KIDNAPPED EU EMPLOYEE NOW FREE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 005143

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/31/2015
TAGS: PREL PBTS PTER CO VE EU
SUBJECT: KIDNAPPED EU EMPLOYEE NOW FREE

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


1. (C) Summary: European Union (EU) Delegation employee
Carlos Ayala reportedly escaped from captivity on May 23,
crossed the border into Venezuela, and made contact with
officials there. The next day, EU Delegation Chief in
Bogota, Adrianus Koetsenruijter, fielded questions from local
and international press about the crime. He said the matter
was under investigation and played down the likelihood of
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) involvement,
suggesting that criminal elements could also have been
responsible. On May 26, Catholic Church negotiator Father
Dario Echeverri (strictly protect) told polcouns that he had
been in touch with a FARC 10th Front senior commander on
behalf of the EU who demanded a ten million Euro ransom.
Koetsenruijter confirmed to the press the EU neither
negotiated nor paid ransom for Ayala's release. Yet, Ayala's
unusual escape after a month in captivity raises questions.
End summary.


2. (U) EU employee and Spanish national Carlos Ayala was
allegedly kidnapped on April 15 and held for six weeks before
he claims to have escaped and fled into Venezuela. European
Union, Colombian, and Venezuelan officials have revealed
little about the crime, other than the dates and the
existence of an ongoing investigation. EU Ambassador
Adrianus Koetsenruijter told the press on May 24 that he had
spoken to Ayala and reported he was doing well and
cooperating with authorities about his captivity.


3. (U) According to Koetsenruijter, Ayala was taken hostage
while in Cucuta on personal business. On May 24 after his
escape, he flew from Caracas to Brussels to debrief the EU.
He plans to travel to Spain to reunite with family and
receive medical attention in the next few days.
Koetsenruijter confirmed that Ayala would return to Colombia
after he recovers.


4. (U) The press asked Koetsenruijter repeatedly whether the
FARC was involved in the kidnapping. He claimed no
information about that and speculated it could have been
criminals unrelated to the FARC. "Whoever they are, they are
very unprofessional," he said. Koetsenruijter did admit,
however, that the EU had been in contact with the FARC
through a third party intermediary regarding Ayala's
whereabouts. He strongly denied that the EU had paid the
kidnappers or negotiated with them directly to secure Ayala's
release.


5. (C) The third party intermediary turned out to be the
Catholic Church. On May 26 in a meeting on a separate
matter, Secretary General of the National Conciliation
Committee Father Dario Echeverri told polcouns that he had
contacted a FARC 10th Front Commander named "Camilo" in early
May to negotiate Ayala's release. Camilo demanded ten
million Euros for Ayala and was unwilling to discuss other,
non-monetary exchanges. Echeverri advised Camilo that the EU
could not pay a ransom and said he had no further discussions
with the FARC on the matter.


6. (C) Comment: At the time of the abduction, there was
considerable speculation by the press and the EU that the
FARC was responsible. Koetsenruijter's public comments that
he had no knowledge about FARC involvement in the kidnapping
raises questions about Ayala's unusual escape and the EU's
denial of a ransom payment. Escape from FARC kidnappers is
extremely rare.
WOOD