Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09CARACAS28
2009-01-08 21:27:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Caracas
Cable title:
BRV REITERATES THERE'S NO FARC IN VENEZUELA
how-toVZCZCXRO2633 PP RUEHAG RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHCV #0028 0082127 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 082127Z JAN 09 FM AMEMBASSY CARACAS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2400 INFO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1020 RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS
C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 000028
SIPDIS
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/2018
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL PTER VE CO
SUBJECT: BRV REITERATES THERE'S NO FARC IN VENEZUELA
Classified By: Political Counselor Francisco Fernandez
for Reason 1.4(b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 000028
SIPDIS
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/2018
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL PTER VE CO
SUBJECT: BRV REITERATES THERE'S NO FARC IN VENEZUELA
Classified By: Political Counselor Francisco Fernandez
for Reason 1.4(b) and (d).
1. (SBU) According to press reports, FARC Supreme leader
Alfonso Cano AKA Guillermo Leon Saenz inadvertently revealed
the names of seven senior FARC operatives in Venezuela in a
communique that vowed a new offensive against Colombian
police and military units following setbacks during 2008.
Cano used the communique, excerpts of which were published in
a regional Venezuelan paper January 3, to issue marching
orders to various FARC leaders to conduct operations in
specific geographic areas. Acknowledging that good relations
with Venezuela "were fundamental," and that Bertulfo,
Timochenko, Ivan Marquez, Rodrigo Granda, Solis Almeyda,
Martin Villa and Hermes Aguilera were assigned that task.
(Note: The May 2008 video of Timochenko announcing FARC
Supreme Leader Manuel Marulanda's death had already raised
much speculation that he was inside of Venezuela because of
the unique flora in the background. End Note.)
2. (SBU) Although not published in any leading Venezuelan
daily, the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
was swift to disavow any knowledge of FARC leaders residing
in Venezuela. During an January 4 press conference, Minister
of Information and Communications, Jesse Chacon denied any
"formal knowledge" that members of the FARC Secretariat or
High Command were in Venezuela. (Note: In December 2004 FARC
"Foreign Minister" Rodrigo Granda was snatched off the
streets of Caracas by Colombian operatives. End Note.)
Chacon vowed that Venezuela would act "within the letter of
the law" and assured that any FARC member would be "detained"
and the Colombian government "informed," stressing that
President Hugo Chavez's greatest desire was peace in
Colombia.
3. (C) Contacts in the Colombian embassy in Caracas told
PolOff that their information indicated at least seven senior
commander or Secretariat members are operating in Venezuela.
Secretariat member and commander of the Northwest and
Caribbean blocks, Granda, AKA Ivan Marquez, is in the La
Perija region of Zulia state. In that same region are FARC
"Radio Resistance" director Jesus Santrich, Front 41 combat
commander Aldemar Altamiranda, AKA Gilberto de Jesus Giraldo
Davis, and FARC international relations spokesman Marcos
Calarca, AKA Luis Alberto Aban Urbano. FARC central command
member Solis Almeyda, AKA Abelardo Caicedo, is retired in the
Venezuelan town of Machiques. Further south FARC Secretariat
member Timochenko, AKA Rodrigo Londono Echeverry, and the
commander of Front 35 were operating out of an old National
Guard base near the city of San Cristobal, in Tachira state.
In Apure, Granobles AKA German Briceno, the brother of FARC
Secretariat member Mono Jojoy, AKA Jorge Briceno, commands
Front 10. FARC "Foreign Minister" Rodrigo Granda lives in
the Caracas neighborhood of California and travels regularly
to Cuba. The Colombians are convinced that in order to
burnish his image as a peace maker, Chavez is trying to
arrange the release of six FARC hostages inside of Venezuelan
territory prior to the February 15 amendment vote allowing
unlimited re-election.
GENNATIEMPO
SIPDIS
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/2018
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL PTER VE CO
SUBJECT: BRV REITERATES THERE'S NO FARC IN VENEZUELA
Classified By: Political Counselor Francisco Fernandez
for Reason 1.4(b) and (d).
1. (SBU) According to press reports, FARC Supreme leader
Alfonso Cano AKA Guillermo Leon Saenz inadvertently revealed
the names of seven senior FARC operatives in Venezuela in a
communique that vowed a new offensive against Colombian
police and military units following setbacks during 2008.
Cano used the communique, excerpts of which were published in
a regional Venezuelan paper January 3, to issue marching
orders to various FARC leaders to conduct operations in
specific geographic areas. Acknowledging that good relations
with Venezuela "were fundamental," and that Bertulfo,
Timochenko, Ivan Marquez, Rodrigo Granda, Solis Almeyda,
Martin Villa and Hermes Aguilera were assigned that task.
(Note: The May 2008 video of Timochenko announcing FARC
Supreme Leader Manuel Marulanda's death had already raised
much speculation that he was inside of Venezuela because of
the unique flora in the background. End Note.)
2. (SBU) Although not published in any leading Venezuelan
daily, the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
was swift to disavow any knowledge of FARC leaders residing
in Venezuela. During an January 4 press conference, Minister
of Information and Communications, Jesse Chacon denied any
"formal knowledge" that members of the FARC Secretariat or
High Command were in Venezuela. (Note: In December 2004 FARC
"Foreign Minister" Rodrigo Granda was snatched off the
streets of Caracas by Colombian operatives. End Note.)
Chacon vowed that Venezuela would act "within the letter of
the law" and assured that any FARC member would be "detained"
and the Colombian government "informed," stressing that
President Hugo Chavez's greatest desire was peace in
Colombia.
3. (C) Contacts in the Colombian embassy in Caracas told
PolOff that their information indicated at least seven senior
commander or Secretariat members are operating in Venezuela.
Secretariat member and commander of the Northwest and
Caribbean blocks, Granda, AKA Ivan Marquez, is in the La
Perija region of Zulia state. In that same region are FARC
"Radio Resistance" director Jesus Santrich, Front 41 combat
commander Aldemar Altamiranda, AKA Gilberto de Jesus Giraldo
Davis, and FARC international relations spokesman Marcos
Calarca, AKA Luis Alberto Aban Urbano. FARC central command
member Solis Almeyda, AKA Abelardo Caicedo, is retired in the
Venezuelan town of Machiques. Further south FARC Secretariat
member Timochenko, AKA Rodrigo Londono Echeverry, and the
commander of Front 35 were operating out of an old National
Guard base near the city of San Cristobal, in Tachira state.
In Apure, Granobles AKA German Briceno, the brother of FARC
Secretariat member Mono Jojoy, AKA Jorge Briceno, commands
Front 10. FARC "Foreign Minister" Rodrigo Granda lives in
the Caracas neighborhood of California and travels regularly
to Cuba. The Colombians are convinced that in order to
burnish his image as a peace maker, Chavez is trying to
arrange the release of six FARC hostages inside of Venezuelan
territory prior to the February 15 amendment vote allowing
unlimited re-election.
GENNATIEMPO