FARC

13 dead in clashes between rival Colombian rebels

Bogota - Muslimchronicle

Thirteen people were killed in Colombia in a clash between National Liberation Army (ELN) rebels and FARC dissidents, the country's ombudsman said Tuesday. The firefight, which comes as the ELN is observing a three-month ceasefire with the government in Bogota, happened last week in a remote area of the country's southwest, the official, Carlos Negret, told reporters. source: AFPRead more

Disarmed, Colombia's FARC seek political rebirth

Bogota - Muslimchronicle

Disarmed fighters from Colombia's leftist FARC rebel force sought political rebirth on Sunday as they launched steps to transform into a party and seek elected office after ending a half-century armed struggle. About 1,200 delegates from the freshly demobilized Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia attended the opening of a founding congress to choose their political representatives ahead of next year'sRead more

Colombia declares FARC war over as last guns roll away

Bogota - Muslimchronicle

Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos declared the country's 50-year conflict with FARC guerrillas "truly over" Tuesday, as the last truckloads of decommissioned weapons rolled away to be melted down. Santos himself shut a padlock on the last lot of decommissioned rifles before it was taken out of a remote demobilization camp to formally seal the UN-supervised disarmament by theRead more

Last Colombian rebel group says ceasefire is near

Sangolqui - Muslimchronicle

Now that Colombia's leftist FARC rebels have laid down their weapons under a peace accord ending 50 years of war, the country has one last guerrilla group that is still active, the National Liberation Army, or ELN. It is in peace talks with the government and its chief negotiator says a temporary bilateral ceasefire is possible before Pope Francis visitsRead more

FARC slams Colombian government for 'repeatedly breaking'

Bogota - Muslimchronicle

Colombia's Marxist FARC rebels accused the government Sunday of "repeatedly breaking" terms of their peace deal, and threatened to delay their demobilization. "After the government's repeated non-compliance with the Peace Agreement (signed in November), the FARC is going to seek international monitoring," rebel leader Rodrigo Londono, AKA Timochenko, warned on Twitter. Timochenko earlier said he was "considering" postponing demobilization. ItRead more

Colombia forces struggle to root out coca

Llorente - AFP

Colombian forces sent to rip green coca plants from the earth to end a trade fueling violence complain the crops are being replanted as fast as they can destroy them. Colombia is ranked by the United Nations as the world's biggest producer of coca -- the raw material for cocaine -- which has funded armed groups in the more thanRead more

For FARC moms, peace in Colombia marks new beginning

San José de Oriente - Arab Today

Josleidy Ramirez, a FARC guerrilla, never had a chance to raise the son she gave birth to 15 years ago in the middle of Colombia's civil war. Now, with peace on the horizon, she is four months pregnant and looking forward to the chance to finally be a mom. A baby boom has swept the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia,Read more

Pope to head to Colombia September 6-11: Vatican

Francis - Arab today

Pope Francis will travel to Colombia in September, the Vatican said Friday, after the pontiff closely followed peace negotiations between the government and FARC rebels. The September 6-11 trip will include stops in the capital Bogota as well as Villavicencio, Medellin and Cartagena, the Church said, adding that a fuller itinerary for the trip will be published shortly. TheRead more