THE FARC AND PARAGUAY: ALLEGATIONS OF KIDNAPPING

S E C R E T ASUNCION 000199

SIPDIS

STATE WHA/BSC
STATE PASS TO USAID LAC/AA
NSC FOR KIMBERLY BREIER
SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD DAN JOHNSON

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/31/2015
TAGS: PREL PTER KCRM KJUS PINR SNAR CO PA
SUBJECT: THE FARC AND PARAGUAY: ALLEGATIONS OF KIDNAPPING
AND SUBVERSION

REF: A. ASUNCION 152


B. ASUNCION 188

Classified By: CDA Kevin M. Johnson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (S) Summary: AG claims that FARC involvement in Paraguay
is growing, asserting he has information from GOC sources to
back his statement. AG has a history of exaggeration and his
claims need to be verified, but it appears that the GOP is
increasingly concerned about foreign leftist influence in the
countryside. End Summary.


2. (S) February 8 Attorney General (AG) Latorre told Charge
and Colombian Ambassador to Paraguay:
-- Sensitive Colombian reporting and e-mail information
obtained by the AG (after GOC tip) provide solid evidence of
FARC training Paraguayan subversives in Colombia;
-- The same sources show direct FARC involvement in
supporting the Cubas kidnapping, carried out by the Leftist
Patria Libre (PL) party in Paraguay;
-- FARC operative "Comandante Santiago" attended at least one
meeting in Foz de Iguazu, Brazil with PL operatives involved
in the Cubas kidnapping;
-- A FARC operative may have helped draft one of the ransom
notes for Cubas.


3. (S) Latorre said that, in addition to the "solid evidence"
mentioned above, there are strong "indications" from
sensitive Colombian reporting that Rodrigo Granda (recently
seized by Colombia) is directly involved with a central
Paraguayan figure detained in the Cubas case (Osmar Martinez
of Patria Libre.) Further examination of this reporting is
ongoing, with a Colombian expert currently in Paraguay to
support this. Latorre described the information linking
Granda to training Paraguayan subversives and the kidnapping
thus far obtained is "significant" but thus far "not enough
for an indictment." Latorre said he briefed President Duarte
on the possible Granda connection Feb. 8; Duarte had been
briefed previously on the other FARC information.


4. (C) Comment: NDF's support for President Uribe (ref A) and
the recent decision to end the Cuban Doctors program (ref B)
are likely the result of increasing evidence of FARC support
for crime and subversion in Paraguay, including the Cubas
kidnapping. Latorre said the President now sees Castro and
Chavez in a different light. Increasing FARC
activity/connection to Paraguay would be consistent with
press/anecdotal reports of increased drug trafficking through
Paraguay originating in Colombia.


5. (C) One note of caution: AG Latorre has been under fire
for failure to solve the Cubas case and could make mistakes
or exaggerations under pressure. In addition, he has a
checkered past, including credible accusations that he has
manufactured/altered evidence in previous cases. The Cubas
investigation has been characterized by infighting, leaks,
and a lack of professionalism on many levels. Despite
repeated promises, Latorre has never turned over the complete
Cubas file to the Embassy. We must thus confirm Latorre's
information whenever possible, including if possible through
our Mission in Bogota, but the case against the FARC in
Paraguay is building. End Comment.
JOHNSON