CONTINUED FARC EXTORTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 05231

E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PINS PTER CO
SUBJECT: CONTINUED FARC EXTORTION

REF: BOGOTA 5157


1. (U) THE COLOMBIAN REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES (FARC)
CONTINUE TO EMPLOY EXTORTION AS A SOURCE OF INCOME.
ACCORDING TO AN APRIL 11 STORY IN BOGOTA DAILY "EL
SIGLO," GUILLERMO OCAMPO OSPINA, FORMER CONSERVATIVE
GOVERNOR OF CALDAS DEPARTMENT, DECLARED THAT HE WAS A
RENEWED VICTIM OF THE FARC BEFORE THE MARCH 9
CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION. HIS FIRST ENCOUNTER OCCURRED A
YEAR AGO WHEN HE HAD TO RANSOM HIS KIDNAPPED BROTHER
FROM THE FARC.


2. (U) THE FARC, WHO ACCOSTED OCAMPO IN EASTERN CALDAS,
REPORTEDLY DEMANDED FROM HIM MONTHLY PAYMENTS OF 500,000
PESOS (2,732 DOLLARS). OCAMPO QUESTIONED WHY THE
GUERRILLAS WERE EMPLOYING EXTORTION WHEN THEY WERE
PARTIES TO THE PEACE PROCESS THROUGH THE UNION
PATRIOTICA (UP). THE FARC MEMBERS RESPONDED THE UP WAS
A POLITICAL FRONT THAT HAD NO INFLUENCE ON GUERRILLA
CONDUCT. OCAMPO SUBSEQUENTLY SPOKE WITH ALBERTO ROJAS
PUYO, COMMUNIST PARTY MEMBER OF THE PEACE COMMISSION,
WITH NO APPARENT RESULT, AND ATTEMPTED WITHOUT SUCCESS
TO CONTACT BRAULIO HERRERA, THE FARC MEMBER OF THE PEACE
COMMISSION.


3. (C) COMMENT: THIS INCIDENT ILLUSTRATES THE
AMBIGUITIES OF THE COLOMBIAN PEACE PROCESS WHICH FAVOR
SUCH ACTIONS BY THE FARC. THE FARC CAN EITHER ATTRIBUTE
THE EXTORTION TO ANOTHER GUERRILLA GROUP OR ALLEGEDLY
DISCIPLINE ITS DISOBEDIENT UNIT. IN EITHER
CIRCUMSTANCE, THE FARC CAN BOLSTER ITS IMAGE, AND THAT
OF THE UP, AS FAITHFUL ADHERENTS TO THE PEACE PROCESS.
AS IN ITS UPCOMING DEALINGS WITH THE PEACE COMMISSION
(SEE REFTEL),THE FARC CAN CULTIVATE SUCH A POSITIVE
IMAGE WHILE PROCEEDING WITH BUSINESS AS USUAL.

GILLESPIE##