Central Bloc of the FARC-EP
The Central Bloc of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia operates strategically in the Andes Mountains around the middle of Colombia. The group is seen as the largest threat to Bogotá and its economy, as it operates in areas surrounding the capital. However, strong military action has forced the bloc to hide in remote parts of the mountains, away from many highways and cities. In an indictment in April 2006, the Minister of Defense announced over $5.5 million in rewards for the Central Bloc's highest ranking figures.
The specific divisions of the group are arguable. Because of the current conflict existing in the country, much of the information recovered is conflicting and cannot be taken as absolutely reliable. Some of the believed divisions or 'fronts', as they are commonly called, are shown below. Many of these fronts sometimes work together towards a certain mission, while others are further divided into 'columns' and 'companies' with a smaller number of members. For more general information see FARC-EP Chain of Command.
Contents
Commanders
| Alias | Name | Note
http://www.gobernaciondeltolima.com/OBSERVATORIO_DE_GOBERNABILIDAD.pdf |
|---|---|---|
| Marlon | Bloc commander.[1] | |
| Jerónimo | Raúl Duarte | |
| Jerónimo Galeano | Arquímedes Muñoz Villamil | Killed in March 20, 2011 [2] |
| Alfonso Cano | Guillermo León Saenz Vargas | Traditional ideological figure and commander in chief. Killed in action. |
| "Simón Bernate" | Leonardo Chaux Hernández | One of the trusted men of alias "Jerome Galeano" and alias "Alfonso Cano". He was 3rd leader of the "Miller Salcedo" company, and in the last four years he was the political head of the Central Bloc. Captured in April 2011.[3][4] |
| "El Abuelo" | Alirio Rojas Bocanegra | Killed in June 2, 2011.[5] He was security chief for alias "Alfonso Cano". In the same operation by the Colombian Army also was killed alias "Laura", a woman radio operator for alias "El Abuelo". |
16th Front
The 16th Front was responsible for the personal security of Alfonso Cano until he left the front in September 2011 and, together with a small group of 15 guerrillas, started moving south through Huila and finally Cauca. It has around 300 members as of 2011.[6]
| Alias | Name | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Alfonso Cano | Guillermo León Saenz | Killed on November 4, 2011 |
17th Front
Also known as the Angelino Godoy Front, it is composed by around 150 militants as of 2011.[7] It operates mostly in the Huila Department. The leader of this front is, as of 2011, José Orlando Orlando Ortiz, alias ‘Héctor Comidita’[8] Two members of the front died and 5 others surrenders after clashes with the Colombian army, on August 1, 2012.[9]
| Alias | Name | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Héctor Comidita | José Orlando Orlando Ortiz[8] | |
| "Geovany", "Gringo" | Captured in 2005. | |
| "Rigo", "Paisa" | Rigoberto Zuluaga Moncada | Killed in May 2010. |
| "Jeimmy" | Diana Cortés | Killed in May 2010. |
| "Robinson" | Angelino Godoy | Killed in October 2011.[10] |
21st Front
Also known as La Gaitana Front, it is composed by up to 120 militants. It operates mostly in the Tolima Department and the Quindío Department.
| Alias | Name | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Didier | Luis Fernando Mendez | considered to be 'the mastermind of extortion' in the Tolima region. Killed in January 2011[11][12] |
| El Tío | Front commander[13] | |
| Giovanni | Second or third in command[13] | |
| Jennifer | Killed in January 2011 | |
| Riano | Killed in January 2011 | |
| Robinson | Alleged explosive expert. Captured in January 2011 | |
| Marlon | Eduardo Rayo | |
| Pedronel | Abel Tavera | |
| Donald | ||
| Maria Rubiela Rubio Gualtero | Captured in March 2011 [14] | |
| Miro | Argemiro Cuellar Mendoz | Captured in March 2011 [14] |
| Carlos Pulgas | Third in command, killed in October 2011[15] |
25th Front
Also known as the Armando Ríos Front, it is composed by up to 120 militants. It operates mostly in the Tolima Department.[16] It is responsible for several attacks against security forces in 2011 in the Huila and Caqueta departments.[17][18] In July 2011, 9 members of the front were arrested and 2 others killed by security forces.[19] Six other members were captured on October 12.[18]
| Alias | Name | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Camilo | Front leader. Killed on March 2012.[20] | |
| "Bertil" | Enelio Ganoa | KIA in 2008. |
| "Tito" | Víctor Muñoz | |
| "Arcadia" | Albeiro Garcia | Main leader, captured in July 2011. |
| "Gonzalo" | Antonio Jimenez | Alleged chief financial officer, captured in July 2011. |
50th Front
Also known as Cacique Calarca Front, it is composed by up to 80 militants. It operates mostly in the Quindío Department and the Risaralda Department. The front is announced to have been dismantled by the Colombian Army.[21]
| Alias | Name | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Enrique | Ciro Gómez Rayo | Killed in March 2010. |
66th Front
Also known as the Joselo Lozada Front, it is composed by up to 150 militants. It operates mostly in the Huila Department.
| Alias | Name | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Mario | Second in command, captured on March 2011.[22] | |
| Davier | Part of Mario's security ring, killed on March 2011.[22] | |
| Libardo, El Pollo | Killed in September 2007. | |
| El Indio Humberto | Killed in March 2007. | |
| Eliecer | Killed in April 2010. | |
| Araceli | Wounded in combat and captured on July 18, 2010.[23] | |
| Didier, Víctor | Captured on July 28, 2010.[24] | |
| Eduardo | Captured on July 28, 2010.[24] | |
| Anuar | Wounded in combat and captured on July 28, 2010.[24] | |
| Santiago | Jaiber López Aldana[25] | Killed on October 9, 2010.[26] |
| Fredy Quina Pinzón | Killed on October 9, 2010.[25] | |
| Vladimir | Killed on November 12, 2010.[27] |
Columns and Companies
The following columns and companies also form part of the Central Bloc:
- Column 'Alfredo Gonzalez'. Operates in the southern part of the Tolima department. It is led by alias 'Teófilo'. In June 2011 the column killed a Colombian soldier while losing its 4:th in command 'Arnulfo' in combat.[28]
- Column Daniel Aldana: This column is widely known in the Tolima Department, where most of its operations take place. Its financial director, known as "El Indio" was captured in 2005. In recent and unconfirmed developments in 2006, its last known leader Gustavo González López, alias "Rambo", was killed by government troops. In April 2013, 13 members of the column were arrested[29]
- Column Héroes de Marquetalia: This column also operates in the Tolima Department and was led by a female, Magaly Grannobles, alias "Marleny Rondón" and "Mayerly", killed on July 11, 2010 in Operation Berlín.[30][31]
- Column Jacobo Prías Alape: This column also operates in the Tolima Department and is led by two people known as "Calderón" or "Chicharrón" and "Tribilín".
- Company Tulio Varón (Dismantled): Also known as the Front Tulio Varón, it operates in the Tolima Department. Its most recent leader, Eduardo Fajardo, alias "Walter", was killed in March 2007.[32] Its preceding leader, Roberto Olaya Caicedo, alias "El Venado", was killed in late 2006. It has since been dismantled and fused with the Column Jacobo Prías Alape.[33]
References
- ↑ http://www.gobernaciondeltolima.com/OBSERVATORIO_DE_GOBERNABILIDAD.pdf
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 http://www.lanacion.com.co/2011/11/11/%e2%80%98la-mona%e2%80%99-cayo-con-cartas-de-condolencia-por-muerte-de-%e2%80%98alfonso-cano%e2%80%99/
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/15252-army-captures-second-in-command-of-farcs-66th-front.html FARC commander captured - Colombia News
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ http://www.ejercito.mil.co/?idcategoria=266775 Muere en combate alias ‘Vladimir’ segundo cabecilla de la cuadrilla 66 de las Farc
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ "Fuerzas Militares y Policía afectan anillo de seguridad de alias ‘Cano’" Available online. Retrieved July 11, 2010.
- ↑ "¿Quién era alias 'Mayerly', la mano derecha de 'Alfonso Cano'?" Available online. Retrieved July 14, 2010.
- ↑ Ejército Nacional de Colombia. "Muere en combates contra el Ejército cabecilla de las Farc" March 3, 2007. Available online. Retrieved March 4, 2007.
- ↑ El Tiempo. "Sexta Brigada dice que la muerte de cinco extorsionistas es fin del frente Tulio Varón de las Farc" February 15, 2008. Available online. Retrieved February 15, 2008.
