Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
96BOGOTA10967
1996-11-08 21:54:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bogota
Cable title:
FARC DESERTER CLAIMS 30 CAPTURED SOLDIERS DEAD
how-toP 082154Z NOV 96 FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2713 DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC INFO SECDEF WASHDC NDIC JOHNSTOWN PA SECDEF WASHDC//OCDEPS// DIRNSA FT GEORGE G MEADE DIA WASHDC CIA WASHDC USCINCSO QUARRY HEIGHTS PM NSC WASHDC USIA WASHDC 0628 AMEMBASSY SAN JOSE
C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 010967
STATE FOR ARA/AND, INL, DRL
NSC FOR JAMES DOBBINS
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
USIA FOR AR, I/GAR
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/08/01
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR PINR PHUM CO
SUBJECT: FARC DESERTER CLAIMS 30 CAPTURED SOLDIERS DEAD
C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 010967
STATE FOR ARA/AND, INL, DRL
NSC FOR JAMES DOBBINS
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
USIA FOR AR, I/GAR
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/08/01
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR PINR PHUM CO
SUBJECT: FARC DESERTER CLAIMS 30 CAPTURED SOLDIERS DEAD
1. (U) CLASSIFIED BY POL/ECONOFF S.K. ABEYTA. REASON 1.5(D).
--------------
SUMMARY
--------------
2. (C) A FARC DESERTER HAS REPORTED THAT 30 OF THE 60 COLOMBIAN
SOLDIERS CAPTURED BY THE FARC ARE DEAD. ALTHOUGH THE REPORT
COULD NOT BE CONFIRMED, THE MINISTER OF DEFENSE INDICATED THE GOC
WILL USE THIS INFORMATION IN AN EFFORT TO CAPITALIZE ON ADVERSE
PUBLICITY ON THE FARC. END SUMMARY.
-------------- --
FARC DESERTER REPORTS 30 CAPTURED SOLIDERS DEAD
-------------- --
3. (C) DURING A BRIEF MEETING WITH THE AMBASSADOR NOVEMBER 7,
MINISTER OF DEFENSE ESGUERRA PRESENTED A COPY OF A FAX SENT TO
THE DIRECTOR OF CM&, A COLOMBIAN TELEVISION NEWS PROGRAM, BY AN
INDIVIDUAL CLAIMING TO HAVE RECENTLY DESERTED FROM THE FARC.
ACCORDING TO THIS INDIVIDUAL, SOME 30 OF THE 60 COLOMBIAN ARMY
SOLDIERS CAPTURED AT LAS DELICIAS AUGUST 30 ARE DEAD -- SOME DIED
OF WOUNDS, OTHERS WERE EXECUTED WHEN THEY TRIED TO ESCAPE, AND
STILL OTHERS DIED OF MALARIA. THE FARC DESERTER CONTINUES TO SAY
THE FARC LEADERSHIP IS AT A LOSS TO JUSTIFY THE DEATHS OF THOSE
SOLDIERS AND THEREFORE IS DELAYING THE RELEASE OF THE OTHERS
CAPTURED IN EXPECTATION OF AN EVENTUAL ARMED CONFRONTATION WITH
THE COLOMBIAN ARMY. THE FARC WOULD THEN CLAIM THE 30 DEAD
SOLDIERS WERE CASUALTIES OF THAT CONFRONTATION AND BLAME THE
GOVERNMENT FOR THEIR DEATHS.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
4. (C) ESGUERRA WAS CLEARLY EAGER TO PASS ON THIS INFORMATION,
ALTHOUGH HE HAD NOT YET CONFIRMED THE LETTER'S AUTHENTICITY. NOR
HAD HE ASKED HIMSELF SOME OBVIOUS QUESTIONS ABOUT ITS CONTENT --
FOR EXAMPLE, HOW THE FARC EXPECTED TO PASS OFF AS RECENT COMBAT
CASUALTIES THE CADAVERS OF SOLDIERS LONG DEAD. IF TRUE, HOWEVER,
THE CAPTIVE SOLDIERS' DEATHS WILL HAVE SEVERE REPERCUSSIONS. THE
MOD UNDERSTANDABLY WANTS TO CAPITALIZE ON ADVERSE PUBLICITY ABOUT
THE FARC AND ITS CYNICAL TACTICS TO DELAY HANDING OVER THE
SOLDIERS IT MADE A GREAT SHOW OF PROMISING TO RELEASE WITHIN A
WEEK OF THE LAS DELICIAS ATTACK.
FRECHETTE
STATE FOR ARA/AND, INL, DRL
NSC FOR JAMES DOBBINS
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
USIA FOR AR, I/GAR
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/08/01
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR PINR PHUM CO
SUBJECT: FARC DESERTER CLAIMS 30 CAPTURED SOLDIERS DEAD
1. (U) CLASSIFIED BY POL/ECONOFF S.K. ABEYTA. REASON 1.5(D).
--------------
SUMMARY
--------------
2. (C) A FARC DESERTER HAS REPORTED THAT 30 OF THE 60 COLOMBIAN
SOLDIERS CAPTURED BY THE FARC ARE DEAD. ALTHOUGH THE REPORT
COULD NOT BE CONFIRMED, THE MINISTER OF DEFENSE INDICATED THE GOC
WILL USE THIS INFORMATION IN AN EFFORT TO CAPITALIZE ON ADVERSE
PUBLICITY ON THE FARC. END SUMMARY.
-------------- --
FARC DESERTER REPORTS 30 CAPTURED SOLIDERS DEAD
-------------- --
3. (C) DURING A BRIEF MEETING WITH THE AMBASSADOR NOVEMBER 7,
MINISTER OF DEFENSE ESGUERRA PRESENTED A COPY OF A FAX SENT TO
THE DIRECTOR OF CM&, A COLOMBIAN TELEVISION NEWS PROGRAM, BY AN
INDIVIDUAL CLAIMING TO HAVE RECENTLY DESERTED FROM THE FARC.
ACCORDING TO THIS INDIVIDUAL, SOME 30 OF THE 60 COLOMBIAN ARMY
SOLDIERS CAPTURED AT LAS DELICIAS AUGUST 30 ARE DEAD -- SOME DIED
OF WOUNDS, OTHERS WERE EXECUTED WHEN THEY TRIED TO ESCAPE, AND
STILL OTHERS DIED OF MALARIA. THE FARC DESERTER CONTINUES TO SAY
THE FARC LEADERSHIP IS AT A LOSS TO JUSTIFY THE DEATHS OF THOSE
SOLDIERS AND THEREFORE IS DELAYING THE RELEASE OF THE OTHERS
CAPTURED IN EXPECTATION OF AN EVENTUAL ARMED CONFRONTATION WITH
THE COLOMBIAN ARMY. THE FARC WOULD THEN CLAIM THE 30 DEAD
SOLDIERS WERE CASUALTIES OF THAT CONFRONTATION AND BLAME THE
GOVERNMENT FOR THEIR DEATHS.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
4. (C) ESGUERRA WAS CLEARLY EAGER TO PASS ON THIS INFORMATION,
ALTHOUGH HE HAD NOT YET CONFIRMED THE LETTER'S AUTHENTICITY. NOR
HAD HE ASKED HIMSELF SOME OBVIOUS QUESTIONS ABOUT ITS CONTENT --
FOR EXAMPLE, HOW THE FARC EXPECTED TO PASS OFF AS RECENT COMBAT
CASUALTIES THE CADAVERS OF SOLDIERS LONG DEAD. IF TRUE, HOWEVER,
THE CAPTIVE SOLDIERS' DEATHS WILL HAVE SEVERE REPERCUSSIONS. THE
MOD UNDERSTANDABLY WANTS TO CAPITALIZE ON ADVERSE PUBLICITY ABOUT
THE FARC AND ITS CYNICAL TACTICS TO DELAY HANDING OVER THE
SOLDIERS IT MADE A GREAT SHOW OF PROMISING TO RELEASE WITHIN A
WEEK OF THE LAS DELICIAS ATTACK.
FRECHETTE