Garry LeechRecensioni

The author examines how capitalism, by systematically depriving millions of people of the basic necessities of life, is a genocidal socio-economic system.

I have this book but it was packed away during a move and is still in storage. My apologies to the publisher.

I think if goes without saying Columbia is one of the most dangerous places to be a journalist. Why an independent journalist would go there specifically to be a "drug war journalist," as Leech has called himself, is beyond me but it is a story that needs to be told. Beyond Bogota is about the eleven hours Garry Leech was detained by FARC, Fuerzas Amradas Revolutionarias de Columbia (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia). Interspersed between the eleven hours is Leech's past history traveling around Latin America. Incredible as it seems Leech's eleven hour detainment wasn't his first. In 1982 he was captured by militants in El Salvador because he didn't have permission to be investigating their drug trafficking operations. But, it his mission to research the effects of landmines on small communities in Columbia that was especially moving. In 2002 he visited the town of Zaragoza and met landmine victims. His description of how a landmine is built and detonated is devastating, especially when you consider how easy small children can set them off.

I requested this from the Early Reviewers Programme as I have a great interest in Latin America, being a Hispanic Studies graduate.

Journalist Garry Leech takes us through the history of the Colombian guerrilla group, emerging out of the La Violencia up to today. Told in chronological order, we can see that while the FARC has changed both in itself and in the perception of others - as best shown in chapter 5 : 'Narco-guerrillas' to Narco-terrorists' – the reason for its success appears to have remained constant, the government's lack of interest in the poorer areas of the country. Another important issue covered in the book is that of US intervention in Colombia, ostensibly due to the war on drugs.

The FARC is not something that is often covered impartially, so I found Leech's measured text refreshing, while he did not shy from informing the reader of the FARC's ruthless methods, he also showed us the wider Colombian context, one in which both government troops and paramilitary groups should also be held accountable for the vast number of killings and internal displacements.

While I have read quite a few articles about the FARC, I appreciated Leech's methodical explanations, starting with its beginnings and moving through its different important periods right up until the present day. By placing the FARC in context, both politically and socially, the reader is able to see how the guerrilla group has hung on in Colombia for half a century.

My main criticism would be its length, while it is great as an introduction, I would have liked to have gone into more detail, though this would be a good book for someone who wants to get an outline of the FARC.½

I found The FARC to be rather dry. Informative but dry. In a sense it's much like reading subtitles on The History Channel, but without the film. I really haven't had much interest in South American politics, but I was hoping that this would change that and educate me on the matter a bit. I feel slightly more informed but in the same way you would after sitting though a three hour class with no breaks. Educational but not enjoyable.

When is a terrorist not a terrorist? When he makes his own rules and follows them.

Colombia is a country with magnificent natural beauty, abundant natural resources, and multitudinous man-caused problems. The government has been full of corruption for years, violence seems to be in the gene pool, the rich get richer and exploit the poor who get poorer. The FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) started with the idea of helping the rural poor get a fair shake. But they aren’t the government and no matter what semantics they use, extorting the rich is not a “tax”, kidnapping them is not “detaining” like governments use prisons, and bombing innocent unsuspecting civilians is criminal.

Having lived in Colombia for 16 of the last 19 years, I had an interest in this book on the FARC. It is well written, interesting, and brings to light many thought provoking factors. It is short and easy to read. But it is biased.
The author spends a lot of time proving that the FARC are justified in what they do because they are ideologues trying to bring about justice, and then tells us they are not “terrorists” because the internationally accepted definition of terrorist includes “politically motivated.”

At one point he states that it is simply not true that the FARC had a very low popularity rating and Uribe had a high one. I lived there. I talked to people of all classes. I watched thousands, (hundreds of thousands?) march against the FARC. I saw Uribe win an unprecedented reelection by a wide margin. I could not drive between cities because if the FARC set up a roadblock, I would be “detained” in return for a “tax” that would cause my families in the states to sell their houses. After Uribe began to crack down on the FARC (yes with sad the loss of some innocents, but those who were actually near the fighting, not just going to a mall on a weekday morning) the nation became safer and I have visited many parts of the country in complete security, in every sense of the word.

He does recognize that the FARC are guilty of human rights abuses (as is the Colombian government and the paramilitary groups), but I had a hard time reading a book so obviously in favor of men who take the law into their own hands. I would have an equally difficult time reading a book in favor of the “paras”. Change is needed in Colombia, but in as non-violent manner as possible.

I would recommend this book to someone who needed to raise their blood-pressure.

I read this book as an outsider on the basic level that I'd never even heard of the FARC before and have minimal knowledge of South American politics though I am interested. I found the book well written, informative, and to the point, an excelent read, though I can't state it's factual accuracy obviously.

The book is short, which works in it's favour as it's very concise, which is a selling point as non-fiction books tend to be long and heavy. It takes a very narative view of events, taking several strains such as the politics of the group and focusing a chapter on them, progressing it as a narrative from the origins though the recent history of the group. The main focus is the very recent history and I felt that was executed very well, a lot of effort is taken to place the struggle not just as an internal war but in the context of the larger global econonmy and to draw attention to the consequences for Colombia of international laws and policies and those of the USA.

Several other reviews have commented on the bias of the book. The book is skewed to the FARC but I think this is acnowledged and adressed in several ways. The end section on human rights abuses does go into the fact that the FARC is an organisation that commits human rights abuse, it also tells us why it chooses to use those tactics which I think is fair, and it doesn't attempt to cast it all in a good light, talking about the negative impact the FARC has because of this. I think there is some bias in that we're told about all the grassroots work the FARC does in it it's stronghold, implying that happens in all areas it controls though mostly in it's strongholds, then are later told that areas it has moved into more recently it doesn't have the same ties to the local community and doesn't help them in the same way. I would also say that Leech does briefly, at the begining, discuss why he sees armed conflict as necessary and pacifism as something that doesn't work, particularly in a situation like this, which goes some way to justifying the actions of the FARC.

So, yes, despite some bias I found the book informative, tightly written and interesting.½

Gary Leech uses original sources and key interviews in writing this book on the history and evolution of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, the FARC, from its inception to where the organization stands today. The FARC is Latin America's oldest and largest insurgency organization and has existed for almost five decades and will probably continue too operate for at least another two if true social and economic reforms do not happen in Colombia. We read of the origins of this insurgency and its adaptability over time too the forces it opposes in Colombia.

What started out as a grass roots supported guerrilla movement who had the interest of the repressed rural population has involved into a strong self-sufficient army and over the decades seems too have disconnected some what from the people. But with the economic and military aid being brought too bare on the FARC over the last decade by the United States it seems to be heading back toward its original ideological basis. Though not involved in the actual international drug trade they do derive a substantial income from taxing the drug trade. This has caused the media and western government to classify the FARC as narco-terroist.

But as the facts as presented in this book show it would be wrong too use this category for the FARC. This rebel group has been responsible for many human rights violations which have diminished dramatically since most of the infractions that from the FARC are the kidnapping; this is not too intimate that they have not committed atrocities. And seventy-six percent of all the real human rights violations were carried out by government supported paramilitary organizations and now the military and police force of Colombia. It is with government approval or knowledge that there will be no reprisal when entire villages are rounded up by the government.

The author shows us that the non-profit organizations that kept actually records on the incidents use too report the actual numbers and the FARC was a small percentage of the violations. But we do see how the government of Colombia and the Media in general distorts most of the human rights violations and label them wrongly as the work of the FARC. There is no question that the Colombian authorities, the paramilitaries and the FARC have all committed human rights violation and perpetuate this violence. But the true numbers and who is responsible should be reported. The government of Colombia have displaced almost five million people and this is not headline news.

According too the author the FARC was willing to negotiate a true peace accord with the government, yet the government refuses to include any real reform in there discussions and limit it too disarming the FARC and the FARC would not agree too a country wide cease fire because of the paramilitary groups. From Leech's account we also see that the FARC has tried too do more good for the majority of the people of Colombia with infrastructure projects and the like than the government ever has. Though not reported the government does work on infrastructure or the cities would not be sustainable. It is ironic that the FARC build a bridge and convince farmer too stop growing coca for cocaine production and to grow the less profitable food produce. And then the government bombs the bridge making it impossible for those same farmers to get their product to market.

This book, though short, will give you a strong foundation with which to begin too study the FARC and government of Colombia. Now that the United States see's Colombia as a major area of its geopolitical position it is hard too see how the true social and economic reforms will be brought about that will unite the country and stop the violence. Even if the Colombian military with the funding and help of the United States were too succeed in destroying the FARC the violence would continue as violent criminal enterprises formed all over those regions from the unemployed and displaced; as have happened in other countries.n All sides have to take responsibility for the violence and atrocities they have committed.

What is the reality in Colombia? I think one would need too gather more information from other sources. But the above review, as expected, is based on this book and not other sources. Yet it seems like a good overview and worth the read.

I was very excited to receive this book from Early Reviewers. I have spent most of my studying focusing on East Asia and Europe and so receiving a book on an area that I have little knowledge of was a thrill.

In general I found the book interesting. The author gives a good history of the FARC and seems to be gearing it towards those that know very little about them. I had two large problems with this book though. First, he seemed extremely biased. I realize that he was attempting to show both sides of the FARC, but it was obvious he was very sympathetic to them. This gave the book a very slanted feeling. Second, the book seemed to jump around a bit to me and didn't seem as organized as other non-fictions I have read. His first few pages layout what he proposes to talk about, but once you start getting into the meat of the book it becomes jumpy and many times I forgot his main points.

All in all, this book is interesting for those with little to no knowledge of the FARC, but its slanted and jumpy feel made it lose some points with me.½

I'm not a great expert on South American politics and wouldn't normally read this; a book about the Colombian guerrilla group, FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia). However, the book is quite slim (it has the feel of one of Oxford's "Very Short Introductions" See: http://www.librarything.com/series/Very+Short+Introductions) and the fact that it is quite short, at about 150 pages, made it a less daunting read than I feared it might be. Also (and these things are important!) the clear type and high quality paper make it a physically satisfying tome.

The book makes a great start with an introduction comparing Colombia with Narnia and pointing out that while God blessed her with a great landscape, he compensated by gifting them some of the world's worst politicians.

Leech certainly takes an academic approach throughout and the book is well-researched and referenced and comes complete with a chronology, map and excellent index.

He sets out to take a balanced approach to describe the history of the FARC and the insurgency in Colombia (one man's kidnapping and extortion is another man's imprisonment to recover unpaid taxes); however it's clear that his sympathies lie with the rebels, who he perceives as fighting on the behalf of the peasants who are suffering economic inequalities & political repression. He contrasts the Human Rights abuses perpetrated by the FARC as (e.g.) "kidnapping to recover unpaid 'taxes'" with the summary executions and massacres perpetrated by opposing paramilitary groups and groups backed by US Government aid. His assertion that most Human Rights abuses are not committed by the FARC is however backed up by evidence supplied in the reports he references.

The sometimes grim realities of a conflict like this are the inevitable consequence of ideology coming up against reality.

He also asserts that the FARC are not drug traders, although they do tax the drug trade (along with all other businesses in the area under their control), and they also ensure that the farmer gets the best price and they tolerate coca production in lieu of any better opportunities for the farmers suffering economic hardship. Fundamentally they remain an organisation driven by ideology rather than simply a criminal or outright terrorist group and think of themselves as bona fide belligerents.

The book does cover the whole history of the FARC, and traces the origins long before that, however it does spend perhaps a disproportionate amount of time covering the most recent years, describing the most recent 20 years in some detail and the last 10 in great detail.

I would certainly recommend this book to anyone interested in Colombia, the FARC and South American politics. If your politics are left of centre, then you may well find yourself agreeing with much of what Garry Leech has to say.½

Garry Leech's 'The FARC' is a short book and a quick read on the history, ideology, methods and evolution of this Colombian guerrilla organization. Being in existence for about five decades they have been in essence the government in southern and eastern Columbia while the “formal”/recognized government basically still represses the rural population and exist in the major cities. Though there have been peace talks between the FARC and the government nothing has come of it. The FARC has the support of the mass rural population; for as you will read they actually do more for the population in both administration, infrastructure and judicial functions that are lacking in those areas.

It seems as you read this that the official government destroys, when they can, any infrastructure improvements and even a hospital. It is no wonder the FARC has such great support from the rural population. The author even mention how the FARC protects the farmers who grow coca for cocaine as it is the only product that will not spoil and makes a profit. The author claims that the FARC wants too eliminate this product and have legal crops but with the government destroying the bridges the farmers have no way to get perishable produce too market.

Leech informs us of the government's repression of the people and the blind eye given to the various paramilitary organizations. But the human rights violations that are perpetuated by the FARC are not really gone into detail. After fifty years I cannot believe that the FARC has as little corruption in it as the author seems too want use too believe. But I do understand that the author believes that the people are better served by the FARC then the recognized government. I think the author cover most of the high points but more detail is needed. This is worth reading for I do not see the FARC will be disbanded any time in the near future.

On Garry Leech's 'The FARC'. More or less a short work on the Colombian guerilla organization. It's history, development, motivations and aims. It's insurgency for nigh on 50 years against a government whether in liberal or conservative form which basically has repressed its rural population since memory. In these particular times where free market global economics take center stage leaving even more have nots in its wake whether in Latin or North America, Europe, Asia or Africa the FARC continues on.

Leech's interesting insights into how FARC continues to operate in particular areas of that country--how it makes the money it needs to do so--in part by protecting farmers raising coca to be made into cocaine and by levying taxes against the rich and powerful. His explanations for all that are compelling enough. The existence of this group is rooted in inequality--as much the greed and ambition of the powerful or the ambitious--those who would create more poverty to enrich themselves. It's the usual Latin American history and as usual American policy whether economic or ideological supports it to the hilt. In any case this insurgency hasn't gone away in 50 some years and is not likely to in the near future without some kind of change in conditions--and as long as the Colombian govt. continues on the path that is very unlikely.

Anyway I found the book to be very interesting. Leech as well fleshes out the other armed actors--the government's police and army and paramilitary groups and drug cartels. `The govt. often turning a blind eye or even supporting atrocities committed by the paramilitaries. Leech has some criticism for all of them.½

I was delighted to get this book through LibraryThing Early Reviewers, having done a module in Media Movements and Radical Politics in my final year as an under-graduate. This book by Garry Leech documents the rise and fall of the FARC revolutionary group in Colombia. The FARC have a reputation in the media as a guerilla group engaging in violent terrorist acts, frequently contravening human rights as stated in international law; they may not be entirely wrong but it is, as Leech illustrates, far from the whole story. Leech makes his approach as an independent journalist who has spent a substantial amount of time deep within Colombia, garnering a unique insight through in depth interviews with members of the FARC, as well as their opposition.

Beginning with exploring the violent inception of the FARC, violence perpetrated primarily by government forces and government funded paramilitaries, their turbulent and dynamic history is explored. The FARC's Marxist-Leninist inspired ideology, and its implementation on the ground by politically educated guerilla forces, fighting for the rights of the subjugated peasantry of the rural expanses of Colombia are well explained. I would therefore praise Leech for creating a concise explanation of the group's ideological and tactical presence.

I would further praise the critique of the neo-liberal economic regime impressed upon the people of Colombia by a government handed large 'aid' bundles by America. The figures quoted by Leech well illuminate the increasing inequalities faced by people in Colombia, people forced in many cases to resort to growing coca (for use in cocaine) due to poor infrastructure eliminating the opportunity to transport perishable foodstuffs. The FARC's role in attempting to build and infrastructure through taxing corporations in the area (hence kidnapping for non-payment) was something of which I was not aware. The group also attempts to provide an education, and means for switching to different crops for the peasants in many areas. All of these things are invisible in the majority of the mass media - not surprising given the sound-bites they are spoon fed by the Colombian and US government. Yet Leech brings them to the fore in this easily readable book - a great introductory text for anyone wishing to learn more about radical politics, Marxism/Leninism in action or guerilla organisations.

My main critique however is that Leech's view is incredibly one sided. Whilst he does make note of the human rights abuses perpetrated by members of the FARC, they are brushed off, with little investigation into the processes used by the group for disciplining members. Whilst government statements are highly critiqued, such statements by the FARC are seemingly viewed through rose tinted glasses. Although many peasants appear to be having a more comfortable life in areas supported by the FARC, is this really just a lesser of two great evils, or something which really should be carried through to a national level using their policies? Is there really as little corruption in the FARC as Leech claims? I know he does cover these points, but only in brief, and I think that more academic stand-points on on the FARC would be interesting if added to this text.

In summary, whilst I would prefer a less one sided account of the FARC, this is a group which has received little more than purely negative coverage in the media. Therefore I would tend to suggest that it may be excusable to lean more in the FARC's favour as their viewpoints have simply not been expressed. Leech does issue critique of FARC policies in places, and in general I found this a fascinating book, and certainly feel wiser for having read it.

Well, I confess. I was so bored with this I could not finish it. I got through 94 pages. It is ok if you want a rehash of current journalism but there is almost nothing on the earlier history, which is what I was looking for. You may need a magnifying glass to use the index.