Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09PANAMA366
2009-05-06 22:44:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Panama
Cable title:
PANAMA: FARC MEMBER DEMOBILIZES IN DARIEN: SIXTH
how-toVZCZCXYZ0003 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHZP #0366 1262244 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 062244Z MAY 09 FM AMEMBASSY PANAMA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3359 INFO RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 2800 RUEHSJ/AMEMBASSY SAN JOSE 2012 RHMFISS/COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC RHMFISS/DIRJIATF SOUTH RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L PANAMA 000366
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/06/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PM
SUBJECT: PANAMA: FARC MEMBER DEMOBILIZES IN DARIEN: SIXTH
THIS YEAR
Classified By: Ambassador Barbara J. Stephenson for
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
-----------------------------
FARC Demobilizations Continue
-----------------------------
C O N F I D E N T I A L PANAMA 000366
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/06/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PM
SUBJECT: PANAMA: FARC MEMBER DEMOBILIZES IN DARIEN: SIXTH
THIS YEAR
Classified By: Ambassador Barbara J. Stephenson for
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
--------------
FARC Demobilizations Continue
--------------
1. (U) Reports indicate that a member of the FARC's 57th
FRONT surrendered to members of Panama's National Frontier
Service (SENAFRONT) on May 2. The event took place at the
newly established SENAFRONT position in the village of Sobia
Quiro, near the Colombian boarder. The temporary position was
established two weeks ago. La Prensa, Panama's newspaper of
record, quoted Minister of Government and Justice Dilio
Arcias on May 6 as saying that the alleged guerrilla, named
XXXXXXXXXXXX, had crossed the border to surrender and
arrived without a weapon or uniform. He reportedly asked to
be placed in the Government of Colombia's demobilization
program. Chiman is the sixth member of the FARC to demobilize
in Panama this year, and SENAFRONT is implementing a small
scale information campaign to encourage more members of the
FARC to demobilize.
--------------
Comment
--------------
2. (C) Members of the FARC's 57th Front are demobilizing in
Panama despite their belief that SENAFRONT mistreats FARC
members they capture, as revealed in the debriefs of
previously demobilized FARC members. This is a clear
indication that morale is not high in the 57th. Combined with
the small size of the 57th, which we believe number at most
180, there would seem to be a real possibility of weakening
the 57th by encouraging demobilizations. To this end, Post
has invited a Military Information Support Team (MIST) from
SOCSOUTH to Panama to develop an effective information
campaign aimed at the FARC. President Torrijos has given
permission for the team to work with SENAFRONT in the Darien
to encourage demobilization and return to Colombia, where the
GOC has promised the GOP that all FARC members turned over to
them will be allowed into the demobilization program. This is
another indication that the GOP is serious about weakening
the FARC in Panama, and is taking bold and creative moves to
make it happen.
STEPHENSON
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/06/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PM
SUBJECT: PANAMA: FARC MEMBER DEMOBILIZES IN DARIEN: SIXTH
THIS YEAR
Classified By: Ambassador Barbara J. Stephenson for
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
--------------
FARC Demobilizations Continue
--------------
1. (U) Reports indicate that a member of the FARC's 57th
FRONT surrendered to members of Panama's National Frontier
Service (SENAFRONT) on May 2. The event took place at the
newly established SENAFRONT position in the village of Sobia
Quiro, near the Colombian boarder. The temporary position was
established two weeks ago. La Prensa, Panama's newspaper of
record, quoted Minister of Government and Justice Dilio
Arcias on May 6 as saying that the alleged guerrilla, named
XXXXXXXXXXXX, had crossed the border to surrender and
arrived without a weapon or uniform. He reportedly asked to
be placed in the Government of Colombia's demobilization
program. Chiman is the sixth member of the FARC to demobilize
in Panama this year, and SENAFRONT is implementing a small
scale information campaign to encourage more members of the
FARC to demobilize.
--------------
Comment
--------------
2. (C) Members of the FARC's 57th Front are demobilizing in
Panama despite their belief that SENAFRONT mistreats FARC
members they capture, as revealed in the debriefs of
previously demobilized FARC members. This is a clear
indication that morale is not high in the 57th. Combined with
the small size of the 57th, which we believe number at most
180, there would seem to be a real possibility of weakening
the 57th by encouraging demobilizations. To this end, Post
has invited a Military Information Support Team (MIST) from
SOCSOUTH to Panama to develop an effective information
campaign aimed at the FARC. President Torrijos has given
permission for the team to work with SENAFRONT in the Darien
to encourage demobilization and return to Colombia, where the
GOC has promised the GOP that all FARC members turned over to
them will be allowed into the demobilization program. This is
another indication that the GOP is serious about weakening
the FARC in Panama, and is taking bold and creative moves to
make it happen.
STEPHENSON