Colombian Rebels Denounce Panamanian Aggression

The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, more popularly known by its Spanish acronym FARC, have asked Panama to suspend its attacks against insurgents in the border zone.

“To the Panamanians, we say that to this unjustified hostility, which we hope will be corrected, that our border politics order FARC guerrillas not to attack the armed forces of neighboring countries,” the rebels said in a note to their “brethren” Panamanian people.

The letter goes onto say that Panamanian and Colombian troops maintain a close relationship with U.S. military stationed at a base in the area.  And, if there’s one thing the FARC does not like it’s ”yankee” troops and the “oppression of the United States flag.”   The letter is also signed by the FARC-EP with an immense Bolivarian hug for the Panamanian people.

The Marxist-Leninist revolutionary guerrilla organization, established in the 1960s, is based in Colombia.  It had an estimated 11,000 members in 2009, according the the Colombian government, minus the three that the Panamanian forces killed in late January this year.  Current Columbian President Alvaro Uribe’s father was killed by the FARC in an attempted 1983 kidnapping, although he says he holds no bitterness.

Two FARC rebels in love by Jason P. Howe 2002