In 2007, the group was accused by a priest in Guasdualito of having recruited young people to become child soldiers, an accusation which was rejected by FBL spokespeople. In a 2008 report by "The Guardian", it is stated that President Chávez had been using the FBL "for the purpose of defending the motherland in case of American invasion", and that "Farc gave military training to the Bolivarian Forces of Liberation". There were rumors in 2009 that the group was in the process of disbanding, though the FBL denied this claim.