Disgruntled FARC Leaders Return to Armed Struggle in Colombia

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On August 28, 2019, senior FARC leaders, including “Iván Marquez,” “Jesús Santrich,” “Romaña,” and “El Paisa,” appeared in a Youtube video during which they brandished weapons and announced a “new stage of armed struggle.” Márquez, the FARC’s political chief, standing with the leaders and other guerrillas, read a manifesto explaining that, “while there is still a will to fight, there is hope of victory.” Márquez insisted that the peace process had been betrayed by the government of Conservative President Iván Duque, who was elected last year promising to modify the peace accord, which he argued was too lenient on ex-fighters guilty of serious crimes. The FARC political party, which has denounced delays in the application of the accord as well as a lack of legal guarantees and security for its members, nevertheless condemned the action of Márquez and the other FARC dissidents. Commentators reacted and offered analysis.

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