UNCLASSIFIED ENVELOPE CDSN LGX340 MCN 89074 27278 TOR 890741629 PTTUZYUW RUEKJCS3993 0741629-UUUU--RUEALGX ZNR UUUUU HEADER P 151629Z MAR 89 FM JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC INFO RUENAAA CNO WASHINGTON DC RUEAHQA CSAF WASHINGTON DC RUFGAID USEUCOM AIDES VAIHINGEN GE RUFDAAA CINCUSAREUR HEIDELBERG GE AEAGB-CI-AN RUFTAKA CDRUSAINTELCTRE HEIDELBERG GE RHFQAAA CINCUSAFE RAMSTEIN AB GE IN IV SP RHDLCNE CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON UK N2 RHLBAAA USCINCSO QUARRY HEIGHTS PM RUEADNA DNA WASHINGTON DC OPAC OPNA RUEAMCC CMC CC WASHINGTON DC RUEOFAA COMJSOC FT BRAGG NC J2 RUCGRRC NATS NRRC PENTAGON WASH DC RUCQVAB USCINCSOC INTEL OPS CEN MACDILL AFB FL RUWSAAA MAC INTEL CEN SCOTT AFB ILHINOH RUEORNA CDRUSAITAC WASHINGTON DC KT RUDMNSC NAVTECHINTCEN WASHINGTON DC RUCLACC CDR4THPSYOP GP FT BRAGG NC ASOF-POG-SB RUCIAEA FTD WRIGHT PATTERSON AFB OHHSIIR RUSNNOA USCINCEUR VAIHINGEN GE EC-J2 RUEALGX SAFE RUEADDS DITDS P 151643Z MAR 89 FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA TO RUEHC SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4011 INFO RUEKJCS SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RHLBAAA USCINCSO QUARRY HEIGHTS PM RUEHPE AMEMBASSY LIMA 5699 RUEHQT AMEMBASSY QUITO 5725 RUEHLP AMEMBASSY LA PAZ 5285RUEKJCS DIA WASHDC RUEAIIA CIA WASHDC BT CONTROLS UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BOGOTA 03993 Pepe of State RPS IPS Margaret P Grafeld Dir C Release Excise Deny Declassify Date--La Exemption ------------ UNCLASSIFIED page 65 UNCLASSIFIED I fl SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD N A E O 12356 THIS IS A COMBINED MESSAGE BODY TAGS PTER PINS MOPS PHUM PGOV CO SUBJECT VIOLENCE INDEX AND ANALYSIS FOR 1-15 MARCH 89-4 REF BOGOTA 3032 1 SUMMARY CONCERN OVER POLITICAL VIOLENCE SURGED IN THIS REPORTING PERIOD BY THE KILLING OF UP OFFICIAL ANTEQUERA AND THE CRITICAL WOUNDING OF LIBERAL SENATOR SAMPER SPARKED THE GOC CONTINUED ITS PEACE TALKS WITH THE M-19 IN MEXICO CITY BOTH SIDES AGREED TO A FOLLOW-UP MEETING IN BOGOTA IN LATE MARCH OR EARLY APRIL THE FARC AND EPL GUERRILLAS SPOUTED PEACE RHETORIC BUT BELIED THESE EXPRESSIONS WITH ACTS OF INSURGENT VIOLENCE IN WIDE-RANGING OPERATIONS IN THE NORTH AND CENTER THE ARMED FORCES DEALT THE EPL SEVENTEEN FATALITIES IN TWO WEEKS A NEW LEFTIST PARAMILITARY GROUP ANNOUNCED ITS EXISTENCE BY BURNING TWO CROP-DUSTING PLANES IN THE CONFLICT-RIDDEN URABA REGION THIS INDEX ANALYSIS STRESSES POLITICAL VIOLENCE AND PEACE DIALOGUE DEVELOPMENTS WHICH OVERSHADOWED MILITARY GUERRILLA ACTIVITIES DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD END SUMMARY 1 POLITICAL MURDERS ANTEQUERA KILLING SAMPER WOUNDING SPARK LEFTIST IRE --------------------------------------------------2 ON MARCH 3 GUNMEN CRITICALLY WOUNDED LIBERAL SENATOR AND PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFUL ERNESTO SAMPER PIZANO AND KILLED PATRIOTIC UNION UP OFFICIAL JOSE ANTEQUERA BOGOTA 3379 THE ATTACK AIMED AT ANTEQUERA WITH SAMPER AN UNFORTUNATE BYSTANDER SPARKED COMMUNIST IRE AND PROVOKED WIDESPREAD CONCERN OVER THE HIGH LEVEL OF POLITICAL VIOLENCE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS STAGED AN ILLEGAL PROTEST DEMONSTRATION IN BOGOTA ON MARCH 9 AND CONFRONTED THE POLICE IN A SERIES- OF ROCK-THROWING INCIDENTS BOGOTA 3740 OTHER POLITICAL KILLINGS DEATH SQUAD GOES ON KILLING SPREE IN ANTIOQUTA c UNCLASSIFIED page 66 UNCLASSIFIED ---------------------------------------------3 A BAND OF KILLERS SUSPECTED BY AUTHORITIES OF BELONGING TO A RIGHTIST DEATH SQUAD WENT ON A ASSASSINATION SPREE IN SOUTH EASTERN ANTIOQUTA MAGDALENA MEDIO REGION ON MARCH 4 THEIR SEVEN VICTIMS INCLUDED A NUN AND SEVERAL AGRARIAN RESIDENTS ALL OF WHOM THE KILLERS APPARENTLY SUSPECTED OF HARBORING LEFTIST SYMPATHIES NO SUSPECTS HAVE BEEN CAPTURED ONE META LIBERAL AND ONE SANTANDER SOCO KILLED ---------------------------------------------4 TWO DIFFERENT VIGILANTE GROUPS KILLED ONE LIBERAL POLITICIAN IN META AND A SOCIAL CONSERVATIVE COUNCILMAN IN SANTANDER ON MARCH 6 BOTH VICTIMS HAD PROTESTED THE ACTIONS OF DEATH SQUADS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE REGIONS IN A MARCH 14 LETTER TO THE EL TIEMPO LIBERAL DAILY THE LEADER OF THE META LIBERAL PARTY DENOUNCED THE KILLING OF 46 META LIBERALS IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS -- A TOTAL OF 88 LIBERALS MURDERED IN THAT DEPARTMENT SINCE 1985 MOST OF THESE MURDERS THE LETTER READS HAVE REMAINED UNSOLVED THE LIBERAL LEADER DEPRECATED THE LACK OF MEDIA COVERAGE WHEN LIBERALS AND NOT UP MEMBERS ARE THE VICTIMS OF ASSASSINATION THREE WITNESSES TO LA ROCHELA MASSACRE KILLED --------------------------------------------5 IN THREE SEPARATE ATTACKS ON MARCH 9 AND 10 UNIDENTIFIED GUNMEN KILLED THREE WITNESSES TO LAST JANUARY'S LA ROCHELA MASSACRE OF JUDICIAL OFFICIALS THE THREE WERE KILLED IN RURAL AREAS AROUND BARRANCABERMEJA SANTANDER DEPARTMENT THE MURDERERS TOLD THE WIFE OF ONE VICTIM THAT THEY HAD KILLED HER HUSBAND FOR HAVING INFORMED THE AUTHORITIES ON LA ROCHELA EVENTS A THIRD UP LEADER KILLED IN RISARALDA THIS YEAR ---------------------------------------------- BEGINNING OF SECTION 002 6 MOTORCYCLE RIDING THUGS GUNNED DOWN SCHOOL TEACHER JORGE LUIS GARCES IN MISTRATO RISARALDA DEPARTMENT ON MARCH 13 GARCES WAS A UP ACTIVIST AND A LEADER OF THE LEFTIST-ORIENTED'FECODE TEACHERS FEDERATION HE HAD RECEIVED FREQUENT DEATH THREATS FROM RIGHT WING _GROUPS UNCLASSIFIED page 67 UNCLASSIFIED IN THE LAST TWO YEARS LAST JANUARY NORMALLY PEACEFUL RISARALDA DEPARTMENT EXPERIENCED THE VIGILANTE KILLINGS OF TWO OTHER UP LEADERS PEREIRA COUNCILMAN GILDARDO CASTANO AND MARSELLA UP PRESIDENT RICAURTE OCAMPO BOGOTA 1652 PARA 11 II PEACE PLAN GOC AND M-19 AGREE IN MEXICO TO FURTHER TALKS IN BOGOTA 7 THE GOC CONTINUED TO IMPLEMENT THE GOC'S PEACE PLAN IN MEETINGS BETWEEN PRESIDENTIAL PEACE COUNSELOR RAFAEL PARDO AND THE M-19 LEADERSHIP ON MARCH 3-5 IN MEXICO CITY BOGOTA 3452 AT THE END OF THE MEETING BOTH SIDES AGREED TO HOLD A WORKING SESSION IN BOGOTA AFTER EASTER WEEK WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE POLITICAL PARTIES THE WORKING SESSION WILL DEAL WITH THE RELOCATION OF M-19 ACTIVISTS TO DEMOBILIZATION AREAS A STEP ENVISIONED IN THE GOC'S PEACE PLAN AS A HALFWAY STAGE TOWARDS PACIFICATION THE UP PARTY HAS REFUSED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE WORKING SESSION UNTIL THE GOC PROVIDES CONCRETE PROOF THAT IT WILL BE ABLE TO PROTECT UP REPRESENTATIVES THE UP REFUSAL WAS IN REACTION TO THE KILLING OF JOSE ANTEQUERA ON MARCH 3 SEE PARA 2 ABOVE FARC DECLARES CEASEFIRE AND EPL URGES PEACE TALKS BUT 8 THE FARC LEADERSHIP ON FEBRUARY 28 ORDERED A UNILATERAL CEASEFIRE AMONG ALL ITS FRONTS BOGOTA 3191 IN RESPONSE TO THE FORMATION OF A PEACE COMMISSION IT HAD RECOMMENDED EARLIER BOGOTA 3017 PRESIDENT BARCO EXPRESSED HOPES THAT THE ANNOUNCEMENT WAS NOT SIMPLY A CONTINUATION OF FARC EFFORTS TO PRESSURE THE GOC INTO A CEASEFIRE THAT WOULD NOT HINDER ON-GOING GUERRILLA ACTIVITIES IN THE WEEK OF MARCH 5-12 THE ARMED FORCES CHARGED THAT THE FARC HAD VIOLATED ITS OWN CEASEFIRE IN AT LEAST THREE VIOLENT INCIDENTS BOGOTA 3894 IN ANOTHER LETTER DATED MARCH 14 THE FARC DENIED VIOLATING THE CEASEFIRE AMENDING ITS EARLIER LETTER THE FARC INSISTED THAT THE NEWLY FORMED COMMISSION OF NOTABLES SEE BOGOTA 3191 SHOULD MEET FIRST WITH FARC REPRESENTATIVES AND ONLY AFTERWARDS WITH THE REST OF THE SIMON BOLIVAR GUERRILLA COORDINATOR SBGC UNCLASSIFIED page 68 UNCLASSIFIED 9 MEANWHILE THE COMMANDERS OF THE POPULAR LIBERATION ARMY EPL GUERRILLA FRONT IN URABA NORTHERN ANTIOQUTA ISSUED MESSAGES ON MARCH 8-9 URGING THE GOC TO ENGAGE IN PEACE TALKS WITH THE ENTIRE SBGC BOGOTA 3893 THE INTENTIONS EXPRESSED IN THE EPOS PEACE MESSAGE WERE BELIED BY AN EPL RAID AND BANK HOLDUP NEAR BOGOTA ON MARCH 9 SEE PARA 10 THIS CABLE DESPITE THE EXPECTATIONS STIRRED BY THE PEACE RHETORIC OF THE FARC AND THE EPL THE BARCO ADMINISTRATION REMAINED FULLY IN CHARGE OF THE PEACE PROCESS IT CONTINUED TO INSIST THAT IT WILL NOT ENTER INTO DIALOGUE WITH ANY GROUP THAT DOES NOT SHOW A WILLINGNESS TO CEASE VIOLENT ACTIVITIES III ARMY VS GUERRILLA VIOLENCE INDEX ARMY FIGHTS EPL AND ELN IN SOUTHWESTERN ANTIOQUTA 10 IN THE REPORTED PERIOD THE ARMED FORCES DEALT 17 FATAL CASUALTIES TO THE EPL GUERRILLA GROUP IN ANTIOQUTA CALDAS AND CUNDINAMARCA DEPARTMENTS ON MARCH 5-11 THE ARMY'S NUTIBARA BATTALION TENTH BRIGADE CONDUCTED OPERATIONS IN SOUTHWESTERN ANTIOQUTA DEPARTMENT AGAINST BOTH THE EPL AND THE ELN GUERRILLA GROUPS ACCORDING TO DISCLOSURES TO THE PRESS BY 4TH BRIGADE COMMANDER GENERAL JAIME RUIZ -- ON MARCH 7 THE BATTALION CAPTURED FIVE MEMBERS OF AN ELN SABOTAGE UNIT IN SALGAR AND SEIZED WAR MATERIAL AND MILITARY DOCUMENTS AS THE BATTALION PROCEEDED NORTH A BEGINNING OF SECTION 003 NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICER WAS KILLED IN A CLASH WITH THE EPL IN URRAO ON MARCH 9 -- ON MARCH 11 HOWEVER THE ARMY AND THE SPECIAL OPERATIONS UNIT OF THE NATIONAL POLICE GOES KILLED FIVE GUERRILLAS OF THE EPOS FABIO COSSIO FRONT IN LA TROYA ALSO IN SOUTHWESTERN ANTIOQUTA BOGOTA 3893 THE ARMY CAMPAIGN WHICH IS STILL ON-GOING IS INTENDED TO PROTECT ANTIOQUEAN GOLD MINERS AND FARMERS FROM GUERRILLA SABOTAGE AND EXTORTIONATE DEMANDS MORE EPL CASUALTIES OCCUR IN CALDAS AND CUNDINAMARCA -- THE EIGHTH BRIGADE KILLED 3 EPL GUERRILLAS IN CALDAS DEPARTMENT ON MARCH 5 UNCLASSIFIED page 69 UNCLASSIFIED -- ON MARCH 9 NATIONAL POLICE UNITS KILLED 9 EPL SUBVERSIVES AND CAPTURED ONE IN A QUICK RESPONSE TO AN EPL RAID AND BANK HOLDUP NEAR BOGOTA BOGOTA 3796 SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATIONS LED TO THE ARREST OF THREE SUSPECTED MEMBERS OF THE EPL'S URBAN SUPPORT NETWORK IN BOGOTA INSURGENT ACTIVITY MARS THE FARC'S CEASEFIRE 11 THE FARC'S MUCH-TOUTED CEASEFIRE SEE PARA 8 THIS CABLE LED TO A REDUCTION IN THAT GROUP'S INSURGENT ACTIVITIES IN MARCH BUT THE ARMED FORCES CHARGED THAT THE FARC'S 4TH 12TH AND 22ND FRONTS PERPETRATED THREE CEASEFIRE VIOLATIONS -- ON MARCH 5 SUSPECTED MEMBERS OF THE FARC'S 4TH FRONT BOARDED A LOCAL TRAIN IN SANTANDER AND KILLED A JUDICIAL POLICE AGENT -- ON MARCH 6 MEMBERS OF THE FARC'S 12TH FRONT SET UP ROAD BLOCKS IN SANTANDER DEPARTMENT WHERE THEY MURDERED TWO CAMPESINOS AND BURNED SEVERAL VEHICLES AND -- ON MARCH 11 A FARC COLUMN 22ND FRONT INVADED A RURAL MUNICIPALITY NEAR BOGOTA AND SHOT TWO CAMPESINO RESIDENTS IV OTHER VIOLENCE URABA NEW LEFTIST GROUP BURNS BANANA PLANES -------------------------------------------12 ON MARCH 6 TERRORISTS SET FIRE TO TWO CROP-DUSTING PLANES BELONGING TO THE NATIONAL BANANA GROWERS UNION UNIBAN IN URABA NORTHERN ANTIOQUTA ON MARCH 12 SOCIAL CONSERVATIVE SENATOR ALVARO LEYVA DURAN REVEALED TO THE PRESS A LETTER FROM A NEW LEFTIST GROUP CLAIMING AUTHORSHIP OF THE DEED THE LETTER ANNOUNCES THE CREATION OF COLOMBIA'S FIRST LEFTIST PARAMILITARY GROUP AND DECLARES THAT THE POPULAR MILITIAS OF URABA ARE NOW OPERATING IN THE NORTHERN DEPARTMENTS OF ANTIOQUTA AND CORDOBA ACCORDING TO THE MESSAGE THE POPULAR MILITIAS ARE NOT LINKED WITH ANY GUERRILLA GROUP BUT WERE FOUNDED TO SUPPORT THE GUERRILLAS AND TO COMBAT THE RIGHT-WING PARAMILITARY GROUPS MCNAMARA ADMIN UNCLASSIFIED page 70 UNCLASSIFIED BT #3993 page 71 UNCLASSIFIED I This document is from the holdings of The National Security Archive Suite 701 Gelman Library The George Washington University 2130 H Street NW Washington D C 20037 Phone 202 994-7000 Fax 202 994-7005 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