Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BOGOTA6290
2007-08-27 21:42:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bogota
Cable title:
GOC AND FARC MANEUVER ON HUMANITARIAN EXCHANGE
how-toVZCZCXYZ0006 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHBO #6290 2392142 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 272142Z AUG 07 FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8391 INFO RUEHSW/AMEMBASSY BERN IMMEDIATE 1302 RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA IMMEDIATE 7707 RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS IMMEDIATE 9255 RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ AUG 8884 RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA IMMEDIATE 5345 RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID IMMEDIATE 9890 RUEHZP/AMEMBASSY PANAMA IMMEDIATE 0572 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS IMMEDIATE 1065 RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO IMMEDIATE 5936 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEHBO/USMILGP BOGOTA CO IMMEDIATE RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA IMMEDIATE 1492
C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 006290
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/27/2017
TAGS: MARR PGOV PREL PTER CO
SUBJECT: GOC AND FARC MANEUVER ON HUMANITARIAN EXCHANGE
DISCUSSIONS
REF: BOGOTA 6186
Classified By: Political Counselor John S. Creamer.
Reason: 1.4 (b,d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 006290
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/27/2017
TAGS: MARR PGOV PREL PTER CO
SUBJECT: GOC AND FARC MANEUVER ON HUMANITARIAN EXCHANGE
DISCUSSIONS
REF: BOGOTA 6186
Classified By: Political Counselor John S. Creamer.
Reason: 1.4 (b,d)
1. (U) Summary: FARC spokesperson Raul Reyes insisted the
GOC create a demilitarized zone ("despeje") for a
humanitarian exchange of FARC-held hostages. GOC officials
firmly rejected a despeje, but said the GOC would consider
new proposals to achieve a humanitarian exchange. End
summary.
2. (U) In an August 26 interview in an Argentine daily,
FARC spokesperson Raul Reyes welcomed Venezuelan President
Chavez' August 19 offer of Venezuela as a possible site for
talks on a humanitarian exchange, but said any exchange "must
be resolved within Colombia (reftel). This would require the
GOC to accept the FARC demand that the GOC demilitarize
Florida and Pradera municipalities in Valle de Cauca
department. Still, Reyes said negotiations on an exchange
could be held "anywhere." Colombian Communist Party leader
Carlos Lozano interpreted Reyes' latter comment as the FARC
"opening the door" to Chavez to help find a new formula for
negotiations.
3. (U) Minister of Interior and Justice Carlos Holguin said
Reyes' response highlighted the FARC's intransigence. He
said the GOC would be willing to consider new ways to achieve
a humanitarian exchange, but would never accept a despeje.
Meanwhile, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development
Andres Arias is leading what El Tiempo, Bogota's largest
daily newspaper, called an "anti-despeje crusade." Arias
traveled to Florida and Pradera on August 24 to bolster local
opposition to a despeje. He joined local officials in
condemning the idea and distributed tee shirts reading "No to
Despeje." Arias was accompanied by senior Uribe advisor and
speechwriter Jose Obdulio Gaviria.
4. (C) Outgoing Department of Administrative Security (DAS)
director Andres Penate told us August 24 he expects Chavez'
intervention to fail. Uribe remains opposed to a despeje and
will also insist that any released FARC fighters not return
to combat. Penate thinks the FARC will not accept these
conditions. He explained that Uribe authorized Senator
Cordoba to be an intermediary with the FARC on an accord
because he felt increasingly "on the ropes" over this issue.
Uribe thought authorizing Cordoba would help neutralize
international and domestic pressure, but was surprised when
Cordoba asked Chavez to become involved.
Nichols
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/27/2017
TAGS: MARR PGOV PREL PTER CO
SUBJECT: GOC AND FARC MANEUVER ON HUMANITARIAN EXCHANGE
DISCUSSIONS
REF: BOGOTA 6186
Classified By: Political Counselor John S. Creamer.
Reason: 1.4 (b,d)
1. (U) Summary: FARC spokesperson Raul Reyes insisted the
GOC create a demilitarized zone ("despeje") for a
humanitarian exchange of FARC-held hostages. GOC officials
firmly rejected a despeje, but said the GOC would consider
new proposals to achieve a humanitarian exchange. End
summary.
2. (U) In an August 26 interview in an Argentine daily,
FARC spokesperson Raul Reyes welcomed Venezuelan President
Chavez' August 19 offer of Venezuela as a possible site for
talks on a humanitarian exchange, but said any exchange "must
be resolved within Colombia (reftel). This would require the
GOC to accept the FARC demand that the GOC demilitarize
Florida and Pradera municipalities in Valle de Cauca
department. Still, Reyes said negotiations on an exchange
could be held "anywhere." Colombian Communist Party leader
Carlos Lozano interpreted Reyes' latter comment as the FARC
"opening the door" to Chavez to help find a new formula for
negotiations.
3. (U) Minister of Interior and Justice Carlos Holguin said
Reyes' response highlighted the FARC's intransigence. He
said the GOC would be willing to consider new ways to achieve
a humanitarian exchange, but would never accept a despeje.
Meanwhile, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development
Andres Arias is leading what El Tiempo, Bogota's largest
daily newspaper, called an "anti-despeje crusade." Arias
traveled to Florida and Pradera on August 24 to bolster local
opposition to a despeje. He joined local officials in
condemning the idea and distributed tee shirts reading "No to
Despeje." Arias was accompanied by senior Uribe advisor and
speechwriter Jose Obdulio Gaviria.
4. (C) Outgoing Department of Administrative Security (DAS)
director Andres Penate told us August 24 he expects Chavez'
intervention to fail. Uribe remains opposed to a despeje and
will also insist that any released FARC fighters not return
to combat. Penate thinks the FARC will not accept these
conditions. He explained that Uribe authorized Senator
Cordoba to be an intermediary with the FARC on an accord
because he felt increasingly "on the ropes" over this issue.
Uribe thought authorizing Cordoba would help neutralize
international and domestic pressure, but was surprised when
Cordoba asked Chavez to become involved.
Nichols