The complex war of today actually began decades ago as a small political struggle, which has gradually developed into a largescale civil war. Katharina rohl introduction this paper analysis the driving forces behind the revolutionary armed forces of colombia farc in their continuing fight in an ever more violent armed conflict that has now lasted over four decades. This replaces the final agreement signed in cartagena, which i delivered to your predecessor and to the president of the security council in september 2016. Peace negotiations between the colombian government and the largest guerrilla movement in latin america, the farc. The name change was accompanied by the creation of a group constitution and the shift to more offensive tactics. Il sagit dun mouvement avant tout dorigine paysanne impregne par lideologie communiste. Colombia farc and the paramilitaries allied under the umbrella group the united self defense groups of colombia auc commit similar abuses and crimes. The events of september 11 continued of the pattern of redefinition in the conflict in colombia. For decades the countrys most powerful rebel group, the farc, had carried out a bloody war, and successive governments here largely. The revolutionary armed forces of colombia farc 19661982. Library of congress federal research division country profile.
The data is only saved locally on your computer and never transferred to us. The revolutionary armed forces of colombia peoples army spanish. The recent increase in attacks against human rights defenders and community leaders has led leftist movements and political parties to. As a concession in exchange for beginning peace talks, pastrana granted the farc a 51,000squarekilometer demilitarized zone dmz in southcentral colombia. Greed or grievance why does the farc keeps fighting. Colombias changing approach to drug policy congressional research service 2 figure 1. The revolutionary armed forces of colombia farc ep is a marxistleninist revolutionary guerrilla organization based in colombia, which is involved in the ongoing colombian armed conflict farc ep is a peasant army which has proclaimed itself as a revolutionary agrarian, antiimperialist marxistleninist organization of bolivarian inspiration.
The governments strategy was to offer to legalize the farc s political activity and to convert their military force into a political party. Licensed to youtube by adrev masters admin on behalf of cezame. They are known to employ a variety of military tactics in addition to more unconventional methods, including terrorism. Situated in the northern part of south america, it is a country four times the size of california in area. State department report estimated that approximately 50 percent of the worlds cocaine is supplied by the farc. However, allies of the farc avertedly disagree with their status. Coca cultivation survey, united nations office on drugs and crime june 2005, available at, p. Following four years of negotiations, colombia s congress ratified the peace accord in november 2016. Colombia peoples army farc ep, based on their mutual decision to bring the national armed conflict to an end, came about as the result of the exploratory meeting that took place in the capital of the republic of cuba between 23 february and 26 august 2012. Other communist armed movements such as the national liberation army would emerge later. In 1966, the communist guerrillas, denominated communist selfdefense forces, were reorganized as the revolutionary armed. Pcc, the farc is the largest of colombia s rebel groups, estimated to possess some 10,000. In 1994, a new armed movement called the united self defense of colombia would begin. Revolutionary armed forces of colombia farc center for.
Income from drug trafficking and other illegal activities provides the farc with the resources to intensify its political and military challenge to the colombian state. As a concession in exchange for beginning peace talks, pastrana granted the farc a 51,000squarekilometer demilitarized zone dmz in southcentral colombia in november 1998. Map of colombia showing departments and capital source. Some of the most intense fighting over the past two years has been over control of these corridors. Las farc liberan a dos concejales, dos militares y dos policias. These methods evolved from small aircraft landings on clandestine airstrips to the use of gofast boats for delivery along the coasts of mexico and the u. In 1984, the farc renounced kidnapping, and the parties agreed to a general, verifiable ceasefire. Revolutionaire strijdkrachten van colombia wikipedia. Components of the integrated rural reform, part one of the colombian peace agreement between the government and farcep.
United nations verification mission in colombia report. Civil war and united states involvement in colombia. Civil war and united states involvement in colombia for 38 years the country of colombia has been plagued by civil war and guerilla fighting. Farc, which was more connected to sovietinfluenced communist movements. Farc, a marxistleninist communist movement would influence the destiny of the country. Peace efforts in the country have ended 50 years of intense conflict. Learn more about the colombia economy, including the population of colombia, gdp, facts, trade, business, inflation and other data and analysis on its economy from the. At the second guerrilla conference in 1966, the southern bloc renamed itself the farc.
In 2012, the colombian government opened peace talks with the farc, receiving accolades from. No, colombia went through a 10year civil war before the farc were even founded. As part of the 2016 peace accord, the revolutionary armed forces of colombia farc, formerly the countrys largest guerrilla insurgency group, disarmed and reincorporated as a political party that participated in the march congressional elections and initially nominated a presidential candidate, who withdrew from the race in may. Farc had historically been doing most of its fighting in rural areas, and was limited to smallscale confrontations with colombian military forces. Colombia s 2016 peace deal was a remarkable achievement.
In 1982, farcep held its seventh guerrilla conference, which called for a major shift in farcs strategy. Since the early 1980s, the revolutionary armed forces of colombia farc has found alternate methods to landbased border crossings for the transportation of illicit drugs. Now, scientists are studying former fighters and victims as they attempt to heal. This makes it one of the longest running civil wars in its hemisphere.
Emma montoya, the cocaine trade and the transformation of farc, journal of undergraduate international studies, fall 2015. Ictj works in societies emerging from repressive rule or armed con. Forces of colombia farc the countrys largest leftist guerrilla organization. The revolutionary armed forces of colombiapeoples army spanish.