POSSIBLE TRUCE IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE’S LONGEST RUNNING WAR:

Sarah,

Colombia may be close to ending its 50 year civil war.  The war itself is pretty interesting.  Here is a breakdown:

Colombia’s Geography:

Colombia is the country on the northern tip of South America.  It is on the equator so it is tropical.  It is also home to the northernmost extent of the Andes mountain chain and huge swathes of Amazon rainforest.  Basically Colombia's geography is incredibly diverse and many areas are completely inaccessible.

Quick History Of FARC (FARC is the rebel army):

During the first half of the 1900’s, violence plagued Colombia.  This violence revolved around tension between the land-owning conservative party and the reform minded liberal party.  In league with the liberals were the disenfranchised peasants who agitated for more land and increased political rights.

By the 1950’s, many of these peasant groups had formed local communist armies. 

With aid from the United States, the Colombian Army defeated these communist armies and pushed them into the more remote mountain regions of Colombia.

After a conservative victory, the Colombian government pushed land reforms that allowed companies and foreign investors to buy up large tracts of farmland throughout the country.  According to liberals, this further marginalized the peasant population.

In 1964, a wing of the communist party responded to these conditions and founded the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.  Since then, the Colombian government has been fighting this army in varying levels of intensity. This army traditionally operates in the rural and remote areas of the country.

FARC Tactics:

FARC claims to represent to poor agrarian peasants against capitalists and foreigners.  They attempt to build support in rural communities by offering free medical care and other services.

At their height, FARC (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarios de Colombia) maintained a force of around 20,000 soldiers.  Today the number is around 7,000.

They have stuck around so long because it is difficult to completely defeat them.  Whenever they suffer losses they retreat into the jungle to regroup.  This jungle is not only dense- it’s mountainous.  This makes pursuit difficult.

Because of their small numbers, FARC often has the advantage of surprise.  They usually pick when and where they will fight. 

They also continue to use landmines.  Conversely, the Colombian government and most other countries (except the United States) have agreed to stop using landmines.

Lastly, they operate in neighboring Venezuelan territory.  Hugo Chavez, Venezuela’s president, has been accused of allowing rebels a sanctuary.  Supposedly this is because Chavez is a self-proclaimed socialist who holds strongly anti-American views.

FARC Funding:

FARC funds its operation in a number of ways. 

First, they sell drugs.  They have strong ties to Colombian drug lords and cocaine producers.  In fact, it is argued that the drug dealers are the main obstacle to peace because the drug dealers enjoy a degree of protection in FARC dominated areas.  If the FARC completely disarms, they will lose this advantage.  Accordingly, they have an interest in disrupting peace negotiations. 

Second, they kidnap and ransom wealthy Colombians.

Third, and most recently, they mine gold.  In the area where they operate, gold is plentiful and the rebels run illegal mining operations.

Why Peace Now?

Peace is closer because the rebels have suffered serious losses over the last decade.  During the 2000’s President Bush increased the amount of military aid to Colombia.  Specifically, American supplied Blackhawk Helicopters have been extremely effective at pursuing rebels in remote areas and keeping them on the run.

The Colombian and American governments have also stepped up the aerial spraying of cocaine fields deep in the jungle and this has decreased FARC’s revenue.

This last year, FARC’s top commander was also killed.  This is important because he was hesitant to negotiate.  FARC’s new leaders seem more amenable to peaceful resolution.

In response to these developments, the new Colombia president, Juan Santos, has declared he is open to peace talks but requires a cease fire as a prerequisite.  The last round of peace talks were held in 2002 and were deeply criticized because when the army withdrew, it gave the rebels an opportunity to regroup and rearm.  This time, the president vows to keep an overwhelming military presence in FARC territory to prevent this from happening.  The rebels are willing to negotiate because they desire legal protection.  In return, the government desires peace, a better position against drug lords, and a return of prisoners held by FARC.

Hopefully, the negotiations can begin soon and the conflict can finally be resolved.