FARC: Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia

[The Vegan Marxist]

What is everyone's opinion on the Colombian rebel group, FARC? Especially comparing them to now, under the new leadership since '08, to what they were before their former leader was killed.

[Tablo]

I do not like the fact they use the drug trade to fund their operations, but they could be far worse. I also strongly disagree with their politics.... I do not think I can really see them in a positive light. They are better than the Colombian government, but I do not see them as a revolutionary force. I would be happy to see them take control as I think they would benefit the peasants and working class, but they will not lead the revolution in any sense. They would most likely just seize power and establish a single party dictatorship. -_______-

[The Vegan Marxist]

I do not like the fact they use the drug trade to fund their operations, but they could be far worse. I also strongly disagree with their politics.... I do not think I can really see them in a positive light. They are better than the Colombian government, but I do not see them as a revolutionary force. I would be happy to see them take control as I think they would benefit the peasants and working class, but they will not lead the revolution in any sense. They would most likely just seize power and establish a single party dictatorship. -_______-

Is there a confirmation that they work with the drug traffickers, especially by those that are within FARC or the ETA, or is this something that's been talked about by the Colombian government? Because I try to stay open minded when it comes to accusations like connections between rebel groups & drug trafficking, because no matter who you are, as long as you're against an oppressive government, it's always made out like every single one of them are working with drug traffickers. No, forget about the government working with them, it's those damn commies! lol

[red cat]

The drug trading accusation is being fabricated against more than one group engaging in anti-imperialist PW. The FARC, PCP and even the CPI(Maoist) have been accused of this. I think that these are nothing but false accusations in order to justify present and future military intervention by imperialist powers which claim to stop the drug trade.

The FARC have not declared themselves Maoist yet. So we do not agree with their politics. However, considering the fact that the Maoist party in Colmbia is yet to start a PW, we uphold FARC as a communist organization, and accompany our support for them with constructive criticism.

[Imposter Marxist]

Pretty much what Red Cat said. I support them, but also disagree with them on some things.

[The Vegan Marxist]

Pretty much what Red Cat said. I support them, but also disagree with them on some things.

I agree. There are some things that I'm a little edgy about with them, but overall, this group is practically the last hope for some light within the Colombian lands.

What about the known dealings taking place between the ETA & FARC? Do any of you support it? If so, why? Same with if not.

[Robocommie]

I've heard stuff about child soldiers and accusations of sexual harassment against female guerillas, but I'm reserving judgement without more information. Particularly because I've also heard that those things are more common in some cadres, and less common in others, and therefore not necessarily representative of FARC as a whole. However, if the drug trafficking charges are true, that doesn't necessarily bother me that much, no more than I think poppy farmers in Afghanistan or Southeast Asia are evil.

[The Vegan Marxist]

I've heard stuff about child soldiers and accusations of sexual harassment against female guerillas, but I'm reserving judgement without more information. Particularly because I've also heard that those things are more common in some cadres, and less common in others, and therefore not necessarily representative of FARC as a whole. However, if the drug trafficking charges are true, that doesn't necessarily bother me that much, no more than I think poppy farmers in Afghanistan or Southeast Asia are evil.

Well, when one searches for things like drug trafficking or sexual harassment, things like that, we shouldn't be looking at the guerrillas, themselves, but how the community of the entire Colombian territory treats these things. My money would go to the possible fact that it's not just the guerrillas that act like that, but is rather a communal condition that's been brought up as a norm. People in Rome thought of it as normal to go & see christians being thrown to the lions.

Roman child: Please dad, can I go see the christians being thrown to the lions?

Roman father: Did you get everything done at the house; did you do this; or ;did you do that?

It's all the same, in which it's how the environmental conditions operate within the area. It's just easier to pin point these conditions on a single group, rather than the community, itself.