July 6, 2007:
FARC is
shifting tactics to terrorism and Information War, in response to its inability
to deal with the army and police on the ground. Fueled by cocaine profits, FARC
believes it can survive the military superiority of the government. Money can
buy politicians and police, preventing the government from wiping out FARC
completely. Since FARC has merged with the drug gangs it used to just protect,
the leftist rebels believe they are invincible. Meanwhile, the battle on
the ground is costing FARC thousands of members each year, and the territory
they used to control, or at least terrorize.
July 5, 2007: Throughout
the country, dozens of demonstrations were held to protest FARC's kidnapping
tactics, and the fact that over 3,000 captives are still being held. Over
a million people took part in the demonstrations.
July 4, 2007: FARC
released a video of seven of its kidnap victims (policemen and soldiers)
pleading for the government to release FARC leaders from prison. Some of the
kidnap victims have been over five years.
July 3, 2007:
Police arrested FARC operatives in Melgar. The men were planning to attack some
of the 400 U.S. military and police trainers in Colombia.
June 30, 2007: The U.S.
government warned its citizens to stay away from the Colombian mountain resort
of Melgar. FARC is planning to kidnap more American citizens, believing that
this would help force the government to release FARC leaders from prison, in
exchange for people held by FARC.
