CORDOBA SEEKS MEETINGS WITH "SIMON TRINIDAD" AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 006885 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/20/2017 TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL PTER PREF FR VZ CO SUBJECT: CORDOBA SEEKS MEETINGS WITH "SIMON TRINIDAD" AND "SONIA" REF: A. FRENCH-MCMULLEN EMAIL 9/18/2007 - 5:27PM ¶B. NICHOLS-WELLS FAX 9/20/2007 Classified By: CDA Brian A. Nichols - Reasons 1.4 (b,d) ¶1. (C) Colombian Senator Piedad Cordoba called the Charge from Caracas on September 18 to request a meeting with FARC members "Simon Trinidad" and "Sonia" (convicted in the United States of terrorism and drug charges, respectively). Cordoba asked to meet with the two on September 21 during a planned trip to the United States. She told the CDA that video or photos of her with Trinidad and Sonia would give her the sign of good will she needed with the FARC to make progress on the US hostages. She said that the FARC has assured her that the Americans were alive and in good condition. The Charge told Cordoba that he would relay her request to the Department, but cautioned her that a meeting in such a short time frame appeared unlikely. ¶2. (SBU) Cordoba, apparently confused as to the identity of the Ambassador, later falsely claimed to the press she had received "authorization" to visit Simon and Sonia from the Ambassador. Cordoba said during a September 19 radio interview that she intended to meet with members of the U.S. Congress and possibly with family members of Amcit hostages held by the FARC. ¶3. (C) Per Ref A, Cordoba visited Caracas to meet with Chavez on September 18 and asked the French DCM in Caracas, Dominique Mas, to approach the USG to seek help in arranging a meeting for her with Simon and Sonia. Cordoba claimed that if she could show the FARC she met both FARC prisoners in the US, she would be able to obtain proof of life for the US hostages "within 15 days." ¶4. (SBU) On September 20, Cordoba called the Charge to follow up on her request. Charge again noted the short time frame and complexity of the request involved. He cautioned her that a meeting with either Simon Trinidad or Sonia would be difficult to arrange during her September 21 visit to Washington. Cordoba said that she hoped talk to and take pictures of both Simon Trinidad and Sonia as well as give them books. Charge asked her to provide her specific request in writing to avoid any misunderstandings and facilitate action on it. Cordoba said that she would do so and noted that she now planned to visit Washington on September 20-21 to include meetings with interested Members of Congress, Orlando on September 22 for a meeting with hostage families and return to Bogota on September 23. The Senator said that she would travel to Caracas on September 25 for a meeting between the U.S. hostage families and Venezuelan President Chavez. Charge encouraged Cordoba to follow up with the Colombian Embassy in Washington upon her arrival. She said that she would do so. Text of Cordoba Letter -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Cordoba wrote to Charge on September 20 to formalize her request, which we have forwarded to Department (Ref B). Informal Embassy translation follows: Mr. Brian Nichols Ambassador of the United State of America Dear Mr. Ambassador, Through this letter I would like to request permission to visit the Colombian citizens Anayibe R. Valderrama ("Sonia") and Juvenil Ovidio Ricardo Plamera ("Simon Trididad"),who are presently incarcerated in the United States. Mr. Palmera is detained in Washington D.C. Jail, while Ms. R. Valderrama is in the Federal Medical Center in Ft. Worth, Texas. My visit is for humanitarian reasons as part of my work as mediator in the search for a humanitarian exchange. I was assigned this role by Mr. Alvaro Uribe, President of Colombia. I will bring the prisoners some books. I will be accompanied by Mr. Jorge Enrique Botero, passport number AK 092295, who is also asking for the same authorization. Cordially, Piedad Cordoba Ruiz Senator of the Republic Brownfield