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grupos civiles (véase contexto)

English translation: civilians enlisted by the government

18:55 Jun 9, 2022
Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - Government / Politics / Venezuela
Spanish term or phrase: grupos civiles (véase contexto)
The term "grupos civiles" appears in a sworn statement of a refugee seeking political asylum. He's describing the circumstances that caused him to flee from Venezuela. It reads: "estaba en mi trabajo y mientras salía a almorzar y bajaba las escaleras,
se me acercaron nuevamente los grupos de civiles a los que pagaba el gobierno que se hacían
llamar el grupo irregular."
and the term appears again here: "creía firmemente en mi opinión liberal y seguí hablando y protestando
amistosamente y ...los civiles se me acercaron nuevamente y se llamaron a sí
mismos el grupo irregular.

Is it referring to vigilantes? Not sure this would be the best translation.
Hinara
United States
Local time: 18:24
English translation:civilians enlisted by the government
Explanation:
This situation sounds like what went on in Brazil under the 1964 dictatorship. The government paid bounties to civilians who "denounced" or turned in perceived "traitors." Some of them were students on university campuses who made up stories about their targets to cash in on the opportunity.
Selected response from:

Muriel Vasconcellos
United States
Local time: 18:24
Grading comment
government enlistees
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
1 +5civilians enlisted by the government
Muriel Vasconcellos
4 +1bandits
jude dabo
4pro-government civilians
neilmac


Discussion entries: 7





  

Answers


1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 1/5Answerer confidence 1/5 peer agreement (net): +5
civilians enlisted by the government


Explanation:
This situation sounds like what went on in Brazil under the 1964 dictatorship. The government paid bounties to civilians who "denounced" or turned in perceived "traitors." Some of them were students on university campuses who made up stories about their targets to cash in on the opportunity.

Muriel Vasconcellos
United States
Local time: 18:24
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 468
Grading comment
government enlistees

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  David Hollywood: on the right track IMO Muriel
25 mins
  -> Thank you, David!
agree  James A. Walsh: I think so, as well; you could also say 'government enlistees' (ambiguously)
1 hr
  -> Thank you, James!
agree  Thomas Walker: I think you're probably right, but I'd like to see more context to confirm the "enlisted by the government" part.
3 hrs
  -> Thanks, Tom!
agree  Tomasso: Yes deputized is not the right word,
7 hrs
  -> If the situation is like what I think it is, the dictators *pay bounties* civilians to turn in "enemies". They don't have any official status.
agree  AllegroTrans: yes, groups of civilians, no need to elaborate
3 days 15 hrs
  -> At first I agreed with you, but I do think it's important to point out the government's role.
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12 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
pro-government civilians


Explanation:
An option, based on (pax) Muriel's suggestion and my own research.

"He was taken back to the square by pro-government civilians, and made to lie in a large pile of protesters..."



Example sentence(s):
  • More than a hundred pro-government civilians on Sunday mobbed a handful of protesters who showed up at Havana's Central Park...
  • the rebels in Donetsk and Lugansk have transferred 74 Ukrainian soldiers and pro-government civilians to Kiev

    https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nicaragua-pro-government-forces-civilians-violently-retake-symbolic-area-from-protesters/
    Reference: http://https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus194...
neilmac
Spain
Local time: 03:24
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 200
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you for your efforts.

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20 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
bandits


Explanation:
banditry acts

jude dabo
Local time: 02:24
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 20
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you for your efforts.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Tomasso: May be similar to bandits in some ways, (trato ser amable con todos), paramilitary bandits? I read this https://www.lagranaldea.com/2021/04/12/son-mas-de-20-estados... Dice Grupos armado de irregulares.
10 hrs
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