The Heroes of Arauca 7th Counter-Guerrilla Battalion (Batallón Contraguerrilla No.7 Héroes de Arauca) is attached to the 7th Brigade (Colombia n.d.; Stratfor n.d.; Segured n.d.), which is led by Brigadier-General Carlos Ovidio Saavedra Saenz (ibid.). In turn, the 7th Brigade falls under the command of the 4th Division (Colombia n.d.; Stratfor n.d.; Segured n.d.). Major-General Arcesio Barrero Aguirre was the commander of the 4th Division until January 2003, when he was to be replaced by Major-General Luis Hernando Barbosa Hernández (Radio Caracol 2 Dec. 2002).

No information on the names of commanders of the 7th Counter-Guerrilla Battalion could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. The Embassy of Colombia in Ottawa also declined to provide such names (Colombia 21 May 2003).

Variously described as based in Villaviencio, Meta (Segured n.d.; Colombia n.d.) or the Apiay military base, near Villaviencio (Stratfor n.d.; Colombia Nunca Más 29 May 2001), the 7th Counter-Guerrilla Battalion carries out operations in the departments of Meta, Huila, Caquetá, Vaupés, Guaviare, Guainía and Vichada (Segured n.d.). A number of reports published in 2001 and 2002 refer to Battalion combat activities. Examples follow.

In April 2001, soldiers attached to the Battalion engaged the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia's (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia, FARC) 26th Front in combat in the municipality of El Dorado, Meta (Colombia 3-9 Apr. 2001).

In January 2002, Battalion members allegedly killed four FARC guerrillas during an operation to free kidnapped businessman Gabriel Obdulio Novoa Montenegro (Radio Caracol 27 Jan. 2002; Colombia 22-28 Jan. 2002). The confrontation, which took place in the municipality of Restrepo, Meta, also resulted in the seizure of ammunition and four rifles (Radio Caracol 27 Jan. 2002).

On 17 February 2002, members of the 7th Counter-Guerrilla Battalion dismantled coca processing facilities in San Martín, Meta (El País 18 Feb. 2002; Caracol TV 18 Feb. 2002). These facilities, operated by the Plains Cartel, were allegedly protected by paramilitary fighters attached to the Centauros del Llano Bloc (ibid.). No arrests were made during the operation (El País 18 Feb. 2002).

In June 2002, Battalion members seized a tractor trailer in Puerto Lleras, Meta that was carrying materials used in narcotics-processing (Radio Caracol 19 June 2002).

Also in June 2002, troops attached to the Battalion launched an assault against a fortified FARC position in the municipality of Medina, Cundinamarca (Colombia 24 June 2002). One FARC fighter was allegedly killed in the operation (ibid.).

In August 2002, Battalion members reportedly killed a guerrilla in a confrontation with the FARC in Mapiripán, Meta (ANDI 29 Aug. 2002).

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 to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Asociación Nacional de Industriales (ANDI). 29 August 2002. No. 594. "Conflicto Armado Colombiano." http://www.andi.com.co/dependencias/sriagral/Conflicto2002/Conflicto594.htm [Accessed 22 May 2003]

Caracol TV [Bogotá, in Spanish]. 18 February 2002. "Colombian Army Discovers Paramilitary Cocaine Complex in Meta." (FBIS-LAT-2002-0218 18 Feb. 2002/WNC)

Colombia. 21 May 2003. Embassy of Colombia, Ottawa. Telephone interview with the Secretary for Consular Affairs.

____. 24 June 2002. Ministerio de Defensa Nacional. "Continua ofensiva del Ejército contra las Farc." http://www.mindefensa.gov.co/fuerza/ejenotnal240602ofensivafarc.html [Accessed 22 May 2003]

____. 22-28 January 2002. Observatorio del Programa Presidencial para los Derechos Humanos y el DIH, Vicepresidencia de la República. "Bitácora semanal de prensa del 22 al 28 de enero de 2002." http://www.derechoshumanos.gov.co/observatorio/03_bitacora/03_bitacora_2002/enero/22al28ene/22al28ene.htm [Accessed 22 May 2003]

____. 3-9 April 2001. Observatorio del Programa Presidencial para los Derechos Humanos y el DIH, Vicepresidencia de la República. "Bitácora semanal de prensa del 3 al 9 de abril de 2001." http://www.derechoshumanos.gov.co/observa/03_bitacora/03_bitacora2001/abril/3al9abr/3al9abr.htm [Accessed 22 May 2003]

____. n.d. Ejército Nacional. "Cuarta división." http://www.ejercito.mil.co/detalleUnidad.asp?numDocumento=493# [Accessed 22 May 2003]

Colombia Nunca Más. 29 May 2001. Colombia nunca más: crímenes de lesa humanidad. Zona 7a. 1966... http://www.derechos.org/nizkor/colombia/libros/nm/z7/ZonaSiete00.html [Accessed 22 May 2003]

El País [Cali]. 18 February 2002. "Destruyen complejos cocaleros en el sur del país." http://elpais-cali.terra.com.co/paisonline/notas/Febrero182002/complejo.html [Accessed 22 May 2003]

Radio Caracol [Bogotá]. 2 December 2002. "General Arcesio Barrero nuevo jefe de operaciones de las FFMM." http://www.radiocaracol.com/noticias/86091.htm [Accessed 22 May 2003]

____. 19 June 2002. "Ejército golpea infraestructura del narcotrafico en Putumayo." http://www.radiocaracol.com/noticias/76764.htm [Accessed 22 May 2003]

____. 27 January 2002. Mario Sánchez "Dados de baja cuatro guerrilleros y rescatan comerciante." http://www.radiocaracol.com/genota.asp?Id=66834 [Accessed 22 May 2003]

Segured. n.d. "Radiografía del Ejército de Colombia." http://www.Segured/artidocu.php?did=12 [Accessed 22 May 2003]

Stratfor. n.d. "Colombian Army." http://www.stratfor.com/hotspots/hotspot_colombia/army.htm [Accessed 15 May 2003]

Embassy of Colombia, Ottawa

IRB databases

World News Connection

Intenet sites, including:

Colombia Support Network

El Colombiano [Medellín]. 2001-2003.

Ejército Nacional

Ministerio de la Defensa Nacional

Revista Cambio.com [Bogotá].

Semana.com [Bogotá].