Inside the FARC-EP: Colombia’s Guerrilla Fighters

The following is from bourgeois press service, Aljazeera: 

Fire spits from the muzzle of a Russian-made machine gun. Assault rifles join the fray.

Leftist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrillas and Colombian counterinsurgency troops trade shots across a gorge.

Is the FARC-EP (Really) a Terrorist Organization?

The following analysis by James J. Brittain is from Fight Back! News:

In the Foreword to sociologist James Brittain’s Revolutionary Social Change in Colombia: The Origin and Direction of the FARC-EP, Pluto Press, 2010, James Petras states that during the period 1999-2001 the FARC-EP was recognized as “a belligerent force,* a legitimate interlocutor in peace negotiations by all major European and Latin American regimes. During this period FARC-EP was invited to France, Spain, Scandinavia, the Low Countries, Mexico, and elsewhere to discuss the peace process. During the same period, top US leaders and businesspeople, along with dozens of trade unionists and electoral politicians from across the spectrum, engaged the FARC-EP in a demilitarized zone in Colombia, where the United Nations mediated peace negotiations between the FARC and then President Pastrana. While Washington opposed the entire peace process and President Bill Clinton secured the passage of the huge multibillion dollar military package (Plan Colombia), the United States was not able to scuttle the process or pin the narco-terrorist label on the FARC-EP. It was only after Washington went to war against Iraq and Afghanistan, and the US-dominated mass media launched a massive and sustained propaganda blitz labeling all critics and adversaries of US global militarism that the ‘terrorist’ label was pinned on the FARC.” Testing the accuracy of the “terrorist” label, among other beliefs about the FARC, James Brittain embarked on an extensive examination of existing works, public documents, and other material, as well as five years of field studies in FARC territory.—Editor’s Note

*A belligerent force is defined as a state or entity engaged in war, a status recognized by international law. In report after report, it is not the FARC-EP, but state military and paramilitaries that have been named as by far the most egregious perpetrators of human rights violations in Colombia.

Is the FARC-EP (Really) a Terrorist Organization?

By James Brittain 

In light of the recent activities of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) throughout sectors of the social justice and peace movement within the United States, it is increasingly apparent that even those interested in solidarity with sociopolitical organizations struggling with issues of marginalization and equity are viewed as a domestic threat or, at the very least, a target of national significance. For example, longtime peace and justice activists have been subpoenaed by the FBI as a result of their work, which critiques the economic and militaristic involvement of their government and military in Colombia.

Fidel Castro: Piedad Córdoba and Her Fight for Peace

The following is from Reflections by Comrade Fidel. Though The Marxist-Leninist does not agree with Fidel Castro’s criticisms of the FARC-EP, this is very helpful analysis of the developing situation in Colombia:

Three days ago, there was news printed that the Attorney General of Colombia, Alejandro Ordóñez Maldonado had removed the prestigious Colombian Senator Piedad Córdoba from her post and disqualified her from carrying out political office for 18 years, because of her alleged promoting and collaborating with the FARC (the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia).  Faced with such an unusual and drastic measure taken against an elected post in the highest legislative body of state, Piedad has no alternative other than appealing to the very Attorney General who produced the measures.

It was logical that such arbitrariness would cause a mighty rejection, expressed by a wide range of political personalities, among them former prisoners of the FARC and relatives of those who had been liberated, thanks to the senator, former presidential candidates, persons who had held that high office, others who were or still are senators or members of the legislative power. 

Colombian political prisoner enters second month of hunger strike

Fight Back! is circulating following two statements from Colombian political prisoners at the infamous U.S.-designed La Tramacúa in Valledupar, Colombia. The first is from Felix Roberto Sanabria, who is entering into the second month of a hunger strike. The second is from the political prisoners of La Tramacúa’s Tower Five. The alerts were provided by Traspasa los Muros – Beyond the Walls: The Permanent Campaign of Solidarity with the Political Detainees (libertadpresxspoliticxs.jimdo.com ).

STATEMENT BEFORE THE NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC OPINION

From: The Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, FARC-EP, detained in Tower Five of the maximum security jail “La Tramacúa” in Valledupar, Department of Cesar, Colombia:

Open Letter of FARC-EP to the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR)

The following is an open letter from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People’s Army (FARC-EP) to the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR). The text is available in the original Spanish on the website of the FARC-EP, and is reposted here as translated by Pravda:

Although the Colombian government held the door closed to dialogue with the insurgency, sparked by an illusion of military victory and interference from Washington, we want to reiterate to the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) our unyielding desire to seek a political solution to the conflict.

Ernesto Aguilar on Colombia, the FARC, and a future without imperialism

The following editorial is from ernestoaguilar.org 

 

In August, Juan Manuel Santos ascended to Colombia’s presidency. His election is not unusual for Colombia, which has been under U.S. influence for many years. Previous president Alvaro Uribe stood against the South American popular upsurge, led by Hugo Chavez in Venezuela, but which runs strong throughout the rest of the continent. This clash was in spite of Chavez’s many overtures to help previous Colombian leaders bring the armed opposition factions to the negotiating table. Egged on by the Bush Administration, Uribe opted for force over diplomacy. With such proving to be a largely failed strategy, and U.S. as well as Colombian resources for fighting a civil war drying up, where the nation goes from here is anyone’s guess.

Nat’l Committee to Free Ricardo Palmera back on Facebook despite censorship

National Committee to Free Ricardo Palmera activist Josh Sykes sent out a message yesterday to members of the anti-censorship group on facebook stating that a new official facebook page had been created for the NCFRP:

Check out the new, official National Committee to Free Ricardo Palmera facebook page!

Get it while it lasts!

Become a fan, get updates on the campaign, oppose U.S. intervention in Colombia, stand up for justice, and oppose facebook censorship!

This is part of an ongoing struggle for Colombia solidarity activists to use the popular social networking site as a tool to organize, despite ongoing attacks and censorship from facebook.

Free Liliany Obando! August hearing shows no grounds for her arrest

The following article by James Jordan is from Fight Back! News:

Alliance for Global Justice volunteer, Raquel Mogollón, was in attendance at the trial of political prisoner Liliany Obando Aug. 4 in Bogotá, Colombia. Based on her eyewitness report, the hearing revealed manipulation of evidence behind the charges being brought against Obando.

Colombia Action Network: Statement on U.S. bases in Colombia

The following statement is from the Colombia Action Network:

NO to U.S. bases in Colombia!
 
Peace Not War
We oppose U.S. intervention and war in Colombia.  We oppose the seven new U.S. bases being built to wage war on the Colombian people and threaten their neighbors.  We say “NO to U.S. bases in Colombia!”  We want peace and friendship with our neighbors, not war.

Video: FARC-EP leader Alfonso Cano slams Santos regime