FARC ATTACK IN GUAVIARE KILLS 22 COLOMBIAN SOLDIERS; 60

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BOGOTA 008773

STATE FOR INL, ARA/AND, DRL, L/LEI
NSC FOR JAMES DOBBINS
ONDCP FOR BILL BOZIN
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEA FOR OF, OFL, OC, AX
JUSTICE FOR CRIM. WARREN, RICHARD AND NDDS/VAN VLIET
FBI FOR DIV. 6
USIA FOR AR, I/GAR
TREASURY FOR FINCEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/10/01
TAGS: PGOV PTER PREL PHUM PINR CO
SUBJECT: FARC ATTACK IN GUAVIARE KILLS 22 COLOMBIAN SOLDIERS; 60
OTHER SOLDIERS REMAIN IN FARC CAPTIVITY

REF: A) BOGOTA 8540 B) BOGOTA 8616 C) BOGOTA 8737


1. CLASSIFIED BY POL/ECONOFF. S.K. ABEYTA. REASON: 1.5(D)

SUMMARY
--------------


2. (U) A FARC ATTACK IN GUAVIARE DEPARTMENT SEPTEMBER 6 LEFT A
REPORTED 22 COLOMBIAN ARMY (COLAR) SOLDIERS DEAD. THE ATTACK
INDICATES A DETERMINATION BY THE FARC TO KEEP UP THE OFFENSIVE
LAUNCHED AUGUST 30 (REF A). OTHER ATTACKS BY THE FARC AND ELN
CONTINUE TO UNSETTLE COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT COLOMBIA. MEANWHILE,
THE FARC CONTINUE TO HOLD CAPTIVE SOME 60 SOLDIERS TAKEN IN THE
AUGUST 30 ATTACK ON LAS DELICIAS, PUTUMAYO DEPARTMENT, DESPITE
FARC ASSURANCES THAT IT WOULD RELEASE THEM TO THE INTERNATIONAL
COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS (ICRC -- REF A). PRESIDENT SAMPER
ANNOUNCED A THREE-POINT PLAN TO INCREASE GOVERNMENT FORCES'
READINESS IN THE FACE OF THE INCREASED GUERRILLA ATTACKS LIKELY
TO COME. END SUMMARY.


FARC KILLS OVER 20 SOLDIERS IN GUAVIARE
--------------


3. (U) THE FARC FIRST FRONT KILLED 22 SOLDIERS SEPTEMBER 6 IN
LA CARPA, A PEASANT HAMLET TWO HOURS DISTANT BY RIVER LAUNCH FROM
SAN JOSE, CAPITAL OF GUAVIARE DEPARTMENT. ACCORDING TO SEPTEMBER
8 NEWSPAPER ACCOUNTS, 300 TO 400 MEMBERS OF THE THE FARC FIRST
FRONT UNDER THE COMMAND OF "MONO JOJOY" (KNOWN AS THE JUAN JOSE
RONDON MOBILE COLUMN) ENTERED LA CARPA SEPTEMBER 5 AND, WIELDING
MACHETES AND KNIVES, INTIMIDATED THE 50 RESIDENTS. AN
UNSPECIFIED NUMBER OF PEASANTS RECEIVED MINOR WOUNDS. FIVE
KILOMETERS FROM LA CARPA, A COLAR SECOND MOBILE BRIGADE PATROL
UNIT CONSISTING OF 40 SOLDIERS HEARD OF THE HARRASSMENT AND
INFORMED BRIGADE COMMANDER GENERAL OSPINA, WHO ORDERED THE UNIT
TO LA CARPA. IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS OF FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6,
THE UNIT ARRIVED AT LA CARPA, WHICH WAS SURROUNDED BY GUERRILLAS
LYING IN WAIT. DESPITE THE WARNINGS OF LA CARPA RESIDENTS, THE
SOLDIERS REMAINED. AT 6:00 AM GUERRILLAS OPENED MACHINEGUN FIRE
ON THE TOWN, WOUNDING SEVERAL SOLDIERS. THE SOLDIERS ATTEMPTED
TO REPEL THE ATTACK WITH RIFLES BUT WERE CLEARLY SURROUNDED.
AFTER TWO HOURS OF FIGHTING, GUERRILLAS LAUNCHED FRAGMENTATION
GRENADES TO FORCE THE SOLDIERS TO GIVE UP. THE COLAR UNIT
COMMANDER REQUESTED AIR AND LAND SUPPORT, BUT NONE ARRIVED.
AFTER THE GRENADE ATTACK, THE SURVIVING SOLDIERS SOUGHT REFUGE IN
THE JUNGLE, AND THE GUERRILLAS SENT A REPORTED 20 DOBERMAN
PINSCHERS INTO THE JUNGLE TO LOCATE THE WOUNDED SOLDIERS. TWO
HOURS LATER, ACCORDING TO PRESS ACCOUNTS, TRANSPORT HELICOPTERS,
CARRYING COLAR REINFORCEMENTS, ARRIVED AT THE SCENE. THEY FOUND
19 SOLDIERS DEAD, 1O WOUNDED, 11 SURVIVERS, AND TWO MISSING IN
ACTION. BY AUGUST 9 THE NUMBER OF DEAD HAD RISEN TO 22 SOLDIERS.
THE DEAD AND WOUNDED WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE AIRPORT IN SAN JOSE,
GUAVIARE DEPARTMENT, JUST AS STAFFDEL MACKEY ARRIVED FROM BOGOTA
THE MORNING OF SEPTEMBER 7 (REF C).


OTHER ATTACKS THROUGHOUT COLOMBIA
--------------


4. (U) PRESS ACCOUNTS SEPTEMBER 9 SUMMARIZED OTHER INCIDENTS
SEEN AS PART OF THE GUERRILLA OFFENSIVE AS IT CONTINUED OVER THE
WEEKEND OF SEPTEMBER 7-8:

-- IN LOS REMEDIOS, ANTIOQUIA DEPARTMENT, A CLASH BETWEEN
ELN AND GOVERNMENT FORCES SEPTEMBER 8 LEFT TWO SOLDIERS
AND ONE GUERRILLA DEAD. TWO CHILDREN WERE WOUNDED.

-- IN ARAUCA DEPARTMENT, THE ARMY KILLED TWO ELN
GUERRILLAS ATTEMPTING TO PLACE A BOMB ON A BRIDGE OVER
THE CARANAL RIVER.

-- IN ZULIA, NORTE DE SANTANDER DEPARTMENT, DIALOGUE
BETWEEN THE GOC AND CAMPESINOS WAS SUSPENDED. THE ARMY
ANNOUNCED ITS INTENTION TO PREVENT 200 PROTESTING
CAMPESINOS FROM ENTERING CUCUTA.

-- IN NARINO DEPARTMENT, GUERRILLAS EXPLODED A SECTION OF
THE TRANSANDEAN OIL PIPELINE NEAR THE MUNICIPALITY OF
MALLAMA.

-- AUTHORITIES IN NARINO DEPARTMENT SUSPENDED CARGO AND
PASSENGER TRAFFIC ON THE ROADS BECAUSE OF GUERRILLA
THREATS.

-- MEMBERS OF THE ELN'S LUIS CARLOS CARDENAS FRONT
ASSAULTED THE POLICE STATION IN THE HAMLET OF MAGDALENA
IN VALLE DEL CAUCA DEPARTMENT.

-- IN BARRANCABERMEJA, SANTANDER DEPARTMENT, GUERRILLAS
DISTRIBUTED FLYERS ANNOUNCING THEIR INTENTION TO
PARALYZE ACTIVITY IN THE AREA FOR FIVE DAYS. HOWEVER,
ACTIVITY REMAINED NORMAL IN BARRANCABERMEJA AS OF
SEPTEMBER 8.

-- GUERRILLAS BURNED VEHICLES ON ROADS LEADING TO CUCUTA,
NORTE DE SANTANDER, SEVERELY RESTRICTING TRAFFIC.

-- IN THE ATLANTIC COASTAL REGION, GUERRILLA ACTIVITIES
RESTRICTED TRAFFIC ON NUMEROUS ROADS.

-- IN SUCRE DEPARTMENT, THREE CAMPESINOS WERE REPORTEDLY
KILLED BY A GROUP OF 30 ARMED PARAMILITARIES.

-- IN URABA, THE FIFTH FARC FRONT REPORTEDLY EXECUTED FOUR
CAMPESINO LEADERS, CHARGED WITH PROVIDING INFORMATION
TO THE ARMY, IN A TOWN NEAR APARTADO.


THE FARC STILL HOLDS 60 SOLDIERS CAPTIVE
--------------


5. (U) MEANWHILE, THE FARC CONTINUES TO HOLD THE ESTIMATED 60
SOLDIERS CAPTURED IN THE ATTACK ON LAS DELICIAS, PUTUMAYO
DEPARTMENT, DESPITE THE FARC'S DECLARATION IT WAS PREPARED TO
RELEASE THE SOLDIERS TO THE ICRC (REF A). AN APPEAL BY HUMAN
RIGHTS WATCH FOR THE RELEASE OF THE SOLDIERS HAS FAILED TO MOVE
THE FARC LEADERSHIP TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH ITS STATED COMMITMENT
TO THE ICRC. CRITICS CHARGE THAT THE FARC LEADERSHIP IS USING
THE HOSTAGE SOLDIERS TO PROTECT ITSELF AND TO GAIN INTERNATIONAL
ATTENTION. INTERIOR MINISTER HORACIO SERPA TOLD THE PRESS
SEPTEMBER 8 THAT THE FARC ARE TRYING TO USE THE RELEASE OF THE
SOLDIERS AS A NEGOTIATING ARGUMENT IN AN INTERNATIONAL DEBATE ON
A POSSIBLE DIALOGUE ON PEACE. SERPA INSISTED THAT IF THE
GUERRILLA LEADERS ARE COMPLYING WITH NORMS OF INTERNATIONAL
HUMANITARIAN LAW AS THEY CLAIM TO BE, THERE IS NOTHING TO
NEGOTIATE WITH THE GOC. PIERRE GASSMAN, ICRC DIRECTOR IN BOGOTA,
TOLD THE PRESS HE HAD NO IDEA WHAT THE GUERRILLAS HOPED TO
ACHIEVE BY HOLDING THE SOLDIERS, BUT SAID THEY CANNOT, UNDER
INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW, DEMAND ANYTHING IN EXCHANGE FOR
THE SOLDIERS. TO DO SO, SAID GASSMAN, WOULD BE TO COMMIT THE
PUNISHABLE CRIME OF EXTORTION BY KIDNAPPING.


SAMPER ANNOUNCES COUNTER-GUERRILLA STRATEGY
--------------


6. (U) ON SEPTEMBER 8, BOGOTA DAILY "EL TIEMPO" REPORTED
PRESIDENT SAMPER HAD ANNOUNCED HIS ADMINISTRATION'S INTENTION TO
EMPLOY THREE KEY STRATEGIES TO COUNTER THE RECENTLY ESCALATED
GUERRILLA ATTACKS MORE EFFECTIVELY. ACCORDING TO "EL TIEMPO,"
THE STRATEGIES FOCUS ON INCREASED HUMAN AND ELECTRONIC
INTELLIGENCE-GATHERING, INCREASED AIR, LAND AND WATER MOBILITY,
AND UPGRADED COMMUNICATIONS CAPABILITIES. SAMPER ALSO CALLED ON
THE COLOMBIAN PUBLIC TO SUPPORT CURRENT PROPOSALS IN CONGRESS TO
INCREASE THE MILITARY BUDGET AND BROADEN MILITARY JURISDICTIONAL
PRIVILEGE -- THE "FUERO MILITAR" (REF B).


COMMENT
--------------


7. (C) MOST OBSERVERS BELIEVE, AND THE FARC LEADERSHIP HAS
PUBLICLY INDICATED, THE GUERRILLA MOVEMENT WILL KEEP UP THE
PRESSURE ON THE GOC AND THE COLOMBIAN PUBLIC WITH CONTINUED
ATTACKS IN THE WEEKS TO COME. CHARACTERIZING THE ATTACKS AS
RETALIATION AGAINST THE GOC FOR ITS COUNTER-NARCOTICS OPERATIONS,
ESPECIALLY IN SOUTHERN, COCA-GROWING REGIONS OF COLOMBIA, DEFENSE
MINISTER ESGUERRA TOLD THE PRESS THE GUERRILLAS HAVE THE CAPACITY
TO CONDUCT CONTINUED "SPECTACULAR" ATTACKS BUT LACK THE POTENTIAL
TO OCCUPY MAJOR POPULATION CENTERS OR EXERCISE SIGNIFICANT
TERRITORIAL CONTROL. YET THE ESTIMATED 10,000-MEMBER GUERRILLA
FORCE BELIEVED TO EXIST AND TO BE GROWING IN COLOMBIA TODAY
(COMBINED FARC AND ELN) CLEARLY IS IN A STRONG POSITION TO
DISRUPT AND DESTABILIZE COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, EVEN
IF IT IS NOT IN A POSITION TO OVERTHROW THE GOVERNMENT. THE
GUERRILLAS' INCREASED NUMBERS HAVE ENABLED THEM TO FORM FIGHTING
UNITS OF 200 TO 400 MEN -- LARGE ENOUGH TO OUTNUMBER AND
OVERWHELM MANY OF THE COLOMBIAN ARMY UNITS STATIONED IN
CONFLICTIVE AREAS. AS ARMY COMMANDER GENERAL BEDOYA POINTED OUT
TO ACTING POL/ECON COUNSELOR SEPTEMBER 7, THE GUERRILLAS ENJOY
CERTAIN ADVANTAGES IN THE COLOMBIAN COUNTRYSIDE WHICH ENABLE THEM
TO EVADE THE COLOMBIAN ARMY, AS THEIR ABILITY TO KEEP 60 HOSTAGE
SOLDIERS IN AN UNKNOWN LOCATION AND PREVENTED FROM RESCUE BY
GOVERNMENT FORCES ILLUSTRATES.


KNEEBONE


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