Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04BOGOTA4176
2004-04-23 23:21:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bogota
Cable title:  

CASTANO'S FATE UNKNOWN

Tags:  PHUM PTER PINR PGOV PINS PREL SNAR CO AUC 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BOGOTA 004176 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/23/2014
TAGS: PHUM PTER PINR PGOV PINS PREL SNAR CO AUC
SUBJECT: CASTANO'S FATE UNKNOWN

Classified By: Ambassador William B. Wood, reasons
1.4 (b) and (d)

------
Summary
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BOGOTA 004176

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/23/2014
TAGS: PHUM PTER PINR PGOV PINS PREL SNAR CO AUC
SUBJECT: CASTANO'S FATE UNKNOWN

Classified By: Ambassador William B. Wood, reasons
1.4 (b) and (d)

--------------
Summary
--------------


1. (C) Carlos Castano's fate remains unclear after an April
16 armed confrontation between Castano's personnel and
unidentified individuals in Antioquia Department. The most
often heard scenario is that Castano's brother and fellow
paramilitary commander Vicente Castano was behind the attack
in an attempt to remove Castano from negotiations with the
government and prevent him from turning himself into
authorities. Most accounts suggest that Castano survived the
attack but was taken by Vicente's men. It is also possible,
however, that he is dead or escaped. The GOC views Castano's
removal from the negotiations as a major setback because it
has enabled hardline paramilitaries to take over talks. End
Summary.

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Divergent Accounts
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2. (C) On April 16, an armed confrontation occurred between
United Self Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) commander Carlos
Castano, his bodyguards, and unidentified armed individuals
at a ranch regularly used by Castano in northern Antioquia
Department. At least two men were wounded, including
Castano's bodyguard Jairo Vladimir Rojas, aka "La Vaca," who
is receiving medical treatment in Bogota. Castano's
whereabouts are unknown. Castano's wife Kenia Gomez and baby
survived the attack and are presently under GOC protection.
She claims to have no knowledge of Castano's status.


3. (C) Vice President Francisco Santos, Peace Commissioner
Luis Carlos Restrepo, and other reports indicate that
Castano's brother, AUC commander Vicente Castano was the
intellectual author of the attack, possibly with the
assistance of AUC military chief Salvatore Mancuso and
"narco-para" Diego Murillo, aka "Don Berna." They were
attempting to keep Castano from influencing negotiations and
from providing evidence about their drug trafficking
activities to authorities. Castano, who indicated he would

be willing to spend time in prison, turn himself in to the
U.S., and demobilize his troops, had been increasingly
marginalized within the AUC. He did not attend the April 15
talks between Restrepo and the Central Bolivar Bloc (BCB) and
AUC. According to Restrepo, Castano had lost his military
power over the AUC but remained a symbolically important
figure and a relatively cooperative negotiator.


4. (C) On April 21, Mancuso and Vicente Castano denied
responsibility for the attack to Restrepo. They claimed
their men were in the area in Antioquia where Castano
regularly visited when they heard gunshots. According to
Mancuso and Vicente Castano, their men radioed Carlos
Castano's personnel, who told them there was no problem. The
Mancuso/Vicente men then left the area. Upon learning from
the media that Castano had been attacked, Mancuso and Vicente
sent their men back to the site where they found evidence of
a firefight and noticed Castano's vehicle was gone. Mancuso
also has publicly denied involvement and suggested that
Castano may have faked the attack.

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Is He Dead or Alive?
--------------


5. (C) VP Santos, who appears to have access to reliable
sources, and several press accounts indicate that Castano
survived the attack and was taken by Vicente Castano's
personnel. One of the wounded bodyguards publicly claimed he
overheard the attackers saying that they had Castano.
Nevertheless, it is also possible that Castano escaped and is
under protection from sympathetic paramilitaries. Castano
used to exert a great deal of influence over the AUC and had
many loyal proteges. The other distinct possibility is, of
course, that Castano is dead.

--------------
Uribe Moving Cautiously
--------------


6. (C) The GOC has demanded that the paramilitaries reveal
what happened to Castano. President Uribe and Restrepo have
decided to base their next steps on the results of a
soon-to-begin investigation by the Prosecutor General's
Office (Fiscalia). Mancuso and Vicente have agreed that the
Fiscalia should conduct an investigation at the confrontation
site and interview key witnesses. Restrepo noted to us that
Mancuso and Vicente claim there are witnesses available, but
Castano's personnel claim all the witnesses have disappeared.

--------------
Comment
--------------


7. (C) Restrepo views Castano's removal from negotiations as
a major setback. In his absence, the paramilitaries have
hardened their negotiating position and rejected the
possibility of spending any time in prison. Hardliner and
BCB policital chief Ivan Duque, aka "Ernesto Baez" and
militarily strong narcotraffickers such as Murillo, BCB
military chief Javier Montanez, aka "Macaco" and AUC
Centauros Bloc Miguel Arroyave, dominate talks.
WOOD