Marxist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) terrorist organization announced This weekend, a unit will be created within the group to carry out criminal activities across four regions of Colombia.
FARC signed A peace agreement signed in 2016 with the government of then-President Juan Manuel Santos and the state sponsor of terrorism, Cuba, agreed to abandon terrorism in exchange for uncontested seats, legal immunity and other benefits. Then he claimed. Since then, mainstream media has labeled the FARC’s ongoing terrorist activities as “dissident” actions, reinforcing the illusion that only the leaders welcomed in Bogotá are the “true” FARC. The agreement failed to eradicate a half-century-old narco-terrorist organization, as evidenced by this weekend’s announcement of an expansion of terrorist operations.
Santos won The failed effort was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2016.
This weekend’s announcement alarmed Colombia’s conservative opposition after FARC leaders claimed they were successfully recruiting “young people” to the new force. FARC has long history The use of child soldiers to commit crimes such as torture and rape against children.
The Colombian terrorist organization, whose “dissidents” are headed by Nestor Gregorio Vera Fernández, also known as “Ivan Mordisco,” made the announcement in a roughly five-minute video posted on social media.inside videoMan reportedly The person, identified as Iván Jacobo Idrobo Arredondo, also known as “Marlon Vázquez,” is said to have been arrested by the new Central Bloc Isaias Pardo criminal unit in the Colombian departments of Valle del Cauca, Huila, Tolima and Quindio ( announced that it would operate in the state (equivalent to the state).
Announcement: Directive of FARC-EP Central Commander Isaias Pardo de las. Military Anti-War Solidarity and Respesta with the Bloc Occidental Comandante Jacobo Arenas. Bienvenidos hombres y mujeres a fortalecer nuestras filas.
Video version: 🎥 https://t.co/pGGFfRuZ0s pic.twitter.com/IVbKkKSfRM— Colombian Armada (@FARCEP_) April 1, 2024
The far-left government of socialist President Gustavo Petro, a former member of the Marxist guerrilla M19, has held a series of negotiations with the FARC and the Marxist National Liberation Army (ELN) as part of its “total peace” initiative.
As part of the negotiations, the Colombian military and FARC “rebels” agreed in October to a 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 claimed that the creation of a new criminal unit was a response to the suspension of the ceasefire.
“Today as yesterday, despite the announcement of an invasion against the FARC-EP, [EP stands for People’s Army],” “In our dignified response to fight injustice and fight for a new homeland, the men and women, the blacks, the peasants, the Indians, who are ready to politically and militarily stand up to the state’s aggression against the people and the revolutionary forces,” he said. People are responding,” he said.
Hidrobo Arredondo’s video shows him accompanied by armed men and two girls, who local Colombian media say are believed to be underage.
“The basis for the creation of the Commander Isaias Pardo bloc was to connect hundreds of young people into our ranks in these sectors in the last two years,” Idrobo Arredondo said. . “We hope to continue to look forward to the young men and women who will work with Farc-EP to build a new homeland.”
Colombian opposition lawmaker slams criticized After the FARC announcement, Petro’s government accused Petro of allowing the organization to flourish.
Sen. Miguel Uribe released a video on Monday accusing Petro of dragging Colombia back to its “worst era of violence” and allowing the recruitment of minors by the FARC.
“The FARC has just announced the creation of a new bloc and is calling on young Colombians to join its ranks. They confessed to recruiting dozens of young people during the Gustavo Petro regime,” Uribe said. said. “So the FARC and the criminal organizations are getting stronger while Petro is giving them impunity.”
Colombian Congressman Hernan Cadavid be familiar with Monday told how the FARC has expanded its presence, strengthened its armed group and expanded its criminal activities since Petro took office in 2022.Mr. Kadavid too 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.
Mr. Otti Patiño, Colombian High Commissioner for Peace, mention He organized the new FARC bloc as an “internal reorganization” and claimed that terrorists had “every right” to reorganize.
Otty Patiño serves on the commission of Paz de Petro realizó llamativa declaración sobre el nuevo bloque anunció las Farc de Iván Mordisco. “International reorganization, resumption of activities in Hasella… Hey ke pensal bien a veses.” https://t.co/if1kX8q65f pic.twitter.com/GqxYgm3Ag8
— Revista Semana (@RevistaSemana) April 1, 2024
“I believe this announcement is their internal realignment. And if this internal realignment leads them to respect the people and respect the ceasefire, that’s good, but it doesn’t mean they It’s an internal reorganization that we have every right to do,” Patiño said. he said in remarks to reporters on Monday.
he added:
I think they’re forming blocks, I think they’re grouping fronts, that’s what I understand. And if it contributes to more responsibility on the front lines (in some cases everyone doing what they want without more centralized responsibility), then this Any new reorganization of the block is welcome.
A reporter asked Patiño whether the Colombian government sees the new FARC bloc as a growth of the organization.
“No, no, on the contrary, I think… sometimes you have to think twice that they are trying to restructure to take on more responsibility at the bargaining table,” he replied.
Christian K. Caruso is a Venezuelan writer who chronicles life under socialism. You can follow him on Twitter here.
