We are here because the civilian population wants us here. Because to win the war you need more than guns. The civilian population. All of us are the civilian population. Where there are guerrillas and subversion, there are self-defense forces if the people want us.
Paramilitaries are people sent by the government.
I would have to find a way to defend myself, my things and my fellow campesinos because we are the lowest class in the country. For that reason, we are the self-defense forces. There are approximately 600 men here in Putumayo. Yes, we have a lot of people in our ranks who are deserters from the guerrillas. They are here voluntarily because they want to defend their rights.