Middle Magdalena Bloc of the FARC-EP
The Middle Magdalena Bloc of the FARC-EP ({{langx|es|Bloque Magdalena Medio}}) was a FARC-EP bloc, notable for its involvement in the conflict with the AUC until the latter's demobilization in 2004. After that, it became one of the Colombian army's biggest worries as FARC started once again to gain control over the territory.{{citation needed|date=November 2011}}
The specific divisions of the group are arguable. Some of the believed divisions or 'fronts', as they were commonly called, are shown below. Many of these fronts sometimes worked together towards a certain mission, while others were further divided into 'columns' and 'companies' with a smaller number of members. For more general information see FARC-EP Chain of Command.
Commanders
4th Front
It was composed by up to 100 combatants and operated mostly in the Antioquia Department (Municipalities of Zaragoza, Segovia, Remedios, Amalfi, Vegachí, Yalí, Yondó and Maceo).
| class="wikitable" | ||
| Alias || Name || Note | ||
|---|---|---|
| "Nicolás" | Murdered in 2006.Observatorio de Paz Integral. "Boletín Agosto de 2006" August, 2006. [http://www.opi.org.co/docs/Boletin_Agosto_2006.pdf Available online] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070823045522/http://www.opi.org.co/docs/Boletin_Agosto_2006.pdf |date=2007-08-23 }}. Accessed July 19, 2007. | |
| "Juan" | Handed himself in and demobilized in August 2010.{{cite web |url=http://www.ejercito.mil.co/?idcategoria=255039 |title= Inicio - Ejército Nacional de Colombia|website=www.ejercito.mil.co |access-date=August 26, 2010}}{{title missing|date=May 2022}} | |
| "Edward" | Handed himself in and demobilized in August 2010. | |
| "Deisy" | Handed himself in and demobilized in August 2010. | |
| "Andrea" | Handed himself in and demobilized in August 2010. |
11th Front
Also known as the José Antonio Anzoategui Front, it was composed by up to 60 combatants and operated mostly in the Boyacá Department. Its leader, who also commanded the 23rd front, was killed in combat in 2006.
| class="wikitable" | ||
| Alias || Name || Note | ||
|---|---|---|
| "Wálter" | Killed in 2006.Fuerza Aérea Colombiana. "Sí, uno de los muertos es Walter" March 22, 2006. [http://www.fac.mil.co/index.php?idcategoria=8638&PHPSESSID=...67bc89b67fbff609069aee1db Available online]. Accessed July 19, 2007. |
12th Front
Also known as the José Antonio Galán Front, this front was composed by 90 combatants and was mostly active in the 1980s, giving "protection" to the large emerald dealers of the country.
20th Front
This front was composed by up to 190 combatants and operated in Bolivar,[https://www.rebelion.org/docs/132833.pdf "La nueva realidad de las FARC"] (PDF) Cesar, Santander, and Norte de Santander Departments. On April 12, 2013, the leader of the front, alias Fabián Brazo surrender to the military. On April 24, alias Amalia, member of the front, is captured. After this two captures, the 20th front was declared by the Colombian authorities dismantled.{{cite web|url=http://www.vanguardia.com/judicial/205703-frente-20-de-las-farc-esta-practicamente-liquidado|title="Frente 20 de las Farc está prácticamente liquidado"|work=Vanguardia.com|date=26 April 2013 |accessdate=16 December 2014}}
- Includes the 29 de Mayo Company, which was also under the leadership of Ernesto 45.
23rd Front
Also known as the Policarpa Salavarrieta Front, it was composed by up to 60 combatants and operated mostly in the Santander and Boyacá Departments. Its leader, who also commanded the 11th front, was killed in combat in 2006. By 2012, the Front was almost dismantled, with only 5 combatants forming it.{{Cite web|url=https://www.vanguardia.com/judicial/atento-hallan-caleta-del-frente-23-de-las-farc-en-sucre-santander-DBVL99041|title=Atento: Hallan caleta del frente 23 de las Farc en Sucre, Santander|first=Redacción|last=Judicial|website=www.vanguardia.com|date=April 2011 }}
| class="wikitable" | ||
| Alias || Name || Note | ||
|---|---|---|
| "Wálter" | Killed in 2006. | |
| "Nelsón" | Carlos Peñalosa Medina | Killed in 2005.Ejército Nacional. "Dado de baja cabecilla del frente 23 de las Farc en Santander" February 21, 2005. [http://www.ejercito.mil.co/?idcategoria=74837 Available online]. Accessed July 19, 2007. |
| "the Butcher of Landazuri" or "Chaparro" | Carlos Iván Peña Orjuela | Arrested in September 2009."Police captures local FARC leader " February 21, 2005. [http://www.colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/5700-police-captures-local-farc-leader.html Available online]. Accessed September 3, 2009. |
24th Front
It was composed by up to 200 combatants and operated mostly in the Santander and Bolívar Departments. In July 2012, 4 members of the front were killed by the army, while one other was captured and one other surrender.{{cite web|url=http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/25312-4-farc-rebels-killed-in-north-colombia-army.html|title=4 FARC rebels killed in northern Colombia: Army|work=Colombia News - Colombia Reports|accessdate=16 December 2014}}
33rd Front
Also known as the Mariscal Sucre Front, it was composed by up to 250 combatants and operated mostly in the Norte de Santander Department. Eleven of its members were killed on October 10, 2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.eltiempo.com/colombia/oriente/ARTICULO-WEB-NEW_NOTA_INTERIOR-10541364.html|title=Archivo Digital: Noticias Principales de Colombia y el Mundo en Digital e Impreso - Noticias - ELTIEMPO.COM|work=eltiempo.com|accessdate=16 December 2014}} On May 10, 2012, they killed seven members of the Colombian army, near the city of Tibú.{{cite web|url=http://www.vanguardia.com/actualidad/colombia/156097-atentado-de-las-farc-en-la-gabarra-deja-siete-policias-muertos-y-11-herid|title=Atentado de las Farc en La Gabarra deja siete policías muertos y 11 heridos|work=Vanguardia.com|date=10 May 2012 |accessdate=16 December 2014}} Around 10 members, including the front leader, were killed on September 4 and 3, 2014, during a military operation.{{cite web|url=http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/25888-right-hand-man-of-farc-supreme-leader-killed-in-combat.html|title=Right-hand man of FARC supreme leader killed in combat|work=Colombia News - Colombia Reports|accessdate=16 December 2014}}
| class="wikitable" | ||
| Alias || Name || Note | ||
|---|---|---|
| El Negro Eliécer{{cite web|url=http://www.farc-ep.co/?p=835|title=Documento sin título|publisher=|accessdate=16 December 2014}} | ||
| "Rubén Zamora"BBC Mundo. "Colombia: capturan avión venezolano" January 31, 2002. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/spanish/latin_america/newsid_1794000/1794874.stm Available online]. Accessed July 19, 2007. | ||
| "El Boyaco""Muere en combate cabecilla de la cuadrilla 33 de las Farc" June 9, 2010. [http://www.ejercito.mil.co/?idcategoria=248978 Available online]. Accessed June 9, 2010. | Killed in June 2010 | |
| "Danilo Garcia" | Jose Epimenio Molina | Front leader. Killed in September 2012. |
46th Front
It was composed by up to 90 combatants and operated mostly in the Santander Department.
| class="wikitable" | ||
| Alias || Name || Note | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fidel Romero | Rafael Rojas Zuñiga | Turned himself in and demobilized in 2003.Presidencia de la República. "RUEDA DE PRENSA DEL PRESIDENTE URIBE DURANTE ENTREGA DEL GUERRILLERO RAFAEL ROJAS" April 28, 2003. [http://www.presidencia.gov.co/cne/2003/abril/28/06282003.htm Available online]. Accessed July 19, 2007. |
South Unit
Referred to in Spanish as Unidad Sur, it operated in the Santander and Boyacá Departments.
| class="wikitable" | ||
| Alias || Name || Note | ||
|---|---|---|
| "Juan Carlos" | Killed in 2006.Ejército Nacional de Colombia. "Diez guerrilleros mueren en combates contra el Ejército" June 28, 2006. [http://www.ejercito.mil.co/?idcategoria=105201 Available online]. Accessed July 19, 2007. |
Columns and Companies
The following columns and companies also were part of the Middle Magdalena Bloc:
- Mobile Company Ricardo Franco: Operated in the Santander and Antioquia Departments.
- Company Miguel Francisco Estrada: Operated in the Santander Department.
- Company Luis Alberto Berrío Vélez: Operated in the Santander Department.
- Company Raúl Edo Mahecha: Operated in the Bolívar Department.
- Company Míller Chacón: Operated in the Santander Department.
- Company 29 de Mayo: Operated in Santander and Norte de Santander departments.
- Company Gerardo Guevara: Regarded as the "Special Forces" of the FARC in this area of Colombia.
- Pamplona Ocana García Rovira Unit: Operated in the Santander Department.