Current Event
In 2012, peace talks began to bring a bilateral peace agreement between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). These talks have been a move towards a conclusion, although with many set backs from both parties (Colombia Country Profile, 2015). The Colombian government and the FARC agreed to a cease-fire in December 2014. In 2013, the Colombian government used a provisional, partial agreement on land reform and political participation with the FARC as a way to decrease terrorist activity. This process has allowed for the increase of demilitarization of the FARC. There is no bilateral peace agreement between the Colombian government and the FARC signed to date (Department U. S., 2013). On April 2015, guerrilla forces killed 11 Colombian soldiers in southwest Colombia. The Colombian government forces retaliated with airstrikes that killed 26 guerrilla forces. This attack from the FARC and retaliation from Colombian forces has hindered the peace talks (Dancis, 2015).
A lull in the violence resulting from the cease-fire has impacted both the Colombian government and the FARC. The Colombian government has been able to strengthen and reaffirm its presence in all administrative districts of Colombia. Despite a strong presence in all administrative districts, this strength has been undermined by the Colombian government’s poor infrastructure. Poor infrastructure includes the lack of improved roads, communication connectivity, and access to all government services (Sales, 2013). The government is challenged to improve the districts that have weak infrastructure in order to improve the general quality of life for the local population. The FARC used the ceasefire to regroup and resupply its forces. The FARC finances their operations through narcotic trafficking and kidnapping for ransom. During the cease-fire, the FARC conducted 80 kidnappings, resulting in an undisclosed amount of monetary gain (Party, 2015). In the future, the FARC will focus their attacks on infrastructure and law enforcement. The FARC has focused their recent attacks on infrastructure like the Pan American highway, as well as disabling of the electricity pylons grid of the energy distribution infrastructure. Repeated FARC attacks on energy infrastructure left Tumaco, Colombia without water for almost a week and without power for more than three weeks. Similar attacks in Buenaventura, Colombia left approximately 400,000 residents without electricity. The FARC has targeted law enforcement in the more rural districts of Colombia where law enforcement officers are not as heavily equipped. In June, FARC fighters in southern Colombia mounted an attack on a police outpost in a rural area outside the town of Valle del Guamuez (Update, 2015). Due to these attacks, the government will take the position to fight the FARC by attacking their supply routes and their monetary sources. This includes attacking drug trafficking routes that allow drug flow out of the country, as well as, the flow of weapons and supplies into the country. The monetary sources will be hindered due to the increased security to diminish kidnappings and increased enforcement of anti-narcotics trafficking efforts (Department U. S., 2013). Region Colombia is a country located on the northwest part of South America and is the only South American country with coastlines on both the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea. Colombia was one of the three countries, along with Ecuador and Venezuela, which emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (Colombia Country Profile, 2015). For half of a century the Colombian government forces and anti-government insurgent groups, such as the FARC have been in conflict. The FARC is deeply funded and supported by the drug trade facilitating their efforts against the Colombian government. Narcotics trafficking funded the conflicts during the decade of the 1990s. The FARC and other insurgent groups lack the military or civilian support necessary to overthrow the Colombian government. The FARC continues attacks against civilians that are loyal to the Colombian government. Two-thirds of the country is heavy jungle with little improved infrastructure and is under guerrilla influence or are being contested by Colombian security forces (CIA, 2015). Colombia has become the world 's largest producer of cocaine, supplying cocaine to the United States and countless other countries (Colombia Country Profile, 2015). The
In 2012, peace talks began to bring a bilateral peace agreement between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). These talks have been a move towards a conclusion, although with many set backs from both parties (Colombia Country Profile, 2015). The Colombian government and the FARC agreed to a cease-fire in December 2014. In 2013, the Colombian government used a provisional, partial agreement on land reform and political participation with the FARC as a way to decrease terrorist activity. This process has allowed for the increase of demilitarization of the FARC. There is no bilateral peace agreement between the Colombian government and the FARC signed to date (Department U. S., 2013). On April 2015, guerrilla forces killed 11 Colombian soldiers in southwest Colombia. The Colombian government forces retaliated with airstrikes that killed 26 guerrilla forces. This attack from the FARC and retaliation from Colombian forces has hindered the peace talks (Dancis, 2015).
A lull in the violence resulting from the cease-fire has impacted both the Colombian government and the FARC. The Colombian government has been able to strengthen and reaffirm its presence in all administrative districts of Colombia. Despite a strong presence in all administrative districts, this strength has been undermined by the Colombian government’s poor infrastructure. Poor infrastructure includes the lack of improved roads, communication connectivity, and access to all government services (Sales, 2013). The government is challenged to improve the districts that have weak infrastructure in order to improve the general quality of life for the local population. The FARC used the ceasefire to regroup and resupply its forces. The FARC finances their operations through narcotic trafficking and kidnapping for ransom. During the cease-fire, the FARC conducted 80 kidnappings, resulting in an undisclosed amount of monetary gain (Party, 2015). In the future, the FARC will focus their attacks on infrastructure and law enforcement. The FARC has focused their recent attacks on infrastructure like the Pan American highway, as well as disabling of the electricity pylons grid of the energy distribution infrastructure. Repeated FARC attacks on energy infrastructure left Tumaco, Colombia without water for almost a week and without power for more than three weeks. Similar attacks in Buenaventura, Colombia left approximately 400,000 residents without electricity. The FARC has targeted law enforcement in the more rural districts of Colombia where law enforcement officers are not as heavily equipped. In June, FARC fighters in southern Colombia mounted an attack on a police outpost in a rural area outside the town of Valle del Guamuez (Update, 2015). Due to these attacks, the government will take the position to fight the FARC by attacking their supply routes and their monetary sources. This includes attacking drug trafficking routes that allow drug flow out of the country, as well as, the flow of weapons and supplies into the country. The monetary sources will be hindered due to the increased security to diminish kidnappings and increased enforcement of anti-narcotics trafficking efforts (Department U. S., 2013). Region Colombia is a country located on the northwest part of South America and is the only South American country with coastlines on both the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea. Colombia was one of the three countries, along with Ecuador and Venezuela, which emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (Colombia Country Profile, 2015). For half of a century the Colombian government forces and anti-government insurgent groups, such as the FARC have been in conflict. The FARC is deeply funded and supported by the drug trade facilitating their efforts against the Colombian government. Narcotics trafficking funded the conflicts during the decade of the 1990s. The FARC and other insurgent groups lack the military or civilian support necessary to overthrow the Colombian government. The FARC continues attacks against civilians that are loyal to the Colombian government. Two-thirds of the country is heavy jungle with little improved infrastructure and is under guerrilla influence or are being contested by Colombian security forces (CIA, 2015). Colombia has become the world 's largest producer of cocaine, supplying cocaine to the United States and countless other countries (Colombia Country Profile, 2015). The