AMBASSADOR AND ICRC DISCUSS U.S. HOSTAGES, ACCESS

C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 004608 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR WHA, CA, PRM E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/22/2026 TAGS: PGOV PTER KJUS CASC CO SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR AND ICRC DISCUSS U.S. HOSTAGES, ACCESS TO FARC MEMBERS TRINIDAD AND SONIA IN U.S. Classified By: Ambassador William B. Wood for reasons 1.4 (b&d) ¶1. (C) Ambassador met with International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Head of Delegation Barbara Hintermann (strictly protect) May 22 to discuss follow up to ICRC Juan Pedro Schaerer's recent meetings in Washington with Under Secretary Burns and the NSC. Hintermann said she has established reliable contact with high level FARC Secretariat members who have promised to provide a proof of life for all/all hostages including the three U.S. citizens. ¶2. (C) Hintermann said she is personally committed to obtaining proof of life for all of the hostages, and is willing to pass letters from family members of the three U.S. hostages to the FARC. She told Wood she recently contacted FARC Secretariat member Raul Reyes by Email to pass on a letter from the mother of a Colombian hostage (Clara Rojas, political advisor to former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt who was kidnapped in 2002). Reyes replied that he would pass on the message. Hintermann said communication with the FARC should be easier after the May 28 Presidential elections and expects to meet with them in June or July. Wood thanked Hintermann and urged her to do whatever she could to obtain a proof of life and to facilitate communication between the U.S. hostages and their families. ¶3. (C) The ICRC would like private access to FARC members Simon Trinidad and Sonia who are awaiting trial in the U.S. on terrorism and narcotrafficking charges. Hintermann explained that ICRC made the request as it does commonly with all detainees registered by the organization who are transferred to another country. Essentially, the ICRC wants to be able to have unmonitored conversations; they can be flexible about the presence of penal authorities in the room, out of earshot. Such visits are strictly humanitarian in nature and help ICRC remain neutral and credible in the eyes of all parties to Colombia's armed conflict. Hintermann asked Ambassador Wood if he would be willing to help (Embassy supported ICRC's January 2005 request for access to Trinidad). Wood promised to follow up with the Department on the issue and local DoJ officials will meet with Hintermann on the request. WOOD