Colombian Ads Urge Guerrilla Members To Trade Murdery Jungle Rapes For Hugs

The Colombian government has taken to using advertising campaigns in an effort to get guerrilla members, like those in Farc, to leave the nation’s jungles and re-enter civilian life:

To reach the guerrillas, radio has proved the best means of communication. Indeed, one rebel commander was so keen to keep his troops from hearing demobilisation adverts that he promised to buy MP3 players to replace their radio sets.

Other commanders have simply banned all stations except the Farc’s own broadcasts. Nonetheless, according to one demobilised guerrilla, “that station is pure revolutionary music and propaganda, so the guys tune into other stations too, even if they risk punishment”.

They probably dance to Meat Loaf songs on repeat all day long. Torture, are we right? “I can see paradise by the dash. Board. Liiight.”

Advertisements will also run on television, despite limited access among guerrillas.

“People think it’s a waste of money,” says Mr Jaramillo. “But most importantly you reach the families of the guerrillas, who can watch TV and who can then get the message through.”

Other communication methods include leaflet-drops after combat operations, although this has been scaled back given that many of the messages are simply caught in the jungle tree-cover.

Come on over to our side, people. You may have hot solider ladies. But we’s got cake and a rousing game of Scrabble going on.

Colombia’s campaign to win rebel minds [BBC]