Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BOGOTA7873
2007-11-02 22:25:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bogota
Cable title:  

EMBASSY CONFIRMS REPORT OF AMERICAN KIDNAPPED BY FARC IN

Tags:  CASC PTER PREL PGOV CO 
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VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBO #7873 3062225
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 022225Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9888
INFO RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 007873 

SIPDIS

FOR CA/OCS/ACS, WHA/AND, S/CT
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958; DECL:Q11/1/2017
TAGS: CASC PTER PREL PGOV CO
SUBJECT: EMBASSY CONFIRMS REPORT OF AMERICAN KIDNAPPED BY FARC IN
APRIL 2003

Classified By: Ambassador William R. Brownfield
Reason: 1.4 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 007873

SIPDIS

FOR CA/OCS/ACS, WHA/AND, S/CT
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958; DECL:Q11/1/2017
TAGS: CASC PTER PREL PGOV CO
SUBJECT: EMBASSY CONFIRMS REPORT OF AMERICAN KIDNAPPED BY FARC IN
APRIL 2003

Classified By: Ambassador William R. Brownfield
Reason: 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary. On October 25, FBI and consular representatives
interviewed Colombian citizen Nestor Mora. Mora said that the FARC had
kidnapped his brother, U.S. citizen Daniel Mora, in April 2003. Post
verified DanielQs citizenship, and Colombian authorities have confirmed
NestorQs account of his brotherQs kidnapping. FBI Miami, in
coordination with PostQs legal attache, has opened a case file and may
send personnel to assist in the investigation. Nestor said he
contacted Post because he wanted his brother included in Venezuelan-led
negotiations for proof of life and a humanitarian exchange. End
Summary.


2. (C) In late September 2007, Colombian citizen Nestor Mora wrote to
the Embassy concerning his brother, U.S. citizen Daniel Ignacio Mora
Ortiz (DOB 31 OCT 1950). The letter said that the Revolutionary Armed
Forces of Colombia (FARC) had kidnapped Daniel in April 2003. PostQs
ACS chief and acting legal attache interviewed Nestor in person on
October 25.


3. (C) Nestor described the circumstances surrounding his brotherQs
kidnapping. He said Daniel, a farmer and rancher living in the town of
Pandi, in Tolima Department, had been extorted by the FARC and refused
to pay. On the morning of April 21, 2003, Daniel drove with a friend
in Pandi when three heavily armed FARC guerillas blocked the road.
They tied Daniel up, blindfolded him, and took him away in his car.
Nestor said he believed the guerillas came from the FARCQs 25th or 55th
fronts. DanielQs friend, released at the scene, provided details of
the kidnapping.


4. (C) Nestor said the kidnappers contacted him two months later, and
he agreed to meet with them. At the meeting, two men requested a
ransom of 200 million Colombian pesos, and rejected NestorQs
counter-offer of 50 million pesos and some land. The kidnappers later
called and lowered their demand to 180 million pesos, an amount Nestor
could not raise.


5. (C) Some time later, Nestor said, two other men claimed that Daniel
had died and offered to reveal the location of the remains in exchange
for money. Nestor paid five million pesos but never received the
information, and concluded that the men had lied to him. Nestor said
he has never received proof of life, but has heard rumors that some
released FARC hostages saw Daniel alive in captivity.


6. (C) Nestor described his brother as someone who lived well but did
not have a lot of money. He said Daniel has seven children: three from
his deceased first wife, all now adult U.S. citizens residing in
Boston; and four young children from his second wife, all born and
living in Colombia. Post is not aware of attempts by these or other
family members, aside from Nestor, to contact the USG about the
kidnapping.


7. (C) According to Nestor, he first notified the Embassy of the
kidnapping in 2005 and met with an Embassy officer at that time, but
did not hear back from him. Nestor did not recall the officerQs name
or affiliation, and neither FBI nor the Consular Section had a file on
the case. Nestor said he re-initiated contact with the Embassy now
because he had seen reports of Venezuelan-led negotiations with the
FARC for proof of life and a humanitarian exchange, and he wanted his
brother included.


8. (C) PostQs ACS chief and acting legal attache both found Nestor
credible. Colombian authorities confirm that they are investigating
the case under the assumption that it is a FARC kidnapping, but
consider it a cold case. FBI Miami, in coordination with PostQs legal
attache, has opened its own case file and may send personnel to assist
the GOC in its investigation.


9. (C) Nestor said Daniel was born in Colombia and naturalized as a
U.S. citizen in 1979. PostQs ICE attache confirmed DanielQs
naturalization. Colombian law as it existed in 1979 did not permit
dual nationality, and so would have stripped Daniel of his Colombian
citizenship when he naturalized. Thus, Daniel Mora may no longer have
Colombian citizenship, although Colombian authorities do not appear to
realize that.


10. (C) Comment: Absent any proof of life since the 2003 kidnapping
nor direct contact from the FARC to request ransom, we cannot know with
any certainty if Daniel Mora remains alive. The Embassy Intelligence
Fusion Center (EFIC),which collects on the three SRS hostages, will
seek out information on Mora. LegAtt will continue to work with
Colombian law enforcement on the case. The FARC may not know that
Daniel is an American. Any mention of that to the FARC would raise his
value as a hostage, assuming he is still alive.

BROWNFIELD