Colombia: On the Brink of Peace with the FARC?

By

Steven L. Taylor

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Anti-FARC protestors in Bolívar Square during the February 2008 protests.

Anti-FARC Protesters

Anti-FARC protestors in Bolívar Square during the February 2008 protests. The sign reads: "No more injustices of the rich against the poor; origin of war, terrorism and kidnapping."

Children on a Colombian coffee plantation in the 1910s.

Colombian Coffee Plantation

Children on a Colombian coffee plantation in the 1910s.

An anti-kidnapping rally in 2008.

Anti-Kidnapping Rally

An anti-kidnapping rally in 2008. The banner reads: “No more kidnappings. No more terrorism. No more deaths. No more FARC.” (Photo by Camilo Rueda López).

Pedro Antonio Marín.

Manuel Marulanda Vélez

Pedro Antonio Marín, also known by the nom de guerre Manuel Marulanda Vélez and his nickname tirofijo, founded and led the FARC for many years.

Father Camilo Torres among peasants.

Father Camilo Torres

Father Camilo Torres, an ELN guerrilla, among peasants.

Álvaro Uribe.

Álvaro Uribe

Álvaro Uribe served as Colombian President from 2002 to 2010.

Gustavo Rojas Pinilla.

Gustavo Rojas Pinilla

Gustavo Rojas Pinilla led Colombia’s only military government of the twentieth century. He served as President from 1953 to 1957.

Raul Reyes.

Raul Reyes

In 2008, the Colombian military killed Raul Reyes, a key leader of the FARC.

Colombians marching against FARC kidnappings in 2008.

2008 Protests

Colombians marching against FARC kidnappings in 2008.

Three child soldiers during the War of a Thousand Days.

War of a Thousand Days

Three child soldiers during the War of a Thousand Days, (1898-1902).

The 1948 riots in Bogotá.

La Violencia

Known as El Bogotazo, the 1948 riots in Bogotá left as many as 3,000 Colombians dead.

The aftermath of a riot in Santa Fe de Bogotá in 1948.

El Bogotazo

The aftermath of a riot in Santa Fe de Bogotá in 1948.

The popular leader Jorge Eliécer Gaitán on a banknote.

Jorge Eliécer Gaitán

The popular leader Jorge Eliécer Gaitán on a banknote. The quotations from Gaitán read: “I am not a man, I am the people” and “The people are superior to their leaders.”

Supporters of Jorge Eliécer Gaitán gather at a rally.

1948 Rally

Supporters of Jorge Eliécer Gaitán gather at a rally. The sign reads “Liberalism calls for peace and justice.”

Riots in Bogotá in April 1948 engulf a trolley car in Bolívar Square.

Riots in Bogotá

Riots in Bogotá in April 1948 engulf a trolley car in Bolívar Square.

The National Liberation Army flag at the National University of Colombia.

ELN Flag

The National Liberation Army flag at the National University of Colombia. The flag reads: “Neither Surrender, nor Deliverance.”

FARC soldiers marching during peace talks.

FARC Peace March

FARC soldiers marching during peace talks from 1998 to 2002.

The 2007 arrest of Luis Hernando Gomez-Bustamante.

Arrest of Luis Hernando Gomez-Bustamante

The 2007 arrest of Luis Hernando Gomez-Bustamante, a leader of the Norte Valle Colombian drug cartel.

President George W. Bush and Colombian President Alvaro Uribe.

Presidents Bush and Uribe

President George W. Bush and Colombian President Alvaro Uribe at the White House in 2007.

Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta meeting with Colombian Special Forces.

Leon Panetta

Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta meeting with Colombian Special Forces in 2012.

A 2007 protest against FARC kidnappings and military rescue attempts.

Caged Protesters

A 2007 protest against FARC kidnappings and military rescue attempts. Protesters' signs read: “Yes to the humanitarian agreement for the right to life. No to a blood and fire rescue.”

Pedro Antonio Marín allegedly hiding out before his death in Venezuela.

Pedro Antonio Marin

Pedro Antonio Marín allegedly hiding out before his death in Venezuela.

The Peasant Self-Defense Forces of Córdoba and Urabá.

Paramilitaries

The Peasant Self-Defense Forces of Córdoba and Urabá, a right wing paramilitary group opposed to the FARC.

FARC soldiers during peace talks in 2006.

FARC Soldiers

FARC soldiers during peace talks in 2006.

FARC soldiers marching in 1998.

FARC Soldiers Marching

FARC soldiers marching in 1998.

A FARC car bomb attack at the Caracol Radio headquarters.

2010 Car Bomb

A FARC car bomb attack at the Caracol Radio headquarters in 2010.

President Juan Manuel Santos.

President Juan Manuel Santos

President Juan Manuel Santos in 2010.

FARC soldeirs with a kidnapped member of Congress in 2002.

Kidnapped Congressman

FARC soldeirs with a kidnapped member of Congress in 2002. (Photo by InSight Crime).

The flag of the Popular Liberation Army.

EPL Flag

The flag of the Popular Liberation Army.

The flag of the Patriotic Union (UP).

UP Flag

The flag of the Patriotic Union (UP). Right-wing paramilitary violence against the UP left thousands of supporters dead.

Secretary of State Colin Powell visiting Colombia.

Colin Powell

^{Secretary of State Colin Powell visiting Colombia in 2003.}

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