Bogotá DC
The Communeros del Sur frontwhose top leader is alias ‘H’, announced his total break with the ELN Central Command last Tuesday, May 7. Criminal finances would be the main reason of this division in that guerrilla.
According to intelligence report known by Caracol Radio, the Central Command intended to retain absolute control of the illegal money and resources that this guerrilla faction is generating in Nariño. However, the Southern Commoners would not be willing to hand over their illicit gains so easily.
In fact, cThey believe that with regional dialogue that are advancing with the National Government can obtain better advantages and benefits such as extensions of land, livestock and properties, assets acquired criminally.
“In a national negotiation, they should provide many resources and the benefits would be few”says the authorities document.
Likewise, there is information that the ELN Central Command had sent some delegates to talk with alias ‘HH’, top leader of the Southern Communards, to try to close gaps and demonstrate unity in command. Although it was an unsuccessful task.
Gabriel Yepes Mejía, alias ‘HH’ or ‘Gustavo’. Courtesy.
According to the report, the guerrilla bases, such as the Comuneros del Sur, interpret that the ELN Central Command ““They only think about asking for benefits for themselves and few for the bulk of their structures,” which would generate concern in the armed fronts that see these dialogues as an opportunity to lay down their weapons and dedicate themselves to legal work, but with financial solvency.
The Intelligence report indicates that there are indications that ‘Comuneros del Sur’ has criminal alliances with the ‘Second Marquetalia’‘a FARC dissident that is commanded by alias ‘Iván Márquez’.
The purpose would be to close the passage and avoid territorial control in Nariño del FARC Central General Staff (EMC), whose top leader is alias ‘Iván Mordisco’. In that war, the authorities have shown the installation of areas prepared with explosive devicesseeking to limit the expansion projections of these armed actors.
Area of influence of Comuneros del Sur in Nariño. Courtesy.
“These clashes occurred at the beginning of 2024, the conflict worsening in Marchwhere these two structures managed to displace some commissions of the ‘Franco Benavidez’ structure of the EMC from the areas of criminal influence,” the report says.
On the other hand, the ‘Manuel Vásquez Castaño’ front of the ELNwhich committed crimes in Cauca, sent 25 armed and equipped men to the ‘Comuneros del Sur’ to combat this FARC dissident, which, for its part, also received reinforcements from the ‘Urías Rondón’ structure.
“The ‘Franco Benavidez’ has the purpose of recovering the areas it has lost and also take away illegal control in territories that the Elenos have historically managed,” the report states.
Courtesy.
This ‘rebel’ front of the ELN has been closely linked, especially in recent years, with drug trafficking, extortion and the illicit exploitation of mining deposits. The authorities assure that these actions have allowed them to strengthen their logistics networks and their illegal finances.
This means that ‘Comuneros del Sur’ has improved the equipment for its armed structures with the acquisition of war material. Likewise, they have strengthened their support networks in the territory to report the movements of military troops.
Currently, this illegal group would have about 100 men and women in arms and 40 other people in their support networks. Its maximum leader is Gabriel Yepes Mejía, alias ‘HH’ or ‘Gustavo’.
It is made up of three commissions: ‘Jaime Toño Obando’ (whose ringleader is alias ‘Fercho’), ‘José Luis Cabrera Rúales’ (under alias ‘Rubén’) and ‘Elder Santos’ (who receives orders from alias ‘Camilo Pantaloneta’).
