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Colombia Kills FARC's No. 2

Many think strike will pull rebels back to talks

By Polly Davis Doig, Newser Staff | Suggested by AIan

Posted Sep 23, 2010 2:00 PM CDT

(Newser) – Colombia has killed FARC's No. 2 leader and longtime military commander, striking what President Juan Manuel Santos today called "the most crushing blow against the FARC in its entire history"—a 46-year-long struggle. Colombia's military began raining bombs on a major FARC base Monday, followed by ground combat yesterday; today, troops confirmed that Jorge Briceno, aka Mono Jojoy, was dead.

The rebel group turned toward cocaine trafficking under Briceno's watch in the '90s, but FARC has waned as US-backed Colombian forces have stepped up the fight over the last decade, and some think his death might persuade the leftist rebels back to the bargaining table. FARC still holds some 18 hostages in Colombia's jungles, the AP notes. For more on FARC, click here.

In this April 6, 2000, file photo, rebel leader Jorge Briceno sits as he drinks coffee on the outskirts of San Vicente del Caguan, Colombia. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos, file)

In this June 28, 2001, file photo, Jorge Briceno, military commander of FARC, looks on at a rebel camp in La Macarena, Colombia. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan, file)

Colombia's Defense Minister Rodrigo Rivera, right, points on a map of Colombia at the area where Jorge Briceno was killed. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 5 comments

amp94040

Sep 24, 2010 12:32 PM CDT

Good, hopefully FARC's number one will be next.

emptycalm

Sep 23, 2010 7:25 PM CDT

FARC has largely moved away from drug trafficking moved more into politics and fighting for the revolutionary movement. In any case, how can the US or Colombia even judge when each makes a killing off of the "war on drugs"?

noname_please

Sep 23, 2010 4:21 PM CDT

Let Win the drug on war let figgure out how to stop from coming into our country. drug dealers are getting more violent i feel the federal goverment should do more to stop drug mob & cartel. I know it hard to get the money if we can close down aa few drug mob &drug mafia in every states it might make a diffrence .the economy is bad so people turning to deal drugs i don't think it correct why should they be the one that makes money.

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Colombia Kills FARC's No. 2

Many think strike will pull rebels back to talks

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