War Crimes Charges Filed Against 10 Former FARC Mid-Level Commanders by Colombia Peace Court

Former FARC Mid-Level Commanders Face First War Crimes Charges in Colombia Peace Court

Colombia’s Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) has made its first war crimes charges against former mid-level commanders of the disbanded Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrilla group.

The charges are related to kidnappings and other serious crimes committed by the Joint Central Command (CCC) of the FARC in the Colombian departments of Tolima, Huila, and Quindio. These charges are part of a broader case known as Macrocaso 01, which investigates the high number of kidnappings carried out by the FARC.

Macrocaso 01: Uncovering FARC’s Role in Kidnappings and War Crimes

The JEP previously brought charges against the entire high command of the guerrilla group in the same case. The 10 defendants in this latest development are accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including hostage-taking, homicide, torture, sexual violence, and slavery. The CCC, although the smallest regional structure of the FARC, played a significant role in the group’s financing through kidnappings. The JEP expects to bring additional charges against other regional mid-level command structures of the FARC.

The JEP was established to judge collective crimes and crimes against humanity committed during Colombia’s armed conflict by the FARC, public security forces, and paramilitary fighters. Restorative sanctions are imposed on those who acknowledge truth and responsibility, while ordinary sanctions apply to those who do not, with prison sentences ranging from 15 to 20 years.