Colombian military kills another senior FARC leader: Iván Ríos

BBC ^

[verity]

Very informative discussion! Kudos to everyone.

[armymarinemom]

Allright! Code Pink is deeply saddened.

[ElCapitanAmericaLives]

Update!

http://www.noticias24.com/actualidad/?p=12663

Turns out, Ivan Rios was killed by his own “chief of security”.

My translation;

Jose Juvenal Velandia, alias Ivan Rios, important member of the “secretariat” of the FARC and chief of the “Central Block” of the organization was assassinated by his own chief of security, when they found themselves surrounded by the Colombian army, in the border zone of Antioquia and Caldas.

The chief of security, who gave himself up with other guerrillas, took with him to the security forces, Ivan Rios’ “right hand”, his national ID and his computer.

The miniter of defense just confirmed this and is offering further details.

[King of Florida]

According to El Tiempo, he was killed to alleviate both pressure from the military and shortages existing at the front.

http://www.eltiempo.com/justicia/2008-03-07/ARTICULO-WEB-NOTA_INTERIOR-3990694.html

El Tiempo also says his real name was Manuel Jesús Muñoz Ortiz, not Jose Juvenal Velandia.

[Stonewall Jackson]

Indeed.

The seven men of the Central High Command, aka Secretariat, have managed to elude the Columbian Army for years, with only one member dying of natural causes back in 2003. Yet here, in less than two weeks, the Columbian Army manages to bag two members of the Secretariat.

Central High Command – aka Secretariat
Pedro Antonio Marín – aka Manuel Marulanda Vélez, "Tirofijo" – Historical Founder of FARC
Victor Julio Suárez Rojas – aka Jorge Briceno Suárez, "Mono Jojoy" - Chief Commander of Military Wing
Rodrigo Londoño Echeverri – aka Timoleon Jiminez, "Timochenko" – Senior Commander
Guillermo León Sáenz Vargas – aka Alfonso Cano - Traditional Ideological Figure
Luciano Marín Arango – aka Ivan Marquez - Chief of North-West Bloc
Milton de Jesús Toncel Redondo – aka Joaquin Gomez - Replaced Raúl Reyes after his death.
Manuel Jesús Muñoz Ortiz – aka Ivan Rios - Head of Central Bloc, KIA in 2008
Luis Edgar Devia Silva – aka Raul Reyes - Traditional "Spokesman of FARC", KIA in 2008.
Noel Matta – aka Efrain Guzman - Died of natural causes in 2003.