US embassy cable - 05BOGOTA8571

UNCLAS BOGOTA 008571 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, ASEC, PTER, CO 
SUBJECT: COLOMBIAN AIRLINER HIJACKED; NEGOTIATIONS ONGOING 
 
1.  Summary.  A Colombian airliner operated by Aires was 
hijacked today en route to Bogota from Florencia, in Caqueta 
Department.  The twenty passengers included four U.S. 
contractors ) one American, two Colombians, and one 
Peruvian.  Two Colombian Congressmen are also on board.  Upon 
landing at Catam military airport in Bogota, the hijackers 
immediately released five female passengers, two children, 
and two female flight attendants.  After negotiations with 
the GOC, the hijackers released additional passengers, 
including the four U.S. contractors.  At 1600 Bogota time the 
two Congressmen are the only remaining hostages being held on 
the plane. The hijackers are believed to be father and son, 
and are reported to have two grenades and a bomb.  They have 
not stated an affiliation with any terrorist organization, 
and reports indicate they may be former paramilitaries upset 
with treatment by the National Police.  End summary. 
 
2. An Aires flight en route to Bogota from Florencia, Caqueta 
Department, was hijacked this morning by two men, believed to 
be father and son.  One of the men boarded the plane using a 
wheelchair, although it is not known if he is actually 
disabled or if the wheelchair was used to bring the weapons 
on board.  The hijackers began negotiating with the GOC 
before landing at Catam military airport in Bogota.  Carlos 
Franco, from the Vice President's Office of Human Rights, is 
the GOC's lead negotiator.  The hijackers also requested to 
meet with a priest and a member of the Colombian Fiscalia, 
who are currently on board the plane.  President Uribe has 
returned from meetings in Cali, and Minister of Defense 
Ospina and General Lesmez of the Air Force are currently at 
Catam.  The two Colombian Congressmen, Luis Antonio Serrano 
and Reinaldo Duque, are believed to be the only remaining 
hostages on the plane. 
 
3. Embassy has been monitoring the situation and is in close 
contact with the GOC.  The Emergency Action Committee was 
convened (results to be reported septel), and representatives 
from DEA, LEGATT, and American Citizen Services are at the 
airport.  Embassy officials have been in contact with Embassy 
Peru, and have spoken with high-level Colombian Ministry of 
Defense officials to reinforce that the plane cannot leave 
the ground again according to international conventions.  The 
plan remains barricaded at the military airport. 
 
4.  The four U.S. Dyncorp hostages were released unharmed at 
Catam airport.  They are currently being escorted back to the 
Embassy for de-brief by RSO. 
 
5. Post will continue to monitor the situation and will 
report as details become available. 
DRUCKER