Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BOGOTA743
2009-03-04 19:00:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Bogota
Cable title:
ARMY FINDS UNION LEADER IN FARC CAMP
how-toVZCZCXYZ0734 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHBO #0743 0631900 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 041900Z MAR 09 FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7524 INFO RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 8708 RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY 1762 RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ AUG 9980 RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA PRIORITY 7080 RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO PRIORITY 7810 RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID PRIORITY 0574 RHMFISS/FBI WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUCNDTA/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1981 RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEAWJC/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS BOGOTA 000743
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON KJUS PGOV PTER SOCI PHUM CO
SUBJECT: ARMY FINDS UNION LEADER IN FARC CAMP
SUMMARY
-------
UNCLAS BOGOTA 000743
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON KJUS PGOV PTER SOCI PHUM CO
SUBJECT: ARMY FINDS UNION LEADER IN FARC CAMP
SUMMARY
--------------
1. Colombian troops captured labor leader Juan Efrain Mendoza
in the same February 27 raid that netted Revolutionary Armed
Forces of Colombia (FARC) commander Bernardo Mosquera Machado
("Negro Antonio"). Mendoza initially tried to flee the
soldiers, but later claimed the FARC had kidnapped him. GOC
officials have cast doubt on Mendoza's story, saying that he
still had his GOC-provided cell phone and that neither his
family nor his union had reported him missing. The parent
organization of Mendoz's union publicly stated that Mendoza
needed to fully explain his presence in the FARC camp and
called on the Prosecutor General's Office (Fiscalia) to
investigate. End Summary.
GOVERNMENT-PROTECTED UNIONIST IN FARC CAMP
--------------
2. The Colombian Army captured Juan Efrain Mendoza, secretary
general of the National Federation of Agricultural Unions
(Fensuagro) in a Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia
(FARC) camp in Sumapaz (Cundinamarca) during a February 27
operation that captured FARC commander and feared kidnapper
Bernardo Mosquera Machado ("Negro Antonio"). The military
reported that Mendoza initially tried to flee the soldiers,
then claimed after his capture that he had been kidnapped by
the insurgents and brought to the camp. Mendoza will remain
in GOC custody pending investigation by judicial authorities
of his "changing story."
3. Social Protection Minister Diego Palacio Betancourt asked
the United Workers Confederation (CUT--Colombia's largest
labor confederation)--of which Fensuagros is a member--to
cooperate in the investigation. According to Palacio, the
GOC had provided Mendoza bodyguards. Mendoza denied
receiving bodyguards, but Justice and Interior Minister
(MOIJ) Fabio Valencia Cossio explained on March 3 that
Mendoza and other Fensuagro leaders were in fact protected
under the MOIJ's protection program for human rights
activists, labor leaders and other at-risk individuals.
Palacio said that Mendoza, the CUT, and Fensuagro needed to
explain how one of its members in the GOC protection program
could have ended up meeting with the FARC. The GOC currently
provides bodyguards to approximately 1,500 unionists.
GOC CASTS DOUBT ON ALIBI
--------------
4. Mendoza claimed that he had been kidnapped in Bogota on
February 25th and that he tried to flee because he feared
being caught in a crossfire in the raid. He reiterated that
he did not receive any any GOC protection. Palacio and other
GOC officials publicly cast doubt on this account, noting
that he was in possession of his GOC-provided cell phone when
he was taken into custody and that neither his family nor
Fensuagro had reported his alleged kidnapping. (Note:
Fensuagro member Liliana Obando is in prison awaiting trial
after computer files found at the camp of deceased FARC
leader "Raul Reyes" identified her as a member of the FARC's
international front. Press reports on March 3 suggest that
the same files show ties between Mendoza and the FARC. End
note.)
5. CUT President Tarsicio Mora would not vouch for Mendoza,
telling the media Mendoza needed to clarify his presence in
the camp and that the Prosecutor General (Fiscalia) should
fully investigate the case. Mora told Radio "W" that
Mendoza would have to answer to judicial authorities, who
would ultimately determine why he was there. Mora denied any
CUT connections to illegal armed groups, and he condemned
violence.
BROWNFIELD
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON KJUS PGOV PTER SOCI PHUM CO
SUBJECT: ARMY FINDS UNION LEADER IN FARC CAMP
SUMMARY
--------------
1. Colombian troops captured labor leader Juan Efrain Mendoza
in the same February 27 raid that netted Revolutionary Armed
Forces of Colombia (FARC) commander Bernardo Mosquera Machado
("Negro Antonio"). Mendoza initially tried to flee the
soldiers, but later claimed the FARC had kidnapped him. GOC
officials have cast doubt on Mendoza's story, saying that he
still had his GOC-provided cell phone and that neither his
family nor his union had reported him missing. The parent
organization of Mendoz's union publicly stated that Mendoza
needed to fully explain his presence in the FARC camp and
called on the Prosecutor General's Office (Fiscalia) to
investigate. End Summary.
GOVERNMENT-PROTECTED UNIONIST IN FARC CAMP
--------------
2. The Colombian Army captured Juan Efrain Mendoza, secretary
general of the National Federation of Agricultural Unions
(Fensuagro) in a Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia
(FARC) camp in Sumapaz (Cundinamarca) during a February 27
operation that captured FARC commander and feared kidnapper
Bernardo Mosquera Machado ("Negro Antonio"). The military
reported that Mendoza initially tried to flee the soldiers,
then claimed after his capture that he had been kidnapped by
the insurgents and brought to the camp. Mendoza will remain
in GOC custody pending investigation by judicial authorities
of his "changing story."
3. Social Protection Minister Diego Palacio Betancourt asked
the United Workers Confederation (CUT--Colombia's largest
labor confederation)--of which Fensuagros is a member--to
cooperate in the investigation. According to Palacio, the
GOC had provided Mendoza bodyguards. Mendoza denied
receiving bodyguards, but Justice and Interior Minister
(MOIJ) Fabio Valencia Cossio explained on March 3 that
Mendoza and other Fensuagro leaders were in fact protected
under the MOIJ's protection program for human rights
activists, labor leaders and other at-risk individuals.
Palacio said that Mendoza, the CUT, and Fensuagro needed to
explain how one of its members in the GOC protection program
could have ended up meeting with the FARC. The GOC currently
provides bodyguards to approximately 1,500 unionists.
GOC CASTS DOUBT ON ALIBI
--------------
4. Mendoza claimed that he had been kidnapped in Bogota on
February 25th and that he tried to flee because he feared
being caught in a crossfire in the raid. He reiterated that
he did not receive any any GOC protection. Palacio and other
GOC officials publicly cast doubt on this account, noting
that he was in possession of his GOC-provided cell phone when
he was taken into custody and that neither his family nor
Fensuagro had reported his alleged kidnapping. (Note:
Fensuagro member Liliana Obando is in prison awaiting trial
after computer files found at the camp of deceased FARC
leader "Raul Reyes" identified her as a member of the FARC's
international front. Press reports on March 3 suggest that
the same files show ties between Mendoza and the FARC. End
note.)
5. CUT President Tarsicio Mora would not vouch for Mendoza,
telling the media Mendoza needed to clarify his presence in
the camp and that the Prosecutor General (Fiscalia) should
fully investigate the case. Mora told Radio "W" that
Mendoza would have to answer to judicial authorities, who
would ultimately determine why he was there. Mora denied any
CUT connections to illegal armed groups, and he condemned
violence.
BROWNFIELD