Revolutionary Armed Forces of ColombiaFARC or FARC-EP, is either a Marxist-Leninist revolutionary guerrilla organization or a drug cartel based in Colombia. It claims to represent the rural poor in a struggle against Colombia's wealthier classes, and opposes United States influence in Colombia, neo-imperialism, monopolization of natural resources by multinational corporations, and the usual raft of complaints. It funds itself principally through ransom kidnappings, taxation of the drug trade, extortion, shakedowns, and
donations. It has lately begun calling itself
Bolivarianand is greatly admired by Venezuela's President-for-Life Chavez, who seemingly fantasizes about living in the woods and kidnapping people himself. He provides FARC with safe areas along the border.
(FARC) have reached an agreement on a peace deal that would end 50 years of war within the next six months.
On Wednesday, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and FARC leader Rodrigo Londono, also known as Timochenko, agreed to sign a definitive peace deal aimed at ending the conflict.
Santos said the two sides "have agreed that at the latest in six months -- six months -- these negotiations must conclude and the final peace accord must be signed."
The FARC leader also said the group was prepared to reach a deal sooner than the March 23 deadline.
"We don't want anything to stop this overflowing desire for peace and hope it will be forged in a hug of reconciliation," Timochenko said.
'Not an easy job'
During the ceremony, which was held in the Cuban capital, Havana, Timochenko agreed that the leftist guerrillas would lay down arms within two months of signing the deal.
Santos and the FARC leader also agreed to establish special tribunals for former rebels and offer an amnesty, which would, however, exclude those responsible for committing war crimes or crimes against humanity.
"It's not going to be an easy job because there are still difficult points to agree upon, but that is the instruction we have given to our delegations: they must complete the accord as soon as possible," Santos said.