Sens. Cruz and Rubio: Reinstate FARC on U.S. terrorist list

Republican Sen. Ted Cruz proposed a bill on Thursday (S.4600) to reimpose terrorism sanctions on the FARC and re-designate the guerilla group as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist.

The bill, co-sponsored by Sen. Marco Rubio, would also impose terrorism sanctions on seven individuals affiliated with the group, including Colombian Congresswomen Piedad Córdoba and Sandra Ramírez, both of whom were accused of having connections with terrorist groups.

Five of these individuals were recently summoned by the Special Jurisdiction for Peace for their involvement in the trafficking and forced recruitment of children. They had already been sanctioned by the United States for their ties to the guerrilla group until the Biden administration removed them from the terrorist list.

"On November 30, 2021, the Biden Administration removed the Revolutionary Forces of Colombia (FARC) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) criticized the decision, calling it “a step backward for the stability and security of Colombia," Sen. Rubio said on a press release on Friday. 

The bill also notes that Piedad Córdoba once held leadership roles within the FARC under the alias "Teodora," who allegedly "had decision-making functions over the release of hostages."

Sandra Ramirez is a Congresswoman for Comunes (FARC party) is the widow of the guerrilla group's founder, Manel Marulanda.

Cruz proposed the amendment to the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and criticized Joe Biden's November 2021 removal of the FARC as a terrorist organization.

“The Biden Administration’s reckless decision to dismantle terrorism sanctions on the FARC has already created catastrophes. It fueled left-wing movements throughout the Western Hemisphere but especially in Colombia, contributing to the momentum that brought a hard-left anti-American government to power," Cruz said in a statement.

The Texas senator also rebuked the removal of "275 individuals and organizations associated with the FARC from the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned list," recalling that several former guerrilla members stand accused of crimes against humanity.

"The FARC is responsible for some of the most heinous acts of terror in the western hemisphere, and this decision gave up a key tool through which the U.S. was holding FARC terrorists accountable," Cruz said, adding that the new bill will begin to repair the damage of this decision.”

The legislature will have the task of voting for or against Cruz's initiative.