FARC

FUERZAS ARMADAS REVOLUCIONARIAS DE COLOMBIA
REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES OF COLOMBIA (FARC)

FARC is one of the world’s wealthiest and most powerful guerrilla armies.  The group was originally founded in 1964 to overthrow the government and install a leftist regime.

FARC became increasingly involved in the cocaine trade in the 1990s, and receive the majority of their funds from it.  They are known to resort to kidnapping and extortion to gain political leverage.  They are currently holding U.S. and Colombian hostages, as well as Ingrid Betancourt, a French-Colombian politician.  FARC is believed to be holding between 700-750 hostages in total.  They have also been responsible for bombings, murder, mortar attacks, and hijackings.

FARC released two hostages in January 2008 through negotiations spearheaded by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. 

Current President Alvaro Uribe, with funding from the United States, has managed to force FARC to the countryside, where they remain a powerful influence.  The group is believed to have around 16,000 fighters, and is on U.S. and European lists of terrorist organizations.

For more information:

BBC News – Profiles:  Colombia’s armed groups

BBC News - Colombia's Most Powerful Rebels

Global Security.org – FARC

Impunity Watch - South America

PHOTOS:  Wikipedia