Middle Magdalena Bloc of the FARC-EP

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The Middle Magdalena Bloc of the FARC-EP (Spanish: Magdalena Medio Front) is a FARC-EP bloc, notable for its involvement in the conflict with the AUC until the latter's demobilization in 2004. Since then, it has become one of the Colombian army's biggest worries, as citizens of these areas are claiming that the FARC are once again gaining control over the territory.

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 should not be taken as absolutely reliable. Some of the believed divisions or 'fronts', as they are commonly called, are shown below. It is worth noting that 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

[edit] Commanders

Alias Name Note
Pastor Alape Félix Antonio Muñoz Lascarro [1]
"Juan Carlos" Killed in 2006. [2]

[edit] 4th Front

It is composed by up to 100 combatants and operates mostly in the Antioquia Department (Municipalities of Zaragoza, Segovia, Remedios, Amalfi, Vegachí, Yalí, Yondó and Maceo). Its current leadership has not been identified since its main leader was killed outside of combat in 2006.

Alias Name Note
"Nicolás" Murdered in 2006. [3]

[edit] 11th Front

Also known as the José Antonio Anzoategui Front, it is composed by up to 60 combatants and operates mostly in the Boyacá Department. Its leader, who also commanded the 23rd front, was killed in combat in 2006.

Alias Name Note
"Wálter" Killed in 2006. [4]

[edit] 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.

[edit] 20th Front

This front is composed by up to 60 combatants and operates in the Cesar, Santander, and Norte de Santander Departments. Its current leadership is unclear.

Alias Name Note
Leonardo Patiño Nestor Arturo Hincapié Killed in 2006. [5]
Ernesto 45 Nelson Sierra Rivera Killed in 2004. [6]
  • Includes the 29 de Mayo Company, which was also under the leadership of Ernesto 45.

[edit] 23rd Front

Also known as the Policarpa Salavarrieta Front, it is composed by up to 60 combatants and operates mostly in the Santander Department and Boyacá Department. Its leader, who also commanded the 11th front, was killed in combat in 2006.

Alias Name Note
"Wálter" Killed in 2006. [7]
"Nelsón" Carlos Peñalosa Medina Killed in 2005. [8]

[edit] 24th Front

It is composed by up to 80 combatants and operates mostly in the Santander Department and the Bolívar Department. Its current leader is not known.

Alias Name Note
"Iván Vargas" Jorge Enrique Rodríguez Arrested in 2004. [9] and extradited to the United States.[10]

[edit] 33rd Front

Also known as the Mariscal Sucre Front, it is composed by up to 70 combatants and operates mostly in the Norte de Santander Department.

Alias Name Note
"Rubén Zamora" [11]

[edit] 46th Front

It is composed by up to 90 combatants and operates mostly in the Santander Department. Its current leader is not known.

Alias Name Note
Fidel Romero Rafael Rojas Zuñiga Turned himself in and demobilized in 2003. [12]

[edit] South Unit

Referred to in Spanish as Unidad Sur, it operates in the Santander Department and Boyacá Department. Its current leader is unknown.

Alias Name Note
"Juan Carlos" Killed in 2006. [13]

[edit] Columns and Companies

The following columns and companies also form part of the Middle Magdalena Bloc:

[edit] See also

v • d • e
FARC-EP
Organization
Secretariat
Alfonso Cano (Commander in Chief) • Mono Jojoy • Timoleón Jiménez • Iván Márquez • Joaquín Gómez • Mauricio Jaramillo • Pablo Catatumbo
(Substitutes in line: Bertulfo Álvarez • Pastor Alape)
Other notable personnel
Manuel Marulanda Vélez (founder) (dead) • Jacobo Arenas (Founder) (dead) • Simón Trinidad (captured) • Raúl Reyes (KIA) • Efraín Guzmán (dead) • Iván Ríos (KIA) • Sonia (captured) • Tomás Medina Caracas (KIA) • Martín Caballero (KIA) • Rodrigo Granda • Ivan Vargas (captured) • Fabián Ramírez • Carlos Antonio Lozada • Marcos Calarcá • Andrés Paris • Karina (surrendered) • Romaña
Characteristics
v • d • e
Colombian Armed Conflict

Participants in Colombian armed conflict

Timeline

Key aspects

• Banana Massacre (1928)
• La Violencia (1948-1958)
• Marquetalia Republic
• The National Front
• Dominican embassy (1980)
• Palace of Justice (1985)
• Patriotic Union Party extermination
• Humanitarian exchange
• Mapiripán Massacre (1997)
• Peace process (1999-2002)
• Bojayá massacre (2002)
• Valle del Cauca Deputies
hostage crisis (2002-Present)
• El Nogal Club bombing (2003)
• Parapolitics scandal (2006–7)
• Operation Emmanuel
• Andean diplomatic crisis (2008)
 Lawsuits 

• Sinaltrainal v. Coca-Cola (2001)
• Rodriquez v. Drummond (2003)
• Doe v. Chiquita (2007)

 Kidnappings 

• Kidnappings in Colombia
• List of political hostages held by FARC

 Illegal drug trade 

• Illegal drug trade in Colombia
• War on Drugs
• Narcoterrorism

 Government aspects 

• Democratic security
• Plan Colombia
• Plan Patriota
• U.S.-Colombia relations
• Human rights in Colombia
• Politics of Colombia
Guerrillas
 Government of Colombia Paramilitaries


• Águilas Negras

Former paramilitaries
• AUC
• AAA

Linked to
• Spearhead Ltd
• Colombian drug cartels
• CONVIVIR
• Some Colombian
military personnel
• Some politicians
 Colombian armed conflict at Wiktionary  Colombian armed conflict at Wikibooks      Colombian armed conflict at Wikiquote
 Colombian armed conflict at Wikisource       Colombian armed conflict at Commons  Colombian armed conflict at Wikinews  

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ U.S. Department of State. "Félix Antonio Muñoz Lascarro" Available online. Accessed July 19, 2007.
  2. ^ Segunda División Ejército Nacional. "Muerto en combate alias “Juan Carlos”" June 28, 2006. Available online. Accessed July 19, 2007.
  3. ^ Observatorio de Paz Integral. "Boletín Agosto de 2006" August, 2006. Available online. Accessed July 19, 2007.
  4. ^ Fuerza Aérea Colombiana. "Sí, uno de los muertos es Walter" March 22, 2006. Available online. Accessed July 19, 2007.
  5. ^ Fuerza Aérea Colombiana. "Murió en combates alias “Leonardo Patiño”" December 21, 2006. Available online. Accessed July 19, 2007.
  6. ^ Ejército Nacional. "Muerto el segundo del frente 20 de las Farc" September 15, 2004. Available online. Accessed July 19, 2007.
  7. ^ Fuerza Aérea Colombiana. "Sí, uno de los muertos es Walter" March 22, 2006. Available online. Accessed July 19, 2007.
  8. ^ Ejército Nacional. "Dado de baja cabecilla del frente 23 de las Farc en Santander" February 21, 2005. Available online. Accessed July 19, 2007.
  9. ^ U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. "United States Charges 50 Leaders Of Narco-Terrorist FARC" March 22, 2006. Available online Accessed July 19, 2007.
  10. ^ (Spanish) eltiempo.com Accessed Novemeber 4, 2007
  11. ^ BBC Mundo. "Colombia: capturan avión venezolano" January 31, 2002. Available online. Accessed July 19, 2007.
  12. ^ Presidencia de la República. "RUEDA DE PRENSA DEL PRESIDENTE URIBE DURANTE ENTREGA DEL GUERRILLERO RAFAEL ROJAS" April 28, 2003. Available online. Accessed July 19, 2007.
  13. ^ Ejército Nacional de Colombia. "Diez guerrilleros mueren en combates contra el Ejército" June 28, 2006. Available online. Accessed July 19, 2007.