EAC ON INCREASE OF REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES OF

S E C R E T BOGOTA 000973 DEPT FOR DS/IP AND DS/IP/WHA, D, P, M, CA, S/CT, INR, AND WHA/AND E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/21/2019 TAGS: ASEC AMGT CASC PTER CO SUBJECT: EAC ON INCREASE OF REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES OF COLOMBIA (FARC) RELATED THREAT REPORTING REF: 09 STATE 1636 Classified By: Classified by Brian A. Nichols, CDA for Reasons 1.4 (b a nd d) ¶1. (S) SUMMARY: The Charge (CDA) convened the Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on March 20, 2009 to review the Mission's security posture in response to an increase in FARC related threat reporting. The threat increase is related to what the FARC is calling "Black March," a period corresponding to the anniversary of the deaths of FARC supreme leader Manuel Marulanda and other FARC leaders. The EAC decided to restrict discretionary travel to certain rural areas, but determined that post's overall security posture is appropriate. The Embassy will issue a security notice and warden message encouraging American citizens to exercise greater caution and defer unnecessary travel in the coming weeks. End Summary. ¶2. (S) The CDA convened the EAC on March 20, 2009 to review the Mission's security posture in response to an increase in FARC related threat reporting. The FARC has carried out attacks in Villavicencio, Huila, Norte de Santander, and other rural areas around the country over the last two weeks. While GOC authorities have seized explosives in Bogota, the origin of those explosives has not been determined. Although there are no specific targets, it is commonly believed that the majority of the planned activities target locations in rural areas outside of Bogota, where the FARC is strongest. Post's EAC is not aware of any intelligence indicating the targeting of U.S. Government interests. However, COLMIL authorities found blueprints of the former NAS building on a captured FARC computer in early March. (Note: COLMIL authorities have found the same pre-construction blueprints on other FARC computers in the past.) The RSO office continues to monitor the situation and will keep the U.S. Embassy community updated if there are any changes. ¶2. (S) RSO reviewed current security measures given our high threat environment, and the EAC endorsed the current posture as appropriate given the situation. RSO advised that personal travel to certain areas is temporarily suspended and official travel to certain areas, especially Villavicencio and Pasto, will be carefully scrutinized prior to any approvals. RSO also proposed restraint on all travel during this FARC anniversary period. ¶3. (S) There have been reports of threats by the FARC against the Annual Meeting of Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Board of Governors in Medellin March 29-30. RSO advised all sections to review their plans for personnel attending the conference and the duration of their stays. ¶4. (SBU) CDA directed that RSO issue a Security Notice to Embassy employees cautioning them to exercise greater care during the coming weeks and a parallel warden notice to the American community in Colombia. ¶5. (SBU) The following offices were represented at the EAC meeting: CDA, POL, AID, MGT, LEGATT, NAS, PAO, CONS, DEA, ORA, DOJ, MilGrp, DAO, USSS, FAS, ECON, ICE, CLO, and RSO. NICHOLS