Colombia: Front 3 (Frente 3) of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia, FARC), including its structure and activities since 2012 in the departments of Caquetá and Huila, specifically around the municipality of Florencia (2012-March 2015)

1. Structure and leadership

Various sources refer to Front 3 of the FARC as "Frente III Oswaldo Patiño" (Colombia 23 Aug. 2014; La Nacíon 21 Feb. 2015; RCN Radio 21 Feb. 2015).

Sources report that Front 3 is led by a person with the alias of "Duverney" (Diario del Huila 17 Sept. 2014; Colombia 12 Sept. 2012; El País and Colprensa 10 Sept. 2012). As of 21 February 2015, two sources report that the head of finances for Front 3 goes by the alias of "Fabián" (La Nación 21 Feb. 2015; RCN Radio 21 Feb. 2015). Further information on the leadership, structure and membership of Front 3 could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

2. Areas of operation

Sources indicate that Front 3 of FARC operates in the localities of the municipality of Florencia, in the department of Caquetá (La Nacíon 13 Aug. 2014; Blu Radio 11 Nov. 2014). An 11 November 2014 report by Blu Radio, a news radio station based in Bogotá, specifies that Front 3 operates in the northern localities of Florencia, namely San Pedro, Orteguaza, El Danubio and el Caraño (ibid.). Three sources also name the rural villages of La Montañita and El Paujil (in Florencia) as being part of Front 3's area of operation (ibid.; La Nacíon 13 Aug. 2014; Diario del Huila 13 Aug. 2014). Sources also name the following towns and villages of the department of Caquetá as Front 3 areas of operation:

Remolinos del Orteguaza (ibid.; La Nacíon 13 Aug. 2014; RCN Radio 13 Apr. 2014);

Los Alpes (ibid.; El Líder 14 Apr. 2014); and

San Guillermo (ibid.; RCN Radio 13 Apr. 2014).

Sources indicate that Front 3 operates in the following towns of the department of Huila:

Garzón (El Líder 14 Apr. 2014; RCN Radio 13 Apr. 2014; La Nacíon 13 Aug. 2014);

Acevedo (ibid.; Diario del Huila 13 Aug. 2014);

Suaza (ibid.; La Nacíon 13 Aug. 2014);

Pitalito (ibid.; Diario del Huila 13 Aug. 2014); and

San Agustín (ibid.; La Nacíon 13 Aug. 2014).

3. State response and activities of Front 3

Sources report that in 2012 [on 10 September (Semana 11 Sept. 2012)], Ramiro Guerrero Vargas [Ramiro Vargas Guerrero], alias Samuel [and Samurai (El País and Colprensa 10 Sept. 2012)], known to be the second-in-command and chief financial officer of Front 3, was killed by Colombia's armed forces during a military operation (Colombia 12 Sept. 2012; El País and Colprensa 10 Sept. 2012) in La Montañita (ibid.). Sources note that Guerrero Vargas had 21 years of experience with FARC and was a suspect of multiples crimes, including the 2001 take-over of the town of Belén de los Andaquíes, department of Caquetá, where five members of the National Police (Policía Nacional) were killed and the local doctor was kidnapped (ibid.; Colombia 12 Sept. 2012). The same sources further indicate that Guerrero Vargas participated in a 2010 terrorist attack in San Miguel, department of Putumayo, in which eight members of the National Police were killed (ibid.; El País and Colprensa 10 Sept. 2012). Along with Guerrero Vargas, a member with the alias Vladimir was captured and sent to authorities, as well as a minor, who was handed over to the Colombian Family Welfare Institute (Instituto Colombiano de Bienestar Familiar, ICBF) (ibid.; Colombia 12 Sept. 2012; Semana 11 Sept. 2012).

El Líder, a daily newspaper based in Florencia, and Radio Cadena Nacional (RCN Radio), a radio news network based in Bogotá, both report that in April 2014, Elcias González Rojas, also known as Guillermo Rojas or Banano, a guerilla and alleged active member of the support network (Red de Apoyo) of Front 3, was captured by authorities in Garzón, department of Huila, for his involvement in the 2007 kidnapping of livestock breeder Carlos Alberto Peña Aroca, his wife, Alba Nury Pozo, and their daughter (El Líder 14 Apr. 2014; RCN Radio 13 Apr. 2014). According to both sources, FARC demanded a ransom of 300 million pesos [approx. C$150,400], that they took in the form of a herd of 180 animals from Peña Aroca's farm (ibid.; El Líder 14 Apr. 2014). The two sources indicate that González Rojas' role in the support network of Front 3 was to look after farms in villages of the department of Caquetá where farmers were forced out by the group's threats (ibid.; RCN Radio 13 Apr. 2014). The Florencia-based newspaper El Líder explains that the support network is responsible for gathering intelligence and extorts for the benefit of the guerrilla group (14 Apr. 2014).

Sources report that Óscar López Valencia, also known under the alias Rigo [and Mono (Diario del Huila 13 Aug. 2014)], the fifth-in-command of FARC's Front 3, was captured in August 2014 in the municipality of Pitalito, in the southern part of the department of Huila, by Colombia's armed forces in conjunction with a division of the police based in Florencia (Diario del Huila 13 Aug. 2014; La Nación 13 Aug. 2014). López Valencia was wanted by authorities for his involvement in the 4 June 2013 murder of four guards of the National Penitentiary and Prison Institute (Instituto Nacional Penitenciario y Carcelario, INPEC) and one prisoner, in the department of Caquetá (Diario del Huila 13 Aug. 2014; La Nación 13 Aug. 2014). Sources indicate that he had more than 17 years of experience in the organization (ibid.; Colombia 23 Aug. 2014; Diario del Huila 13 Aug. 2014).

On 21 February 2015, sources indicated that a 17-year-old minor, who reportedly had been forcibly recruited by FARC, escaped and turned herself in to the Colombian armed forces in the municipality of Pitalito where she was later handed over to the ICBF (La Nación 21 Feb. 2015; RCN Radio 21 Feb. 2015). According to the same sources, during her time in the guerrilla group, the girl was trained to use firearms and later sent to a security ring for Front 3 led by "Fabian," the head of finances (ibid.; La Nación 21 Feb. 2015).

Blu Radio reports that Front 3 is involved in extortion activities against livestock breeders, transporters and shopkeepers in Florencia (11 Nov. 2014). Further information on the activities of Front 3 could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Blu Radio. 11 November 2014. "Estos son los nuevos cabecillas del bloque sur de las Farc." [Accessed 22 Feb. 2015]

Colombia. 23 August 2014. Ejército Nacional de Colombia. "Tropas de la Novena Brigada mantienen ofensiva permanente contra las Farc." [Accessed 24 Feb. 2015]

_____. 12 September 2012. Ministerio de Defensa. "FARC Leader of 21 Years Alias 'Samuel' Killed in Combat." Diálogo, Doral, Florida. [Accessed 24 Feb. 2015]

Diario del Huila. 17 September 2014. "Ejército descubre caleta con dos toneladas de explosivos." [Accessed 25 Feb. 2015]

_____. 13 August 2014. "Capturado en el Huila cabecilla del Frente III de las Farc." [Accessed 23 Feb. 2015]

El Líder. 14 April 2014. Martha Cecilia Rentería. "Capturado alias 'Banano' de las Farc." [Accessed 23 Feb. 2015]

El País and Agencia Nacional de Noticias (Colprensa). 10 September 2012. "En operación militar murió el segundo cabecilla del Frente 3 de las Farc." [Accessed 18 Feb. 2015]

La Nación. 21 February 2015. "Arriesgando su vida menor escapó de las Farc en el Huila." [Accessed 24 Feb. 2015]

_____. 13 August 2014. "Cayó autor de asesinatos de guardias del Inpec." [Accessed 24 Feb. 2015]

Radio Cadena Nacional (RCN Radio). 21 February 2015. "Menor de edad se escapó de las Farc en el Huila." [Accessed 24 Feb. 2015]

_____. 13 April 2014. "Capturan a presunto integrante de las Farc en Garzón (Huila)." [Accessed 25 Feb. 2015]

Semana. 11 September 2012. "En combate muere alias 'Samuel' del tercer frente de las FARC." [Accessed 25 Feb. 2015]

Additional Sources Consulted

Internet sites, including: Agence France-Presse; Amnesty International; BBC; Cable Noticias; Colombia - Fiscalía General de la Nación, Ministerio del Interior, Policía Nacional de Colombia, Procuraduría General de la Nación; Colombia Reports; ecoi.net; El Espectador; El Universal; Europa Press; Factiva; Freedom House; Fundación Ideas Para la Paz; Human Rights Watch; InSight Crime; International Crisis Group; IRIN; Jane's Intelligence Review; LatinNews; United Nations - Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Refworld, ReliefWeb; US - Department of State, Overseas Security Advisory Council; Vanguardia.