URIBE PROPOSAL TO FARC ON HOSTAGES

C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 005683

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/03/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL PTER PREF CO
SUBJECT: URIBE PROPOSAL TO FARC ON HOSTAGES

REF: BOGOTA 4716

Classified By: Political Counselor John Creamer - Reasons 1.5 (b, d)

Uribe Hostage Proposal
======================

1. (U) On August 2, President Alvaro Uribe said he would
release Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC)
prisoners and create an "encounter zone" for peace talks with
the FARC for 90 days if the FARC first released all its
hostages. The offer came in a public, sometime tense,
debate on Bogota's Bolivar Plaza after the president met with
Professor Gustavo Moncayo. Moncayo, whose son has been held
by the FARC for ten years, had just completed a highly
publicized 45 day, 1,000 kilometer trek from Narino to Bogota
to highlight the plight of hostage families. Uribe
reiterated that he would not cede "one square millimeter" of
territory to the FARC for a "despeje" or demilitarized zone,
and insisted any FARC prisoners released would have to leave
the FARC and return to civil society. Moncayo plans to remain
in the Plaza until there is progress on an accord.

Despite Pressure, No "Despeje" Zone
===================================

2. (C) Secretary General of the Presidency Bernardo Moreno
told us August 1, Uribe was concerned that while his personal
approval ratings remain high, support for GOC positions on a
humanitarian accord, the paramilitary process, and the
handling of the guerrillas is starting to erode. Moncayo's
march and stay in the Plaza Bolivar would hurt the GOC
politically and increase pressure on it to agree to a despeje
for talks on a humanitarian exchange. Moreno reiterated the
GOC is open to an exchange, but will never accept a despeje
zone. Moreno said the European proposal of December 13,
2005, which called for a 70 square mile zone in the tiny
southwestern town of El Retiro to conduct talks on a
humanitarian accord, remains valid. Uribe confirmed the
GOC's continued acceptance of the European proposal during
the Bolivar debate.

Awaiting FARC Response
======================

3. (C) Longtime GOC-FARC go-between Alvaro Leyva told us July
28, the FARC would have to return the bodies of eleven
hostages killed by the FARC on June 18 (reftel) before any
progress could be made on a humanitarian exchange or broader
issues. He expects the FARC to return the cadavers over the
next month, and attributed the delay to a FARC internal
investigation into the circumstances of the deaths.
Colombian military efforts to locate the bodies were another
complication. Leyva claimed the FARC understands the United
States will not return extradited FARC members "Sonia" and
"Simon Trinidad," but said the group wants to communicate
with the United States. He added that FARC talks with Uribe
would be "impossible" due to the personalization of the
conflict on both sides.
Drucker