War and peace

M-19

Colombia’s 19th of April Movement, or M-19, was active as a guerrilla group in the 1970s and 1980s and later became a political party.

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ERPAC

ERPAC was a paramilitary drug trafficking organization that was active in the eastern plains of Colombia between 2005 and 2011. The group was one of dozens of groups formed by…

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‘Don Mario’

Daniel Rendon, a.k.a. “Don Mario,” is the extradited founder of paramilitary group Gaitanista Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AGC), or “Gulf Clan,” and allegedly the “Aguilas Negras.” Rural origins Mario and…

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‘Pablo Beltran’

“Pablo Beltran” is a member of the leadership of Colombia’s last-standing rebel group ELN and the guerrillas’ former chief negotiator in peace talks with the government that failed in 2019.…

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Vicente Castaño

Vicente Castaño, a.k.a. “El Profe,” is the presumably dead founder of now-defunct paramilitary organization AUC, who ordered the foundation of AUC dissident groups AGC and the “Aguilas Negras.” Castaño was born…

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‘El Paisa’

Hernan Dario Velasquez, a.k.a. “El Paisa,” is one of the most feared former guerrilla commanders of the FARC who has been accused of hundreds of crimes and atrocities. Until he joined peace…

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‘Simon Trinidad’

Juvenal Ovidio Ricardo Palmera, a.k.a. “Simon Trinidad,” was one the FARC’s highest ranking members and the unofficial foreign minister of the guerrilla group. Trinidad was captured in Ecuador’s capital Quito in January 2004…

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EPL / ‘Los Pelusos’

The EPL, a.k.a. “Los Pelusos,” is a drug trafficking guerrilla group that controls a part of northeast Colombia. The group is considered a Class A Organized Armed Group by the authorities. The group…

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AUC

The AUC, or officially the United Self Defense Forces of Colombia, was a paramilitary organization that operated from 1997 to 2006. The organization was formed by vigilante anti-guerrilla groups and…

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