Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03BOGOTA342
2003-01-15 22:02:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bogota
Cable title:
FARC KIDNAPS CIVILIANS FOR CAR BOMB ATTACKS
how-toR 152202Z JAN 03 FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA TO SECSTATE WASHDC 3509 INFO AMEMBASSY BRASILIA AMEMBASSY CARACAS AMEMBASSY LIMA AMEMBASSY PANAMA AMEMBASSY QUITO DIA WASHDC DIRONDCP WASHDC JOINT STAFF WASHDC NSC WASHDC SECDEF WASHDC USCINCSO MIAMI FL
C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 000342
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/15/2013
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PTER CO
SUBJECT: FARC KIDNAPS CIVILIANS FOR CAR BOMB ATTACKS
CLASSIFIED BY: AMBASSADOR ANNE W. PATTERSON, REASONS 1.5(B)(D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 000342
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/15/2013
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PTER CO
SUBJECT: FARC KIDNAPS CIVILIANS FOR CAR BOMB ATTACKS
CLASSIFIED BY: AMBASSADOR ANNE W. PATTERSON, REASONS 1.5(B)(D)
1. (U) IN ITS LATEST WAVE OF CAR BOMB ATTACKS IN ARAUCA, THE
FARC REPORTEDLY HAS BEEN KIDNAPPING CIVILIANS AND USING THEM
AS UNWITTING SUICIDE DRIVERS OF CARS LOADED WITH EXPLOSIVES.
ONCE THE CARS REACH THEIR TARGET, THE EXPLOSIVES ARE
DETONATED VIA REMOTE CONTROL. SINCE JANUARY 8, THERE HAVE
BEEN THREE SUCH ATTACKS BY THE FARC IN ARAUCA DEPARTMENT. IN
TWO OF THESE ATTACKS, THE FARC KIDNAPPED THREE BROTHERS AND
FORCED TWO OF THEM TO DRIVE THE CARS. THE BROTHERS WERE TOLD
THEY WOULD BE SET FREE IF THEY WOULD DRIVE A CAR ON AN ERRAND
FOR THE FARC. IN ONE OF THE INCIDENTS, ONE OF THE BROTHERS
SURVIVED THE EXPLOSION TO TELL THE AUTHORITIES ABOUT THE
FARC'S NEW TACTIC. PARTS OF ARAUCA CONSTITUTE ONE OF THE
GOC'S TWO REHABILITATION ZONES AND THE DEPARTMENT IS THE
CENTER OF COLOMBIA'S OIL PRODUCTION. THE BOMBINGS HAVE TAKEN
PLACE IN THE VILLAGES OF ARAUQUITA, TAME, AND NEAR FORTUL.
2. (U) MINISTER OF DEFENSE MARTHA LUCIA RAMIREZ ANNOUNCED ON
JANUARY 14 THAT THE GOC WOULD DENOUNCE THE FARC'S USE OF
HOSTAGES IN THE CAR BOMB ATTACKS BEFORE THE UNITED NATIONS IN
GENEVA. THE DECISION TO BRING THESE CASES TO THE UN WAS
TAKEN AFTER A SPECIAL SECURITY COUNCIL MEETING ON JANUARY 13
BETWEEN PRESIDENT URIBE AND MILITARY OFFICIALS.
3. (C) COMMENT: DETONATING CAR BOMBS AND KIDNAPPING CIVILIANS
ARE NOTHING NEW FOR THE FARC. IT HAS USED CAR BOMBS FOR
ATTACKS IN ARAUCA, BOGOTA AND ELSEWHERE IN COLOMBIA AND HAS
KIDNAPPED HUNDREDS OF CIVILIANS FOR RANSOM AND TO PRESSURE
THE GOC TO RELEASE FARC MEMBERS IN JAIL. THE THREE MOST
RECENT ARAUCA CAR BOMBINGS REPRESENT THE FIRST TIME THAT THE
FARC HAS USED, TO OUR KNOWLEDGE, UNSUSPECTING KIDNAP VICTIMS
TO BE AGENTS OF TERRORIST ATTACKS. LAST YEAR, THE FARC
MURDERED A CIVILIAN AND LEFT HIM IN HIS BOOBY-TRAPPED CAR
WHICH DETONATED WHEN THE AUTHORITIES ARRIVED. WITH THE WIDE
MEDIA COVERAGE OF THESE ATTACKS, THIS NEW TACTIC WILL HAVE
LIMITED UTILITY, SINCE KIDNAP VICTIMS ARE UNLIKELY TO BE AS
COOPERATIVE AS DRIVERS IF THEY KNOW THAT THEY ARE FACING
NEAR-CERTAIN DEATH. END COMMENT.
PATTERSON
>
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/15/2013
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PTER CO
SUBJECT: FARC KIDNAPS CIVILIANS FOR CAR BOMB ATTACKS
CLASSIFIED BY: AMBASSADOR ANNE W. PATTERSON, REASONS 1.5(B)(D)
1. (U) IN ITS LATEST WAVE OF CAR BOMB ATTACKS IN ARAUCA, THE
FARC REPORTEDLY HAS BEEN KIDNAPPING CIVILIANS AND USING THEM
AS UNWITTING SUICIDE DRIVERS OF CARS LOADED WITH EXPLOSIVES.
ONCE THE CARS REACH THEIR TARGET, THE EXPLOSIVES ARE
DETONATED VIA REMOTE CONTROL. SINCE JANUARY 8, THERE HAVE
BEEN THREE SUCH ATTACKS BY THE FARC IN ARAUCA DEPARTMENT. IN
TWO OF THESE ATTACKS, THE FARC KIDNAPPED THREE BROTHERS AND
FORCED TWO OF THEM TO DRIVE THE CARS. THE BROTHERS WERE TOLD
THEY WOULD BE SET FREE IF THEY WOULD DRIVE A CAR ON AN ERRAND
FOR THE FARC. IN ONE OF THE INCIDENTS, ONE OF THE BROTHERS
SURVIVED THE EXPLOSION TO TELL THE AUTHORITIES ABOUT THE
FARC'S NEW TACTIC. PARTS OF ARAUCA CONSTITUTE ONE OF THE
GOC'S TWO REHABILITATION ZONES AND THE DEPARTMENT IS THE
CENTER OF COLOMBIA'S OIL PRODUCTION. THE BOMBINGS HAVE TAKEN
PLACE IN THE VILLAGES OF ARAUQUITA, TAME, AND NEAR FORTUL.
2. (U) MINISTER OF DEFENSE MARTHA LUCIA RAMIREZ ANNOUNCED ON
JANUARY 14 THAT THE GOC WOULD DENOUNCE THE FARC'S USE OF
HOSTAGES IN THE CAR BOMB ATTACKS BEFORE THE UNITED NATIONS IN
GENEVA. THE DECISION TO BRING THESE CASES TO THE UN WAS
TAKEN AFTER A SPECIAL SECURITY COUNCIL MEETING ON JANUARY 13
BETWEEN PRESIDENT URIBE AND MILITARY OFFICIALS.
3. (C) COMMENT: DETONATING CAR BOMBS AND KIDNAPPING CIVILIANS
ARE NOTHING NEW FOR THE FARC. IT HAS USED CAR BOMBS FOR
ATTACKS IN ARAUCA, BOGOTA AND ELSEWHERE IN COLOMBIA AND HAS
KIDNAPPED HUNDREDS OF CIVILIANS FOR RANSOM AND TO PRESSURE
THE GOC TO RELEASE FARC MEMBERS IN JAIL. THE THREE MOST
RECENT ARAUCA CAR BOMBINGS REPRESENT THE FIRST TIME THAT THE
FARC HAS USED, TO OUR KNOWLEDGE, UNSUSPECTING KIDNAP VICTIMS
TO BE AGENTS OF TERRORIST ATTACKS. LAST YEAR, THE FARC
MURDERED A CIVILIAN AND LEFT HIM IN HIS BOOBY-TRAPPED CAR
WHICH DETONATED WHEN THE AUTHORITIES ARRIVED. WITH THE WIDE
MEDIA COVERAGE OF THESE ATTACKS, THIS NEW TACTIC WILL HAVE
LIMITED UTILITY, SINCE KIDNAP VICTIMS ARE UNLIKELY TO BE AS
COOPERATIVE AS DRIVERS IF THEY KNOW THAT THEY ARE FACING
NEAR-CERTAIN DEATH. END COMMENT.
PATTERSON
>