US embassy cable - 96BOGOTA8773

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BOGOTA 008773 
 
STATE FOR INL, ARA/AND, DRL, L/LEI 
NSC FOR JAMES DOBBINS 
ONDCP FOR BILL BOZIN 
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD 
DEA FOR OF, OFL, OC, AX 
JUSTICE FOR CRIM. WARREN, RICHARD AND NDDS/VAN VLIET 
FBI FOR DIV. 6 
USIA FOR AR, I/GAR 
TREASURY FOR FINCEN 
 
E.O. 12958:  DECL: 09/10/01 
TAGS: PGOV, PTER, PREL, PHUM, PINR, CO 
SUBJECT: FARC ATTACK IN GUAVIARE KILLS 22 COLOMBIAN SOLDIERS; 60 
         OTHER SOLDIERS REMAIN IN FARC CAPTIVITY 
 
REF:  A)  BOGOTA 8540  B)  BOGOTA 8616  C)  BOGOTA 8737 
 
1.  CLASSIFIED BY POL/ECONOFF. S.K. ABEYTA.  REASON:  1.5(D) 
 
SUMMARY 
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2.  (U)  A FARC ATTACK IN GUAVIARE DEPARTMENT SEPTEMBER 6 LEFT A 
REPORTED 22 COLOMBIAN ARMY (COLAR) SOLDIERS DEAD.  THE ATTACK 
INDICATES A DETERMINATION BY THE FARC TO KEEP UP THE OFFENSIVE 
LAUNCHED AUGUST 30 (REF A).  OTHER ATTACKS BY THE FARC AND ELN 
CONTINUE TO UNSETTLE COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT COLOMBIA.  MEANWHILE, 
THE FARC CONTINUE TO HOLD CAPTIVE SOME 60 SOLDIERS TAKEN IN THE 
AUGUST 30 ATTACK ON LAS DELICIAS, PUTUMAYO DEPARTMENT, DESPITE 
FARC ASSURANCES THAT IT WOULD RELEASE THEM TO THE INTERNATIONAL 
COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS (ICRC -- REF A).  PRESIDENT SAMPER 
ANNOUNCED A THREE-POINT PLAN TO INCREASE GOVERNMENT FORCES' 
READINESS IN THE FACE OF THE INCREASED GUERRILLA ATTACKS LIKELY 
TO COME.  END SUMMARY. 
 
 
FARC KILLS OVER 20 SOLDIERS IN GUAVIARE 
--------------------------------------- 
 
3.  (U)  THE FARC FIRST FRONT KILLED 22 SOLDIERS SEPTEMBER 6 IN 
LA CARPA, A PEASANT HAMLET TWO HOURS DISTANT BY RIVER LAUNCH FROM 
SAN JOSE, CAPITAL OF GUAVIARE DEPARTMENT.  ACCORDING TO SEPTEMBER 
8 NEWSPAPER ACCOUNTS, 300 TO 400 MEMBERS OF THE THE FARC FIRST 
FRONT UNDER THE COMMAND OF "MONO JOJOY" (KNOWN AS THE JUAN JOSE 
RONDON MOBILE COLUMN) ENTERED LA CARPA SEPTEMBER 5 AND, WIELDING 
MACHETES AND KNIVES, INTIMIDATED THE 50 RESIDENTS.  AN 
UNSPECIFIED NUMBER OF PEASANTS RECEIVED MINOR WOUNDS.  FIVE 
KILOMETERS FROM LA CARPA, A COLAR SECOND MOBILE BRIGADE PATROL 
UNIT CONSISTING OF 40 SOLDIERS HEARD OF THE HARRASSMENT AND 
INFORMED BRIGADE COMMANDER GENERAL OSPINA, WHO ORDERED THE UNIT 
TO LA CARPA.  IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS OF FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 
THE UNIT ARRIVED AT LA CARPA, WHICH WAS SURROUNDED BY GUERRILLAS 
LYING IN WAIT.  DESPITE THE WARNINGS OF LA CARPA RESIDENTS, THE 
SOLDIERS REMAINED.  AT 6:00 AM GUERRILLAS OPENED MACHINEGUN FIRE 
ON THE TOWN, WOUNDING SEVERAL SOLDIERS.  THE SOLDIERS ATTEMPTED 
TO REPEL THE ATTACK WITH RIFLES BUT WERE CLEARLY SURROUNDED. 
AFTER TWO HOURS OF FIGHTING, GUERRILLAS LAUNCHED FRAGMENTATION 
GRENADES TO FORCE THE SOLDIERS TO GIVE UP.  THE COLAR UNIT 
COMMANDER REQUESTED AIR AND LAND SUPPORT, BUT NONE ARRIVED. 
AFTER THE GRENADE ATTACK, THE SURVIVING SOLDIERS SOUGHT REFUGE IN 
THE JUNGLE, AND THE GUERRILLAS SENT A REPORTED 20 DOBERMAN 
PINSCHERS INTO THE JUNGLE TO LOCATE THE WOUNDED SOLDIERS.  TWO 
HOURS LATER, ACCORDING TO PRESS ACCOUNTS, TRANSPORT HELICOPTERS, 
CARRYING COLAR REINFORCEMENTS, ARRIVED AT THE SCENE.  THEY FOUND 
19 SOLDIERS DEAD, 1O WOUNDED, 11 SURVIVERS, AND TWO MISSING IN 
ACTION.  BY AUGUST 9 THE NUMBER OF DEAD HAD RISEN TO 22 SOLDIERS. 
THE DEAD AND WOUNDED WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE AIRPORT IN SAN JOSE, 
GUAVIARE DEPARTMENT, JUST AS STAFFDEL MACKEY ARRIVED FROM BOGOTA 
THE MORNING OF SEPTEMBER 7 (REF C). 
 
 
OTHER ATTACKS THROUGHOUT COLOMBIA 
--------------------------------- 
 
4.  (U)  PRESS ACCOUNTS SEPTEMBER 9 SUMMARIZED OTHER INCIDENTS 
SEEN AS PART OF THE GUERRILLA OFFENSIVE AS IT CONTINUED OVER THE 
WEEKEND OF SEPTEMBER 7-8: 
 
--   IN LOS REMEDIOS, ANTIOQUIA DEPARTMENT, A CLASH BETWEEN 
     ELN AND GOVERNMENT FORCES SEPTEMBER 8 LEFT TWO SOLDIERS 
     AND ONE GUERRILLA DEAD.  TWO CHILDREN WERE WOUNDED. 
 
--   IN ARAUCA DEPARTMENT, THE ARMY KILLED TWO ELN 
     GUERRILLAS ATTEMPTING TO PLACE A BOMB ON A BRIDGE OVER 
     THE CARANAL RIVER. 
 
--   IN ZULIA, NORTE DE SANTANDER DEPARTMENT, DIALOGUE 
     BETWEEN THE GOC AND CAMPESINOS WAS SUSPENDED.  THE ARMY 
     ANNOUNCED ITS INTENTION TO PREVENT 200 PROTESTING 
     CAMPESINOS FROM ENTERING CUCUTA. 
 
--   IN NARINO DEPARTMENT, GUERRILLAS EXPLODED A SECTION OF 
     THE TRANSANDEAN OIL PIPELINE NEAR THE MUNICIPALITY OF 
     MALLAMA. 
 
--   AUTHORITIES IN NARINO DEPARTMENT SUSPENDED CARGO AND 
     PASSENGER TRAFFIC ON THE ROADS BECAUSE OF GUERRILLA 
     THREATS. 
 
--   MEMBERS OF THE ELN'S LUIS CARLOS CARDENAS FRONT 
     ASSAULTED THE POLICE STATION IN THE HAMLET OF MAGDALENA 
     IN VALLE DEL CAUCA DEPARTMENT. 
 
--   IN BARRANCABERMEJA, SANTANDER DEPARTMENT, GUERRILLAS 
     DISTRIBUTED FLYERS ANNOUNCING THEIR INTENTION TO 
     PARALYZE ACTIVITY IN THE AREA FOR FIVE DAYS.  HOWEVER, 
     ACTIVITY REMAINED NORMAL IN BARRANCABERMEJA AS OF 
     SEPTEMBER 8. 
 
--   GUERRILLAS BURNED VEHICLES ON ROADS LEADING TO CUCUTA, 
     NORTE DE SANTANDER, SEVERELY RESTRICTING TRAFFIC. 
 
--   IN THE ATLANTIC COASTAL REGION, GUERRILLA ACTIVITIES 
     RESTRICTED TRAFFIC ON NUMEROUS ROADS. 
 
--   IN SUCRE DEPARTMENT, THREE CAMPESINOS WERE REPORTEDLY 
     KILLED BY A GROUP OF 30 ARMED PARAMILITARIES. 
 
--   IN URABA, THE FIFTH FARC FRONT REPORTEDLY EXECUTED FOUR 
     CAMPESINO LEADERS, CHARGED WITH PROVIDING INFORMATION 
     TO THE ARMY, IN A TOWN NEAR APARTADO. 
 
 
THE FARC STILL HOLDS 60 SOLDIERS CAPTIVE 
---------------------------------------- 
 
5.  (U)  MEANWHILE, THE FARC CONTINUES TO HOLD THE ESTIMATED 60 
SOLDIERS CAPTURED IN THE ATTACK ON LAS DELICIAS, PUTUMAYO 
DEPARTMENT, DESPITE THE FARC'S DECLARATION IT WAS PREPARED TO 
RELEASE THE SOLDIERS TO THE ICRC (REF A).  AN APPEAL BY HUMAN 
RIGHTS WATCH FOR THE RELEASE OF THE SOLDIERS HAS FAILED TO MOVE 
THE FARC LEADERSHIP TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH ITS STATED COMMITMENT 
TO THE ICRC.  CRITICS CHARGE THAT THE FARC LEADERSHIP IS USING 
THE HOSTAGE SOLDIERS TO PROTECT ITSELF AND TO GAIN INTERNATIONAL 
ATTENTION.  INTERIOR MINISTER HORACIO SERPA TOLD THE PRESS 
SEPTEMBER 8 THAT THE FARC ARE TRYING TO USE THE RELEASE OF THE 
SOLDIERS AS A NEGOTIATING ARGUMENT IN AN INTERNATIONAL DEBATE ON 
A POSSIBLE DIALOGUE ON PEACE.  SERPA INSISTED THAT IF THE 
GUERRILLA LEADERS ARE COMPLYING WITH NORMS OF INTERNATIONAL 
HUMANITARIAN LAW AS THEY CLAIM TO BE, THERE IS NOTHING TO 
NEGOTIATE WITH THE GOC.  PIERRE GASSMAN, ICRC DIRECTOR IN BOGOTA, 
TOLD THE PRESS HE HAD NO IDEA WHAT THE GUERRILLAS HOPED TO 
ACHIEVE BY HOLDING THE SOLDIERS, BUT SAID THEY CANNOT, UNDER 
INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW, DEMAND ANYTHING IN EXCHANGE FOR 
THE SOLDIERS.  TO DO SO, SAID GASSMAN, WOULD BE TO COMMIT THE 
PUNISHABLE CRIME OF EXTORTION BY KIDNAPPING. 
 
 
SAMPER ANNOUNCES COUNTER-GUERRILLA STRATEGY 
------------------------------------------- 
 
6.  (U)  ON SEPTEMBER 8, BOGOTA DAILY "EL TIEMPO" REPORTED 
PRESIDENT SAMPER HAD ANNOUNCED HIS ADMINISTRATION'S INTENTION TO 
EMPLOY THREE KEY STRATEGIES TO COUNTER THE RECENTLY ESCALATED 
GUERRILLA ATTACKS MORE EFFECTIVELY.  ACCORDING TO "EL TIEMPO," 
THE STRATEGIES FOCUS ON INCREASED HUMAN AND ELECTRONIC 
INTELLIGENCE-GATHERING, INCREASED AIR, LAND AND WATER MOBILITY, 
AND UPGRADED COMMUNICATIONS CAPABILITIES.  SAMPER ALSO CALLED ON 
THE COLOMBIAN PUBLIC TO SUPPORT CURRENT PROPOSALS IN CONGRESS TO 
INCREASE THE MILITARY BUDGET AND BROADEN MILITARY JURISDICTIONAL 
PRIVILEGE -- THE "FUERO MILITAR" (REF B). 
 
 
COMMENT 
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7.  (C)  MOST OBSERVERS BELIEVE, AND THE FARC LEADERSHIP HAS 
PUBLICLY INDICATED, THE GUERRILLA MOVEMENT WILL KEEP UP THE 
PRESSURE ON THE GOC AND THE COLOMBIAN PUBLIC WITH CONTINUED 
ATTACKS IN THE WEEKS TO COME.  CHARACTERIZING THE ATTACKS AS 
RETALIATION AGAINST THE GOC FOR ITS COUNTER-NARCOTICS OPERATIONS, 
ESPECIALLY IN SOUTHERN, COCA-GROWING REGIONS OF COLOMBIA, DEFENSE 
MINISTER ESGUERRA TOLD THE PRESS THE GUERRILLAS HAVE THE CAPACITY 
TO CONDUCT CONTINUED "SPECTACULAR" ATTACKS BUT LACK THE POTENTIAL 
TO OCCUPY MAJOR POPULATION CENTERS OR EXERCISE SIGNIFICANT 
TERRITORIAL CONTROL.  YET THE ESTIMATED 10,000-MEMBER GUERRILLA 
FORCE BELIEVED TO EXIST AND TO BE GROWING IN COLOMBIA TODAY 
(COMBINED FARC AND ELN) CLEARLY IS IN A STRONG POSITION TO 
DISRUPT AND DESTABILIZE COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, EVEN 
IF IT IS NOT IN A POSITION TO OVERTHROW THE GOVERNMENT.  THE 
GUERRILLAS' INCREASED NUMBERS HAVE ENABLED THEM TO FORM FIGHTING 
UNITS OF 200 TO 400 MEN -- LARGE ENOUGH TO OUTNUMBER AND 
OVERWHELM MANY OF THE COLOMBIAN ARMY UNITS STATIONED IN 
CONFLICTIVE AREAS.  AS ARMY COMMANDER GENERAL BEDOYA POINTED OUT 
TO ACTING POL/ECON COUNSELOR SEPTEMBER 7, THE GUERRILLAS ENJOY 
CERTAIN ADVANTAGES IN THE COLOMBIAN COUNTRYSIDE WHICH ENABLE THEM 
TO EVADE THE COLOMBIAN ARMY, AS THEIR ABILITY TO KEEP 60 HOSTAGE 
SOLDIERS IN AN UNKNOWN LOCATION  AND PREVENTED FROM RESCUE BY 
GOVERNMENT FORCES ILLUSTRATES. 
 
 
KNEEBONE 
 
 
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