's administration, and have been converted into left-wing guerrilla groups through the introduction of political ideology, in order to act as death squadrons serving the Bolivarian revolution, carrying out politically-motivated killings. They are still involved in their traditional criminal activities such as the drug trade. Some groups are referred to as 'motorizado' meaning they ride motorbikes or scooters, the vehicle of choice for carrying out drive-by killings. With estimates in excess of 18,000 homicides each year in Venezuela, and various international organisations attributing many of these to the 'colectivos', the people of Venezuela are living in a state of fear. (Photo by Alvaro Ybarra Zavala/Getty Images)