FARC terrorist leader surrenders
posted at 9:00 am on May 20, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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Colombia scored a big victory in its fight against the Hugo Chavez-backed FARC terrorist group today with the surrender of a key commander. “Karina” ran Force 47, one of the toughest FARC units, and surrendered after spending the last two years running for her life. She called for the entire FARC organization to surrender, saying that they had already lost:
The commander of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia’s Force 47 told reporters in Bogota Monday — a day after surrendering — that “the solution is not through war. There must be dialogue.”
Nelly Avila Moreno, 45, whose nom de guerre was Karina, said she and her longtime male companion made the decision jointly to abandon the FARC group, based in the jungle, at 5 a.m. Sunday.
She said pressure from Colombian soldiers had been key to their decision, and she called on her fellow rebels to follow her example.
“I invite them to change the sensibility that is among the guerrillas,” she said, seated by her companion, who said nothing during the news conference.
Moreno also says she wants to reintegrate into Colombian society and spend time with her family after 24 years of failed terrorism and revolution. Colombia may have a few issues with those plans. Moreno committed uncountable acts of terrorism and rebellion, including atrocities like this:
Miguel Antonio Paez told CNN en Espanol that he remembers well the woman who, with a band of guerrillas, stopped the bus he was on in 2004 in northwest Colombia, ordered him and the other passengers off and the bus be burned.
“The commander of that guerrilla group — a dark-haired woman, tall, with one eye missing — called herself Karina,” he said.
“She ordered me tied up. Here, I have the marks from the wires, and there, while I was tied up, she lopped off my penis and testicles and I remained castrated for all my life.”
This news won’t be good for the rest of FARC and its supporters. Moreno says she knows little about the rest of the organization and called FARC “compartmentalized”, but as the commander of Force 47, she knew where money and supplies originated. She will have to give Colombia a lot more than a shrug if she expects to return to normal life after the kind of atrocities she committed and she ordered in her life as a revolutionary.
Just as with the Interpol confirmation of the data on captured FARC laptops, this will likely prove very embarrassing for Hugo Chavez. When authorities begin tracking down Moreno’s lines of communication, they will almost certainly lead towards Venezuela. As they track down more FARC terrorists, that intel will grow, and both Chaves and Evo Morales in Ecuador may have a lot more explaining to do about their involvement in terrorism and rebellion in Colombia.
For Alvaro Uribe, he may be looking at the light at the end of a very long tunnel. He has succeeded in crippling FARC, perhaps irreversibly so, and has exposed his enemies in Venezuela and Ecuador and sent them scurrying for the shadows. Uribe can take pride in these accomplishments, especially since they have come on the heels of a daring cross-border raid that made the point in the region that Colombia would not allow its neighbors to fight a proxy war against his government without consequences. (via Michelle)
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Glad Columbia has said FARC you to Hugo Chavez’s threats.
moxie_neanderthal on May 20, 2008 at 9:04 AM
Hmmm… I wonder what she has agreed to in her terms of surrender.
But the little Obama reference within the 15 FARC letters released by the Colombian government signals a disturbing pattern of contacts with rogue actors. It’s not the first time, and Obama has yet to distance himself.
Akzed on May 20, 2008 at 9:08 AM
Now if only we would pass and sign that Columbian Free Trade Agreement and let Uribe know exactly how much the US supports him.
JeffC_95 on May 20, 2008 at 9:08 AM
That was a quote from Investor’s Business Daily (sorry).
Akzed on May 20, 2008 at 9:08 AM
Great news for the Columbian people! Time for the dominoes to fall in Marxist South America. I look forward to seeing that fat little swine Chavez hog-tied and dragged to his execution.
Jaibones on May 20, 2008 at 9:11 AM
What, no eyepatch?
At any rate, if somebody was fighting a proxy war against my country I’d respond with a hell of a lot more than a cross-border raid. Balls seem to be in short supply nowadays.
Darth Executor on May 20, 2008 at 9:14 AM
Who’s that? IT’S PAT!
thareb on May 20, 2008 at 9:16 AM
Balls seem to be in short supply nowadays.
Darth Executor on May 20, 2008 at 9:14 AM
You had to say that….after reading what happened to the guy on the bus?
Dude.
Bishop on May 20, 2008 at 9:18 AM
Another clear cut example of the world mending its wounds in the hope that The Dali-Bama will be elected President. The world is coming together for the Dali-Bama because they know he understands their hopes and fears and will speak truth to power and embrace reconciliation among the disaffected and marginalized.
This will all disappear if we turn away from Him.
moxie_neanderthal on May 20, 2008 at 9:19 AM
Distance himself? She’ll be hosting a fundraiser for him in no time. Right after she receives tenure at a major American university.
trubble on May 20, 2008 at 9:20 AM
What a witch. She needs to be put down like a dog.
indythinker on May 20, 2008 at 9:22 AM
F-ing traitorous Democrats!
JiangxiDad on May 20, 2008 at 9:27 AM
The Democrat’s refusal to sign a free trade pact with Colombia has obviously forced Uribe to get his act together.
/sarc
Kafir on May 20, 2008 at 9:28 AM
Hello, I’m Barack Obama. I wanted to take this opportunity to congratulate the Colombian government on the capture of this terrorist, but also to remind the American people that it would be a grave mistake to assume this development means terrorism can ever be defeated by fighting it. After all, this woman was the head of “Force 47,” which implies there are at least 46 other terrorist forces out there in the jungles of Columbia: silent, invisible, unbeatable, and probably living with a carbon footprint and dietary intake that should be a model for all citizens of the word, and especially you bitter, overfed, racist American rustics.
To illustrate the magnitude of the danger we face, 46 other terrorist forces is almost one force for each of the fifty-seven states in America. Also, as the Democrat party has repeatedly stated, fighting and defeating terrorists only creates more terrorists, so we’ll probably be up to sixty terrorist forces by the time their leaders can get back to Columbia from my Oregon rally.
Obviously this would be the perfect moment for Columbia to surrender to FARC and withdraw all its troops from Columbia. My friend and supporter William Ayers stands ready to assist in these negotiations, as soon as I can coax him out of the bathroom, where he’s been sobbing uncontrollably and trying to flush both an American and Columbian flag down the toilet at the same time. I told him that wasn’t a good idea. He should have listened to me, and so should you. Good night, and please remember to ignore my wife and all my friends, and vote for me in November.
Doctor Zero on May 20, 2008 at 9:36 AM
Spot on! Funny, but there is indeed a round-about connection to The Dali-Bama via Bill Ayers.
Bill Ayers and Bernadine Dohrn’s adopted son, Chesa Boudin (son of convicted murderers and fellow weather underground members Kathy Boudin and David Gilbert)has a close personal, professional and accademic connection to the Chavez regime and has co-authored a pro hugo book as well as worked on an advisory team.
Chesa Boudin is up to his eyes in Latin American Marxism.
Birds of a feather…….
moxie_neanderthal on May 20, 2008 at 9:38 AM
Baaaaahhhaaa!
You could join the speech writing team!
moxie_neanderthal on May 20, 2008 at 9:40 AM
I’m waiting for Tom_Shipley to wade in here and complain about the word “terrorist” in Ed’s headline.
mpbk on May 20, 2008 at 9:41 AM
Now if we can get the Democrats (and some RINO’s) to understand this principle.
-Less American lives lost in the long run,
-More respect for America.
-Perhaps Vietnam would be a democracy today.
dentalque on May 20, 2008 at 9:48 AM
I thought it WAS a democracy today.
Darth Executor on May 20, 2008 at 9:50 AM
Hahaha… That was great. I could even hear it in Barack’s voice (unfortunately for me).
Nineball on May 20, 2008 at 10:07 AM
Throw in “addressing the root causes” and you’ll have a finished PoliSci 101 term paper. Or a presidential foreign policy platform, take your pick.
Gilda on May 20, 2008 at 10:10 AM
Moreno also says she wants to reintegrate into Colombian society and spend time with her family after 24 years of failed terrorism and revolution.
The good news: all those protesters with the old “Free Mumia” signs can, with only a bit of re-work, change them to “Free Moreno”. Saving terrorists AND trees!
Bishop on May 20, 2008 at 10:18 AM
So, the guy’s crime was riding a bus? I’m sorry but you don’t go from murdering castrating b*tch to oops, sorry, my bad!
Another way of saying let’s give the cold blooded killers a pass.
Blake on May 20, 2008 at 10:22 AM
Of course, progress like this won’t be enough for Pelosi to do the right thing and let the Free Trade Agreement pass. That would upset her union paymasters.
irishspy on May 20, 2008 at 10:24 AM
It is better but it still has a Politburo.
Here are some details.
dentalque on May 20, 2008 at 10:32 AM
She is an Obama-look-a-like. Creepy.
faraway on May 20, 2008 at 10:34 AM
Get the FARC out of here! Harsh judgment should follow.
ronsfi on May 20, 2008 at 10:49 AM
Let me get this straight- bordering countries (Venezuela and Ecuador) support terrorists (note to self: FARC is not referred to as “militia” or “insurgents”. Wonder why at later date.).
I’m struggling here- is there any, ANY parallel here with Iraq, Iran and Syria?
Maybe more coffee will clear this up for me. More Columbian coffee that is.
Amendment X on May 20, 2008 at 10:49 AM
No reason she shouldn’t join the lecture circuit and grab some big bucks to make up for the years of deprivation. I’ll bet the Columbia School of Journalism already has a tender in the mail.
a capella on May 20, 2008 at 10:50 AM
That’s Bolivia, Ed.
thuja on May 20, 2008 at 10:51 AM
Sorry about my last correction! After thinking about for a minute you probably meant to say Rafael Correa in Ecuador. Morales probably came to mind because he is the better known leftist loon.
thuja on May 20, 2008 at 10:55 AM
Bravo, Uribe!
Encore, Colombia!
Great day in the morning.
Take FARC down like ducks in a row.
maverick muse on May 20, 2008 at 11:02 AM
This is a “biggie” not merely from a military point of view, but from a morale breaking point of view. Karina was a Rambo-like figure to the FARC and her surrender…she was photographed in a bulletproof vest with DAS (it’s like saying FBI) all over it…is a body blow to the guerrillas.
And it is just one of many. The biggest myth was the invulnerability of the FARC leadership…busted 1 March with the death of Raul Reyes. Other mythologically invulnerable figures killed included “Negro Acacia” and “Martin Caballero”..both local commanders with long bloody histories but who seemed untouchable…busted.
The myth of the security of the leadership from their own men was also busted in March when Secretariat member “Ivan Rios” was killed by his own security chief…maybe you remember they guy (”Rojas”) carrying out Rios’ hand as proof of his death. What went unreported was a similar event about three weeks ago when the security men of Secretariat member “Mono Jojoy” planned a similar assassination against him. He found out, killed three and three escaped and surrendered to Colombian authorities. “Mono Jojoy” is a brutal murderous thug who is the miliary chief of the FARC…had he been offed it would have been serious for the FARC and a huge lift to Colombia (Colombians hate this guy…maybe worse than Marulanda). But this is going to happen to him sooner than later because his most trusted men betrayed him. The guys he has now are the second-stringers.
Another important point about Karina is that she surrendered to stay alive. She couldn’t get anyone to protect her..all her security guys were being “downed” (as they say here) and no one wanted to be the next “red shirt” (excuse the Star Trek analogy). Further, there was a risk that the FARC was going to kill her…they guy who killed Ivan Rios had been her chief of security and she sent him to work for Rios on the basis that he was reliable. It turned out that he wasn’t and so this put her life at risk from her owm people.
In the region she operated they have declared a civic holiday to celebrate her capture. The reality is that, over the last two years, Frente 47 has been seriously weakened…they count less than 50 guerrillas today. But the morale boost for the people is enormous…as though a fifty pound block of cement has been lifted from their collective shoulders.
In your post you note that Pres. Uribe can take a lot of credit for this. Fair enough, but don’t forget the soldiers. These guys do amazing things. They have to go out in jungles, mountains, deserts with their gear on their backs and danger everywhere. The guys who took out Raul Reyes had to get onto helicopters, fly at night into unlit jungle, rappel down ropes and, in pitch darkness, find and eliminate an enemy hidden in the brush. These guys are brave, well trained and highly motivated. A lot of them die for their country.
And Pres. Uribe wouldn’t get much done without them.
Blaise on May 20, 2008 at 12:00 PM
Obama wants to talk with her.
Michelle wants to know her technique.
profitsbeard on May 20, 2008 at 12:19 PM
Chavez feels farked today. “It’s all the fault of the U.S. devil”, he was overheard muttering…
Entelechy on May 20, 2008 at 1:45 PM
Blaise,
You’re so right about including the Colombian soldier for the devastation of the FARC’s ranks. Let’s also include Plan Colombia, the same program the “gringos” promised Raul Reyes Obama was going to cancel.
Golden Boy on May 20, 2008 at 1:47 PM
Hey ED:
first of all thanks to you and Allah for keeping Colombia stories up on HA (this is a critical theater for us).
The CNN article mistranslates the unit structure of the FARC. Karina was the commander of the “Frente 47″ not Force 47. Frente translates into “Front 47″.
A frente has a regional focus and consists of around 250-400 guerrillas and report to a Bloque “block” up their chain of command.
elduende on May 20, 2008 at 1:52 PM
Amazing. It’s almost like actually fighting terrorists works better than sitting down to tea with them.
As for Moreno wanting to spend time with her family (what, was she caught in a sex scandal?), well, there are a bunch of families in Colombia who can’t do that today, thanks to her. How about exile to an island.
rbj on May 20, 2008 at 1:57 PM
More Columbian coffee that is.
Heh.
Columbia’s Army has some quality folks in it. They have had some terrible foes in FARC (going downhill, halleleuia), the right-wing militas (disarmed now, thankfully) and the druggies (I wonder how nervous the remaining big shots are getting?).
major john on May 20, 2008 at 2:00 PM
Weren’t there contacts between the FARC and people who were either part of Obama’s campaign or conressional Dem staffers, that were revealed by contents of a killed FARC commander’s laptop?
drunyan8315 on May 20, 2008 at 4:09 PM
P.S. - Remember to FAX your proposed personal dinner menu into the Central Democratic Committee on Acceptable Nutrition by noon in order to get same-day approval. The Menu Police will not tolerate unauthorized eating as it may cause Climate Change and/or a re-visitation by Orson Welles’ Martians.
landlines on May 20, 2008 at 4:18 PM