Raul Reyes Assassinated
Study is a constant norm of the Army of the People, it is something that is converted in necessity, the preparation of our guerrillas has no truce. We are scholars of our History, of the ideas and of the work of the Liberator Simón Bolívar; we study Marxism-Leninism, the revolutionary experiences of other countries, and finally, everything that for us contributes to the formation of our revolutionary conscience is always welcome.
06. Frequently we saw photos of female guerrillas in the media. Do they participate in combat?
R / In Colombia the woman has always been respected. From the native resistance in repulsing the violent and cruel manner that the Spaniards used to rob, passing by the First Independence and now they have weapons in their hands in the first line of fire in the fight for Second and Definitive Independence. We feel ourselves proud to know that in our guerrilla ranks there are 35% women. They fulfill other tasks such as nursing, communications, and activities related to culture, etc
07. What sources of resources does FARC use to maintain its Guerrilla Army?
R / Through our years of struggle we have created the conditions that guarantee the fulfillment of our plans, up to the point where we already count on a revolutionary law on the collection of taxes, known as Law 02. Today, in Colombia, the government makes the poor person pay more tax than that imposed on the rich. With us this is the
opposite, since it must be so. Besides, an important support for our Organization is the support that we find in the peasants, who already see us as their Army, among other things, because their children and their daughters are serving. And this familiarity that happens to bind us is indestructible. The men and women of our Army have no salary, much less bank accounts, nor even life insurance.
08. Is there any connection between the Colombian Army, the paramilitary fascists and the government of the United States?
R / See what Jorge Eliécer Gaitán said: "The oligarchy is kneeling before Imperialism and has arms pointed at the people. Colombia has the most numerous army and better preparation for a counter-insurgent war in Latin America. The training of the State forces, with abominable practices, is derived from the CIA, the Pentagon and of the School of the Americas. North American soldiers drive, advise, and train Colombian soldiers and carry out missions on Colombian territory, also. We have in our control, three prisoners of war who are officials of the CIA, of North American nationality, captured when being in a military mission in the area of war, we took down their plane. The paramilitary project also has the same origin: the Colombian oligarchy and the interference of the armed forces of the Empire of the United States of North America.
09. What does the proposed prisoner of war exchange by FARC consist of? Why doesn't the government advance a solution that will benefit many Colombian families? What is a mechanism lacking for the parties to meet and resolve this situation once and for all?
R / It Consists of where the local authorities of Pradera and Florida, the Department of Valle del Cauca, must be emptied of military forces, of police officials and of Security, so that our spokesmen are brought together with representatives of the government. The objective is to create the conditions for the prisoners' Exchange, which consists of handing over the prisoners of war (including three officials of the CIA) and the politicians whom we have and the government hand over to us all the guerrillas, including Sonia and also Simon Trinidad and Ricardo (sequestrated in Quito, Ecuador, and the other in Caracas, for the paramilitary Uribe, with the help of the CIA and others). Simón was already extradited to the United States. We demand the disarmament of the mentioned cities, because this allows that the meeting has an environment of security. Unfortunately, the government does not walk the route for peace but yes to war. And while it keeps on this way, so, it will be difficult to reach a solution. The International Community knows of our arrangement and good will to carry out the prisoners' exchange.
10. If UNO opens the door to FARC, what will be the principal subjects to negotiate?
R / It has little, we directed a letter to UNO asking that it receives us in an official way in order that we expose our vision on the Colombian conflict to the world and how to resolve it. No one ignores the existing armed conflict in Columbia, nor even the paramilitary president Uribe Vélezso because to deny him is as much as to affirm that he exists, therefore while he says that there is no armed conflict and that we are terrorists, at the same time, he cannot prevent the government of France from speaking with us, that we are one of the parties of the conflict. We know that somewhere and in some way its ending will have to present itself, therefore
