Colombian Paramilitary Groups

The armed conflict in Colombia began in the 1960s with the creation of various Marxist guerilla groups. Over time, these guerillas have succeeded in acquiring a significant amount of military power, mobilizing thousands of fighters in their battle against imperialism. It is well know that Colombian guerillas have been financed with the help of drug trafficking, extortion, kidnappings, the imposition of revenue taxes on the inhabitants of various regions, and by expropriating lands owned by peasants. These actions have earned Colombian guerilla groups a bad reputation. They have coerced peasants and some of the most vulnerable indigenous peoples in Colombia to join forces with them, compelling thousands of Colombian citizens to seek refuge in protected regions. Even today, despite being unpopular in Colombia and the world over, these guerillas continue to maintain power over a few areas of Colombia where they benefit from a certain amount of support from the population. It is also believed that these guerillas may be the recipients of international financial backing from certain leftist governments such as those of Venezuela and Ecuador.

The 1980s gave rise to paramilitary groups created to fight against the guerillas that the State was unable to defeat. These paramilitary groups not only lashed out against the guerillas, but also against ordinary Colombian citizens; they massacred entire villages whose inhabitants had been accused of siding with the guerillas. In the case of the Mapiripán massacre that occurred in July 1997, the complicity of the national army was recognized by the Colombian courts and by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. The Colombian State is suspected of having supported the paramilitary groups in many other criminal acts as well. The financial strategies used by the paramilitary groups have proved to be the same as those used by the guerillas: drug trafficking, extortion, kidnappings, imposition of revenue taxation and expropriation of peasant owned lands.

Even though the paramilitary groups were officially demobilized in 2006, they did not surrender their arms. Between 5,000 and 8,000 fighters are said to have taken up their activities again within approximately 20 paramilitary groups. Among the most feared, the “Black Eagles” continue their reign of terror. Since the end of 2006, this commando group has stepped up its intimidation as well as violence perpetrated against Colombian citizens and against those from other regions.