US embassy cable - 88BOGOTA18301

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BOGOTA 18301 
 
STATE FOR S/CT WHARTON 
 
E.O. 12356: N/A 
TAGS: KPRP, PTER, CO 
SUBJECT: COLOMBIA: 1988 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT 
 
REF:  A) STATE 357278,  B) BOGOTA 5976 
 
1.  COLOMBIA HAS A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT WHOSE 
INSTITUTIONS ARE UNDER ATTACK BY FOUR MAJOR SUBNATIONAL 
GUERRILLA GROUPS AND BY NARCOTICS TRAFFICKERS.  FAR FROM 
BEING A SUPPORTER OF TERRORISM, COLOMBIA IS THE VICTIM 
OF SUSTAINED TERRORIST ATTACKS.  THE COUNTRY'S 
INSTITUTIONS ARE THREATENED THROUGH FREQUENT ATTACKS BY 
INSURGENTS ON RELATIVELY SMALL RURAL TOWNS AND POLICE 
STATIONS.  IN 1988 THERE HAS BEEN A MARKED TREND TOWARDS 
LARGER-SCALE ATTACKS BY COMBINED GUERRILLA GROUPS 
AGAINST HARDER MILITARY TARGETS.  ATTACKS AGAINST 
ECONOMIC TARGETS, PARTICULARLY THE COUNTRY'S NATIONAL 
OIL PIPELINE, HAVE INCREASED OVER THE LAST YEAR. 
 
2.  INSURGENT VIOLENCE CAN BE CONSIDERED INTERNATIONAL 
ONLY TO THE EXTENT THAT ONE GROUP'S ACTIVITIES HAVE AT 
TIMES CROSSED COLOMBIA'S BORDER INTO VENEZUELA, WHERE 
KIDNAPPING AND EXTORTION SCHEMES WERE CARRIED OUT, AND 
TO THE EXTENT THAT THE GROUPS' RECEIVE INTERNATIONAL 
SUPPORT. 
 
3.  ANOTHER SOURCE OF TERRORIST VIOLENCE EMANATES FROM 
THE NARCOTICS TRAFFICKER ORGANIZATIONS.  WHILE NOT 
ESSENTIALLY POLITICALLY MOTIVATED, NARCOTICS TRAFFICKER 
INSTIGATED VIOLENCE HAS A POLITICAL EFFECT IN THAT MANY 
SUCH ACTIONS ARE SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO INTIMIDATE 
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND INSTITUTIONS IN AN ATTEMPT TO 
ASSURE THEIR OWN FREEDOM TO PURSUE THE NARCOTICS TRADE 
AND ENJOY THE BENEFITS THEREOF.  NARCOTICS-RELATED 
TERRORISM DOES HAVE AN INTERNATIONAL CHARACTER SINCE THE 
TRAFFICKERS USE VIOLENCE TO EXTEND THEIR NARCOTICS 
NETWORKS BEYOND COLOMBIA, INCLUDING INTO THE UNITED 
STATES. 
 
4.  NARCOTICS TERRORISM DIRECTED AT THE COLOMBIAN 
JUDICIARY IN 1988 ACCOMPLISHED ITS GOAL OF MAKING THE 
PROSECUTION OR EXTRADITION OF MAJOR NARCOTICS 
TRAFFICKERS TOO DANGEROUS FOR MOST OFFICIALS.  PRESIDENT 
BARCO RELEASED A STATEMENT IN SEPTEMBER STATING THAT THE 
BILATERAL EXTRADITION TREATY WAS A PRINCIPAL VICTIM OF 
NARCO TERRORISM DIRECTED AGAINST THE SUPREME COURT AND 
THE COUNCIL OF STATE.  A MAJOR TRAFFICKER, JORGE LUIS 
OCHOA, WAS RELEASED FROM PRISON ON THE LAST DAY OF 1987 
WHILE THE GOVERNMENT WAS ATTEMPTING TO FIND A WAY TO 
EXTRADITE HIM.  MOST OBSERVERS BELIEVE THREATS AND 
BRIBES WERE RESPONSIBLE. 
 
5.  THOSE ACCUSED OF ASSASSINATING THE MINISTER OF 
JUSTICE IN 1984 ARE CONNECTED TO MEDELLIN CARTEL CHIEF 
PABLO ESCOBAR.  THEY WERE TRIED IN 1988 AND A JURY FOUND 
THEM INNOCENT.  THE JUDGE THREW OUT THE VERDICT, 
DECLARING IT NULL AND VOID BECAUSE IT CONTRADICTED THE 
EVIDENCE.  A NEW JURY WAS SO SEVERELY THREATENED THAT 
THE JUDGE DECLARED A MISTRIAL SHORTLY BEFORE A VERDICT 
WAS TO HAVE BEEN RENDERED.  SEVERAL JUDGES AND OFFICIALS 
WHO TOOK FORCEFUL ACTIONS AGAINST THE NARCOTICS 
TRAFFICKERS HAVE BEEN FORCED TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY. 
 
MAJOR COUNTER-TERRORISM EFFORTS 
------------------------------- 
6.  THE GOVERNMENT ISSUED STATE-OF-SIEGE DECREES AND 
ENACTED SWEEPING ANTI-TERRORIST DECREES IN JANUARY 1988 
IN RESPONSE TO THE NARCOTICS TRAFFICKERS' KIDNAPPING AND 
KILLING OF ATTORNEY GENERAL CARLOS MAURO HOYOS.  THE 
DECREES DID NOT ADDRESS EXTRADITION.  THEY DID, HOWEVER, 
EXPAND THE DEFINITION OF TERRORISM, ENHANCE THE POWERS 
OF THE POLICE WITH REGARD TO ARRESTS, SEARCHES AND 
CONFISCATIONS, CREATE SPECIAL JUDGES AND POLICE TO DEAL 
WITH TERRORISM, AND PROVIDE STRICT RULES FOR THE USE OF 
HABEAS CORPUS.  TWO PROVISIONS OF THE DECREES WERE 
SUBSEQUENTLY OVERTURNED BY THE SUPREME COURT, 
SPECIFICALLY THOSE ITEMS ALLOWING POLICE AND MILITARY 
FORCES TO MAKES SEARCHES AND ARRESTS ON THE BASIS OF 
SUSPICION AND WITHOUT WARRANTS, AND REQUIRING 
REGISTRATION OF PROPERTY AND INHABITANTS IN AREAS DEEMED 
TO BE USED BY TERRORISTS. 
 
7.  IN ADDITION, COLOMBIA HAS WORKED FOR ADOPTION IN THE 
UNITED NATIONS AND THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES 
OF RESOLUTIONS CONDEMNING THE ILLICIT CONVENTIONAL ARMS 
TRADE.  THESE EFFORTS ARE DESIGNED TO LIMIT THE 
AVAILABILITY OF SOPHISTICATED CONVENTIONAL ARMS TO 
WEALTHY TRAFFICKERS AND GUERRILLAS. 
 
8.  THE GOVERNMENT OF COLOMBIA HAS MADE NO PUBLIC 
STATEMENTS IN SUPPORT OF INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM. 
 
 
MCNAMARA