1 Current Class _ Page 1 Current Handling a Document Number 1980LIMA06226 Channel n a - gg't gi gi ARENA qr PAGE 01 LIMA 06226 1123072' 3 ACTION - INFO CIAELOO NSC-OS I 55-15 RA-OI 052 115204 112316Z 66 1122372 JUL 80 FM AMEMBASSY LIMA To SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1979 INFO AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES AMEMBASSY LA PAZ ARGENTINA PROJECT 5200000044 LIMA 6226 I Ma RG - 3 0 12065 GDS 7 11 86 SHLAUDEMAN HARRY fe'd'Dmor ease Excise TAGS PINT SHUM PE AR 96W SUBJECT U THE CASE OF THE MISSING MONTONEROS uxh wm umr Clasifyas Extendas Do REF LIMA 5570 Dale 1 ENTIRE TEXT 2 DURING A PRIVATE CONVERSATION JULY ll IN HIS OFFICE I ASKED PRIME MINISTER RICHTER PRADA TO FILL ME IN ON THIS CASE HIS RESPONSE STUCK CLOSELY TO THE OFFICIAL VERSION RICHTER INSISTED WITH CONSIDERABLE VEHEMENCE PHAT NO ONE WAS TORTURED OR KILLED HERE THE THREE ARGENTINES WERE LEGALLY EXPELLED AND DELIVERED TO A 3OLIVIAN IMMIGRATION OFFICIAL IN ACCORDANCE WITH LONG- STANDING PRACTICE HE ALSO ASSERTED THAT THE PERUVIANS MADE-NO AGREEMENT TO HAVE THE THREE TURNED OVER TO FHE ARGENTINES ALTHOUGH HE CONCEDED THE BOLIVIAN IILITARY PROBABLY DID JUST THAT WITH RESPECT TO AMNESTY CHARGES THE PRIME MINISTER SAID IHAT TWO OTHER MONTONEROS WERE INVOLVED IN THE CASE EUT THAT THEY HAD EVADED DETENTION AND ARE NOW MILITARY INTELLIGENCE IS NOT LOOKING THEM AT THE MOMENT IN ORDER TO AVOID FURTHER 02 LIMA 06226 1123073 NCIDENTS ON THE EVE OF INAUGURATION urrent Class Page 1 Current - Class 5 i Current Handling a Document Number 1980LIMA06226 3 ACCORDING TO RICHTER THE STORIES COMING OUT OF LA PAZ TO THE EFFECT THAT THE FOR THE WAS SIGNED UNDER DURESS OR THAT THE MAN WHO PURPORTEDLY SIGNED IT DOES NOT EXIST ARE ALL DUE TO THE FACT THAT THERE IS NO COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE BOLIVIAN MILITARY AND PRESIDENT GUEILER HE NOTED THAT THE GOB HAS SO FAR FAILED TO MAKE AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT ON THE MATTER SUGGESTING THAT THE FACTS DO NOT SUPPORT THE VARIOUS STATEMENTS CASTING DOUBT ON THE VERSION RICHTER HAS LET GENERAL GALTIERI KNOW THROUGH THE ARGENTINE ATTACHE HERE AND THE PERUVIAN ATTACHE IN BUENOS AIRES OF THE SERIOUS PROBLEMS THE CASE HAS CREATED FOR HIM AND THE ARMY HE READ TO ME TWO MESSAGES FROM GALTIERI EXPRESSING SOLIDARITY STATING THAT THE ARGENTINE ARMY IS STUDYING THE MATTER AND INDICATING THAT THERE MAY BE AN EARLY NEXT WEEK RICHTER THOUGHT THAT MIGHT FORESHADOW A LIVE PUBLIC APPEARANCE BY THE THREE MONTONEROS RICHTER ALSO SAID THAT HE HAD GIVEN THE ARGENTINE ATTACHE HIS VIEW THAT WOULD NOT BE FOR VIDELA TO ATTEND INAUGURATION 4 I ASKED THE PRIME MINISTER ABOUT THE RUMORS THAT HE MIGHT AS A RESULT OF THIS AFFAIR RETIRE FROM THE ARMY ON JULY 28 RICHTER SAID HE FLOATED THAT POSSIBILITY HIMSELF MAKING CLEAR THAT IN THE PROCESS HE WOULD TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CASE THUS SHIELDING HIS HOWEVER THE OFFICER CORPS PURPORTEDLY REJECTED THE IDEA INSISTING THAT HE STAY ON UNTIL MANDATORY RETIREMENT AT THE END OF PAGE 03 LIMA 06226 112307Z EHE YEAR ONE PROBLEM WITH THE SCHEME ACCORDING TO RICHTER IS THAT NEITHER OF HIS SUCCESSORS WOULD OFFER THE INSTITUTION MUCH PROTECTION CHIEF OF STAFF HOYOS IS THOROUGHLY BY ACCION POPULAR AND IISNEROS COMMANDER OF THE FIRST REGION HAS BEEN A RAVORITE TARGET OF THE LEFT FOR YEARS IN PART BECAUSE HIS STRONG TIES TO THE ARGENTINE MILITARY 3 COMMENT THE ASSERTION THAT TWO MONTONEROS ARE APPEARS OMINOUS TO ME SUGGESTING AS IT PERMANENT DISAPPEARANCES RICHTER EVIDENTLY rrenu elass Page 2 Channel n a Page 2 lg f- '5 Ln - 3155 Current'Class page 3 t a Current Handling n a nh PL 2 Document Number 1980LIMA06226 Channel n a MEANS TO RIDE IT OUT BY HOLDING TO THE WE THINK HE IS LIKELY TO HAVE A TIME PARTICULARLY AFTER JULY 28 SHLAUDEMAN turrent Page 3