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A blow to the peace process in Colombia: Former FARC rebel leaders have taken up arms again. In a video released on Thursday, former guerrilla leader Ivan Marquez announces a second FARC birth with the aim of fighting oligarchy and corruption.
The Farc are dead, long live the Farcs! Barely two years after their dissolution following the peace agreement signed in September 2016 with the Colombian government, the former guerrilla reborn from the ashes. An announcement made by ex-number two Ivan Marquez, under the initials of FARC. He appeared surrounded by a dozen armed fighters, including two women.
" We are announcing to the world that the FARC's second struggle has begun, under the protection of the universal right that helps all people to take up arms against oppression. This is the result of the guerrilla response to the betrayal of the state concerning the peace agreements of Havana. The state will be confronted with a new mode of operation on our part. We will respond only in case of attack .
On the video also appears another former FARC leader, Jesus Santrich. Accused of drug trafficking, he fled a few months ago.
Ivan Marquez had also distanced himself from the peace process. In the video, he accuses the government of not having kept its commitments. Ivan Marquez also announces an alliance with the other Colombian guerrillas, the ELN.
The purpose of this new armed struggle, he explains, is to fight oligarchy and corruption. Former FARC number 2 suggests that he renounces the taking of hostages. For now, we do not know yet the size of this new guerrilla. What is known is that there are about 1,800 fighting dissidents who remained in the maquis.