E8 UNCLASSIFIED CONFIDENTIAL RELEASED IN FULL PAGE 01 ACTION MCT-04 BOGOTA 13811 072354Z INFO LOG-00 NSCE-00 ADS-00 ARA-00 AID-00 NSAE-00 INR-05 SSO-00 SS-00 SY-05 CIAE-00 L-02 DODE-00 AMAD-01 TRSE-00 PM-05 PA-02 INRE-00 CA-02 A-02 USSS-00 SYE-00 FBIE-00 FAIM-01 SLPD-01 030 W ------------------225636 072356Z 38 O 072350Z NOV 85 ZFF4 FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA TO SECSTATE WASHDC NIACT IMMEDIATE 3525 INFO USCINCSO QUARRY HEIGHTS PN IMMEDIATE DEA WASHDC IMMEDIATE CONTADORA COLLECTIVE USIA WASHDC 6577 C 0 N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 13811 TERREP E O 12356 DECL OADR TAGS PIER CO SUBJECT SITREP AS OF 1700 HOURS LOCAL TIME TERRORIST ATTACK ON THE PALACE OF JUSTICE REFS 1 A B BOGOTA 13778 DEPIRRO PETERS TELCON CONFIDENTIAL - ENTIRE TEXT 2 WITH THE END OF FIGHTING AT THE PALACE OF JUSTICE REF A THE IMMEDIATE CRISIS IN BOGOTA APPEARS TO BE OVER FALLOUT ON THE UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE AND PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS THE PRESTIGE OF PRESIDENT BETANCUR AND THE FUTURE OF THE GOC PEACE PROCESS WITH THE GUERRILLAS ARE LIKELY TO BE EXTENSIVE AND WILL BE REPORTED SEPARATELY MEANWHILE WE ANTICIPATE THAT BARRING A RESUMPTION OF MAJOR FIGHTING SOMEWHERE CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 BOGOTA 13811 0723542 IN THE CITY THIS WILL BE OUR LAST NIACT SITREP 3 SUCH A RESUMPTION OF FIGHTING CANNOT BY ANY MEANS BE RULED OUT A RUNNING GUN BATTLE SIZE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE REVIEW AUTHORITY NORMAN M BOUTON DATE CASE ID 08 DEC 2008 200703427 UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED UNSPECIFIED IS GOING ON IN SOUTHERN BOGOTA BETWEEN ANOTHER VERY DISTURBING M-19 GUERRILLAS AND POLICE REPORT TO'THE EMBASSY FROM GOC POLICE STATES THAT A THE OWNER WHITE SEDAN WAS STOLEN THIS AFTERNOON WAS BEATEN BUT RELEASED HE REPORTEDLY TOLD POLICE THAT HE OVERHEARD HIS ATTACKERS DISCUSSING USE OF EMBASSY IS TAKING ALL THE CAR FOR A BOMB ATTACK APPROPRIATE MEASURES WRAPPING UP THE DETAILS FROM THE PALACE OF JUSTICE 4 AS BEST WE HAVE THEM -- IT HAS BEEN CONFIRMED BY A HIGH LEVEL MILITARY SOURCE THAT SUPREME COURT PRESIDENT ALFONSO REYES ECHANDIA AND MAGISTRATE MARIA INES RAMOS WERE KILLED BY M-19 LEADER ANDRES ALMARALES LAST NIGHT ALMARALES THE APPARENT LEADER OF THE OPERATION IS THE SURVIVING GUERRILLAS HAVE ALL REPORTEDLY DEAD BEEN TAKEN PRISONER -- THE RESCUED HOSTAGES ARE BEING EVACUATED BY AMBULANCES MANY OF THEM WOUNDED THE GOC HAS ISSUED A CALL FOR AMBULANCES TO GO TO THE PLAZA DE BOLIVAR AND FOR VOLUNTEERS TO GIVE BLOOD FOR THE WOUNDED -- LENGTHY FIGHTING IN THE PALACE WAS REPORTEDLY DUE TO FIERCE M-19 RESISTANCE ALSO THE FIRES INSIDE THE BUILDING AT VARIOUS MOMENTS OBLIGED GOVERNMENT FORCES TO PULL BACK APPARENTLY M-19 USED THESE CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 BOGOTA 13811 072354Z WITHDRAWALS TO RECOVER GROUND PREVIOUSLY LOST AFTER BEING PENNED WITHIN A_SMALL AREA OF THE FOURTH AND THIRD FLOORS AT ONE POINT GUERRILLAS WERE LATER ENCOUNTERED IN ISOLATED HIDEOUTS VIRTUALLY THROUGH THE LARGE BUILDING FINAL CASUALTY FIGURES NOT YET AVAILABLE 5 EMBASSY MATTERS -- THREAT CALL AT BNC BARRANQUILLA THIS MORNING THE BNC AT BARRANQUILLA RECEIVED A TELEPHONE BOMB THREAT FROM A CALLER WHO SAID ALL OF YOU WILL EXPLODE TOO A SEARCH WAS CONDUCTED WITH NEGATIVE RESULTS AND APPROPRIATE LOCAL OFFICIALS WERE ADVISED UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED -- FOLLOWING UP ON EMBASSY RESTRICTIONS REPORTED THE MARINE CORPS BALL SCHEDULED NOVEMBER 9 EARLIER HAS BEEN POSTPONED y LOCAL FLAVOR AMIDST THE CRISIS OVER THE PALACE 6 OF JUSTICE ATTACK THE PREVIOUSLY-ANNOUNCED COCKTAIL IN HONOR OF THE SOVIET NATIONAL DAY TOOK PLACE AS SCHEDULED THE AFTERNOON OF NOVEMBER 7 AT THE USSR EMBASSY EMBASSY BOGOTA WAS REPRESENTED IN LINE WITH DEPARTMENTAL GUIDANCE BY ONE FIRST SECRETARY EMBOFF NOTICED INCREASED SECURITY AROUND THE EMBASSY AND ASKED IF THIS REFLECTED THE CURRENT INCIDENT SOVIET OFFICER ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE SOVIET EMBASSY WAS PROBABLY NOT A PRIME TARGET BUT ADDED THAT WITH SO MANY DIFFERENT LINEAS POLITICAS IN THIS COUNTRY EVEN THE SOVIETS CAN NOT RULE OUT THE CHANCE THAT SOME GROUP WILL MAKE AN ATTEMPT GILLESPIE CONFIDENTIAL NNNN UNCLASSIFIED