The FARC, A Leftist Organization?

I have every reason to believe this Jacobin discussion of Colombia’s right-wing paramilitaries is true. But I really, really struggle with articles that claim the FARC as representing anything like a leftist opposition. While the FARC started out as a leftist organizations, it has had nothing to it with any resemblance to leftism in decades and I really don’t think it helps any discussion of Colombia–or the left generally–to claim any solidarity or even concern with the FARC at all. The FARC isn’t “militant.” It’s a criminal gang.