InSight Crime raises the question, Is Colombia Underestimating the Scale of FARC Dissidence?
InSight Crime estimates that there are approximately 1,000 to 1,500 dissidents who have abandoned the peace process for various reasons, accounting for around 15 percent of the total number of FARC ex-combatants.
Many of the dissidents identified by InSight Crime have returned to their past strongholds to regain control of highly profitable criminal activities, mainly tied to drug trafficking, though there are a range of reasons why former fighters are abandoning the peace process.
The government’s numbers are fractions of the above figures.
Alvaro Uribe tweeted on a dissident FARC faction shooting at a government helicopter,
Disparan contra helicóptero del Ejército https://t.co/JnRTFPMSGK
— Álvaro Uribe Vélez (@AlvaroUribeVel) October 17, 2017
UPDATE
Next we’ll hear how the “peace” will take a very long time. Can’t expect it overnight. Great consolation to the victims. https://t.co/8PkvHjgTh5
— MaryAnastasiaO'Grady (@MaryAnastasiaOG) October 18, 2017
I visited with a fella today. He said his friend recently returned from Medellin and reported he took 5 taxi rides and was pulled over twice by the police. They gave him at complete pat down. He blamed it on MS 13 and Mexicans moving in..Why would that be? It looks like Colombia has plenty of its own gangs. Take this for what it is a 2nd hand story.
All the reports I have heard about Medellin is it is a nice place to visit. Many here in Panama like to visit. There are several considering relocating there. This is the first time I have heard something negative.
It’s going to be interesting, OT.
I have many misgivings over the “peace” agreement.