Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BOGOTA8545
2007-12-17 14:16:00
SECRET//NOFORN
Embassy Bogota
Cable title:
EMBASSY ANALYSIS OF HOSTAGE PROOF-OF-LIFE
how-toVZCZCXYZ0010 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHBO #8545/01 3511416 ZNY SSSSS ZZH P 171416Z DEC 07 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA TO RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 7940 RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY 9675 RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ DEC 9127 RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA PRIORITY 5716 RUEHZP/AMEMBASSY PANAMA PRIORITY 0984 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 1160 RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO PRIORITY 6417 RUEHGL/AMCONSUL GUAYAQUIL PRIORITY 4217 RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0516 INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHMFISS/DIRJIATF SOUTH PRIORITY RUETIAA/DIRNSA FT GEORGE G MEADE MD PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHMFIUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
S E C R E T BOGOTA 008545
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/11/2017
TAGS: PGOV PTER PREL PREF PHUM VZ FR CO
SUBJECT: EMBASSY ANALYSIS OF HOSTAGE PROOF-OF-LIFE
INFORMATION CAPTURED BY COLOMBIAN SECURITY FORCES
REF: BOGOTA 8305
Classified By: Ambassador William R. Brownfield
Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
-------
SUMMARY
-------
S E C R E T BOGOTA 008545
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/11/2017
TAGS: PGOV PTER PREL PREF PHUM VZ FR CO
SUBJECT: EMBASSY ANALYSIS OF HOSTAGE PROOF-OF-LIFE
INFORMATION CAPTURED BY COLOMBIAN SECURITY FORCES
REF: BOGOTA 8305
Classified By: Ambassador William R. Brownfield
Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
--------------
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (S) Colombian Security Forces captured three suspected
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) members in
possession of proof-of-life (POL) for sixteen hostages,
including U.S. citizen Defense Departments contractors Tom
Howes, Keith Stansell, and Marc Gonsalves on November 29,
2007 (reftel). We understand the interagency will conduct a
formal forensic analysis of the captured material, but we
determined that the POL information appears consistent with
the most recent Embassy assessment that the three U.S.
hostages remain under the control of the FARC First Front.
Nothing in the evidence indicated the hostage's exact
location. END SUMMARY.
2. (S) The Colombian Army's Regional Military Intelligence
Center-8, conducted a November 29 raid on a private home in
Bogota in response to Colombian intelligence information
indicating the presence of FARC-produced POL evidence on
several high value hostages at the residence. The raid
resulted in the detention of three (one male and two female)
suspected FARC sympathizers/members and the recovery of POL
evidence for sixteen high value hostages held by the FARC.
3. (S) The POL information indicated that the FARC produced
the materials to support Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's
effort to negotiate a "humanitarian exchange" of FARC-held
hostages for FARC prisoners in Colombian jails. It remains
unclear whether Chavez received any POL information, however
analysis suggests the existence of additional POL material
not seized in the November 29 raid.
--------------
CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS/REPORTS:
--------------
4. (S) OCTOBER 16, 2007: FARC Eastern Bloc Commander Jorge
Briceno Suarez, alias "Mono Jojoy" reportedly directed First
Front Commander Gerardo Aguilar Ramirez, alias "Cesar", to
produce POL on former Colombian presidential candidate and
dual French-Colombian national Ingrid Betancourt, as well as
seven Colombian military and police hostages.
5. (S) NOVEMBER 6, 2007: Chavez announced that FARC
Commander Manuel Marulanda, alias "Tirofijo", ordered the
production of POL on all FARC held "exchangeable" hostages.
6. (S) NOVEMBER 6, 2007: "Cesar" reportedly finished the
POL on Ingrid Betancourt and the seven others and sent it
north to the FARC 7th Front area of operations.
7. (S) NOVEMBER 22, 2007: Two intelligence reporting
streams indicated that the FARC was attempting to deliver POL
evidence in Bogota, probably for further transfer to
Venezuela.
8. (S) NOVEMBER 29, 2007: Colombian security forces raided
a residence in Bogota; arresting three FARC
sympathizers/members and recovering the POL on 16
exchangeable hostages.
9. (S) Initial analysis of the five videos, seven letters,
and digital photographs has not provided specific information
on the location of the three U.S. hostages at the date of
production of the POL. The analysis reinforced previous
assessments indicating that the three U.S. hostages remain
under the control of the First FARC Front. Salient points
from the Embassy Intelligence Fusion Center analysis included:
- Video POL on all sixteen hostages, including the three
Americans, appears to have been produced between October 22
and 24, 2007.
- Initial reports indicated that the three individuals
arrested with the POL evidence are First FARC Front
sympathizers/members.
- The sixteen hostages portrayed in the POL evidence appeared
to be separated into at least two groups, possibly located
near one another.
- FARC First Front Company Commander Alexander Farfan Suarez,
alias "Enrique Gafas", remains directly responsible for the
security of at least the group that includes the Americans.
- A FARC fighter seen in several of the videos has been
tentatively identified as "Tiro(n)", a FARC First Front
member.
- The camp in which the video POL was produced appears to
have some infrastructure with a possible building and farm
animals.
- While there are no indications that any hostages were
co-located with Eastern Bloc Commander alias "Mono Jojoy", it
appeared that he made minor decisions relating to high value
hostages.
10. (S) Information provided by Colombian National Police
Officer John Frank Pinchao, who escaped from the FARC on
April 28, 2007, indicated that the three U.S. hostages had
been under the control of the FARC First Front since mid-late
2006 through April 2007. Following Pinchao's escape, both
technical and human intelligence confirmed the presence of
the U.S. hostages inside the First Front's area of operations
as of May-June 2007. We assess that as of early December
2007, the three U.S. hostages probably remained within the
First Front area of operations under the direct control of
First FARC Front Company Commander "Enrique Gafas". We will
continue to focus our limited technical and human
intelligence assets against the FARC First Front.
Brownfield
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/11/2017
TAGS: PGOV PTER PREL PREF PHUM VZ FR CO
SUBJECT: EMBASSY ANALYSIS OF HOSTAGE PROOF-OF-LIFE
INFORMATION CAPTURED BY COLOMBIAN SECURITY FORCES
REF: BOGOTA 8305
Classified By: Ambassador William R. Brownfield
Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
--------------
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (S) Colombian Security Forces captured three suspected
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) members in
possession of proof-of-life (POL) for sixteen hostages,
including U.S. citizen Defense Departments contractors Tom
Howes, Keith Stansell, and Marc Gonsalves on November 29,
2007 (reftel). We understand the interagency will conduct a
formal forensic analysis of the captured material, but we
determined that the POL information appears consistent with
the most recent Embassy assessment that the three U.S.
hostages remain under the control of the FARC First Front.
Nothing in the evidence indicated the hostage's exact
location. END SUMMARY.
2. (S) The Colombian Army's Regional Military Intelligence
Center-8, conducted a November 29 raid on a private home in
Bogota in response to Colombian intelligence information
indicating the presence of FARC-produced POL evidence on
several high value hostages at the residence. The raid
resulted in the detention of three (one male and two female)
suspected FARC sympathizers/members and the recovery of POL
evidence for sixteen high value hostages held by the FARC.
3. (S) The POL information indicated that the FARC produced
the materials to support Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's
effort to negotiate a "humanitarian exchange" of FARC-held
hostages for FARC prisoners in Colombian jails. It remains
unclear whether Chavez received any POL information, however
analysis suggests the existence of additional POL material
not seized in the November 29 raid.
--------------
CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS/REPORTS:
--------------
4. (S) OCTOBER 16, 2007: FARC Eastern Bloc Commander Jorge
Briceno Suarez, alias "Mono Jojoy" reportedly directed First
Front Commander Gerardo Aguilar Ramirez, alias "Cesar", to
produce POL on former Colombian presidential candidate and
dual French-Colombian national Ingrid Betancourt, as well as
seven Colombian military and police hostages.
5. (S) NOVEMBER 6, 2007: Chavez announced that FARC
Commander Manuel Marulanda, alias "Tirofijo", ordered the
production of POL on all FARC held "exchangeable" hostages.
6. (S) NOVEMBER 6, 2007: "Cesar" reportedly finished the
POL on Ingrid Betancourt and the seven others and sent it
north to the FARC 7th Front area of operations.
7. (S) NOVEMBER 22, 2007: Two intelligence reporting
streams indicated that the FARC was attempting to deliver POL
evidence in Bogota, probably for further transfer to
Venezuela.
8. (S) NOVEMBER 29, 2007: Colombian security forces raided
a residence in Bogota; arresting three FARC
sympathizers/members and recovering the POL on 16
exchangeable hostages.
9. (S) Initial analysis of the five videos, seven letters,
and digital photographs has not provided specific information
on the location of the three U.S. hostages at the date of
production of the POL. The analysis reinforced previous
assessments indicating that the three U.S. hostages remain
under the control of the First FARC Front. Salient points
from the Embassy Intelligence Fusion Center analysis included:
- Video POL on all sixteen hostages, including the three
Americans, appears to have been produced between October 22
and 24, 2007.
- Initial reports indicated that the three individuals
arrested with the POL evidence are First FARC Front
sympathizers/members.
- The sixteen hostages portrayed in the POL evidence appeared
to be separated into at least two groups, possibly located
near one another.
- FARC First Front Company Commander Alexander Farfan Suarez,
alias "Enrique Gafas", remains directly responsible for the
security of at least the group that includes the Americans.
- A FARC fighter seen in several of the videos has been
tentatively identified as "Tiro(n)", a FARC First Front
member.
- The camp in which the video POL was produced appears to
have some infrastructure with a possible building and farm
animals.
- While there are no indications that any hostages were
co-located with Eastern Bloc Commander alias "Mono Jojoy", it
appeared that he made minor decisions relating to high value
hostages.
10. (S) Information provided by Colombian National Police
Officer John Frank Pinchao, who escaped from the FARC on
April 28, 2007, indicated that the three U.S. hostages had
been under the control of the FARC First Front since mid-late
2006 through April 2007. Following Pinchao's escape, both
technical and human intelligence confirmed the presence of
the U.S. hostages inside the First Front's area of operations
as of May-June 2007. We assess that as of early December
2007, the three U.S. hostages probably remained within the
First Front area of operations under the direct control of
First FARC Front Company Commander "Enrique Gafas". We will
continue to focus our limited technical and human
intelligence assets against the FARC First Front.
Brownfield