Farc That: FARC Policy Brief

Executive Summary

       The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia (FARC) is a guerrilla movement from Columbia that has been engaged in armed conflict with the Government since 1964. FARC emerged from a period called "La Violencia (1948-1958)" as a group of individuals who felt neglected by the Columbian government. These people settled and formed communities throughout the countryside. Led by Manuel Marulanda, the group later known as "FARC" attempted to create a society focussed on the needs and concerns of the rural population. On July 20, 1964 (one month after being attacked by the Columbian Government) Marulanda met with other communities and organized what they called the First Guerrilla Conference. They formally declared themselves a Guerrilla group taking on the name Southern Blanc. By 1972, Marulanda established training camps for guerrillas for combat training. Also they provided education and medical services to loyal communities. To help fund camps and social services, they engaged in kidnapping (primarily politicians and elites) and participated in a large drug trade. FARC's numbers increased to its largest amount of 18,000 in 1999, coincidentally the same year their kidnappings peaked at 3,000.

      In 1982, the FARC held its Seventh Guerrilla Conference in which it changed its name to the FARC-EP for Ejercito del Pueblo, meaning "People's Army." However the Colombian government and the United States government still refers to the group as "FARC." FARC has continued their attacks and kidnappings while demanding reform to the Government even though there have been peace talks dating back to 1982. In 2012, newly elected Colombian President Santos restarted the peace process with FARC. Again FARC would continue their attacks but in 2015, an unilateral ceasefire was declared by FARC and in return, the Colombian government agreed to discontinue air strikes on FARC encampments. 

Official Websites:
http://farc-epeace.org/
https://www.youtube.com/user/FARC1Peace
https://twitter.com/farc_epaz

Translation from picture: Commander Manuel Marulanda

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