COLOMBIA: ADDITIONS TO 1988 ANNUAL TERRORISM

UNCLAS BOGOTA 19003 STATE FOR S/CT WHARTON E.O. 12356: N/A TAGS: KPRP PTER CO SUBJECT: COLOMBIA: ADDITIONS TO 1988 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT REF: BOGOTA 18301 ¶1. EMBASSY SUBMISSION FOR THE 1988 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT INADVERTENTLY OMMITTED REFERENCE TO THE QUESTION ON PLO REPRESENTION. THE PLO DOES NOT/NOT, NOR HAS IT IN THE PAST, HAD ANY OFFICIAL STATUS OR RECOGNITION IN COLOMBIA. HOWEVER, AN INDIVIDUAL NAMED MANDOUH GABER HAS BEEN NOTED IN THE PAST YEAR PRESENTING HIMSELF AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PLO AND ISSUING CALLING CARDS SO IDENTIFYING HIMSELF. HE DOES NOT ENJOY ANY DIPLOMATIC OR QUASI OFFICIAL STATUS, HOWEVER. ¶2. IN ADDITION, SUBSEQUENT TO THE EMBASSY'S ORIGINAL SUBMISSION, THE GOVERNMENT OF COLOMBIA DECREED ADDITIONAL EMERGENCY MEASURES IN LATE NOVEMBER TO DEAL WITH MOUNTING TERRORIST VIOLENCE. THE MEASURES INCLUDE THE IMPOSITION OF MANDATORY LIFE SENTENCES ON PERPETRATORS OF MASSACRES OR HOMICIDES COMMITTED IN THE COURSE OF TERRORIST ATTACKS AGAINST GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS; IMMEDIATE DETENTION OF PERSONS SUSPECTED OF CONSPIRING AGAINST PUBLIC ORDER; AN INCREASE IN MILITARY AND POLICE RECRUITMENT AND THE CREATION OF SPECIAL GROUPS TO COMBAT TERRORISM; ADDITIONAL MATERIALS RESOURCES FOR THE ARMED FORCES TO IMPROVE MOBILITY; THE SPECIAL PROTECTION OF JUDGES AND MAGISTRATES INVESTIGATING MASSACRES OR ATTACKS AND THE ELIMINATION OF TRIAL BY JURY IN CASES OF "MONSTROUS CRIMES". THESE DECREES ARE, HOWEVER, SUBJECT TO AUTOMATIC SUPREME COURT REVIEW, AND SEVERAL, PARTICULARLY THE MANDATORY LIFE SENTENCE, ARREST ON SUSPICION OF CONSPIRACY AND THE ELIMINATION OF JURY TRIAL FOR SOME MURDER TRIALS, ARE APT TO BE OVERTURNED. MCNAMARA.