COLOMBIAN MILITARY BEHIND RECENT BOGOTA BOMBINGS

C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 008288 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/30/2016 TAGS: KJUS PGOV PHUM PINR PREL PTER CO SUBJECT: COLOMBIAN MILITARY BEHIND RECENT BOGOTA BOMBINGS Classified By: Ambassador William B. Wood. Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (U) The Colombian Army reported that 2 to 4 military officers allegedly placed a series of car bombs and other explosives around Bogota during the July-August run-up to President Uribe's inauguration. The soldiers intended to "discover" the explosives and claim GOC rewards. One of the bombs, however, detonated, killing one civilian and injuring about twenty soldiers. At the time, the COLAR blamed the bombings on terrorists. ¶2. (C) Army Chief of Staff General Mario Montoya publicly conceded the possibility of military involvement in the scheme on September 8. El Tiempo, the leading Bogota newspaper, reported on September 9 that four military officers plotted with a demobilized FARC guerrilla to plant the explosives, for which the former FARC member was to be paid five million pesos (about USD$2,500). Our Defense Attache overheard a high-level ministry official provide an account of the bombing investigation to President Uribe that tracks the El Tiempo report. -------------- THE INVESTIGATION -------------- ¶3. (C) Authorities reportedly have videotapes, wiretaps and witness statements linking officers to the plot. It is not clear when the formal GOC investigation began, but a CNP intelligence officer told us in early August the police suspected military involvement. -------------- TRANSPARENCY -------------- ¶4. (C) The MOD's transparency in reporting the possible involvement of its personnel in the extortion scheme shows new Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos' strong management style. In a further step toward holding military officials accountable for their conduct, Santos announced on September 8 the appointment of a civilian, Luz Marina Gil, to head the military justice system. Gil, who represented Colombia before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, is the first civilian to head this important institution. Santos made the announcement at a Human Rights Day breakfast in front of numerous senior military staff and diplomatic corps representatives, underscoring his commitment to stamp out misconduct. The announcement follows repeated failures by the military justice system to investigate and punish personnel suspected of wrongdoing. Speaking to reporters after the breakfast, Ambassador Wood said the MOD's statement demonstrated transparency and a determination to get to the bottom of the scheme. WOOD