The Revolutionary Armed The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC)Forces of Colombia (FARC)

FARC BackgroundFARC Background

Colombia's oldest and largest Colombia's oldest and largest guerrilla groupguerrilla group

Established in 1966 as the Established in 1966 as the military wing of the Colombian military wing of the Colombian Communist Party (CCP)Communist Party (CCP)

Broke from CCP and created Broke from CCP and created the Clandestine Colombian the Clandestine Colombian Communist Party (CCCP)Communist Party (CCCP)

Estimated 18,000-20,000 Estimated 18,000-20,000 fighting members on at least 80 fighting members on at least 80 fronts throughout Colombiafronts throughout Colombia

FARC Background Cont.FARC Background Cont.

FARC is classified as a terrorist group FARC is classified as a terrorist group by U.S. and European Unionby U.S. and European Union

Proclaimed itself a politico-military Proclaimed itself a politico-military Marxist Leninist organizationMarxist Leninist organization

Ideology in Marxist Ideology in Marxist Bourgeois systemBourgeois system Claims to represent poor rural class Claims to represent poor rural class

against Colombia’s wealthy classesagainst Colombia’s wealthy classes Opposes U.S. influence/interferenceOpposes U.S. influence/interference FARC ultimate objective is an armed FARC ultimate objective is an armed

revolution in Colofmbiarevolution in Colofmbia

FARC BackgroundFARC Background

Majority of fighters come from Majority of fighters come from poor rural backgroundpoor rural background- 80% are peasants- 80% are peasants

Mostly uneducatedMostly uneducated Most members join FARC for Most members join FARC for

revolutionary adventurism and revolutionary adventurism and paypay

FARC pays members $350 a FARC pays members $350 a monthmonth-Colombian Army pays $250-Colombian Army pays $250

Majority of recruits are teensMajority of recruits are teens-male and female-male and female

Activities Activities Bombings, murder, mortar Bombings, murder, mortar

attacks, narcotic trafficking, attacks, narcotic trafficking, Guerrilla and conventional Guerrilla and conventional

military action against military action against Colombian political, military, Colombian political, military, and economic targetsand economic targets

Hijacking, kidnapping & Hijacking, kidnapping & extortionextortion

Foreign citizens often are Foreign citizens often are targets of FARC - targets of FARC - Westerners in particularWesterners in particular

OperationsOperations& Finance & Finance

FARC collects 400 million a FARC collects 400 million a year from the drug trade year from the drug trade

FARC forcibly recruits FARC forcibly recruits teenagers teenagers

In the last decade more than In the last decade more than 200 bombs have been blown 200 bombs have been blown up in Colombiann citiesup in Colombiann cities

Averages of 5 people a day Averages of 5 people a day are kidnapped by guerrillas are kidnapped by guerrillas to finance their insurgence.to finance their insurgence.

Their use of laptops at road Their use of laptops at road blocks allows them to check blocks allows them to check the bank account of divers – the bank account of divers – giving them information giving them information allowing them to kidnap the allowing them to kidnap the richest richest

CasualtiesCasualties Four presidential candidates Four presidential candidates More than 200 judges More than 200 judges 1200 polices officers1200 polices officers More than 100 journalistsMore than 100 journalists

More than 200,000 More than 200,000 Colombian citizens have Colombian citizens have

been murdered by FARC been murdered by FARC

Major EventsMajor Events

April 17, 2001 a powerful car April 17, 2001 a powerful car bomb detonated in a bomb detonated in a Colombian provincial capital Colombian provincial capital killing at least 12 people and killing at least 12 people and wounding more than 60 wounding more than 60

June 28, 2002 a catholic June 28, 2002 a catholic priest who was critical of leftist priest who was critical of leftist rebels was shot dead in front rebels was shot dead in front of a church where he had just of a church where he had just performed a massperformed a mass

KidnappingsKidnappings

Recently killed the governor of Mr. Recently killed the governor of Mr. Uribe’s home department of Antioquia a Uribe’s home department of Antioquia a former defense minister who was former defense minister who was kidnapped in April of 2002 while kidnapped in April of 2002 while leading a march leading a march

In 2001 there was a prisoner In 2001 there was a prisoner swap in which 363 captives – swap in which 363 captives – police and soldiers – were police and soldiers – were exchanged for 15 jailed exchanged for 15 jailed guerrilla members guerrilla members

Unfortunately this prisoner swap Unfortunately this prisoner swap has encouraged more kidnappings has encouraged more kidnappings of prominent politicians to use as of prominent politicians to use as bargaining chipsbargaining chips

Political AttacksPolitical Attacks Mortar shells fired into crowd Mortar shells fired into crowd

that was attending that was attending Colombia’s new president Colombia’s new president (Alvaro Uribe) inauguration (Alvaro Uribe) inauguration in 2002- ended up killing 18 in 2002- ended up killing 18 and injured 69and injured 69

Kidnapped Colombian Kidnapped Colombian Presidential Candidate Ingrid Presidential Candidate Ingrid Betancourt in 2002; she was Betancourt in 2002; she was rescued by Colombian forces rescued by Colombian forces in 2008 along with 14 other in 2008 along with 14 other captives, 3 of which were captives, 3 of which were AmericansAmericans

Assaults on the ChurchAssaults on the Church

In 1999, there were 25 evangelical pastors murderedIn 1999, there were 25 evangelical pastors murdered Guerrillas have forced some 300 evangelical churches to close Guerrillas have forced some 300 evangelical churches to close