After years of stalled peace talks, the President of Colombia and FARC rebels have reached a
mutual ceasefire agreement.
Although the FARC group is known as a criminal organization by Colombian officials, the government
is cooperating with them in peace talks.
So who are the FARC rebels?
And why is the Colombian government negotiating with them?
FARC is the Spanish acronym for the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia, also
known as, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.
They are sometimes classified as a “guerrilla group”, or a “violent non-state actor”
by the media, but the US, and the European Union list them as a terrorist group.
Colombian officials have also referred to FARC as a terrorist organization, or a criminal
band.
It’s reported that they make up to 600 million dollars per year in profits from drug trafficking,
kidnappings, extortion and unofficial taxes.
And by this account, they are considered the 3rd wealthiest terrorist group in the world.
A 2009 US report said that FARC controls 60% of the cocaine supplied to the United States.
So, why is the Colombian government negotiating with a purported terrorist group?
Well, the two have a long history together - and the government is somewhat responsible
for the development of FARC in the first place.
In the 50s and 60s, Colombia ended approximately a decade of civil war between conflicting
political parties.
In order to stabilize the country, an arrangement, called the National Front was set up to allow
each party to alternately take control of the government every 4 years.
This arrangement effectively shut out any other party from political representation,
leaving the poor especially marginalized.
Many people ended up joining non-state rebel factions, like FARC, which promised to overthrow
the corrupt government and install a Communist regime that would help the poor.
The FARC group and others became armed and belligerent over time.
While the National Front ended in 1974, FARC continued to grow in numbers and strength,
becoming especially dependent on drug trafficking, extortion, and other illegal practices to
support itself.
At its peak, FARC dominated a large territory throughout Colombia, especially in the rural
areas and the jungles.
However, since then, FARC membership and influence has declined.
In 2002, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, began a campaign against FARC, and reduced
their ranks more than half, to seven thousand fighters in 2013.
FARC’s origins as an anti-corruption group fighting for representation, still resonates
with some Colombians.
However, the impact of decades of fighting, kidnapping, and other crimes are felt by the
public.
The people of Colombia want peace , and there have been many rallies in the last few years
pushing for an end to violence.
It is this history and sentiment that has led the Colombian government to conduct peace
talks with FARC.
In Colombia and in Mexico, the line between Narco-Trafficking and government is pretty
much gone.
So who’s making money off the war on drugs?
Check out this video from the folks at AJ+ to find out.
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