Romaña (guerrilla leader)

Henry Castellanos Garzón aka "Romaña" is a Colombian former guerrilla commander of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. Castellanos Garzón was a member of the Estado Mayor and the Commander of several Eastern Bloc of the FARC-EP fronts.

According to the United States government, Castellanos Garzón has been involved in drug trafficking for the FARC since the mid-1980s. The US alleges he participated in setting and implementing the FARC’s cocaine policies directing and controlling the production, manufacture, and distribution of hundreds of tons of cocaine to the United States and Europe; the "taxation" of the drug trade in Colombia to raise funds for the FARC; and the murder of hundreds of people who violated or interfered with the FARC’s cocaine policies. They also allege he once maintained a stockpile of five tons of cocaine that was picked up by "Negro Acacio" of the 16th Front. The U.S. Department of State is offering a reward of up to US$2.5 million for information leading to his arrest and/or conviction.[1]

Castellanos Garzón is also wanted by Colombian authorities for the kidnapping of the former mayor of Soacha, Cundinamarca and his brother in 1997. Both brothers were later freed.[2]

Reported death in September 2010

On 23 September 2010, the Colombian press reported that Romaña was killed on 22 September during "Operation Sodom"- the same military operation that was credited with killing FARC commander Mono Jojoy. Colombian authorities could not confirm his death nor find his body.[3]

In May 2011, Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos confirmed on his presidential website that Romana survived the attack.[4]

In October 2014, Romana went to Cuba as part of the negotiating team involved in successful peace talks with the Colombian government.[5]

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 13 November 2011. Retrieved 25 June 2017.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. "New accusation against Romaña". Air Information News. Colombian Air Force. Retrieved 26 May 2009.
  3. Alsema, Adriaan (24 September 2010). "Army claims death of second FARC commander". Colombia Reports. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
  4. Jaramillo, Andrea (7 May 2011). "Colombia's Santos Says Several FARC Leaders Sick or Injured". bloomberg.com. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
  5. http://www.elcolombiano.com/historico/alias_romana_esta_en_la_habana-LFEC_316638


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.