Country Reports on Terrorism 2013 - Foreign Terrorist Organizations: National Liberation Army

aka ELN; Ejercito de Liberacion Nacional

Description: The National Liberation Army (ELN) was designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization on October 8, 1997. The ELN is a Colombian Marxist-Leninist group formed in 1964. It is primarily rural-based, although it also has several urban units. The ELN remains focused on attacking economic infrastructure, in particular oil and gas pipelines and electricity pylons, and extorting foreign and local companies.

Activities: The ELN engages in kidnappings, hijackings, bombings, drug trafficking, and extortion activities. The group also uses intimidation of judges, prosecutors, and witnesses; and has been involved in the murders of teachers and trade unionists. Historically, the ELN has been one of the most prolific users of anti-personnel mines in Colombia. In recent years, including 2013, the ELN launched joint attacks with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), Colombia's largest terrorist organization.

During 2013, the ELN increased its attacks on infrastructure, particularly on oil pipelines and equipment. In January, the ELN abducted a Canadian executive and five geologists employed at a Canadian gold mining company in a gold-rich region of northern Colombia. The ELN released the geologists a month later. The Canadian executive was not released until August, after seven months of captivity. In May, the ELN killed 10 Colombian army soldiers in Cucuta. In October, the ELN took responsibility for over 50 attacks against petroleum operational and security forces in Arauca, in eastern Colombia. The ELN spokesperson issued a press release threatening more attacks unless the Colombian government met the ELN's list of conditions. The group also increased its use of small arms fire against the U.S.-supported Colombian police aerial eradication aircraft, in an effort to undermine the program's ability to eradicate illicit coca cultivation used to finance the ELN and FARC.

Strength: Approximately 2,000 armed combatants and an unknown number of active supporters.

Location/Area of Operation: Mostly in the rural and mountainous areas of northern, northeastern, and southwestern Colombia, as well as the border regions with Venezuela.

Funding and External Aid: The ELN draws its funding from the illicit narcotics trade and from extortion of oil and gas companies. Additional funds are derived from kidnapping ransoms. There is no known external aid.

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