The US government is planning to finance and produce a radio soap opera as part of a psy-ops mission to convince individual rebels of the FARC to demobilize.
A public solicitation by the U.S. Army’s Southern Command revealed the army is looking for a private contractor to produce a “radio novella” of 20 episodes, eight of which “shall convey messages that promote demobilization,” another eight “hall convey messages that counter recruitment of target audiences (TAs) into illegal armed groups.”
To increase the effectiveness of the hearts and minds campaign, the US Army wants the contractor to “produce the radio novella in the Spanish language, using a mix of Colombian actors who speak the various dialects of each area (paisa, llanero, costeño, pastuso) common to the regions affected by the conflict for complete details,” said the public request for proposal.
“The purpose of developing a twenty (20) episode radio novella is to address the issues of demobilization, counter-recruitment, traditional family values, belief in the respectful treatment of women, democratic alternatives to violence that can furnish functioning state institutions, and emerging environmental concerns in support of U.S. and partner nation goals in Colombia,” the US Army said.
Psychological operations are common in Colombia’s ongoing armed conflict; the Colombian military has its own radio station and promotes demobilization through ads broadcast particularly during soccer matches. Every Christmas the army releases a privately-produced video of a mission aimed at demoralizing and demobilizing rebel fighters.
MORE: Army drops illuminating balls in rivers to convince FARC rebels to demobilize
Sources
- 58–Radio Novella for mist mission in Colombia (Federal Business Opportunities)
- Dios Mío! Pentagon’s Latest Weapon in Colombian Drug War? Soap Operas (Wired)