A FARC AMBUSH KILLS 10 MILITARY IN META

C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 19932

SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD

E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PTER PINS MOPS PGOV CO
SUBJECT: A FARC AMBUSH KILLS 10 MILITARY IN META


1. (U) AN AMBUSH BY A GUERRILLA COLUMN ON AN ARMY
CONVOY KILLED TEN MILITARY IN LA PICOTA HILL, META
DEPARTMENT IN THE EASTERN PLAINS, DECEMBER 23. THE
INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE A SEVENTH BRIGADE PATROL
SEARCHED FOR THE 250-MAN GUERRILLA UNIT, BELIEVED TO
BELONG TO THE FARC GUERRILLAS. THE ARMY UNIT, BASED IN
THE DEPARTMENTAL CAPITAL OF VILLAVICENCIO, HAD DETECTED
THE PRESENCE OF THE GUERRILLA GROUP IN NORTHEASTERN
META. AS THE THREE VEHICLES TRANSPORTING THE MILITARY
REACHED LA PICOTA HILL, DYNAMITE CHARGES PRE-POSITIONED
ON THE ROUTE DETONATED UNDER THE TWO LEADING VEHICLES.
THE GUERRILLAS CONCEALED IN THE AREA SURROUNDING THE
BOMBING SITE THEN LOOSED A FUSILLADE OF AUTOMATIC FIRE
ON THEIR VICTIMS, SOME OF WHOM MANAGED TO FIRE BACK.
THE NUMBER OF ARMY WOUNDED REMAINS UNDISCLOSED BUT IS
REPORTEDLY HEAVY. THE NEW COMMANDER OF THE SEVENTH
BRIGADE, GENERAL LUIS FRANCISCO CORREA CASTANEDA,
IMMEDIATELY ASSUMED CHARGE OF AN ARMY PURSUIT OPERATION
WHICH AS OF DECEMBER 26 HAD FAILED TO MAKE CONTACT.


2. (U) THIS IS THE SIXTH (AND WORST) AMBUSH IN 1989 BY
THE FARC ON POLICE OR MILITARY UNITS IN META DEPARTMENT,
A REGION WITH A HEAVY FARC PRESENCE. TOTAL DEAD ON THE
SIDE OF THE SECURITY FORCES FROM GUERRILLA AMBUSHES IN
META IS FIFTEEN MILITARY AND TWO POLICE. IN THE LAST
FIFTEEN MONTHS (SINCE OCTOBER 1988),GUERRILLA GROUPS
HAVE KILLED A TOTAL OF FORTY NINE MILITARY AND POLICE IN
SIMILAR AMBUSHES NATIONWIDE.


3. (C) COMMENT: THE CONTINUING EFFECTIVENESS OF THESE
DYNAMITE ATTACKS POINTS UP THE ABIDING INABILITY OF THE
ARMED FORCES TO EMPLOY BASIC TACTICS THAT WILL PROTECT
THEM FROM AMBUSHES, ESPECIALLY IN NORTHERN COLOMBIA.


MCLEAN