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Colombia – 2017 / 2019

JULIANA

Juliana today 46, was 18 when she joined the FARC. She felt in love with a guerrillero, as the FARC arrived in her village to recruit possible fighters. As a combatant she describes the extremely hard military Drill, the day-and night-long marches under the most difficult conditions, describes the horror of the battles and bombardments by the Colombian militaryy . Even though she was in constant fear, wWhat counted were the ideals of FARC, camaraderie and solidarity. And everyone knew, who deserts will be killed.Today she dreams of learning natural medicine. She saw her family for the first time after 26 years. She is willing to do anything to ensure the success of the peace process and believes in God’s good will.

NASLEY

Nasley, 38 years old, was 18 when she joined the FARC, because her father was shot by the paramilitares, besides that her family lives in the country in extreme poverty, Nasley had to work every day as a nanny, to be able to finish her school. At the end the ideals of the FARC and the absolute equality of men and women there, convinced her, that she would finally have the chance “to be someone in life.“ As a combatant in her first year she almost collapsed under the relentless military training. The bombings traumatized her. But at the same time she studies ontology in the FARC– the profession she always dreamt of. Gregory, her boyfriend is the head of communication in the transitional zone, took part in the peace negotiations in Havana. So did she. She wants to live on in the camp, build a working village here in the midst of the “great FARC family.”

VIVANA

Viviana, 37 years old, joined the FARC at the age of 17. The reason was that as a daughter of a farmer she didn’t have access to school education and health care. Her family always belonged to the communist party and sympathized with the FARC. Her motivation was to fight against the inequality in Colombia. In a combat against the military, she got shot and was the only FARC fighter to survive. Seeking refuge and trying to hide from the military, peasants found her and gave shelter up to the moment, the military found her. Five years of imprisonment and hardship followed in el „El Buen Pastor“, Colombia’s biggest women prison in Bogotá. Today she lives in Icononzo, one of the 26 transitional zones, where the ex-FARC combatants live. She dreams of finishing high school, as teachers from University teach in the zones.After 20 years she has seen her family again for the first time for her birthday. Her conviction is rooted in her words: the new party founded by the FARC will fight for our social ideals. We set down our guns, but our words and cameras are our new weapons to pursue our fight“.

‘ We do not want to be seen as terrorists anymore.’
One of the deepest desires expressed by the women of the FARC.

Fifty three years of armed conflict ended when in November 2016 peace was signed between the Colombian government and the Marxist FARC guerrilla. More than 7,000 Rebels handed over their
weapons to the United Nations.

About forty percent of the former FARC rebels are women. They play a crucial role in the peace process. Harvard studies proved that peace in crisis-ridden countries is less related to prosperity and democratic conditions than to society’s attitude towards women. Hence it highly depends on them how successful the FARC integration process will be in the end. In the FARC, gender equality played a vital part. The female rebels fought like men and held equal ranks. Their present struggle for peace is also a commitment to women’s rights in a highly patriarchal society.

This long-term project named after a song of the famous Colombian singer, la Grande Negra (Leonor Gonzalez Mina ) is about six women ex-FARC rebels, who are fighting today for recognition and acceptance in Colombian society. It is a project about de-stigmatization and forgiveness, crucial for a society in order to start a new chapter and to cohabitate as former enemies in society. In numerous interviews Sandra, Milena, Nasley, Viviana, Juliana and Camila shared their deeply moving life stories. Extreme poverty, hopelessness and the search for ideals, drove these women into the arms of the FARC. “I finally wanted to be somebody” – a phrase these women said on multiple occasions. The result: Since the age of sixteen the female fighters have known nothing but a life in war.

I portrayed and documented the six women from July 2017 until January 2019. My intention was to document the beginning and the evolution of the peace and reconciliation process through the lives of these women in Colombia. I wanted share their personal wishes and hopes and paths they all undertook since the end of the war. Initially the six protagonists were sheltered in Icononzo, one of the 26 disarmament and transition zones, housing circa 300 ex-combatants out of a total of 7000 remaining rebels. I concentrated on women in this particular zone, because this region in the province Tolima, was severely affected by the armed conflict. Further Icononzo is close to Bogotá, which makes the reintegration process even more challenging. Today some of them moved and started a new life in Bogotá.

Initially it was difficult at times for the women to share their traumatic experiences and lives as fighters. But through the trust I have learned about their fears, their braveness, their strength, their dreams and hopes and plans for the future, which they have been realizing over the course of time.

The former fighters, especially the women, face immense challenges: the Colombian communities make it difficult for them to return to civilian life. As ex-female rebels they are acutely stigmatized. They are seen as
unfeminine for renouncing traditional gender roles. Beyond that, the FARC is held responsible for drug trafficking, countless kidnappings, 200,000 deaths and the displacement of more than five million persons in Colombia. Now, the FARC members are making an enormous effort to assimilate into a largely hostile society. These women represent the thousands of rebels taking responsibility for their past, asking for forgiveness, and trying to begin a new life in peace. This project is about forgiveness and the try of a new beginning.

This peace process could be exemplary for other war torn countries in the pursuit of peace.

Anne Christine Woehrl