US embassy cable - 01BOGOTA8685

UNCLAS BOGOTA 08685 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A: 
TAGS: PHUM, PREF, PREL, CO 
SUBJECT: FARC KIDNAPS FORMER MINISTER OF CULTURE AND 10 OTHERS 
 
CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR ANNE W. PATTERSON.  REASONS 1.5(B) 
AND (D). 
 
1.  (U) SUMMARY: FORMER MINISTER OF CULTURE CONSUELO ARAUJO 
NOGUERA AND SOME 10 TO 25 OTHER HOSTAGES WERE KIDNAPPED BY 
THE FARC NEAR VALLEDUPAR, CESAR DEPARTMENT, ON THE 
AFTERNOON OF SEPTEMBER 24.  ARMY SOURCES CLAIM THE 
HOSTAGES' CARS HAVE BEEN SPOTTED FROM THE AIR IN A 
MOUNTAINOUS REGION NORTH OF VALLEDUPAR, AND THAT ARMY 
TROOPS ARE ENGAGED IN AN AGGRESSIVE RESCUE OPERATION.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
2.  (U) FORMER MINISTER OF CULTURE CONSUELO ARAUJO NOGUERA 
WAS KIDNAPPED, ALONG WITH BETWEEN 10 AND 25 OTHER PEOPLE, 
ON THE NIGHT OF SEPTEMBER 24 IN YE DE LA VEGA, LOCATED 15 
MINUTES' DRIVE NORTH OF VALLEDUPAR, THE CAPITAL OF CESAR 
DEPARTMENT. AS OF MID-MORNING SEPTEMBER 25, THE ARMY 
REPORTED THAT TWO BATTALIONS HAVE MOBILIZED IN AN 
AGGRESSIVE RESCUE OPERATION, AND AIR FORCE HELICOPTERS HAVE 
SPOTTED THE HOSTAGES' CARS FROM THE AIR IN A MOUNTAINOUS 
AREA NEAR PATILLAL, A SMALL CITY LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 30 
KILOMETERS NORTH OF VALLEDUPAR.  THE ARMY HAS ENGAGED THE 
FARC IN THIS AREA, AND ONE SOLDIER HAS BEEN KILLED, BUT 
ARMY SOURCES ARE OPTIMISTIC THAT THEY CAN FREE THE HOSTAGES 
QUICKLY. 
 
3.  (U) ARAUJO IS THE WIFE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL (PROCURADOR 
GENERAL) EDGAR MAYA VILLAZON, AND SOURCES SPECULATE THAT 
ARAUJO HERSELF, A MEMBER OF AN IMPORTANT CESAR POLITICAL 
FAMILY, MAY HAVE BEEN THE PRIMARY TARGET OF THIS 
KIDNAPPING.  MAYA, WHO IS NOT COMMENTING TO THE PRESS AT 
THIS TIME, REPORTEDLY HAS TRAVELED TO VALLEDUPAR AND IS 
PARTICIPATING IN A SECURITY COUNCIL MEETING TODAY WITH 
CESAR DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS. ARAUJO IS A MAJOR AND WELL- 
LIKED PUBLIC FIGURE. SHE IS THE FOUNDER OF A FESTIVAL WHICH 
PROMOTES COLOMBIAN MUSIC AND WHICH HAS BECOME A MAJOR 
ENTERTAINMENT EVENT AND SOURCE OF TOURIST REVENUE FOR HER 
NATIVE TOWN OF VALLEDUPAR. 
 
4.  (U) IT HAS NOT YET BEEN CONFIRMED HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE 
BEING HELD.  ACCORDING TO THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR OF 
VALLEDUPAR, 10 PEOPLE (INCLUDING 3 STAFF FROM THE MAYOR'S 
OFFICE) ARE CONFIRMED KIDNAPPED, BUT THAT NUMBER COULD BE 
AS HIGH AS 25.  SEVEN OF THE NAMES, INCLUDING THOSE OF 
ARAUJO'S TWO BODYGUARDS, HAVE APPEARED IN THE PRESS, BUT 
POLICE ARE KEEPING THE OTHER NAMES CONFIDENTIAL.  ACCORDING 
TO WITNESS ACCOUNTS REPORTED SO FAR, A LARGE GROUP OF ARMED 
MEN WEARING CAMOUFLAGE, WHO IDENTIFIED THEMSELVES AS BEING 
FROM THE FARC'S 59TH FRONT, BEGAN STOPPING CARS ALONG THE 
ROAD TO VALLEDUPAR AT ABOUT 12:45 P.M., DETAINING A LARGE 
NUMBER OF CARS AND THEIR OCCUPANTS FOR SEVERAL HOURS.  THE 
GUERRILLAS RELEASED ABOUT 50 HOSTAGES BEGINNING AROUND 7:00 
P.M., SOME OF WHOM ARE STILL BEING INTERVIEWED BY THE 
VALLEDUPAR POLICE.  IT HAS BEEN REPORTED IN THE PRESS, BUT 
NOT CONFIRMED, THAT ONE PERSON MAY HAVE BEEN KILLED.  ONE 
OF THE RELEASED HOSTAGES REPORTEDLY TOLD THE VALLEDUPAR 
POLICE THAT ARAUJO AND CECILIA MONSALVO RIVERA (THE 
PRESIDENT OF A CULTURAL FOUNDATION) WERE SEEN BEING TAKEN 
IN THEIR CAR ALONG THE ROAD TO ATANQUEZ, LOCATED IN THE 
MOUNTAINOUS SIERRA NEVADA REGION. 
 
 
PATTERSON 
 
NOTE: UNC MSG WITH CLASS BY STATEMENT. 
 
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