Blogs

The Silence of the Ex-Combatants

For the past ten years—ever since we exchanged life in the jungle for life in civilian society—we have started almost every morning the same way: drinking coffee together in bed. Those quiet conversations have become our daily ritual. We talk about the news, politics, our lives, the reintegration process, its challenges and frustrations. And every so often one of us would say, We should start a podcast. Why don’t we just do it?

Tanja Nijmeijer 1 August, 2026 No Comments

The paradoxes of international aid

Since the signing of the peace agreement in 2016 – almost 9 years ago – a lot of stuff has happened in terms of economic reintegration of ex-fighters. Remember that the peace agreement in its chapter End of Conflict, 3.2.2.1., created ECOMUN, an organization for social and solidarity-based economy with

Tanja Nijmeijer 24 July, 2025 No Comments

Women’s participation at the peace talks in Colombia

the elimination of the different types of violence requires something more than just constitutional, legal or institutional changes. It requires true revolutionary changes that dismantle the basis of exploitation and social exclusion of all human beings.

Tanja Nijmeijer 9 May, 2025 1 Comment

Violence (part 2)

After Hamas attacked Israel, I noticed many people ignoring the long-lasting, structural violence that has been going on against the Palestinians and analyzing this attack as a sudden phenomenon

Tanja Nijmeijer 21 October, 2023 7 Comments

The story behind the documentary “Tanja: Diaries of a guerrilla fighter”

I was not excited at first about the proposal, but as he insisted and ex-fighters started to get killed all over the country, I rethought the idea. What if I got killed? Then the only versions of my life would be those told by the BBC, Geen Stijl or RCN television. By then, I hadn’t even considered writing a book so I said yes.

Tanja Nijmeijer 14 September, 2023 8 Comments

Farc’s history needs to be saved

We all know that history is written by the victors, the hegemonic power. About the FARC a lot has been said. Probably a lot of it is true, and probably a lot of it is crap.

Tanja Nijmeijer 19 August, 2023 7 Comments

Violence (part 1)

To use direct violence is a choice, but to use structural or cultural violence is ALSO a choice, let’s never forget that. It is a choice made by people who hide behind the curtains of laws, companies, bureaucracy, and political correctness.

Tanja Nijmeijer 30 July, 2023 4 Comments

The Role of the Media in Conflict

Media have a huge responsibility in conflicts. They take sides to “help” define the good ones and the bad ones. This is not new.

Tanja Nijmeijer 25 June, 2023 6 Comments

Four children found after plane crash

Then another, less positive, idea came up in my mind: under former governments, elite governments, these children would have died. I believe they would have never made such incredible efforts in terms of money and manpower in order to rescue four indigenous children…

Tanja Nijmeijer 10 June, 2023 1 Comment

Heartwarming self-criticism

it was heartwarming to hear a government negotiator recognizing exactly what most people fail to recognize – in a completely transparent, selfless and public exercise of self-criticism: most ex-FARC members complied

Tanja Nijmeijer 2 June, 2023 No Comments

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