A young military recruit posted to the oil rich region of easter Colombia, his face streaked with camouflage cream and sweat after a long training exercise. Arauca, Arauca, Colombia.
In the face of growing protest by international Human Rights groups and pressure
from the US who are bankrolling the escalating conflict, the Government has
had to publicly cut
its ties to the AUC. However the AUC still operates with immunity in areas
with a high presence of government forces, with intelligence passed between
them, and a blind eye turned towards the abuses committed against the civilian
population.
Today, 40 years since the rebel armies were formed to protect
the poor and fight for a ‘New Colombia’, they are being accused
of losing sight of their goals. The private armies
are running amok - their ‘death squads’ are responsible for 80%
of all atrocities committed in this battered country - and
a floundering Government is set to double the size of its Military. Meanwhile
more than 3500 die annually as a result
of the conflict, the same number are kidnapped and 2.5 million people have
been displaced from their homes.
Counter-insurgency troops wade across a river in pursuit of FARC rebels after a firefight at an illegal roadblock. Nr Puerto Rico, Caqueta, Colombia.