FARC REPORTEDLY WANTS TO MEET U.S. OFFICIALS TO

S E C R E T BOGOTA 005449 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/26/2017 TAGS: MARR PGOV PREL PTER CO SUBJECT: FARC REPORTEDLY WANTS TO MEET U.S. OFFICIALS TO CLARIFY TRINIDAD SENTENCE OFFER Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Milton K. Drucker. Reason: 1.4 (b,d) ¶1. (S) Newly promoted director of the Office of Police Intelligence (DIPOL) Colonel Ramirez Calle met with Embassy Legat on July 24. Ramirez told Legat that DIPOL had intercepted FARC communications indicating that the FARC would like a face-to-face meeting between one of their spokespersons, such as Raul Reyes, and U.S. officials. ¶2. (S) Ramirez said the intercepts suggest the FARC would like clarification on the possibility of a reduction in the sentence of Ricardo Palmira, a.k.a. Simon Trinidad, in light of Assistant United States Attorney Ken Kohl's statement after Trinidad's conviction. Press reports in Colombia regarding Kohl's statement were confusing, with much of the media suggesting the USG was willing to negotiate with the FARC over Trinidad's release. The FARC reportedly would like to know whether the USG would release Trinidad from custody if the FARC released the three AmCit hostages it holds unharmed. Drucker