FARC’s atrocities

Recent reports from several media outlets focused on declarations made by Colombian President Alvaro Uribe who has ordered the army to step up efforts to rescue former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt from the FARC. Ms Betancourt, a dual Colombian-French national, was seized by the FARC in February 2002. Uribe’s decision came after police officer, John Frank Pinchao, escaped on April 28, 2007 after eight years of captivity by the FARC. Mr. Pinchao gave a detailed report about the harsh conditions of their captivity.

Mr. Uribe pledged to release Betancourt, and her presidential running-mate, Clara Rojas, who gave birth to a son (Emmanuel), while in captivity ( the father is a FARC member, Pinchao said), and three American contractors from the Northrop Grumman Corp.   Marc Gonsalves, Thomas Howes and Keith Stansell were seized by the FARC when their plane crashed on Feb. 13, 2003 while they were conducting a drug surveillance mission in Colombia’s cocaine-producing southern jungle. [i] It is important to keep in mind that although Ms. Betancourt has gained international media attention, there are 60 other hostages that are also imprisoned and are being treated inhumanly by the FARC.  

The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia–People’s Army, (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia–Ejército del Pueblo), or FARC or FARC-EP is a communist revolutionary and illegally armed terrorist organization in Colombia. It was established in 1964-1966 as the military wing of the Colombian Communist Party , and is considered by the Colombian Government, the United States and the European Union, amongst others, as a narco-terrorist organization; for their actions against not only the government but also towards civilians and infrastructure. With an estimated 12,000-18,000 members (approximately 20 to 30% of them children under 18 years), the FARC-EP is present in 35-40% of Colombia’s territory, especially in the southeastern jungles and in the plains at the base of the Andes mountains. The FARC is Colombia’s oldest, largest, most capable, and best-equipped Marxist insurgency. It is governed by a secretariat, led by septuagenarian Manuel Marulanda (a.k.a. "Tirofijo") and six others, including senior military commander Jorge Briceño (a.k.a. "Mono Jojoy"). [ii]

The FARC has financed itself through extortions from kidnappings as well as revenues generated through extensive drug trafficking.   The latter activities include but are not limited to coca plant harvesting, protection of their crops, processing of coca leaves to manufacture cocaine and drug trade protection. They have also invaded and massacred small communities in order to silence and intimidate those who do not support their activities. They enlist new and under aged recruits by force, distribute propaganda and, more importantly, rob local banks. Businesses operating in rural areas were required to pay "vaccines" (monthly payments) which "protected" them from subsequent attacks and kidnappings. Additional, but less lucrative, sources of revenue are highway blockades where guerrillas stop motorists and buses in order to confiscate jewelry and money. [iii]

John Frank Pinchao on Ingrid Betancourt and Clara Rojas       

Colombian police officer John Pinchao escaped from the FARC last week which took him on an odyssey through the deep jungle, after nine years of captivity. He says many of the hostages are too scared to follow him. Pinchao has provided the first details about the lives of Betancourt and the three Americans since videos of them in a jungle hide-out were shown in 2003. Speaking to reporters, Pinchao said the three Americans appeared prepared to wait for the government to reach a deal to release FARC hostages in exchange for jailed guerrillas. He said Betancourt is forced to sleep chained by her neck as punishment for having tried to escape five times and suffers from hepatitis. Pinchao said the prisoners with him were sometimes chained together at the neck for 24 hours a day to keep them from escaping. Since his escape, his family has received death threats. According to Pinchao, Clara Rojas, Betancourt’s campaign manager, had given birth in captivity to a child named Emanuel, confirming reports last year by a Colombian journalist, who said a FARC terrorist was the child’s father. Pinchao also revealed that Betancourt and Rojas are kept in different groups so they don’t see each other. [iv]

Uribe, at a military ceremony, said Pinchao’s testimony "demonstrates that the FARC’s concentration camps are crueler than the concentration camps of the Nazis." He also exhorted his top generals to draft up plans to free the hostages, despite the opposition of family members who fear any rescue operation would end in a bloodbath. [v]

The Kidnapping of Ingrid Betancourt

As part of her campaign in 2002 (the election won by Alvaro Uribe Velez), Ms. Betancourt wanted to enter the demilitarized zone (DMZ) at San Vicente del Caguán to meet with FARC representatives. The problem was that the terrorist group continued with its kidnappings, military attacks, involvement in the drug trade, intimidation and displacement of the civilian population, and the purchasing of weaponry so former President Pastrana and other officials turned down her petition arguing that neither they, nor the Colombian Army, could guarantee her safety. [vi]

When denied transport aboard a military helicopter that was heading to the zone, she decided to head into the DMZ via ground transport, together with her presidential running-mate, Clara Rojas and a handful of political aides. On February 23, 2002, she was stopped at the last military checkpoint before going into the former DMZ. Military officers insisted she and her entourage were not to continue on their journey towards San Vicente del Caguán but Betancourt dismissed their warning. She was kidnapped by FARC, who have held her captive ever since. [vii]

Due to Betancourt’s French citizenship, the newly elected President of France, Nicolas Sarkozy, is already involved in the cas e. The FARC urged Sarkozy to help broker a deal for the release of Betancourt and dozens more hostages the rebels have held for years. Sarkozy’s "good offices will be definitive in this matter to secure the return home of Ms. Ingrid and the other hostages in an exchange," FARC spokesman Raul Reyes told Anncol news service, which often carries rebel statements. Sarkozy has told Betancourt’s relatives in France that he will work to secure her release, but the French government is concerned that Uribe has ordered the military to intensify efforts to rescue the hostages from secret jungle camps. Betancourt’s relatives have also approached Sarkozy and have urged him to prevent a military rescue. [viii]

Ever since Uribe became President of Colombia, violence has dropped sharply, but the FARC, is still fighting and has held hundreds of politicians, police and soldiers prisoner for years. The FARC is determined to exchange about 60 so-called political prisoners, including Betancourt and three US military contractors, for hundreds of jailed terrorists. M any non-governmental organizations (NGO’s) are pressuring Uribe to comply with the demands.

Analysts believe that the FARC are supported by Fidel Castro and Hugo Chávez who vehemently oppose "Plan Colombia", and are doing everything they can to put a stop to it.  Chávez, who has been accused of giving sanctuary to the FARC inside Venezuela sees them as a conflict party instead of condemning them as a terrorist organization. Unfortunately, many Democrats in Congress have decided to criticize Uribe and, in doing so they have unintentionally sided with the FARC, freezing up $55.2 million in military aid to the South American country. [ix] Bashing Uribe sends the wrong message to Latin America. If the U.S. turns on its closest, most loyal regional ally, other leaders will not be tempted to support American initiatives. What’s more Chavez will step in to fill the void as Uribe losses financial support from the U.S., he will most likely increase his assistance to the FARC.

As a well funded terrorist group with the capability to destabilize not only Colombia but the Andean hemisphere, the FARC continues to be a major concern. FARC activities could have powerful ripple effects here in the US, in illegal immigration, drugs and potential terrorism.

Revenues from kidnappings enable the FARC to purchase additional arms and kill innocent people. Caving into their demands of exchanging what they refer to as "political prisoners" for jailed terrorists, suggests that terrorism pays off and more of the same tactics will be used in the future. If Uribe softens his stance towards the FARC, it means that his administration is subject to be intimidated and the message to the terrorists will be that if they become more brutal with their hostages, authorities will eventually give in.

That is why it is important for Uribe to stay the course, support a military rescue and not succumb to the pressure of human rights groups and other governments which have nothing at stake here. Colombia has to do all it can to safeguard itself and protect its people and therefore the FARC must be contained and dealt with by force, if necessary.

Notes

[i] Ex rehén: Ingrid Betancourt es "el mayor enemigo" de las FARC. May 28, 2007. El Tiempo, Colombia.

[ii] Las FARC, más de cuatro décadas de desafío al poder. May 19, 2007. Diario Clarín, Argentina.

[iii] Ibid. 

[iv] Policía escapa de las FARC tras nueve años de secuestro. May 18, 2007. La Prensa, Bolivia. [v] Uribe ordena el rescate de Betancourt. Francia rechaza el uso de la fuerza. May 19, 2007. 20 Minutos, España.  [vi] Betancourt, símbolo del secuestro en Colombia. February 23, 2007.   El Mundo, España.

[vii] Ibid.

[viii] Las FARC creen que Sarkozy puede ser clave para liberar a Betancourt. May 25, 2007. Clarín, Argentina.

[ix] "The Americas Report." May 24, 2007. /modules/newsmanager/center%20publication%20pdfs/the%20americas%20report%20may%2024%202007.pdf