COLOMBIA |
Colombia has been plagued by violence for the past 40 years. Leftist guerrillas are battling both the government and right wing paramilitaries for control over the country. The two largest and most prominent left wing organizations are the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the National Liberation Army (ELN), both of which claim to promote Marxist ideology and are working to overthrow the current Colombian government. On the right, there are numerous bands of paramilitary organizations, most of which are organized under the umbrella organization the United-Self Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC). Landlords and other upper-income civilians mobilized the self-defense forces in response to the abuses of the left-wing guerrilla groups. While they were formed for self-defense, the AUC groups often attack trade unionists and peasant leaders, who they see as “pro-guerrilla.” Both sides are heavily linked to the drug trade within the country, and both target civilians thought to be collaborating with the other side. Drug trafficking and kidnapping ransoms are the two main ways in which the rebel groups finance their attacks. The nature of the massacres committed in the country is often extremely brutal and involves mutilation and torture. |
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