The Reconciliation of the Colombian War Machine
The Colombian military has been at war, often simultaneously, against cartels, rogue militarized gangs and, most fiercely, guerrilla armies. For 52 years, the longest ongoing war in the world is coming to a negotiated end as the government of Juan Manuel Santos and the secretariat of the country’s largest guerrilla group, the FARC, has been agreed upon.
The country’s vast armed forces now face a critical juncture: how does such a vast structure transition into peace time from bring on war footing for half a century, having endured narco-violence, insurgent offensives and accusations of atrocities committed during a period of paramilitary cooperation. This series looks at the last days of a counter-insurgent army as it pivots to humane acclivities such as de-mining the second most mined country in the world and revitalize territory ceded by the retreating soon-to-be-demobilized guerrillas. The showcase identifies the extremes, both physical and emotional, the Colombian soldier endured during this war. From the young campesino boy forced onto a helicopter headed straight to combat, to the PTSD-ridden veteran who welcomes peace with bittersweet tears of relief.
