Colombia: Leftist Rebels Demoralized

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November 22, 2005: The army and police have taken advantage of growing popular hostility towards leftist rebels. The tips, and civilian cooperation in general, has made it much more difficult for the rebels to operate openly as they have for decades. This has caused growing demoralization among the thousands of rebel gunmen still out there.

November 17, 2005: The AUC, after disarming about half its 20,000 gunmen, ran into problems with some AUC factions that didn't want to go straight, or risk getting extradited to the U.S. on drug smuggling charges. After the government threatened to come after the reluctant factions with the army, the rebels agreed to continue the disarmament. The government also agreed to back off on extraditions.

November 16, 2005: Two dozen FARC rebels surrendered outside the capital. After much resistance, the leftist rebels have begun surrendering in larger numbers, accepting the amnesty deal that far more rightist (AUC) rebels have accepted.