Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BOGOTA7158
2007-10-03 23:25:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bogota
Cable title:  

FARC TIE RELEASE OF "SONIA" AND "SIMON TRINIDAD"

Tags:  PGOV PHUM PREL PTER PREF VZ CO 
pdf how-to read a cable
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C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 007158 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/04/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL PTER PREF VZ CO
SUBJECT: FARC TIE RELEASE OF "SONIA" AND "SIMON TRINIDAD"
TO RELEASE OF U.S. HOSTAGES

Classified By: Political Counselor John S. Creamer
Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d)

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SUMMARY
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C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 007158

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/04/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL PTER PREF VZ CO
SUBJECT: FARC TIE RELEASE OF "SONIA" AND "SIMON TRINIDAD"
TO RELEASE OF U.S. HOSTAGES

Classified By: Political Counselor John S. Creamer
Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d)

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SUMMARY
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1. (C) The FARC published an editorial on October 2 calling
for the GOC to grant a demilitarized zone for talks on a
humanitarian accord and demanding the release of FARC members
"Sonia" and "Simon Trinidad" from U.S. custody as part of a
deal. Catholic priest Father Echeverri, who attended
Venezuelan President Chavez' September 25 meeting with
Senator Piedad Cordoba and the U.S. hostages' family members,
told us Chavez and Cordoba believe the USG will negotiate the
sentences of "Sonia" and "Simon" and are advising the FARC to
insist on their inclusion in an exchange. End Summary

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FARC TIES U.S. HOSTAGES TO "SIMON" AND "SONIA"
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2. (U) On October 2, the FARC's official website published an
editorial, dated September 28 and authored by FARC
Secretariat member "Ivan Marquez," calling on the GOC to

SIPDIS
grant the group a demilitarized zone ("despeje") and
demanding the release of FARC members "Sonia" and "Simon
Trinidad" from U.S. custody as part of a "humanitarian
exchange" of FARC-held hostages for FARC members in Colombian
jails. "Ivan Marquez" said U.S. hostages Marc Gonsalves,
Keith Stansell, and Thomas Howes were "spies captured in
Colombia on a technical intelligence mission," and called
their extradition "blackmail." He said the "easy road" would
be an "exchange of complete packets of prisoners in custody
of the contending parties." Commenting on President Uribe's
statements that the GOC will not seek the release of FARC
members convicted in the United States, Marquez concluded,
"You cannot call it an exchange if one of the parties does
not receive their people."

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CHAVEZ: SHORT WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY
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3. (C) Catholic Church and Conciliation Commission
representative Father Dario Echeverri told us September 28 he

spoke privately with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez for
15-20 minutes, after attending Chavez' September 25 meeting
with Senator Piedad Cordoba and the U.S. hostage families.
Chavez was well-informed about Echeverri's efforts to promote
a FARC-ELN cease-fire in Arauca, and asked Echeverri to
review past Catholic Church efforts to negotiate a
humanitarian exchange with the FARC. Echeverri told Chavez
he had a 15 minute window of opportunity in which to achieve
an accord. He urged Chavez not to repeat the mistakes of
past facilitation efforts by focusing on issues such as a
despeje or concentrating his message on FARC leader Manuel
Marulanda. (Note: Echeverri has previously told us he thinks
Marulanda is either dead or incapacitated.) Echeverri told
Chavez he should present new formulas and aim his dialogue at
the entire FARC Secretariat. Chavez said he appreciated the
advice, adding that GOV officials met with a FARC Secretariat
member (likely "Ivan Marquez") in Venezuela while Cordoba was
meeting with Raul Reyes in Colombia.

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CHAVEZ AND CORDOBA EXPECT USG DEAL ON SIMON AND SONIA
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4. (C) Echeverri said the FARC's "advisors" --Cordoba and
Chavez-- are telling the FARC they should pressure the USG by
linking the release of the U.S. hostages to the return of
Sonia and Simon. He said FARC Secretariat member Fabian
Ramirez would likely try to add his brother, FARC member
Erminson Cabreras Cuevas ("Mincho"),who was extradited to
the United States on September 20. Cordoba and Venezuelan
Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro told Echeverri in Caracas the
USG would accept a "triangulation" in which the USG would
send Simon and Sonia to France. The French would then return
them to Colombia. Cordoba and Maduro dismissed Uribe's
comments that the GOC opposes the two's return, saying this

would not stop the USG from sending them to a third country.
Echeverri said Chavez, Cordoba, and Maduro believe the USG is
willing to negotiate Simon's and Sonia's sentences.

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CHAVEZ: RESPECTFUL MEETING WITH U.S. FAMILIES
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5. (C) Echeverri told us Chavez managed the meeting with the
U.S. hostage family members extremely well. He quickly won
the hearts of the two young children in the group, and
through them, the other family members. It made for very
effective television, he added. Chavez guided the
conversation to reflect his points, noting at one point that
"he feared the FARC would insist on equivalence between the
three U.S. hostages, Simon and Sonia." Still, Chavez was
respectful of President Bush and the families. Echeverri
said Chavez claimed he knew the task would be difficult, but
stressed his commitment to achieve the hostages' release.
Brownfield