Tuesday, February 05, 2008

Raleigh protest against Colombian guerrillas

According to an article in The News&Observer Metro section Monday, there were protests against the FARC-EP (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia - People's Army) in Colombia and elsewhere, including in Raleigh Monday.  The Raleigh protest was at 4600 Capitol Boulevard near Millbrook Road and Calvary Drive, at 12, and the article says more information is posted at www.colombiasoyyo.org.  According to the BBC there were protests in 130 cities worldwide for "A million voices against FARC," but they only say "thousands" turned out in the capital, Bogota, even though an earlier guest or reporter said basically no one in Colombia or elsewhere is or should be for the FARC.  FARC is one of the leading Marxist guerrilla armies in Colombia (another prominent group is the ELN), and started in the 60's and has 12-16,000 soldiers according to the article.  They have been accused of drug trafficking, but even if that is true, I think President Uribe, a conservative US government ally, has also been accused of involvement with drug trafficking and the paramilitary groups that are themselves involved in drugs and do 'counter-insurgency' by terrorizing the population and killing union members.  The US government has supported guerillas, terrorists, and is accused of drug trafficking.  FARC's website is www.farcep.org, but it is apparently down right now.    

No comments: