According to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, FARC "formally dissolved and disarmed" after the 2016 treaty was brokered, and the rebel group is no longer a unified organization "that engages in terrorism or terrorist activity or has the capability or intent to do so."
"Now everything will be right as rain"
Blinken added that removing the foreign terrorist group designation from FARC does not affect criminal charges that have been or may be brought by the US against the rebel group’s onetime leaders.
Nor, the secretary continued, does the move undo judgments by a special Colombian court "which found their actions to be crimes against humanity."
FARC was first designated a terrorist organization by the US in 1997. In its place, Blinken announced foreign terrorist organization designations for two splinter groups,
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 was greatly admired by Venezuela's President-for-Life Chavez, who seemingly fantasizes about living in the woods and kidnapping people himself. He provided FARC with safe areas along the border.
— People’s Army (FARC-EP), and Segunda Marquetalia, as well as their respective leaders.
Both breakaway groups were founded in 2019 and have since engaged in terrorist activity in the South American nation. According to Blinken, both organizations have targeted former members of FARC as well as politicians for liquidation and kidnapping.
Related:
Revolutionary Forces of Colombia: 2016-10-03 Colombian Voters Reject Peace Deal With Rebels
Revolutionary Forces of Colombia: 2004-09-23 12 Kidnapped In Colombia Since Last Friday
Revolutionary Forces of Colombia: 2004-09-20 Colombia's F.A.R.C. Busted Trying To Buy $3,000,000 in Arms With Counterfeit Money
Revolutionary Forces of Colombia: 2016-10-03 Colombian Voters Reject Peace Deal With Rebels
Revolutionary Forces of Colombia: 2004-09-23 12 Kidnapped In Colombia Since Last Friday
Revolutionary Forces of Colombia: 2004-09-20 Colombia's F.A.R.C. Busted Trying To Buy $3,000,000 in Arms With Counterfeit Money
Related:
Antony Blinken: 2021-11-23 US sanctions another NORD Stream 2 company
Antony Blinken: 2021-11-23 Blinken tells Sudan’s leaders must make more progress on democracy before Washington resumes $700 million in suspended aid
Antony Blinken: 2021-11-19 Russia is mobilising its forces, but much more covertly than in the past
Antony Blinken: 2021-11-23 US sanctions another NORD Stream 2 company
Antony Blinken: 2021-11-23 Blinken tells Sudan’s leaders must make more progress on democracy before Washington resumes $700 million in suspended aid
Antony Blinken: 2021-11-19 Russia is mobilising its forces, but much more covertly than in the past