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Fuerzas Armada Revolucionariras de Colombia
Colombia
Fuerzas Armada Revolucionariras de Colombia, or FARC, translates as the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. It is a heavily armed organization of communist insurgents in the southeastern region of the country. It ranks among the oldest and best-organized guerilla insurgencies in the world, with members numbering close to 20,000. FARC evolved from peasant self-defense leagues organized by Colombia’s Liberal party during a period known as “La Violencia:” a low-level civil war which took place from 1948 to 1958. Its members participated in La Violencia as one of the largest left-wing guerilla units, fighting forces of Colombia’s Conservative part.
In 1958, a coalition of moderates on both sides formed the National Front to restore civilian rule, though communist units retained control of certain areas of the countryside. FARC reformed in 1964, following attack from the Colombian army on these autonomous enclaves. Its early days consisted of re-establishing similar enclaves, as well as engaging in kidnappings and bombing campaigns against the newly established government. In 1982, it convened the “Seventh Guerilla Conference,” during which it spelled out its specific goals and plans to achieve them. Its stated purpose was the overthrow of the Colombian government and the establishment of a Marxist regime, which it would attain through armed insurrection and criminal activities designed to undermine those in power. For the next two decades, it engaged in an ongoing guerilla war, including vehicle bombings, kidnappings, extortions, and murder. The most noted incident took place in 1999, when it killed three US activists whom claimed were CIA operatives. A 1998 ceasefire ended in late winter 2002, when Colombian President Andrés Pastrana Arango ordered the army to retake FARC-controlled areas. Military conflict against the Colombian government continues to the present day.
FARC organizes itself along strict military lines, with squads of twelve forming into companies, “columns, ” and “fronts.” A high command issues orders to lower-ranking units in a highly centralized structure, complete with ranks, uniforms, and even an “academy” for formal military training. It is currently led by Manuel “Tirofijo” Marulanda, along with six others who represent its high command. Its tactics involve traditional terrorist methods of spreading fear and dissent, along with periodic engagements with the Colombian National army. It shows few compunctions about attacking civilians: sometimes murdering local peasants whom it claims display government loyalties, and launching frequent mortar attacks using crude and indiscriminate equipment.
Though espousing a strict Marxist philosophy, its activities more closely match those of criminal profiteers. It involves itself in copious cocaine production-usually by providing protection in exchange for a “tax” on the drug-and retains ties to various Colombian drug cartels. It uses safe havens in the Andes and elsewhere to rest and recuperate, and its members will cross the border into Venezuela and Ecuador to avoid Colombian army patrols. The State Department suspect government complicity in these retreats, but no concrete evidence has yet been shown. Washington also suspects Cuba of providing financial aid, based on similarities in espoused philosophy.
At the time of this writing, FARC holds some 46 hostages, mostly for political reasons, though some as simple ransom demands, Military strikes against the Colombian Army continue and drug trafficking operations show no signs of slowing.
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