The Colombian government has asked citizens to denounce TikTok accounts used by the Marxist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) terrorist group to recruit minors to join its ranks, Colombian Communications Minister Mauricio Lizcano said on Thursday. Announced.
Liscano made the announcement the day after the incident. report The FARC is using Chinese social media platforms to spread propaganda, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported. The FARC is encouraging Colombian youth to join its terrorist organization through dozens of TikTok accounts that have generated hundreds of posts to date.
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AFP reports in a report that the FARC lures Colombian minors with promises of wealth and images glorifying the militants among vast fields of coca leaves, the main ingredient in cocaine production. He said he was inducing people to join terrorist organizations. Most of the videos were published and shared on TikTok, but some were also shared on Facebook, AFP noted.
Some accounts boasting thousands of followers share images of men in fatigues riding horses and crossing rivers, along with motivational and “revolutionary” messages celebrating the guerrilla lifestyle. AFP discovered that it was accompanied by a.
Liscano, remarks The report was given to journalists and called on citizens to report FARC TikTok recruitment videos to national authorities. That way, those behind the publications can then be tracked down and prosecuted if necessary.
A man and children stand next to graffiti of the late FARC commander Alfonso Cano (C) in the El Oso Territorial Training Reentry Area (ETCR) in Gaitania, Tolima Department, Colombia, October 27, 2021. (Raul Arboleda/AFP via Getty Images)
“Everything that recruits a minor is a crime, whether it’s done physically or virtually. What we have to do here is prosecute them. That’s true,” Liscano said. “What we have to do, what the ministry can help with, but what the public can do is report these accounts so they are immediately blocked.”
Colombia and the FARC under former President Juan Manuel Santos signed A peace agreement was signed in 2016. The agreement, signed in Havana under the auspices of the terror-sponsoring state Cuba, saw the FARC “renounce terrorism” and an uncontested seat in exchange for a path that would allow it to enter Colombian politics. and other benefits. Benefits such as parliamentary and legal immunity.
Although the FARC has signed a “peace agreement,” it has not completely stopped its narco-terrorism campaign, which it has carried out for nearly 60 years.
This television footage, taken from YouTube and published on August 29, 2019, shows Ivan Marquez (C), a former senior commander of the disbanded rebel group FARC in Colombia, and his fugitive rebel colleague Jesús. Santrich (wearing sunglasses) is shown making the announcement at an undisclosed location. They are said to be taking up arms again, along with other guerrillas who distanced themselves from the peace agreement signed with the government in 2016. (-/AFP via Getty Images)
Since then, the Colombian government and mainstream media have labeled active FARC forces as “dissidents” and insisted that the “real” FARC is a leadership Bogota welcomes. The still active FARC “dissident” terrorist squad is currently led by Nestor Gregorio Vera Fernández, also known as “Ivan Mordisco.”
Last week, FARC announced It said it had strengthened its forces through the creation of new units to carry out criminal and terrorist activities in four regions of Colombia.
The announcement of the new FARC forces was made via a video published on social media. There, a man identified as Iván Jacobo Idrobo Arredondo, also known as “Marlon Vasquez,” reads a statement alongside an armed man and two girls. Local media in Colombia believe he is a minor.
Colombian Defense Minister Iván Velázquez Confirmed On Thursday, the FARC announced it was using TikTok. He said the terrorist organization was “actually recruiting”.
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Velasquez told local media that the FARC employs influencers and people in military uniforms to spread messages on TikTok that glorify drug culture and encourage minors to join the terrorist organization. Colombia’s defense minister claimed that local police and corresponding government agencies are already taking action to counter the FARC’s recruitment of minors.
Colombian military commander Helder Giraldo said the FARC’s recruitment efforts were a “clear violation” of the ceasefire agreement signed between Colombia and the FARC.
As part of Colombia’s far-left President Gustavo Petro’s “total peace” initiative, the Colombian government has held a series of negotiations with both the FARC and the Marxist National Liberation Army (ELN).
Colombian President Gustavo Petro in Bogotá, Colombia, June 20, 2023. (Sebastian Barros/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
As part of the negotiations, the Colombian military and FARC “rebels” agreed in October to a temporary ceasefire that extends until July 15, 2024. Paused A ceasefire was established in March after FARC forces launched attacks on indigenous communities in the country’s southwest, killing one civilian and wounding two others.
Idrobo Arredondo, on behalf of the FARC, argued that the creation of a new criminal unit was a response to Colombia’s suspension of the ceasefire.
Colombian Congressman Hernan Cadavid be familiar with Through a series of social media posts on Monday, Gustavo Petro, a former member of the Marxist guerrilla M19, revealed how the FARC has expanded its presence and insurgents since becoming Colombia’s first leftist president in 2022. reported how they have strengthened and expanded their criminal activities. Its history.
kadavidfurther I felt stressed Official statistics show that during 2023 there were at least 184 registered cases of forcible abduction of minors and 210 violations of the FARC’s now-suspended ceasefire agreement.
