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