Bogota
Febuary 7. 2003 Columbia
At least 20 people were killed and more than 100 injured when a car bomb exploded
in an indoor carpark of El Nogal, an exclusive club frequented by the Colombian
capital's top politicians. The FARC claimed responsibility.
The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarios
de Colombia) were growing out of the turmoil and fighting in the 1950s between
liberal and conservative militias, the FARC was established in 1964 by the Colombian
Communist Party to defend what were then autonomous Communist-controlled rural
areas. The FARC is Latin Americas oldest, largest, most capable, and best-equipped
insurgency of Marxist origin. Although only nominally fighting in support of
Marxist goals today, the FARC is governed by a general secretariat led by longtime
leader Manuel Marulanda (a.k.a. "Tirofi jo) and six others, including
senior military commander Jorge Briceno (a.k.a. "Mono Jojoy). It
is organized along military lines and includes several units that operate mostly
in key urban areas such as Bogota.
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