A major FARC commander, alias “Saavedra,” who led the guerrilla group’s 81st Front, has been killed in a military operation on the bank of the river Itilla, south of the village of San Miguel in rural Calamar, Guaviare, reports El Espectador.
Roque Tique Tique, alias “Saavedra” or “El Indio”, was killed in combat by Joint Task Force “Omega” of the Colombian military.
In his 28 years with the FARC, Saavedra integrated the 2nd, 7th, 27th, 31st, 40th and 42nd Fronts of the guerrilla group with the leadership of the Eastern Bloc.
Saavedra was identified as the murderer of two soldiers of the army’s Mobile Brigade No.7 during events at Villa Hermosa, Meta on February 21, 2009 and as the bomber of the farmhouse in La Yuquera, Guaviare, April 26 2004 which killed one soldier and wounded another.
He is also accused of terrorist attacks in Miraflores, Guaviare and in Puerto Rico, in the Meta department in 1998 and in El Dorado, Meta, in 1995.
Impressed by Saavedra´s criminal record, the head of the Eastern Bloc, Jorge Briceño Suarez, alias “Mono Jojoy,” made him the leader of the 81st Front, with the mission of providing security and logistical support to Jojoy.
The 81st Front of the FARC is believed to be involved in drug trafficking, kidnapping, murder of civilians, extortion and smuggling of war materials in the department of Guaviare.
Jojoy remains a major target for the army, which has assigned 7,000 special forces soldiers to hunt for him and fellow commander Romaña.
Jojoy was also involved in developing the FARC’s musical strategy, helping with the development of catchy pop songs designed to bring in new recruits, including the merengue-influence “Guerilla Dance.”