Official and Unofficial Modes of Communication
Official Modes:
Youtube:
FARC Releases twenty minute long, highly produced news segments that offer them the ability to put their own spin on the news of the day. These broadcasts often comment on the injustices served against FARC at the hands of the Colombian government, with little comment about FARC's terrorist activities. This media option allows FARC to broadcast the news they wish to be heard to their followers and the outside world, and is a powerful tool that keeps FARC members active and knowledgeable about current issues within the organization. Above is a recent example of the news that they produce, complete with male and female co-anchors.
This Youtube video has been viewed 1.5 million times and is the highest viewed video about FARC on the video sharing platform. The video was produced by FARC and details the efforts of their previous second in command, Mono Jojoy, to coordinate and streamline FARC and their purpose. The comments section is full of pro-FARC vs. anti-FARC arguments, based both in classic internet trolling and real discussions of political ideology.
Official Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/FARC1Peace
Twitter:
Many of FARC's members maintain extremely active presences on Twitter, linked together by both the FARC tag at the beginning or end of their names, but also by the hashtags #InformativoInsurgente and #FARC. Below captures a couple examples of twitter posts made by the group and its members. The hashtag #informativoinsurgente, or insurgent information, is telling of FARCs belief that they are not a terrorist group - but a rational, intelligent group of insurgents fighting against an occupational struggle. The messaging of FARC's twitter members is constant and rigid, never referring to the actions of their group as terrorist, terror-like, or anything but a defense of their ideals
Blogging:
- Many current FARC members maintain blogs online that are read by thousands of Colombians daily. These blogs give FARC a powerful means to control the narrative over events in Colombia regarding the FARC. FARC feels that the mainstream media does not treat them fairly and has adopted direct methods of engagement to fight what they feel is government propaganda against them.
Unofficial Modes:
Tribute Videos
- Supporters will create montage clips of FARC training, fighting, and general activities to illustrate their effectiveness and body of work. Many of these videos exist across the Youtube spectrum, and contain lively debate in the comments sections between suspected members and supportes of FARC and their opponents. These videos offer unique insight into footage from within FARC controlled areas.
