Country Reports on Terrorism 2012

effective counter-narratives, and increase the resilience of communities to violent extremism.
The government continued to work with non-governmental partners and concerned communities
to deter violent extremism through preventative programming and community outreach.
COLOMBIA
Overview: Despite significant successes in its campaign against the Revolutionary Armed
Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the beginning of peace talks, Colombia experienced a year of
increased terrorist activity in 2012. As was the case in 2011, the number of total terrorist
incidents, casualties caused by acts of terrorism, and economic losses due to terrorism increased
in 2012, albeit with a significant drop in attacks during the second half of the year. Unlike 2011,
however, the number of members of the FARC and National Liberation Army (ELN) killed or
captured in combat went up by 11 percent and 53 percent, respectively. The implementation of a
new counterinsurgency plan in June and the announcement in September of peace talks between
the government and the FARC, along with a FARC temporary unilateral ceasefire, may have
contributed to this increase.
2012 Terrorist Incidents: Until the declaration of a unilateral cease-fire by the FARC in
November, terrorist attacks were an almost daily occurrence in Colombia. The FARC’s
declaration of a unilateral ceasefire for the period November 20 to January 20 did not completely
stop FARC attacks, and had no impact on the activities of the ELN. The most common forms of
terrorist activity were the launching of mortars at police stations or the military, explosive
devices placed near roads or paths, sniper attacks, and ambushes. There was an increase in
infrastructure attacks, particularly on oil and gas pipelines and equipment, by both the FARC and
the ELN. Security forces and government buildings were the most common targets, though
civilian casualties occurred throughout the year. Attacks were most common along the
Venezuelan border in the departments of Arauca and Norte de Santander, in the southwest region
of the country in the departments of Narino and Cauca, and in the northwestern department of
Antioquia.
As of October 31, Colombian government statistics showed a 52 percent increase in attacks over
2011, with 716 terrorist attacks around the country compared to 472 attacks over the same period
in the previous year. There was a 173 percent increase in the number of attacks on oil
pipelines. Among the over 700 terrorist attacks recorded in the first 10 months of the year,
several were notable for their severity or significant press coverage:
A January 20 attack by an estimated 100 FARC guerrillas against a radar station outside
the village of El Tambo, Cauca Department, took the lives of two members of the
Colombian National Police (CNP) and disrupted air traffic control service for flights into
the nearby city of Cali.
On February 1, a motorcycle bomb targeting the local police station exploded in the port
town of Tumaco, Narino Department. The explosion killed seven and wounded more than
20. The explosion was the culmination of a period of violence in the region, and sparked
a number of protests against the FARC and criticism of the government for its failure to
provide security.
On March 17, FARC forces ambushed a Colombian army patrol in the department of
Arauca, killing 11 soldiers and wounding two others.
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