The founder and leader of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of
Colombia (FARC), Manuel Marulanda, died in March, according to a
statement made Saturday by government officials. They also said Alfonso Cano had replaced him.
The death of the guerrilla captain is considered to have put the
group in difficulty, bringing it a vulnerability it didn’t have in its 44 years’
history. Officials hope this will lessen FARC’s power and cease the attacks in
this country. Civilians expect that 700 hostages that are hold in jungle camps
by guerillas should be released, now that the rebels are losing ground.
Marulanda’s death comes after another three important losses
for the group, one of them being Raul Reyes, who was a Secretariat Member,
spokesperson and Advisor to the Southern Bloc of FARC.
So Colombian officials’ belief that the FARC is in obvious
decline is more than well-founded. Still, Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos
stresses the fact that the group is not yet off the track and that it shouldn’t
be underestimated. It still has about 9,000 men under arms. Neither does it lack
financial means, as they earn money from the cocaine trade, which is an affair far from
being annihilated in Colombia.
The FARC formed from a peasant army in the 1960s and has
achieved the great number of 16,000 men in time. It was on the verge of taking over Bogota
in the 1990s and has determined numerous bloody clashes within all these years.
Hundreds of Colombians die each year as a result of the conflicts. More than three million people are obliged to leave
their homes.
Under Álvaro Uribe’s
ruling, who has appealed to U.S. support to fight the FARC, the conflicts have been finally diminished. But this is the first moment in guerilla’s history
when its end can be foreshadowed. According to some statements made by
Colombian President, some commanders have already individually contacted
authorities to offer to surrender with hostages. However, it is more than
obvious that a collective surrender is not to be expected, as this may make the
group vulnerable in case of any talks. They surely won’t just give up, but maintain
high demands. It won’t be that easy to reach an agreement.
"Unfortunately, the FARC moves slowly. We have to wait
to see what doors the government opens because any humanitarian agreement depends
on both sides, not just one," stated Pastrana's ex-peace negotiator Camilo
Gomez, as Reuters quotes.
