Columbia's Civil War: The Fight Against FARC

Flag of FARC

For the past several decades, the Columbian government has fought a prolonged war against the FARC (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Columbia; Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia), a left-wing insurgent group. FARC was originally founded in 1964, in the midst of the Cold War, as the militant branch of the Columbian Communist Party. FARC advocated for agrarian rights, representing itself as a supporter of the peasant majority against the wealthy Columbian elite that controlled the government. The group is described as the "oldest, largest, most capable, and best equipped" of all the Marxist insurgencies that sprang into being during the Cold War period.

Beside guerrilla warfare tactics against the Columbian army, FARC has employed a number of brutal tactics. Kidnapping, extortion, bombings, and other forms of terrorism all were widely during the height of the FARC's power. These tactics were used against the military, government officials, and civilians. The FARC was based out of rural areas, but also had centers and training camps in neighboring Venezuela, Ecuador, and Panama. In the 1990s, the FARC became involved in the drug-trade as a means to secure revenue. According to a 2006 report by the US Justice Department, about 50% of the world's cocaine was supplied by the FARC.

At it's peak, FARC consisted of 16,000 combatants. However, the number now is believed to be around 8,000 and 9,000. This is mainly due to the military campaign launched against FARC by then-president Alvaro Uribe after taking office in 2002. This campaign, backed by the US, succeeded in significantly eroding the power of FARC, killing off major rebel leaders and pushed back it's territory significantly. The FARC is believed now to be a shell of its former glory and is recently engaged in negotiations with the Columbian government, mainly over the release of hostages still held by FARC. Nonetheless, the war against FARC continues to be a thorn in the side of the government, and though many wish for a resolution in the near future, there is no clear end in sight.

Sources:
http://www.fas.org/irp/world/para/farc.htm
http://www.nctc.gov/site/groups/farc.html
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/para/farc.htm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-11400950