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