US embassy cable - 05BOGOTA7134

S E C R E T BOGOTA 007134 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR WHA, PM, NP 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/26/2015 
TAGS: PARM, MASS, EAIR, ETTC, PTER, CO, FARC 
SUBJECT: MANPADS IN COLOMBIA: GOVERNMENT NO; FARC MAYBE 
 
REF: SECSTATE 113041 
 
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Milton Drucker for reasons 
1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (S/NF) The GOC has no MANPADS in its arsenal, no current 
intentions to purchase them, and no indigenous manufacturing 
capability.  The FARC (formally declared a Foreign Terrorist 
Organization by the USG) has demonstrated intent to purchase 
MANPADS.  Numerous unsubstantiated reports indicate that the 
FARC may have MANPADS and may have received some training in 
their use.  To date, the FARC's many attacks against COLMIL 
and U.S. drug eradication and surveillance aircraft have not 
utilized MANPADS.  Assuming the FARC has functioning MANPADS, 
theories for holding them in reserve include protection of 
the FARC secretariat, waiting for an opportune moment to 
assassinate President Uribe or attack another high value 
target, or incorporating them into a planned, large scale 
offensive. 
 
 
2. (U) MFA Disarmament Coordinator Diana Aguilar told poloff 
that since the GOC has no MANPADS, they are subject neither 
to specific control nor regulation.  She noted that the GOC 
had signed the International Code of Conduct Against 
Ballistic Missile Proliferation and co-sponsored the 
U.S.-authored OAS MANPADS resolution.  Aguilar said the word 
"missile" does not appear in Colombian arms control 
legislation.  She reckoned that MANPADS would be treated as 
illegal weapons if detected and inquired regarding U.S. 
missile control legislation. 
WOOD