The cooperation between Ecuador and Colombia has been the first step towards peace

The problem of FARC dissidence – the Colombian guerrilla that demobilized, signed a peace agreement with the government of President Juan Manuel Santos and is now a political movement – is becoming a stone in the shoe for the peace process . The problem has reached the point that military cooperation between Colombia and Ecuador has increased in order to capture or dismiss the head of the dissident group operating in Nariño, Colombia and Ecuador, and who is responsible for the death of the three Ecuadorian journalists. The situation of the dissidence and the constant attacks by the ELN guerrillas also caused Ecuador to withdraw from the negotiating table between the Colombian government and this guerrilla until the terrorist activities cease.

Leer en español: Disidencia de las FARC,¿un problema que aún no se controla?

For its part, the Ideas for Peace Foundation (FIP) published on Sunday, April 15, a report entitled "the trajectories and territorial dynamics of FARC dissidences", which aims to give an overview of the problem. The report attributes to these armed structures, the ability to "destabilize security conditions in rural and urban areas, boost criminal economies and negatively influence the implementation of peace agreements," as well as hinder any effort to build peace. .

How many people do you talk about and how are they financed?

Although there is no agreement between the number of combatants that these groups have, the FIP comes close to saying that 1,200 people are part of these groups. However, other figures are increased to 1,500, and even between government organizations there are differences: for the Attorney General of the nation, we can speak of a maximum of 500 combatants, the Ombudsman's Office of 800, the Vice-President states that there are 1,000 , the Military Forces estimate that the number has grown to 1,200, and some social organizations indicate that they can be between 700 and 1000. These disagreements also influence the perception of the problem by society, and even by the way they should fight.

For the national government, dissidences mainly live on drug trafficking and illegal mining. But the FIP warns this statement that its motivations are not always the only ones that establish its behavior pattern, that is: "if the financing activities are ones, it can not be inferred that these same activities determine their actions". For Eduardo Álvarez Vanegas, former director of the FIP, "leadership changes, fears and uncertainties about the progress of implementation, reincorporation measures and security guarantees, influence the emergence of dissent", which is why it is not possible to lock all dissidences in the same interest of action.

Where do they come from and where do they act?

Although there was initially knowledge of a single dissident group, Front 1 and in front of which it is believed that in the escape that alias "el Paisa" made, its true objective was to be linked to this group. However, the performance of the then FACR leadership and now political party leaders influenced him to return to the concentration camp and leave behind the idea of ​​subversive life. For the FIP and the Government there are 18 structures, with a presence in 13 departments.

The dissidence of the FARC can be grouped IGNORE INTO two macro-regions: 1) the East and South, which affects: the south of Meta, Guaviare, Caquetá, Vaupés, Guainía, Vichada, Putumayo, Casanare and Arauca and 2) the West , with presence in the departments of: Nariño, Choco, Cauca and Antioquia.

What have the dissidences achieved?

The faction of the FARC dissident movement, which acts in Nariño and according to military intelligence and civil society reports already has actions in Ecuador, is the one accused of the death of the three Ecuadorian journalists, as well as the kidnapping of a couple in the population of Esmeraldas. The challenge, it is believed, of this group is to have control of drug trafficking in the region, as well as the connection with the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico.

As a result of the acts of this group, the Colombian and Ecuadorian armed forces act in cooperation to capture or kill the leader of this dissent, Walter Patricio Artizala, alias Guacho.

For both countries, the situation becomes a challenge that must be controlled and the focus must be removed before they are dispersed in either of the two countries and the consequences are dire.

Latin American Post | Carlos Eduardo Gómez Avella

Translated from "Disidencia de las FARC, ¿un problema que aún no se controla?"