United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia
- proper noun
- NSFW
:
Fuerzas de Autodefensa Unidas de Colombia
- The United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia were implicated in numerous human rights abuses during the late 1990s.
Examples
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After years of violent conflict, the Colombian government eventually dismantled the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia.
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Journalists reporting on the drug trade often reference the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia as a major player.
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The United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia were formed in 1997.
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Many reports detail the activities of the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia.
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After years of violent conflict, the Colombian government eventually dismantled the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia.
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Journalists reporting on the drug trade often reference the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia as a major player.
-
The United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia were implicated in numerous human rights abuses during the late 1990s.
Synonyms
3
9.9
A group of armed fighters in Colombia paid for by drug money and known for violence
An illegal armed group in Colombia formed in 1997 that fought and sold drugs
A former illegal armed group in Colombia that used violence and sold drugs
A violent group of armed fighters in Colombia formed in 1997 and paid with drug money
Surface Forms
Morphology
united + Self-Defense + force + of + Colombia
A B1 learner who knows 'united', 'self-defense', 'forces' and 'Colombia' can transparently infer this is an organized group or military-like force in Colombia formed for self-defence purposes, so the basic referent is compositionally predictable. However, the specific sense — that it is a right-wing paramilitary alliance, its historical formation, and involvement in drug trafficking and violence — is not derivable from the parts, so the expression is only partially transparent.
Etymology
United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia comes from many local armed groups that 'united' and called themselves self-defense fighters and forces, meaning they said they were protecting communities. That's why the name describes a joined group of armed people, even though they became a powerful and often violent organization involved in the drug trade and serious crimes.