The escaped rebels said to be deceived and demoralized because of the way they were treated in the guerrilla movement.
The eight were added to the list of 270 rebels who deserted the guerrilla organizations in 2002. Since the beginning of the "demobilization" process that has been in place for already four years, 2,575 men and women have joined the benefits program offered by the government.
These people will have a chance at reinserting themselves into society with the warranty of education financing, paid health programs and the option of a credit for a small business after two years. The costly program, however, is possibly underfunded and has prompted the government of Uribe to lobby for a tax that would be directly destined to pay for social rehabilitation efforts.
Ex-guerrilla soldiers are also granted amnesty under the reinsertion program, except when accused of crimes to humanity, which are dealt with at the International Criminal Tribunal according to the Rome Treaty, signed by 63 nations during former President Pastrana's government. The inclusion of a clause in the Rome Treaty that prevents guerrilla soldiers from being sued for war crimes within the context of civil war in Colombia for seven years since the signing of the treaty signals certain openness of the Colombian government to dialogue amid a strong military campaign aimed at eradicating terrorism. ***