Colombia: Information on extortion by the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 March 1993 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | COL13696 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Colombia: Information on extortion by the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC), 1 March 1993, COL13696, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ac322c.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
In addition to the information provided in Response to Information Request COL1135, please find attached some documents that report on incidents of extortion and kidnapping for ransom carried out by guerrilla groups in Colombia.
Descriptions of extortion as practised by the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC) can be found in the attached copies of Americas Watch reports. These explain how FARC finances its operations through forms of extortion and kidnapping known as vacunas and boleteos (Americas Watch Apr. 1989, 29). The practice is also referred to as "taxes," which are exacted mostly from wealthy individuals, including drug traffickers (Americas Watch 1992, 60-61). FARC reportedly enforces this "taxation" by kidnapping members of wealthy families and demanding a ransom for their release (Ibid.). The practice is so widespread that it is considered a "part of a deliberate, concerted policy ordered by the highest echelons of the guerrilla forces" (Ibid.). The quoted attachment provides some statistics on the subject.
An early 1993 report states that the total number of reported abductions for ransom in Colombia declined from 1,717 in 1991 to 1,136 in 1992; the report, however, does not break down the total according to authorship (Latin American Newsletters 21 Jan. 1993, 27). Nevertheless, a late 1992 report states that cattle ranchers and businessmen were pressing for action against "the guerrilla's continuing campaign of kidnappings for ransom" (Ibid. 10 Dec. 1992, 10). The same report states that in some cases the guerrillas force drug traffickers to pay a "tax" known as gramaje (Ibid.).
In late 1992 the Colombian government reported that the guerrilla forces, of which FARC is the largest, had yearly revenues of between US$140 million and US$215 million, derived primarily from their involvement in the drug trade, ransom money, "taxes" on businesses and shares of oil royalties (Ibid. 26 Nov. 1992, 4). The Colombian government has enacted legislation aimed at curbing the widespread occurrence of kidnapping. These measures include increased penalties against kidnappers, freezing the assets of the victim's families or employers to prevent payment of ransom, outlawing kidnap and ransom insurance, and terminating contracts of foreign companies that pay ransom (Ibid. 22 Oct. 1992, 8). The latter measure is reportedly aimed at the oil industry (Ibid.)
Some reports refer to extortion by the Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN), which together with FARC, is a member of the Coordinadora Nacional Guerrillera Simón Bolívar (CNGSB). The ELN and FARC are reported in various sources as having mounted joint operations and coordinated activities, although it is not clear from the information currently available to the DIRB whether these organizations coordinate extortion activities. One report states, without providing further detail, that FARC columns "act rather autonomously in different regions of the country" (Andean Newsletter Feb. 1991, 4).
Additional and/or corroborating information could not be found among the sources currently available to the DIRB.
References
Americas Watch. 1992. Political Murder and Reform in Colombia: The Violence Continues. New York: Human Rights Watch.
. April 1989. The Killings in Colombia. New York: Human Rights Watch.
Andean Commission of Jurists. February 1990. Andean Newsletter [Lima]. No. 39. "Peace Process With the M-19 Culminates."
Latin American Newsletters. 21 January 1993. Latin American Weekly Report. "Pastrana Proposes New Mediation Bill." London: Latin American Newsletters.
. 10 December 1992. Latin American Weekly Report. "ADM-19 Pulls Out, Others Utter Dissent." London: Latin American Newsletters.
. 26 November 1992. Latin American Weekly Report. "Muzzle on the Press; Army as Police." London: Latin American Newsletters.
. 22 October 1992. Latin American Weekly Report. "Senate OKs New Anti-Kidnap Bill." London: Latin American Newsletters.
Attachments
Americas Watch. 1992. Political Murder and Reform in Colombia: The Violence Continues. New York: Human Rights Watch, pp. 60-62.
. April 1989. The Killings in Colombia. New York: Human Rights Watch, pp. 28-29.
Andean Commission of Jurists. December 1992. Andean Newsletter [Lima]. No. 73. "More Internal Strife Decrees and More War," pp. 3-4.
Latin American Newsletters. 21 January 1993. Latin American Weekly Report. "Pastrana Proposes New Mediation Bill." London: Latin American Newsletters, p. 27.
. 10 December 1992. Latin American Weekly Report. "ADM-19 Pulls Out, Others Utter Dissent." London: Latin American Newsletters, p. 10.
. 26 November 1992. Latin American Weekly Report. "Muzzle on the Press; Army as Police." London: Latin American Newsletters, pp. 4-5.
. 22 October 1992. Latin American Weekly Report. "Senate OKs New Anti-Kidnap Bill." London: Latin American Newsletters, p. 8.