US embassy cable - 05BOGOTA5143

C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 005143 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/31/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PBTS, PTER, CO, VE, EU, Hostages 
SUBJECT: KIDNAPPED EU EMPLOYEE NOW FREE 
 
Classified By: Ambassador William B. Wood; reasons 1.4 
(b) and (d) 
 
1. (C) Summary: European Union (EU) Delegation employee 
Carlos Ayala reportedly escaped from captivity on May 23, 
crossed the border into Venezuela, and made contact with 
officials there.  The next day, EU Delegation Chief in 
Bogota, Adrianus Koetsenruijter, fielded questions from local 
and international press about the crime.  He said the matter 
was under investigation and played down the likelihood of 
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) involvement, 
suggesting that criminal elements could also have been 
responsible.  On May 26, Catholic Church negotiator Father 
Dario Echeverri (strictly protect) told polcouns that he had 
been in touch with a FARC 10th Front senior commander on 
behalf of the EU who demanded a ten million Euro ransom. 
Koetsenruijter confirmed to the press the EU neither 
negotiated nor paid ransom for Ayala's release.  Yet, Ayala's 
unusual escape after a month in captivity raises questions. 
End summary. 
 
2. (U) EU employee and Spanish national Carlos Ayala was 
allegedly kidnapped on April 15 and held for six weeks before 
he claims to have escaped and fled into Venezuela.  European 
Union, Colombian, and Venezuelan officials have revealed 
little about the crime, other than the dates and the 
existence of an ongoing investigation.  EU Ambassador 
Adrianus Koetsenruijter told the press on May 24 that he had 
spoken to Ayala and reported he was doing well and 
cooperating with authorities about his captivity. 
 
3. (U) According to Koetsenruijter, Ayala was taken hostage 
while in Cucuta on personal business.  On May 24 after his 
escape, he flew from Caracas to Brussels to debrief the EU. 
He plans to travel to Spain to reunite with family and 
receive medical attention in the next few days. 
Koetsenruijter confirmed that Ayala would return to Colombia 
after he recovers. 
 
4. (U) The press asked Koetsenruijter repeatedly whether the 
FARC was involved in the kidnapping.  He claimed no 
information about that and speculated it could have been 
criminals unrelated to the FARC.  "Whoever they are, they are 
very unprofessional," he said.  Koetsenruijter did admit, 
however, that the EU had been in contact with the FARC 
through a third party intermediary regarding Ayala's 
whereabouts.  He strongly denied that the EU had paid the 
kidnappers or negotiated with them directly to secure Ayala's 
release. 
 
5. (C) The third party intermediary turned out to be the 
Catholic Church.   On May 26 in a meeting on a separate 
matter, Secretary General of the National Conciliation 
Committee Father Dario Echeverri told polcouns that he had 
contacted a FARC 10th Front Commander named "Camilo" in early 
May to negotiate Ayala's release.  Camilo demanded ten 
million Euros for Ayala and was unwilling to discuss other, 
non-monetary exchanges.  Echeverri advised Camilo that the EU 
could not pay a ransom and said he had no further discussions 
with the FARC on the matter. 
 
6. (C) Comment: At the time of the abduction, there was 
considerable speculation by the press and the EU that the 
FARC was responsible.  Koetsenruijter's public comments that 
he had no knowledge about FARC involvement in the kidnapping 
raises questions about Ayala's unusual escape and the EU's 
denial of a ransom payment.  Escape from FARC kidnappers is 
extremely rare. 
WOOD