Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BOGOTA3288
2007-05-10 17:24:00
SECRET
Embassy Bogota
Cable title:
GOC REJECTS EFFORT BY SENATOR PETRO'S FAMILY TO
how-toVZCZCXYZ0020 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHBO #3288/01 1301724 ZNY SSSSS ZZH P 101724Z MAY 07 FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5050 INFO RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 7539 RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY 8976 RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ MAY 8683 RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA PRIORITY 5047 RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO PRIORITY 5669
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
-------
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
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