Colombia: 2 FARC Members Killed This Week, 65 Since 2016

In 2018, 26 members of the demobilized Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) have been murdered despite giving up their arms as part of the peace accords signed in 2016. In only seven months the number of former militants killed has exceeded the number recorded in 2017.

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After the peace accords, the former FARC guerrilla group became a political party named the Common Alternative Revolutionary Force, also known as FARC, to transition into electoral political life through representation.

According to the state’s general attorney, since the peace accords were signed at least 63 former FARC guerrilla fighters have been murdered. That number doesn't include the two men, Jhon Sanabria and Ramon Ramirez, who were murdered Monday during the massacre in the Catatumbo region of the Norte de Santander department.    

The National Liberation Army (ELN) and the Popular Liberation Army have condemned the massacre. The ELN also issued a public call for a “prompt, independent and efficient investigation.”

Juan Carlos Galindo, a researcher for the Ideas for Peace Foundation, explained there are many factors behind the assassination of former FARC guerrillas and social leaders, which has reached alarming proportions; since 2016 there are over 400 leaders murdered.

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“The uncertainty in re-incorporation process is added to the lags and problems in the implementation of the agreement on security guarantees. To this, you must add the existence of illegal economies and groups that pretend to fill the regulation void left by the FARC. This produces vulnerability, not only for the demobilized but also for the families, populations, and in some cases, you find coincidences with threats against social leaders,” Galindo said.

The deadliest group operating in the region is known as the Usuga clan, a criminal band linked to drug trafficking and illegal mining.

This year, the FARC presented a presidential candidate but had to withdraw from the race after attacks and threats against candidate Rodrigo Londoño. 

Only eight of the 10 FARC legislators have been sworn into Congress.

Jesus Santrich, who is facing an extradition request from the United States after being accused of participating in a drug trafficking network, is currently detained and was unable to appear in Congress, although the allegations came after the peace accords were signed. The FARC has claimed the allegation case is set up meant to derail the peace process.

Ivan Marquez, chief negotiator of the peace accords, also did not take his seat in the Senate as a form of protest against the violation of the peace accords, arguing there are no judicial guarantees for the demobilized guerrillas as demonstrated in the Santrich case.

The FARC party recently published a video warning of the continued targeting of social leaders and FARC members.