PRESIDENT URIBE OFFERS REWARD FOR HOSTAGES AND

UNCLAS BOGOTA 000371

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CASC PREL CO FARC
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT URIBE OFFERS REWARD FOR HOSTAGES AND
FARC LEADERS



1. (U) President Uribe addressed the nation from Serrania del
Chiribiquete, Guaviare Department, on New Year's Eve
highlighting his plans for 2005, including initiating a
bounty hunter price against two FARC leaders, and a reward
for the release of 63 hostages. Uribe recognized the efforts
of the police and military against Colombia's illegal armed
groups and announced his hopes to reclaim the nation and
finish the long journey towards peace by 2006.


2. (U) President Uribe took aim at FARC Secretariat leaders
Manuel Marulanda and Jorge Briceno by directing an
unprecedented appeal to FARC members close to them, including
radio operators and bodyguards. He offered a reward of five
billion Colombian pesos (roughly USD 2.2 million) to anyone
who provided authorities with information leading to the
leaders' capture. He also urged guerrillas to desert and
begin the demobilization and reinsertion program as 10,000 of
their former comrades did in 2004.


3. (U) Uribe went on to offer the same reward in exchange for
information leading to the release or rescue of the 63
hostages held by the FARC: three American hostages (Thomas R.
Howes, Marc D. Gonsalves, and Keith D. Stansell),one German,
and 59 Colombian nationals, including former senator and
presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt. He concluded with
his hopes to strengthen the economy, employment
opportunities, and social justice in 2005.
WOOD