Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05BOGOTA7565
2005-08-10 18:14:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bogota
Cable title:  

UNHCR REFUGEE REFERRAL FOR FORMER VENEZUELAN AIR

Tags:  PREF PREL CO VE 
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101814Z Aug 05
C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 007565 

SIPDIS

PRM/A AND WHA/AND

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/10/2015
TAGS: PREF PREL CO VE
SUBJECT: UNHCR REFUGEE REFERRAL FOR FORMER VENEZUELAN AIR
FORCE COLONEL SILVINO JOSE BUSTILLOS QUINTANA


Classified By: Ambassador William B. Wood for reasons 1.4 (b&d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 007565

SIPDIS

PRM/A AND WHA/AND

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/10/2015
TAGS: PREF PREL CO VE
SUBJECT: UNHCR REFUGEE REFERRAL FOR FORMER VENEZUELAN AIR
FORCE COLONEL SILVINO JOSE BUSTILLOS QUINTANA


Classified By: Ambassador William B. Wood for reasons 1.4 (b&d)

1.(U) This is an action message. Please see paragraph 4.


2. (C) Embassy Refugee Coordinator received a refugee
referral for former Venezuelan Colonel Silvino Jose Bustillos
Quintana (DPOB 21 August 1951, Venezuela) from the UN High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Bogota office. Embassy
recommends normal processing under the U.S. Refugee
Resettlement Program (USRP). If accepted, a Department of
Homeland Security attorney would adjudicate Bustillos' case
during an upcoming DHS circuit ride to Ecuador.


3. (C) Colonel Bustillos entered Colombia on November 9, 2004
and applied for asylum on December 13, 2004. His case is
pending with the GoC. The Venezuelan press has speculated
that Bustillos was kidnapped and possibly killed by
Venezuelan military intelligence while other reports placed
him in Colombia. RefCoord has emailed the UNHCR referral to
PRM and WHA which details Bustillos' account of persecution
by the Chavez Government and need for resettlement to a third
country.


4. (C) Foreign Ministry refugee contacts report that there
are several other pending cases of former Venezuelan military
officers who signed the so-called Carmona decree after
Chavez' temporary removal from power on April 11, 2002.
Given the sensitive nature of Colonel Bustillos' case, and
the inevitable pull factor for other Venezuelans seeking
refuge from the Chavez regime, Embassy requests Department
concurrence in submitting the UNHCR referral to the USRP and
guidance on processing other cases that may follow.
WOOD