Rebels with a cause

In the 1960s, however, left-wing guerrilla groups started appearing; the two most prominent of these were, and still are, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), and National Revolution Army (ELN), both established in 1964. These two rival groups were founded upon Marxist principles, are based in the mountains of southern and eastern Colombia and claim to fight for the poor and against the disparity of wealth in the country. Various right-wing paramilitary groups also sprang up to protect local interests and fight the guerrillas, combining forces in 1997 to create the United Self-Defence Forces of Colombia (AUC). All of the above groups are listed as terrorist organisations by the US and EU and fund their operations largely via their links to the cocaine trade. Between them they have been responsible for thousands of kidnappings over the last few decades, as well as assassinations, hijacks, massacres of civilians, rapes and the use of child soldiers. For decades the guerrillas and the paramilitaries have fought against each other and the government in a sporadic and bloody ongoing conflict.

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