Abstract

PADILLA, Juan Manuel. Lawfare: The Colombian Case. Rev. Cient. Gen. José María Córdova [online]. 2012, vol.10, n.10, pp.107-142. ISSN 1900-6586.

The terrorist groups in Colombia have applied Mao's theory of protracted people's war, seeking to use all available means of struggle to achieve their revolutionary goals by counteracting govemment policy. One way that Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC), Ejército de Liberacion Nacional (ELN), and illegal paramilitaries confront the nation is the use of 'lawfare' defined as the opposing force's use of the national and intemational judicial systems to achieve victory and legitimacy when they cannot challenge the government militarily. Terrorist groups have skillfully infiltrated the Colombian judicial system, and are utilizing the both nationallegal institutions and the intemational law system against the government. They have received support for their struggle from various agents and organizations within the society that, intentionally or unintentionally, are serving their interests.

Keywords : Lawfare in the Colombian judicial system; ELN; FARC; terrorist groups in Colombia.

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