AMBASSADOR'S JUNE 11 MEETING WITH HOSTAGES AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 002166 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/16/2017 TAGS: PGOV PTER PREL PREF PHUM CASC FR CU CO VZ SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S JUNE 11 MEETING WITH HOSTAGES AND VICTIMS RIGHTS NGO "PAIS LIBRE" Classified By: Ambassador William R. Brownfield Reason: 1.4(b,d) -------------- Summary: -------------- ¶1. (C) Free Country Foundation (Pais Libre) Executive Director Olga Lucia Golez Cardona told the Ambassador on June 11 her human rights group seeks more resources and support for kidnapped victims and their families. She voiced concern that the extradition of former United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) members would impede the truth and reconciliation process under the Justice and Peace Law (JPL). Patricia Perdomo, daughter of a former hostage, said she believes the Revolutionary Armed forces of Colombia (FARC) may free several kidnap victims soon to show goodwill, but criticized former Senator Luis Eladio Perez for publicly claiming the FARC would soon free Ingrid Betancourt and three other Colombian politicians. Cardona and Perdomo called for more resources for JPL investigations and exhumations, and psychosocial support for families of victims. End Summary. -------------- Victims want Accountability for Extradited -------------- ¶2. (U) At a June 11 meeting with the Ambassador, Olga Lucia Golez Cardona, Executive Director of Pais Libre Foundation, reviewed the group's efforts to help kidnapping victims and their families. Patricia Perdomo, daughter of former FARC hostage Consuelo Gonzalez Perdomo, who was released in January, called for more psychosocial, legal, and health services for victims and their families. Cardona said the extradition of fourteen former AUC members would close the door on truth and reparations for victims under the JPL. The extradited had revealed valuable information on mass graves and disappearances in their JPL testimony. The process is incomplete and victims' families deserve to know what happened to their loved ones. Perdomo said there must be a mechanism to allow voluntary confessions to continue. The Ambassador underscored the USG's support for the JPL's truth and reconciliation process, and noted the ongoing efforts to coordinate between the U.S. and Colombian legal systems. -------------- Public Unity on FARC Hostages -------------- ¶3. (C) Perdomo said she respects the French government but criticized its tactics to obtain Ingrid Betancourt's release. The French public campaign has increased Betancourt's value for the FARC. Liberating the three American hostages would also be difficult because of their political value. Perdomo said her mother spent time with the Americans in captivity, teaching them Spanish and sharing personal stories. The hostages feel "abandoned by their government" and would appreciate any direct messages from USG officials by radio, in addition to messages they already receive from family members. Perdomo said she has no direct contact with the FARC, but speculated that the group may free some civilian kidnap victims soon, including Ingrid or an American, to show goodwill. ¶4. (C) Cardona estimates there are about 2,800 total kidnapped victims nationwide, with about 700 in the hands of the FARC. The National Liberation Army (ELN) is the second largest terrorist group to continue kidnapping. She said a consolidated effort by hostage families, governments, and human rights groups is critical to reach a humanitarian accord. Hostages must be treated as human beings, not bargaining chips, and public unity is important to convey this message. Some individuals and groups have exploited the situation, giving family members false hope. ¶5. (C) Perdomo criticized former Senator and FARC hostage Luis Eladio Perez who told the press on June 10 that he expects the imminent release of Ingrid Betancourt, Alan Jara, Oscar Tulio Lizcano, and Sigifredo Lopez. She said Perez was "irresponsible" for making such public declarations without any evidence. The FARC would never reveal their plans to a former hostage. GOC Peace Commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo told her this week he had no concrete information on Perez' claims. While acknowledging she appreciates the efforts of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, with whom she has met three times, Perdomo said she does not support his political views or FARC sympathies. -------------- Justice and Peace Law Moving Slowly -------------- ¶6. (U) Cardona recognized the positive work on JPL investigations, but complained of a lack of resources and organization, impeding faster progress. The volume of information collected and the number of victims registered (over 120,000) has become unmanageable for the Prosecutor General's Office (Fiscalia). Many human remains are unidentified for an indefinite length of time. Victims still fear retaliation and do not feel they are full participants in the process. Work on exhumations and discovery of mass graves is improving, but there is little emotional support provided to families to deal with these discoveries. Furthermore, once remains are excavated and interned, there is no central information center. BROWNFIELD