FARC DECLINES GOC PRISONER EXCHANGE, BLAMES GOC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BOGOTA 008817

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER PREL PGOV CO FARC
SUBJECT: FARC DECLINES GOC PRISONER EXCHANGE, BLAMES GOC
FOR IMPASSE

REF: BOGOTA 8367


1. (U) On September 16, ANNCOL posted a message from the
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia ) People's Army
(FARC-EP) declining the Colombian government's offer to hold
a prisoner exchange in Bolo Azul, Valle del Cauca Department.
The FARC reiterated longstanding demands in the communique
and added another name to the list of imprisoned FARC members
they want returned ) Francisco Caraballo.


2. (U) Francisco Caraballo aka "El Negro" or "Pacho" was a
leader of a splinter faction of the Popular Liberation Army
(EPL) that refused to demobilize during the 1991 peace
process when he was arrested in June 1994. Caraballo was
sentenced to 38 years on charges of conspiracy to kidnap,
murder, and sedition. Some human rights NGOs charged the GOC
had failed to follow due process. In a 2004 interview,
Caraballo remarked that he supported the idea of a united
guerrilla organization made up of FARC, EPL, and National
Liberation Army (ELN) fighters. The FARC called for EPL's
Caraballo and the ELN's Francisco Galan to be freed on
ANNCOL's website in 2004.


3. (U) Valle del Cauca Governor Angelino Garzon told "W
Radio" on September 16 that he still believed the FARC would
negotiate in the future. He claimed that, although the FARC
and GOC have had no success during the Uribe Administration
on a prisoner exchange, he did not believe the FARC's reply
was a refusal. He added that Valle del Cauca Department
would remain available for any negotiation.


4. (U) Begin informal translation of FARC communique posted
on September 16:

The FARC Ratifies its Willingness to Achieve a Humanitarian
Exchange.

-- The proposal of a prisoner swap or exchange through a
"humanitarian accord" between the Colombian State and the
FARC-EP to put an end to the captivity of prisoners of war on
both sides has been, and remains, a reoccurring initiative of
the FARC that the state has systematically denied.

-- The will of the FARC-EP to establish an encounter between
the parties has been backed up with action. Since the
beginning of this government, we named spokespeople and
proposed a "despeje" (demilitarized zone) in the
municipalities of San Vicente del Caguan and Cartagena del
Chaira, Caqueta Department. The government refused those
locations, arguing that it was carrying out Plan Patriota and
that the FARC was using a ploy to ease military operations in
the area. In light of this false estimation by the
government, the FARC-EP proposed that public forces depart
Pradera and Florida municipalities in Valle del Cauca
Department for a period of just 30 days, to guarantee the
safety of representatives.

-- To the contrary, the government has neglected the national
outcry by the victims' families, numerous social and
political sectors, various ex-presidents, local opinion
leaders, the Catholic Church, its own prisoners and allies.
The government offers unworkable counter-proposals only to
show-off and grandstand to further its own interests.
Consequently, it attempts to conceal its only clear, defined
policy: to wage a war against the Colombian people and its
organizations without considering peaceful options to resolve
the crisis.

-- The Colombian government has ignored good-faith offers of
other governments and international organizations on many
occasions that we could name. Lies and deceit are routine in
state diplomacy and used to manage the international
community's declarations and create a favorable opinion for
their own goals. When used in this way, the simple issue of
a humanitarian exchange becomes a propaganda tool and a
campaigning issue for presidential re-election.

-- The FARC-EP appreciate the French, Swiss, and other
supportive nations for their political outlets, and efforts
to help solidify a humanitarian exchange to end the
prisoners' drama brought on by Colombia's internal conflict.
This continuing effort is a result of the Colombian public's
longing to free their prisoners.

-- The FARC-EP once again confirms before international
public opinion its dedicated willingness to succeed with a
humanitarian exchange freeing all of our prisoners of war,
including Francisco Caraballo, at a separate location once we
sign an agreement. As the Secretariat restated, the eventual
meeting will take place in our national territory.
Therefore, we demand that the public forces withdraw from
Pradera and Florida municipalities in Valle del Cauca
Department for 30 days.

International Commission of the FARC-EP
Mountains of Colombia, September 10, 2005

End text.
WOOD