US embassy cable - 88BOGOTA19003

UNCLAS BOGOTA 19003 
 
STATE FOR S/CT WHARTON 
 
E.O. 12356: N/A 
TAGS: KPRP, PTER, CO 
SUBJECT: COLOMBIA: ADDITIONS TO 1988 ANNUAL TERRORISM 
         REPORT 
 
REF: BOGOTA 18301 
 
1.  EMBASSY SUBMISSION FOR THE 1988 ANNUAL TERRORISM 
REPORT INADVERTENTLY OMMITTED REFERENCE TO THE QUESTION 
ON PLO REPRESENTION.  THE PLO DOES NOT/NOT, NOR HAS IT 
IN THE PAST, HAD ANY OFFICIAL STATUS OR RECOGNITION IN 
COLOMBIA.  HOWEVER, AN INDIVIDUAL NAMED MANDOUH GABER 
HAS BEEN NOTED IN THE PAST YEAR PRESENTING HIMSELF AS A 
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PLO AND ISSUING CALLING CARDS SO 
IDENTIFYING HIMSELF.  HE DOES NOT ENJOY ANY DIPLOMATIC 
OR QUASI OFFICIAL STATUS, HOWEVER. 
 
2.  IN ADDITION, SUBSEQUENT TO THE EMBASSY'S ORIGINAL 
SUBMISSION, THE GOVERNMENT OF COLOMBIA DECREED 
ADDITIONAL EMERGENCY MEASURES IN LATE NOVEMBER TO DEAL 
WITH MOUNTING TERRORIST VIOLENCE.  THE MEASURES INCLUDE 
THE IMPOSITION OF MANDATORY LIFE SENTENCES ON 
PERPETRATORS OF MASSACRES OR HOMICIDES COMMITTED IN THE 
COURSE OF TERRORIST ATTACKS AGAINST GOVERNMENT 
OFFICIALS; IMMEDIATE DETENTION OF PERSONS SUSPECTED OF 
CONSPIRING AGAINST PUBLIC ORDER; AN INCREASE IN MILITARY 
AND POLICE RECRUITMENT AND THE CREATION OF SPECIAL 
GROUPS TO COMBAT TERRORISM; ADDITIONAL MATERIALS 
RESOURCES FOR THE ARMED FORCES TO IMPROVE MOBILITY; THE 
SPECIAL PROTECTION OF JUDGES AND MAGISTRATES 
INVESTIGATING MASSACRES OR ATTACKS AND THE ELIMINATION 
OF TRIAL BY JURY IN CASES OF "MONSTROUS CRIMES".  THESE 
DECREES ARE, HOWEVER, SUBJECT TO AUTOMATIC SUPREME COURT 
REVIEW, AND SEVERAL, PARTICULARLY THE MANDATORY LIFE 
SENTENCE, ARREST ON SUSPICION OF CONSPIRACY AND THE 
ELIMINATION OF JURY TRIAL FOR SOME MURDER TRIALS, ARE 
APT TO BE OVERTURNED. 
 
MCNAMARA.