The Eastern Bloc of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, from September 2010 known as Bloque Comandante Jorge Briceño, in honour of the slain guerrilla leader, is considered by many to be the strongest military faction of the guerrilla group. It is divided into groups of 50-400 combatants in each group which patrol and control different areas of Colombia's Eastern and Central-Eastern territory, as well as helping to carry out the killing, taxation, and arrests necessary to advance the organization's financial and political goals. The specific divisions of the group are arguable. 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 Chain of Command.
Contents
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.
1st Front
Also known as the Armando Ríos Front, it is composed of around to 400 people. It operates mostly in the Guaviare Department.
7th Front
Also known as the Jacobo Prías Alape Front, it is composed of up to 400 people. It operates mostly in the Meta Department.
10th Front
Also known as the Guadalupe Salcedo Front, it is composed of up to 300 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. On October 22, 2011, members of the front killed 10 Colombians soldiers in an ambush in Arauca. On March 17, 2012, alleged members of the 10th front killed 11 members of the Colombian army. Security forces launched an offensive few days after the attack: on March 20, 3 alleged member of the FARC are killed and 4 captured by the army. On March 21, 33 FARC members were allegedly killed and 5 others captured.
16th Front
Also known as the Jose A. Paez Front, it is composed of up to 300 people. It operates mostly in the Vichada Department.
22nd Front
Also known as the Simón Bolívar Front, it is composed of up to 120 people. It operates mostly in the Cundinamarca Department.
26th Front
Also known as the Hermogenes Maza Front, it is composed of up to 130 people. It operates mostly in the Meta Department. As of 2011 this front operates in La Uribe, Vista Hermosa, La Macarena and other municipalities.
27th Front
It is composed of up to 500 people and operates mostly in the Meta Department.
28th Front
Also known as the José María Córdoba Front, it is composed of up to 120 people. It operates mostly in the Casanare Department and the Boyacá Department.
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.
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.
39th Front
Also known as the Joaquin Ballen Front, it is composed of anything between 40 and 300 people. It operates mostly in the Vichada Department. Its current leadership is unclear. The front is, as of 2011, led by El Cadete.
40th Front
Also known as the Jacobo Arenas Front, it is composed of up to 350 people. It operates mostly in the Meta Department. Its current leadership is unclear after a government offensive captured its two highest ranking militants.
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.
43rd Front
It is composed of up to 300 people and operates mostly in the Meta Department.
44th Front
Also known as the Antonio Ricaurte Front, it is composed of up to 350 people. It operates mostly in the Meta 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.
51st Front
Also known as the Jaime Pardo Leal Front, it is composed of up to 80 people. It operates mostly in the Cundinamarca Department as of 2011.
52nd Front
Also known as the Juan de la Cruz Front, it is composed of up to 120 people. It operates mostly in the Cundinamarca Department and the Boyacá Department. It may have been dismantled
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. Six members of the front are captured on March 25, 2012.
54th Front
Also known as the Angel Bonilla, it is composed of up to 50 militants. As of 2012 it operates mainly in the Meta Department.
55th Front
Also known as the Teófilo Forero Front, it is believed to be composed of around 150 militants although its urban numbers could be much greater. It operates mostly in the Cundinamarca Department and is considered the FARC's base in Bogotá. It is considered responsible for much of the terrorist activity that occurs in and around the capital.
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.
62nd Front
Also known as the Yarí Front. Operates in the Meta Department. Three guerrillas from this front were killed in action in July 2011. On February 14, 2012, alias Dumar, his lover alias Gisella and two other rebels were killed by the army. Four other have been captured.
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: