The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia

The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia

Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia

Origins

FARC Leadership

• 1948: Liberal Party Leader, Jorge Eliecer Gaitan, was assassinated.
• Resulted in massive uprisings throughout the country; began a period known as "La Violencia"
• Government began "crackdowns" that were very violent, resulting in death for those involved in uprisings
• Peasants who could successfully escape to the jungle would eventually become the foundation for the FARC

Pedro Antonio Marin Marin

commonly known as Manuel Marulanda Velez

Leader of FARC from the time it was founded until his death in 2008

• Became an extension of the Colombian Communist Party during the 1960's
• Initially was considered to be a "small peasant organization," but quickly transformed into a military powerhouse
• Rose to power as a result of leader and founder, Manuel Marulanda Velez
• Manuel Velez spent many years fighting on the side of the Liberal Party against the Conservatives.
• This changed in 1964 when the Colombian military galvanized the left-wing leaders.
• Maulanda and other supporters drafted the "Agrarian Program of the Guerillas"; considered to be document responsbile for the formation of FARC

Guillermo Leon Saenz Vargas

Commonly known as Alfonso Cano

Became leader of the FARC after Manuel Marulanda's death in 2008

Killed by the Colombian Army during a raid in 2011

Goals

Rodrigo Londono Echeverri

Commonly known as Timoleon Jimenez

Became leader of the FARC after the death of Alfonso Cano in 2008

• Ideology focuses primarily on Marxist aspects of Communism
• 1964: "to overthrow the government of Colombia and replace it with a communist government"
• Current: territorial control within Colombia
• Anti-imperialist: opposition to the privatization efforts made by Colombian government and multinational corporations to globalize the country
• FARC claims to be the voice of the peasants, resulting in opposition to these economic efforts
• Anti-United States

• Economic inequality and government oppression plagued the country for decades
• Resulted in tension between the peasants and landowners, as well as the Catholics
• Liberal party gained substantial support (1930's-1940's) by campaigning for equality and government reform
• Liberal party began land reform policies, infuriating Colombia's right-wing base
• Conservative Party regained power in the late 1940's and persecuted members of the Liberal Party

http://www.crisisgroup.be/flash/farc_mar09/farc.html

Actions

Ingrid Betancourt after her rescue in 2008

• Notorious for kidnapping and ransom requests
• 1999: murdered 3 missionaries from the U.S.
• 2001: murdered Colombian Minister of Culture
• 2002: kidnapped Ingrid Betancourt (Colombian Presidential Candidate) and held her hostage for 7 years
• 2002: Hijacked domestic flight with 30 passengers with the intent of capturing Colombian Senator, Jorge Turbay
• 2003: Captured and still holds 3 U.S. contractors to date
• 2005: kidnapped 60 people in Colombia; still being held hostage

Support

• Finances are supplied heavily by illicit drug trade
• Drug trade brings between $500-$600 million dollars a year
• The FARC imposed a tax on local drug traffickers to operate in the regions controlled by the organization
• Has large territorial control over rural Colombia allowing the group to regulate cocoa growth, harvesting, and processing.
• Responsible for supplying over 50% of cocaine internationally
• Participates in extortion schemes and ransom
• Alliances with like-minded organizations in surrounding countries (unstable)
• Most support comes from peasants and the lower class that inhabits rural regions

Success

• Success for FARC has been very limited
• Failed to keep foreign countries , but especially the U.S. out of Colombian affairs
• U.S. funds and trains Colombian forces
• U.S. works with Colombian government to fight war on drugs
• Foreign corporations operate in the country
• Success consists of control and influence in rural areas of Colombia

Future

• Juan Manuel Santos elected President in 2010 decided to pursue peace talks with FARC
• Talks have been on going since 2012
• Six points to the peace talks
• November 7, 2013: Negotiations between the FARC and Colombian government took a step forward
• How the peace talks ultimately unfold could depend on whether or not President Juan Manuel Santos is re-elected next year
• Using football to help the peace process