FORMER PRESIDENT GAVIRIA'S SISTER KILLED IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 003773

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/28/2016
TAGS: KCRM PGOV ASEC CO
SUBJECT: FORMER PRESIDENT GAVIRIA'S SISTER KILLED IN
APPARENT KIDNAP ATTEMPT GONE WRONG


Classified By: Ambassador William B. Wood
Reason: 1.4 (b,d)

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Summary
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1. (C) Liliana Gaviria, sister of former President Cesar
Gaviria, was killed on the evening of April 27 in what
appears to have been a failed kidnap attempt. Police
discovered Gaviria's body about 1.5 miles from her apartment
complex in Pereira shortly after assailants shot and killed
Gaviria's police bodyguard as the car in which he was
transporting Gaviria approached the apartment building.
President Uribe offered a reward of about $500,000 for
information leading to the arrest of those responsible.
Ambassador Wood plans to attend the funeral in Pereira on
April 28. End summary.

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Liliana Gaviria Murdered
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2. (U) Liliana Gaviria, the 59-year old sister of former
President Cesar Gaviria, died last night after her vehicle
was attacked by between four and eight unknown assailants at
approximately 1900 near her apartment in Pereira, about 100
miles west of Bogota. The assailants killed Gaviria's driver
(who also served as a bodyguard) immediately and apparently
took her away in another vehicle. Gaviria's body was found
some minutes later less than 1.5 miles from the scene of the
abduction. According to GOC forensic authorities, Gaviria
died when a gunshot to the abdomen entered her heart. It is
not yet clear whether the assailants killed Gaviria
intentionally at the scene of the crime, or subsequently, or
whether she died in crossfire.

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Ambassador's Condolences
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3. (C) D/polcouns passed the Ambassador's and Embassy
community's condolences to former President Gaviria on April

28. Gaviria was appreciative and said he would be in touch
with the Embassy if he had anything to report or request.
Earlier on the 28th, Gaviria's lead GOC bodyguard told
D/polcouns that Gaviria had been in touch with Administrative
Department of Security (DAS) Director Andres Penate and
expected a briefing during the course of the day. Ambassador
plans to attend the funeral on April 28 in Pereira.

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President Uribe Offers Reward
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4. (U) President Uribe, who learned of the murder while on a
podium awaiting to speak in Bogota, condemned the crime in
strong terms and offered a reward of 1,000 million Colombian
pesos (about USD 420,000) for information leading to the
arrest of those responsible. Uribe ordered Colombian
National Police chief Jorge Daniel Castro Castro and Defense
Minister Camilo Ospina to travel immediately to Pereira to
take charge of the investigation.

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Initial Law Enforcement Details
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5. (C) CNP investigating officers in Pereira told RSO that,
upon arrival to her residence in a CNP vehicle, 4-5 armed
assailants shot her police bodyguard three times. He died on
the scene. The CNP could not yet confirm whether the
bodyguard, armed with a .38 revolver, returned fire.
Fiscalia (Prosecutor General) sources indicate the bullet
that killed Gaviria was from a .38 caliber weapon. The
assailants placed Gaviria in a red Mazda 626 and departed the
apartment complex. Responding police found her body shortly
afterwards, about 1.5 miles away, with a single gunshot wound
to the abdomen. A task force of CNP and Federal DAS and CTI
agents are investigating the murder.

WOOD