GOC REJECTS EFFORT BY SENATOR PETRO'S FAMILY TO

S E C R E T BOGOTA 003288 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/10/2017 TAGS: PGOV CO SUBJECT: GOC REJECTS EFFORT BY SENATOR PETRO'S FAMILY TO DECLINE SECURITY PROTECTION REF: BOGOTA 2837 Classified By: Political Counselor John S. Creamer Reason: 1.4 (b,d) -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) Justice and Interior Minister Carlos Holguin rejected May 9 the effort by some family members of Senator Gustavo Petro to decline GOC protection measures, saying the GOC's obligation to protect the family was "irrevocable." Petro's parents and brothers made the request after police detained two military officials who were observing the residence of Petro's former wife, Marilu Herran, who lives adjacent to Petro's mother's home. Armed Forces Commander General Padilla said the "clumsy" officials had endangered an intelligence investigation into Herran's links to retired and active military officers involved in "bolivarian circles." DAS Director Andres Penate has repeatedly assured polcouns the GOC is taking all possible steps to provide for Petro's security. End summary. -------------- -------------- GOC Has "Irrevocable" Obligation to Protect Petro Family -------------- -------------- ¶2. (U) On May 9, Justice and Interior Minister Carlos Holguin said the GOC had an "irrevocable" obligation to protect the family of Senator Petro. Petro's parents and brothers had apparently tried to refuse protection following an incident in which police assigned to Petro's family detained two people subsequently identified as Colombian military counter-intelligence officials. The military officials were apparently observing a residence in Cajica, north of Bogota, occupied by Petro's former wife, Mariluz Herran, whom Petro divorced eight years ago and who is the mother of two of Petro's children. Herran's residence is adjacent to that occupied by Petro's mother. ¶3. (U) Upon learning of the detention, Armed Forces Commander General Freddy Padilla said the officials' activities were clumsy and awkward ("una torpeza") and had put at risk an investigation into alleged links between active and retired military officers and "bolivarian circles" in Colombia. Padilla said the officials were unaware that the Herran residence was adjacent to Petro's mother's home. Justice and Interior Minister Carlos Holguin said the military were observing alias "Andrea," the name he said Herran used when she was a member of the M-19 terrorist group along with Petro in the 1980s. -------------- Petro's Ex-Wife Denies Illegal Activities -------------- ¶4. (S) DAS Director Andres Penate told polcouns on April 25 that Herran had received USD 500,000 since January from the Venezuelan Embassy in Bogota to support the October municipal election campaign of the Polo Democratico. He said President Uribe had instructed him to reveal to President Chavez privately during the recent Margarita Island energy summit the existence of the alleged Venezuelan spy ring run out of the Embassy. Penate said active and retired Colombian military officials were involved in the spy ring. ¶5. (U) Herran denied being involved in creating or supporting "bolivarian circles." She said she was the president of the "Bolivarian Institute of Latin American Studies," which promoted integration between the two countries, and supported Chavez, but denied any illegal activity. She called the surveillance a "persecution." Petro said he had no relationship with his ex-wife and revealed he is prevented from approaching her by a judicial restraining order. He accepted General Padilla's explanation for the surveillance and said Herran had to answer for whatever activities she may be involved in. Still, he accused Holguin of using "low and dirty" tactics in linking him to his ex-wife. -------------- Incident Follows On Heels of Others -------------- ¶6. (C) The Herran incident is the most recent of several associated with Senator Petro or his family. As reported reftel, Petro denounced a "judicial inspection" of his congressional office in April. DAS Director Penate said on May 10 that he could not confirm information that 10 people were planning an attack on Petro in Bogota. Penate has repeatedly assured polcouns the GOC is taking all possible steps to provide for Petro's security. Drucker