Eastern Bloc of the FARC-EP

The Eastern Bloc of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia is considered by many to be the strongest military faction of the guerrilla group. It is divided into groups of 50-400 combatants which patrol and control different areas of Colombia's Eastern and Central-Eastern territory, as well as helping to carry out the murders, extortion, and kidnapping necessary to advance the organization's financial and political goals. 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.

Commanders

This group of commanders is sometimes called the "EMBO" (Estado Mayor del Bloque Oriental). The United States Department of Justice and the Government of Colombia offer rewards for all of them.

10th Front

Also known as the Guadalupe Salcedo Front, it is composed of up to 200 people. It operates mostly in the Arauca Department.Several police officers infiltrated one of the FARC’s 10th front camp in early 2008, preparing an attack on the camp by a police squadron. The attack came on July 29, killing "Jurga Jurga", FARC commander and friend of FARC head ‘Mono Jojoy’. The ground offensive was follow by an airforce attack, killing 20 guerrillas, unofficial sources said.

26th Front

Also known as the Hermogenes Maza Front, it is composed of up to 130 people. It operates mostly in the Meta Department. This front may have been dismantled [http://www.cambio.com.co/portadacambio/752/ARTICULO-PRINTER_FRIENDLY-PRINTER_FRIENDLY_CAMBIO-3836911.html]

31st Front

This front was composed by up to 120 combatants and operated mostly in the Meta Department. However, it has not been notably active since its head, Duván Alberto Cartagena, was captured. [http://www.cambio.com.co/portadacambio/752/ARTICULO-PRINTER_FRIENDLY-PRINTER_FRIENDLY_CAMBIO-3836911.html]

38th Front

Also known as the Ciro Trujillo Castaño Front, it is composed of up to 100 people. It operates mostly in the Casanare Department and the Boyacá Department.

42nd Front

Also known as the Combatientes de Cundinamarca Front, it is composed of up to 110 people. It operates mostly in the Cundinamarca Department.

45th Front

Also known as the Atanasio Girardot Front, it is composed of up to 150 people. It operates mostly in the Norte de Santander Department and Boyacá Department.

53rd Front

Also known as the Jose A. Anzoategui Front, it is composed of up to 120 people. It operates mostly in the Meta Department and the Cundinamarca Department.

56th Front

It is composed by up to 80 people and operates mostly in the Casanare Department and the Boyacá Department. Its current leadership is unclear.

Antonio Nariño Front

It is composed by up to 50 individuals and seeks to operate in Bogotá.

Columns and Companies

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

*Mobile Column Alfonso Castellanos: Faction of the 10th front, composed by up to 120 members. Operates in the Arauca Department. His leader, "Gabino", was killed in August 24, 2008 by the Colombian Military. [http://colombiareports.com/2008/08/24/armed-forces-kill-farc-commander/#more-2475]
*Mobile Column Juan José Rondón: It is composed by up to 250 members and operates mostly in the Guaviare Department. Its last known leader, Octavio Salamanca, alias "Urias Cuéllar", was killed in 2001.
*Special Forces: It is composed by up to 80 men and operates in what used to be the demilitarized zone.
*Company Reinel Méndez: It is composed by up to 80 men and operates in what used to be the demilitarized zone.
*Company Esteban Ramírez: It is composed by up to 80 men and operates in what used to be the demilitarized zone.
*Company Manuela Beltrán: It is composed by up to 50 men and operates in the Cundinamarca Department. Its leader, Neftaly Murcia Vargas, known as “Camilo Tabaco”, was killed on September 3, 2008, according to the Colombian Army. [http://colombiareports.com/2008/09/03/farc-leader-killed-in-bombing-says-army/]
*Company Abelardo Romero: It is composed by up to 40 men and operates in the Cundinamarca Department.
*Company Joaquín Ballén: It is composed by up to 140 men and operates in the Cundinamarca Department.
*Company Che Guevara: Faction of the Eastern and Caribbean Blocs, composed by up to 120 members. Operates in what used to be the demilitarized zone.

See also

Notes