National Liberation Army (Colombia)

{{more citations needed section|date=January 2013}}

The National Liberation Army was founded in 1964, by Fabio Vásquez Castaño and other Colombian rebels trained in Cuba. The group included "urban intellectuals" influenced by Che Guevara and Fidel Castro.{{cite web|url= https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/ct/rls/crt/2005/65275.htm|title=Chapter 8 -- Foreign Terrorist Organizations

|date= 2006|publisher= U.S. Department |access-date= 8 August 2024}} Later, the ELN was headed by a series of Roman Catholic priests, exponents of liberation theology. Most notable was Camilo Torres Restrepo (1929–66), a well-known university professor (egalitarian and Marxist–Leninist) who was openly critical of the what he considered grossly unequal income among the social classes of Colombia. His attraction to the radical ideas of liberation theology led him to join the ELN, a guerrilla army intent upon effecting the revolutionary praxis of liberation theology among the poor people of Colombia. Priest Camilo was killed in his first combat as an ELN guerrilla, and so became the exemplar ELN soldier, to be emulated by ELN guerrillas and other liberation theology priests from the lower ranks of the Roman Catholic priesthood.

File:Camilo Torres con campesinos colombianos.jpg among the peasants of Colombia.]]

File:ELN guerrilla poster.jpg.]]

In the years following its foundation, it brought together more students and young activists from cities than peasants, a social composition that distinguishes it from the FARC guerrillas, who are essentially peasants.{{Cite web|url=https://www.semana.com/nacion/articulo/diferencias-entre-el-eln-y-las-farc/467349|title=¿Cómo es la guerrilla del ELN y qué la diferencia de las FARC?|website=Diferencias entre el ELN y las FARC|date=31 March 2016}}

In the 1970s, after suffering military defeat and internal crises, the ELN was commanded by the Spanish priest Father Manuel Pérez Martínez (1943–98), alias El Cura Pérez, who shared leadership with Nicolás Rodríguez Bautista, alias "Gabino". El Cura Pérez presided over the National Liberation Army as one of its most recognized figures until he died of hepatitis B in 1998. He was instrumental in establishing the ideology of the ELN, a composite of Cuban revolutionary theory and liberation theology that proposes the establishment in Colombia of a Christian and communist regime to resolve the socioeconomic problems of chronic political corruption, poverty, and the exclusion of most Colombians from their country's government.

The ELN guerrillas survived the heavy fighting in the Colombian National Army's Operation Anorí (1973–74), and then reconstituted their forces, with partial assistance from the Colombian Government of President Alfonso López Michelsen (1974–78), who allowed the ELN to break from and escape encirclement by the Colombian army. President López Michelsen helped the ELN in the hope of initiating peace negotiations with them in order to end the civil war. After this, the National Liberation Army of Colombia resumed financing its military operations by means of kidnap for ransom, the extortion of money from Colombian and foreign petroleum companies and the taxation of the private illegal drug trade of Colombia.

The ELN did not participate in the peace negotiations conducted between the Colombian government of President Andrés Pastrana Arango (1998–2002) and FARC, yet did participate in an exploratory conference about possibly participating in peace negotiations. A Colombian government initiative towards granting the ELN a demilitarized zone in the southern region of the Bolívar Department was thwarted by right-wing political pressure from the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) whose paramilitary mercenaries conduct anti-guerrilla operations in that part of the Bolívar Department.

Peace talks began in 2022, but in August 2024 the Colombian government announced an end to a six-

{{Christian socialism sidebar}}

month ceasefire, as the ELN had returned to its practice of kidnapping civilians for ransom.{{cite web |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2024-08-05/colombia-armed-forces-restart-military-operations-against-eln-rebels-defense-minister |title=Colombia Armed Forces Restart Military Operations Against ELN Rebels |website=usnews.com |date=2024-08-05 |access-date=2025-01-25}}

File:Marcha 20 de julio - "¿Y los secuestrados del ELN qué?".jpgPrevious contacts continued during the early days of the Álvaro Uribe Vélez government but eventually were severed, neither party being fully trusting of the other. Only in mid-2004 did the ELN and the government began to make a series of moves that, with the announced mediation of the Vicente Fox government of Mexico, lead to another round of exploratory talks.

On 24 July 2004 the ELN apparently abducted Misael Vacca Ramírez, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Yopal, though their reasons were not clarified. The kidnappers said that Ramírez would be released with a message, but "Francisco Galán", a senior jailed ELN commander who has often acted as an intermediary between the government and the ELN's high command, said he did not know whether the group was responsible. The Bishop was subsequently released by ELN members, in good health, on 27 July, after his kidnapping had been condemned by Amnesty International and Pope John Paul II, among others. As far as is publicly known, he did not have any message to announce on behalf of the ELN.

Eventually, the ELN questioned Mexico's participation in the talks, arguing that it did not have confidence in the actions of a government which voted against Fidel Castro's Cuba during a United Nations vote. This led the Mexican government to end its participation.

In December 2005, the ELN and the Colombian government began a new round of exploratory talks in Havana, Cuba, with the presence of the ELN's military commander "Antonio García", as well as "Francisco Galán" and "Ramiro Vargas". This was considered the direct result of three months of previous consultations with representatives of different sectors of public society through the figure of a "House of Peace" (Casa de Paz in Spanish).

Representatives from Norway, Spain and Switzerland joined both parties at the talks as observers.

The talks ended by 22 December and both parties agreed to meet again in January 2006.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4551094.stm Colombia plans new rebel meeting.] BBC News. Accessed 6 July 2008 After a series of preliminary meetings, the next round of talks was later rescheduled for early-mid February.{{Cite web|url=http://tiendamovistar.terra.com/capa/co/|title=Movistar Store|website=tiendamovistar.terra.com}}

During the February talks, which moved at a slow pace, the government decided to formally suspend capture orders for "Antonio García" and "Ramiro Vargas", recognizing them as negotiators and, implicitly, as political actors. The move was also joined by the creation of what was termed an alternative and complementary mechanism that could be used to deal with difficult issues and matters that concerned both parties, outside the main negotiating table. A formal negotiation process has yet to begin.[http://www.altocomisionadoparalapaz.gov.co/noticias/2006/febrero/febrero_24_06.htm Comunicado Público, Febrero 24 – 2006.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928152814/http://www.altocomisionadoparalapaz.gov.co/noticias/2006/febrero/febrero_24_06.htm |date=28 September 2007 }} Alto Comisionado para la Paz. Accessed 6 July 2008

On 23 March, the ELN freed a Colombian soldier that it had kidnapped on 25 February, delivering him to the Red Cross, saying that it was a unilateral sign of good will.[http://www.icrc.org/web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/iwpList578/CB76A037530C6B32C125713B004E3E3B Colombia: Soldier released.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060904001342/http://www.icrc.org/web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/iwpList578/CB76A037530C6B32C125713B004E3E3B |date=4 September 2006 }} International Committee of the Red Cross. Accessed 6 July 2008

The ELN's "Antonio García" expected to visit Cuba from 17 to 28 April, participating in different meetings with representatives of several political, economic and social sectors. The third round of the exploratory talks would have originally taken place in La Habana, Cuba from 2 to 12 May.[http://www.altocomisionadoparalapaz.gov.co/noticias/2006/marzo/marzo_30_06.htm Entrevista del Alto Comisionado para la Paz, Luis Carlos Restrepo Ramírez.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928152751/http://www.altocomisionadoparalapaz.gov.co/noticias/2006/marzo/marzo_30_06.htm |date=28 September 2007 }} Alto Comisionado para la Paz. Accessed 6 July 2008

The third round of talks was later moved to take place from 25 to 28 April.

Both parties reiterated their respect for the content and spirit of all previous agreements, and that they would continue working towards the design of a future peace process. The Colombian government and the ELN intend to study documents previously elaborated during the "House of Peace" stage, as well as documents from other participants and observers.[http://www.altocomisionadoparalapaz.gov.co/noticias/2006/abril/abril_28_06.htm Declaración tercera ronda formal exploratoria.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928152808/http://www.altocomisionadoparalapaz.gov.co/noticias/2006/abril/abril_28_06.htm |date=28 September 2007 }} Alto Comisionado para la Paz. Accessed 6 July 2008 Both parties expected to meet again after Colombia's 28 May presidential elections.

On 30 August 2007 the ELN said that in the statement the dialogues in Havana ended without agreement because of "two different conceptions of peace and methods to get to it".

Colombian President Álvaro Uribe invited ELN spokesman "Francisco Galán" for new talks about peace on 3 April 2008.{{cite news

|url=http://colombiareports.com/2008/04/03/uribe-meets-eln-to-discuss-continuation-of-peace-talks/

|title=Uribe meets ELN to discuss continuation of peace talks

|date=3 April 2008

|publisher=Colombia Reports

|access-date=3 April 2008| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080415210436/http://colombiareports.com/2008/04/03/uribe-meets-eln-to-discuss-continuation-of-peace-talks/| archive-date = 15 April 2008}} The two spoke in the presidential palace. After the meeting Galán says the ELN will return to the negotiation table.{{cite news |url=http://colombiareports.com/2008/04/03/eln-wants-to-negotiate-peace-with-colombian-government/ |title=ELN wants to negotiate peace with Colombian government |date=3 April 2008 |publisher=Colombia Reports |access-date=3 April 2008 |archive-date=22 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022105042/http://colombiareports.com/2008/04/03/eln-wants-to-negotiate-peace-with-colombian-government/ |url-status=dead }} The ELN released a press note shortly after that saying the rebel group "does not share the views" of "Galán" and dismissed him as their spokesman. The Marxist rebels did say they will continue to let "Galán" negotiate between the Colombian government and the rebels.{{cite news |url=http://colombiareports.com/2008/04/07/eln-sack-spokesman-after-talking-to-uribe/ |title=ELN sacks spokesman after talking to Uribe |date=7 April 2008 |publisher=Colombia Reports |access-date=3 July 2008 |archive-date=22 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022102033/http://colombiareports.com/2008/04/07/eln-sack-spokesman-after-talking-to-uribe/ |url-status=dead }}

On 7 December, 2008 18 ELN guerillas surrendered to the Colombian army in the northwestern province of Chocó.{{cite web|url=http://colombiareports.com/colombian-news/news/2266-18-eln-guerrillas-surrender.html |title=18 ELN guerrillas surrender |publisher=Colombia Reports |date=8 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081210114026/http://colombiareports.com:80/colombian-news/news/2266-18-eln-guerrillas-surrender.html |archive-date=10 December 2008}}

In March 2016 the resumption of peace talks between the parties were announced, but were put on hold until the release of all hostages still kept by the ELN. The last hostages were finally released in February 2017 and the talks commenced in the same month, with Pablo Beltrán and Juan Camilo Restrepo heading the delegations of the ELN and the Colombian government, respectively.{{cite news|url=https://www.wola.org/analysis/colombias-eln-peace-talks-explained/ |title=Colombia's ELN Peace Talks Explained |publisher=Washington Office on Latin America |date=7 February 2017 |access-date=14 December 2022 }}

On 4 September 2017, the ELN and President Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia announced a truce to begin on 1 October and to last at least until 12 January 2018.{{cite news

|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-41147416

|publisher=BBC News

|date=4 September 2017

|title=Colombian government and ELN rebels agree ceasefire

|access-date=4 September 2017

}}

From 25 to 29 May the group had a ceasefire so that "those who want to vote can do so peacefully" during the 2018 Colombian presidential election. The ELN said it "reserve[s] the right to defend [themselves] in case of an attack" by security forces or other armed groups.{{Cite web |last=Alsema |first=Adriaan |date=2022-05-16 |title=ELN declares unilateral ceasefire ahead of Colombia's elections |url=https://colombiareports.com/eln-declares-unilateral-ceasefire-ahead-of-colombias-elections/?form=MG0AV3 |access-date=2025-01-26 |website=Colombia News {{!}} Colombia Reports |language=en-US}}

{{Main|2019 Bogotá car bombing}}

On 17 January 2019, the ELN performed a car bombing at the General Santander National Police Academy in Bogotá, Colombia. The truck detonated and killed 21 people, including the perpetrator, and injured 68 others.{{cite news|url=https://www.eltiempo.com/justicia/investigacion/pistas-sobre-el-ataque-con-carro-bomba-a-escuela-de-cadetes-de-la-policia-315988|title=Las pistas sobre el ataque con carro bomba a Escuela de la Policía|date=17 January 2019|access-date=18 January 2019|newspaper=El Tiempo}}{{cite news|url=http://caracol.com.co/radio/2019/01/17/nacional/1547744968_857681.html|title=Esto fue lo que sucedió y cómo entró la camioneta a Escuela de la Policía |date=17 January 2019|website=Caracol Radio|access-date=17 January 2019|archive-date=28 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128031619/https://caracol.com.co/radio/2019/01/17/nacional/1547744968_857681.html|url-status=dead}} It was the deadliest attack on the Colombian capital since the 2003 El Nogal Club bombing and the first attack on the capital since the 2017 Centro Andino bombing.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kienyke.com/krimen/actos-terroristas-en-bogota|title=Doloroso balance terrorista en Bogotá|date=18 January 2019|website=KienyKe|access-date=18 January 2019|archive-date=17 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417180142/https://www.kienyke.com/krimen/actos-terroristas-en-bogota|url-status=dead}} The ELN accepted responsibility for the attack and justified it as a response to the bombings made by the Colombian government during the unilateral ceasefire.{{Cite news|url=https://edition-m.cnn.com/2019/01/21/americas/colombia-car-bomb-eln/index.html|title=ELN claims responsibility for Bogota car bomb that killed 20 at a police academy|date=21 January 2019|work=CNN}}

As a result of the bombing, President Iván Duque Márquez announced on 18 January that peace dialogue between the Government of Colombia and the ELN was officially suspended. Duque also demanded that Cuba extradite the ten ELN leaders that found refuge on the island nation during peace talks and the reactivation of their Interpol Red Notices, and criticized Venezuela for providing refuge for the ELN on the Colombia-Venezuela border.{{Cite web|url=http://www.lapatilla.com/2019/01/18/duque-clausura-dialogo-con-eln-en-cuba-y-lanza-velada-advertencia-a-venezuela/|title=Duque clausura diálogo con ELN en Cuba y lanza advertencia al gobierno de Venezuela (Video)|date=18 January 2019|website=La Patilla|language=es-ES|access-date=19 January 2019}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.tribtown.com/2019/01/18/lt-colombia-bombing-the-latest-2/|title=The Latest: Colombia's president reactivates arrest orders|date=18 January 2019|website=Seymour Tribune|language=en-US|access-date=19 January 2019}}{{Dead link|date=April 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} In response to the request, Cuba's Foreign Minister announced that Cuba would abide by the protocols of ongoing negotiations between both parties.{{Cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/01/colombia-asks-cuba-extradite-eln-rebels-bombing-kills-21-190120075529616.html|title=Colombia asks Cuba to extradite ELN rebels after bombing kills 21|date=20 January 2019|website=Aljazeera English|language=en-US|access-date=20 January 2019}}

{{Main|2019 Venezuelan protests}}

The Redes Foundation denounced in the Colombian Public Ministry that armed groups made up of National Liberation Army members and FARC dissidents, supported by the Bolivarian National Police and FAES officials, murdered two Venezuelan protesters, Eduardo José Marrero and Luigi Ángel Guerrero, during a protest in the frontier city of San Cristóbal, in Táchira state. Other protesters were injured during the shooting.{{cite news|title=Denuncian que guerrillas colombianas causaron muerte a venezolanos durante manifestaciones contra Maduro|url=https://www.infobae.com/america/colombia/2019/01/25/denuncian-que-guerrillas-colombianas-causaron-muerte-a-venezolanos-durante-manifestaciones-contra-maduro/|date=25 January 2019|access-date=28 January 2019|work=Infobae|language=es}}

In March 2020, the National Liberation Army (ELN) declared a unilateral one-month ceasefire during the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, to start on 1 April.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-52090169|title=Colombia's ELN rebels call ceasefire over coronavirus|website=BBC|date=30 March 2020}}

General Luis Fernando Navarro asserted on 5 January 2021 that the ELN lost 700 members through targeted attacks in 2020, and that it still had 2,500 armed combatants.{{cite news |title=Colombia's illegal armed groups lost more than 5,000 members in 2020 -military commander |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/colombias-illegal-armed-groups-lost-130359730.html |access-date=5 January 2021 |work=news.yahoo.com |agency=Reuters |publisher=Yahoo News |date=5 January 2021}}

On 21 November 2022, after the election of Gustavo Petro breathed new life into the peace process, delegates of the ELN and the new Colombian government met in Venezuela to resume the peace talks that faltered in January 2019, after the Bogotá car bombing.{{cite news |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/11/22/colombian-government-and-rebel-group-eln-resume-peace-talks |title=Colombian government, left-wing ELN rebels launch new peace talks |date= 22 November 2022 |access-date=11 December 2022 |work=Al Jazeera}} The negotiations continued into the first week of December 2022, with representatives of the ELN and the Colombian government meeting for the continuation of peace talks in El Ávila National Park in Caracas.{{cite news |author-first=Juan Carlos |author-last=Díaz Guerrero |url=https://www.plenglish.com/news/2022/12/04/peace-talks-in-colombia/ |title=Peace talks in Colombia |date= 4 December 2022 |access-date=11 December 2022 |work=Orbe Venezuela |publisher=Prensa Latina}} On the occasion, ELN chief negotiator Pablo Beltrán stated that Colombians have to work towards reconciliation and recreate a new nation in peace and equity and in a similar spirit Danilo Rueda, the High Commissioner for Peace in Colombia, stated that peace is not only a question of laying down arms, but a process linked to the need for change. Following the conclusion of the first round of talks, the ELN announced a unilateral holiday truce lasting from 24 December 2022 until 2 January 2023.{{cite news |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/12/19/colombias-eln-rebels-announce-end-of-year-ceasefire |title=Colombia's ELN rebels announce end-of-year ceasefire |date=19 December 2022 |access-date=21 December 2022 |work=Al Jazeera}}

After Mexico agreed to be an official guarantor to the peace process, it was chosen as the host country for the second round of talks, expected to begin in January 2023.{{cite news| url=https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/colombias-government-eln-guerrillas-complete-first-round-talks-2022-12-12/ | work=Reuters | title=Colombia's government, ELN guerrillas complete first round of talks |date=12 December 2022 |access-date=14 December 2022}}

With the addition of Mexico, along with Cuba, Chile, Norway and Venezuela, there are now five guarantor countries to the peace process.

After misunderstandings arose regarding a bilateral ceasefire between the ELN and the government, an emergency meeting took place on 21 January in Caracas to reassure both sides of their intentions and to set a date for the second round of negotiations, scheduled to commence on 12 February 2023.{{cite news| url=https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/colombia-eln-rebels-resume-peace-talks-mexico-february-2023-01-21/ | work=Reuters | title=Colombia, ELN rebels to resume peace talks in Mexico in February |date=21 January 2023 |access-date=6 February 2023}}

Prior to the restart of peace talks, the influential ELN-commander Antonio Garcia criticised the approach of the Colombian government, stating that "the peace process cannot be used as an 'umbrella' for other issues".{{cite news |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/2/13/colombia-peace-talks-with-eln-rebels-set-to-resume-amid-tensions |title=Colombia peace talks with ELN rebels resume amid tensions |date=13 February 2023 |access-date=21 February 2023 |work=Al Jazeera}} The former commander of the ELN, Carlos Velandia, dismissed this stance as posturing ahead of the next round of talks, which commenced on time in Mexico City, opining that the ELN wants to negotiate its own accord and not be lumped in with other groups.

The Colombian government appointed Vera Grabe Loewenherz as its head negotiator with the ELN in December 2023.{{cite web |title=Vera Grabe es designada como jefe negociadora del Gobierno en la mesa con el ELN |url=https://www.elpais.com.co/colombia/vera-grabe-es-designada-como-jefe-negociadora-del-gobierno-en-la-mesa-con-el-eln-1125.html |website=Noticias de Cali, Valle y Colombia – Periodico: Diario El País |access-date=13 December 2023 |language=spanish |date=11 December 2023}}

In 17 January 2025 the Colombian government suspended peace talks yet again after a massacre carried out in Tibú due to continuous gunfights with FARC-EP dissidents which resulted in around 50 civilians killed. {{cite web |last1=Stacey |first1=Diego |title=La segunda masacre de 2025 en Colombia: asesinados una pareja y su bebé en Tibú |url=https://elpais.com/america-colombia/2025-01-16/la-segunda-masacre-de-2025-en-colombia-asesinados-una-pareja-y-su-bebe-de-nueve-meses-en-tibu.html |website=El Pais |publisher=El Pais |access-date=2 April 2025 |ref=70}}

{{See also-text|Camilism}}

The ideology of ELN has been described as "Catholic Marxism",{{cite journal |title=Radio Silences: “The Kidnapped Voices” and the Production of Political Memory in Colombia (1994-2018) |journal=AHCD Working Paper |issue=1 |first=Daniel R. |last=Quiroga-Villamarín |date=November 2023 |url=https://www.graduateinstitute.ch/sites/internet/files/2023-11/WP1_AHCD_Quiroga-Villamarin.pdf |page=15}} as well as "Marxism-Leninism interspersed with revolutionary Catholicism", and the organization embraces Roman Catholic morality, which makes the group heavily utilize the concept of martyrdom and refuse to take part in the Colombian drug trade. ELN also stresses Catholic moralism, including the need to "live with dignity" by adhering to Catholic teaching. The ELN has had links with the Catholic Church ever since its foundation in 1964, as it included "Catholic radicals" amongst its founders. It adheres to liberation theology, which includes the notion that Catholicism requires the creation of a fair and equal society based on socialist principles, and an anti-imperialist agenda that primarily targets corporations active in the Colombian extractive sector.{{cite journal |issn=1356-7888 |title=Peace in Colombia and the ELN |journal=Strategic Comments |volume=23 |issue=10 |doi=10.1080/13567888.2017.1402544 |year=2017 |publisher=University of Florida |page=1}} The Catholic character of the party was further developed by its former leaders, Camilo Torres Restrepo and Manuel Peréz, who were Catholic priests.{{cite journal |first1=Barbara |last1=Gruber |first2=Jan |last2=Pospisil |year=2015 |title=‘Ser Eleno’: Insurgent identity formation in the ELN' |journal=Small Wars and Insurgencies |doi=10.1080/09592318.2015.1007562 |volume=26 |issue=2 |pages=10-11 |url=https://www.pure.ed.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/21605285/Pospisil_J_Ser_Eleno_ACCEPTED.pdf}}

Apart from its Catholicism, the ELN is heavily tied to Revolutionary Cuba and Castroism. The founders of ELN trained in Havana, and the organization follows the ideology of foquismo based on writings of Che Guevara; thus its ideology is also described as a "Che Guevara type of communist ideology".{{cite web |url=https://gisf.ngo/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/0101-Lasater-2009-FARC.pdf |title=The Adaptability of the FARC and ELN and the Prediction of their Future Actions |first=Drew |last=Lasater |date=1 January 2009}} José Míguez Bonino classified ELN as a Castroist and Guevarist movement, noting that Cuba was closely involved in the training and preparation of its foundation. The ELN did not adhere to either the Soviet or Chinese ideological lines and instead became independent, which resulted in the organization accepting clergy into its ranks.{{cite journal |title=Che Guevara and Revolutionary Christianity in Latin America |first=Simon |last=Topping |date=July 2003 |journal=Biblical Studies |publisher=University of Sheffield Press |pages=45-46}}

The U.S. State Department has listed the ELN as a Foreign Terrorist Organization because of its reputation for ransom kidnappings and armed attacks on Colombia's infrastructure. In April 2004, the European Union added the ELN to its list of terrorist organizations for those actions and its breaches of humanitarian law.

The ELN's main source of income are businesses and middle class civilians in its areas of operation. To enforce these "taxes", they frequently take civilians captive to use as leverage. While the ELN uses the terms "war taxes" and "retentions" for these actions, critics insist they constitute "extortion" and "kidnapping".[https://www.hrw.org/reports98/colombia/Colom989-05.htm V. Guerilla Violations of International Humanitarian Law.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080213145647/http://www.hrw.org/reports98/colombia/Colom989-05.htm |date=13 February 2008 }} Human Right Watch. Accessed 6 July 2008

According to Claudia Calle, spokesperson for País Libre, a Colombian foundation for victims of abductions, 153 hostages had died "in the hands of the ELN" between 2000 and 2007.{{cite web|url=http://colombiareports.com/2008/07/11/153-hostages-died-in-the-hands-of-the-eln/|access-date=2 September 2008|title=153 hostages died in the hands of the ELN|date=11 July 2008|archive-date=22 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022102359/http://colombiareports.com/2008/07/11/153-hostages-died-in-the-hands-of-the-eln/|url-status=dead}} According to País Libre, ELN abducted over 3,000 people between 2000 and 2007.{{cite web |url=http://colombiareports.com/2008/06/27/eln-hostages-are-forgotten-about-says-pais-libre/ |access-date=2 September 2008 |title=ELN hostages are forgotten about, says País Libre |date=27 June 2008 |archive-date=22 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022094956/http://colombiareports.com/2008/06/27/eln-hostages-are-forgotten-about-says-pais-libre/ |url-status=dead }}

The ELN also occasionally operated with the FARC-EP, and like FARC, it has targeted civilians, according to a February 2005 report by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights: "During 2004, the FARC-EP and the ELN carried out a series of attacks against the civilian population, including several massacres of civilians and kidnappings by the FARC-EP. There were occasional joint actions by the FARC-EP and the ELN."[http://www.hchr.org.co/documentoseinformes/informes/altocomisionado/Informe2004_eng.doc Report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on the situation of human rights in Colombia (word document).] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304060657/http://www.hchr.org.co/documentoseinformes/informes/altocomisionado/Informe2004_eng.doc |date=4 March 2016 }} United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Accessed 6 July 2008

In mid-2006, mutual rivalries between local FARC and ELN forces escalated into hostilities in Arauca, along the border with Venezuela. According to the BBC, "the FARC have for some years moved to take over ELN territory near the Venezuelan border, and the smaller rebel army reacted by killing several FARC militants". A statement posted on FARC's homepage accused the ELN of "attacks that we only expected from the enemy".[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/5070408.stm Colombian rebels turn on allies]. BBC News. Accessed 6 July 2008

On 26 May 2008 the ELN wrote a letter to the FARC secretariat, seeking cooperation with Colombia's largest rebel group to overcome "the difficulties we are experiencing in today's Colombian insurgent movement".{{cite news |url=http://colombiareports.com/2008/06/06/eln-seeks-fusion-with-farc/ |title=ELN seeks cooperation with FARC |date=6 June 2008 |publisher=Colombia Reports |access-date=6 June 2008 |archive-date=19 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200519065050/http://colombiareports.com/2008/06/06/eln-seeks-fusion-with-farc// |url-status=dead }} The letter was published on the ELN website.{{cite news |url=http://www.nodo50.org/eln-voces/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=255&Itemid=1 |title=Open letter to the FARC secretariat |date=26 May 2008 |publisher=ELN |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080606185008/http://www.nodo50.org/eln-voces/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=255&Itemid=1 |archive-date=6 June 2008 }} On 27 June 2017, FARC ceased to be an armed group, disarming itself and handing over its weapons to the United Nations.{{Cite news |url= https://colombiareports.com/farc-demobilization-ends-8100-arms-22000kg-explosives-removed/|title=Colombia's Farc officially ceases to be an armed group |work= colombiareports.com |access-date=15 August 2017}}

According to InSight Crime, the ELN and FARC dissidents met together in Venezuela to form a potential alliance in October 2018. Sources based in the Arauca department in Colombia provided the information, with reports that the groups would participate in illicit activity together. It was also alleged that former FARC commander Iván Márquez participated in the talks with the ELN.{{Cite web|url=https://www.insightcrime.org/news/analysis/farc-dissidents-eln-turn-venezuela-criminal-enclave/|title=FARC Dissidents and the ELN Turn Venezuela Into Criminal Enclave|last=Kirby|first=Shannon|date=10 December 2018|website=InSight Crime|language=en-US|access-date=22 January 2019}}

Since the 1990s, the ELN began to establish positions in the western border states of Venezuela.{{Cite book|title=Venezuela: A Mafia State?|publisher=InSight Crime|year=2018|location=Medellín, Colombia|pages=18|quote=But Colombia was not content with simply exporting cocaine to Venezuela. By the 1990s, it was also exporting its civil conflict, with the rebel armies of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia – FARC) and the National Liberation Army (Ejército de Liberación Nacional – ELN) taking up residence in Venezuela’s border states. Both groups have long been involved in the drug trade and developed close links with Venezuelan officials, often with the blessing of President Hugo Chávez.}} The ELN grew close to Venezuelan officials during the tenure of Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez, with Chávez approving relationships with the group.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/03/03/ecuador.colombia/?iref=mpstoryview|title=Colombia: Evidence suggests Chávez gave FARC $300M|date=3 March 2008|access-date=3 March 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080309162720/http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/03/03/ecuador.colombia/?iref=mpstoryview|archive-date=9 March 2008|url-status=dead|publisher=CNN}}

InSight Crime also states that Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro was tolerant of the ELN, explaining that "ELN's expansion in Venezuela has been marked by the Maduro administration's inaction and even encouragement towards the group"; according to the group, the ELN operates in at least 12 of the 23 states of Venezuela.{{cite news|title=El ELN opera en 12 estados de Venezuela|url=https://es.insightcrime.org/noticias/analisis/eln-opera-12-estados-venezuela/|date=13 November 2018|access-date=3 January 2019|work=InSight Crime}} The Venezuelan NGO Fundación Redes has reported that the Venezuelan military had possibly armed ELN members.{{Cite web|url=https://www.insightcrime.org/news/analysis/eln-present-half-venezuela/|title=ELN Now Present in Half of Venezuela|last=Kirby|first=Shannon|date=13 November 2018|website=InSight Crime|language=en-US|access-date=22 January 2019}} In 2019, ELN supported Maduro during the Venezuelan presidential crisis and said they "will fight" US troops if they invade Venezuela.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/02/02/eln-interview-colombian-marxist-guerrillas-will-fight-us-troops/|title=ELN interview: Colombian Marxist guerrillas 'will fight' US troops if they invade Venezuela|last1=Charles|first1=Mathew|date=2 February 2019|work=The Telegraph|access-date=2 February 2019}}

The ELN has received support from the Tupamaro movement in Venezuela, a Venezuelan colectivo and political party. The Tupamaro movement supported the ELN's dialogue with the Colombian government, stating, "The Tupamaro Revolutionary Movement, now more than ever, stands in solidarity with this sister organization in the historic struggle against the neo-Granadian oligarchy and Yankee imperialism. We strongly ratify all of our support for the guerrillas and the ELN High Command, in the process that is developed with the participation of the Colombian people in the resolution of the armed conflict and the construction of peace with social justice".

• Terrorism in Colombia
• Terrorism in Ecuador

{{reflist|30em}}

• {{official|http://www.eln-voces.net/}}
• [http://www.patrialibre.org/ ELN – Patrialibre.org]
• [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/1746914.stm An ELN profile on BBC news]
• [http://news.scotsman.com/world/Rebel-leader39s-daring-escape-is.5764841.jp Rebel Leader's Daring Escape is Blow to Colombia's Government] by Jeremy McDermott, October 2009
• [http://www.hchr.org.co/documentoseinformes/informes/altocomisionado/informes.php3?cod=8&cat=11 UN High Commissioner for Human Rights – Colombia 2005 Report] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728133623/https://www.hchr.org.co/documentoseinformes/informes/altocomisionado/informes.php3?cod=8&cat=11 |date=28 July 2020 }} (Spanish and English)
• [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8341093.stm Colombia's ELN Rebels Show New Vigour] by Jeremy McDermott, BBC News, 5 November 2009
• [https://www.economist.com/news/americas/21677414-former-combatants-colombias-internal-armed-conflict-spent-two-years-painting-their-experiences Who are the victims? – The aftermath of violence in Colombia] – (Former combatants in Colombia's internal armed conflict spent two years painting their experiences. They face difficult decisions about what to remember, what to forget and how to forgive)

{{Colombia conflict|state=collapsed}}

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