IREVIEW AUTHORITY Paul 3 a PAGE D1 OF 32 BOGOTA D3971 RD OF US 2428472 UNCLASSIFIED US Department of State Case No Doc No 006501685 Date 08 02 2018 RELEASE IN FULL NGDMING TELEGRAM Department of State cams LAME PM SNBS2BS BOGOTA 93971 RN OF D3 2423171 SHDS238 ACTION ARA-RU INFO LOG-DD AGDA-IH NUDE-UV INLB-DI CINE-DD OASY-BD SRPP-DD DS-DD EUR-GD H-DI L-DD ADS-DD N-DD NSAE-BB NSGE-DD PA-BD PN-BD PBS-BB P-DA SGT-BO SP-DD SS-DD USIE-OO PUB-DD USCG-DD DRL-DS ID2GH 242D482 I2D 242D2TZ APR SI FN ANENBASSY BOGOTA TO SECSTATE HASHDC 6118 INFO NSC NASHDG USIA HASHDG 2142 SECDEF HASHDC SEGDEF HASNDCIIOSBEPSIL DIRNSA FT GEORGE MEADE MD DIA HASHDC CIA HASNDC USCINCSO DUARRY HEIGHTS PN DEPT OF JUSTICE HASHDC AHENBASSY LIMA BOGOTA STATE FOR ARAIAND DRL EDRIRPH INFITZPATRICKI NSC FOR JANES DODBINS ONDCP FOR JANET CRIST JUSTICE FOR CRIM DARREN RICHARD AND NDDSIVAN VLIET USIA FOR AN IIGAR E D 12958 DECL DII2IID2 TAGS PIER PHUN PINR PINS PGOV SNAR CO SUBJECT ANTIDGUIA CONGRESSNAN ON GUERRILLA AND PARANILITARY VIOLENCE REF BOGOTA 386R I IV CLASSIFIED BY POLIECOHOFF PEG HILLINGHAN REASON 1 5IDI 2 GI SUNNARY POLIECONOFF NET APRIL 23 HITN CONSERVATIVE CONGRESSMAN JORGE ALVEIRO VALENCIA HHO DEGRIED HIS FELLOH REPRESENTATIVES FOR FALLING TO TAKE THEIR LEGISLATIVE HORK SERIOUSLY HE ALSO DESCRIBED A DIRE SECURITY SITUATION IN RURAL EASTERN THE MILITARY AND GUERRILLAS TEND TO AVOID DIRECT CONFRONTATIONS HITN EACH PARAMILITARIES STEP INTO THE BREACH KILLING INNOGENT CIVILIANS IN THEIR RAKE VALENCIA SAID SONE CONVIUIRS PROVIDE INFORMATION TO PARANILITARIES BECAUSE THE LATTER HILL TAKE ACTION MORE OFTEN THAN THE MILITARY PROSECUTORS ARE REPORTEDLY INTINIDATED INTO FREEING ARRESTED CVERRILLAS LIKE NANY COLONBIANS HE PRAISED PRESIDENT SUCCESSFUL DECISION TO RESCUE THE HOSTAGES AT THE JAPANESE EHBASSY END SUMMARY 3 LC POLIECONOFF AND POLITICAL FSN NET APRIL 23 HITH CONSERVATIVE GONGRESSNAN JORGE ALVEIRO VALENCIA CARDOHA OE AT THE REQUEST VALENCIA A DENTIST AND RANCHER IS A IALTERNATEI FOR ANOTHER CONSERVATIVE CONGRESSNAN JUAN IGNACIO GASTRILLOH ROLDAN A NENCONER NNO IS ONLY SERVING DURING THE CURRENT LEGISLATIVE PERIOD IMARCH 2B VALENCIA HAD SONEHHAT OF A SMITH GOES TO REACTION TO THE VAGARIES OF THE COLOMBIAN CONGRESS NE DEGRIED HIS NABITUAL ABSENTEEISM AND SAID HE HAS SO BY THEIR LACK OF SERIOUSNESS THAT HE HAS TENPTED TO RETURN HOME TO BEFORE THE END OF THE SESSION 4 TC VALENCIA HAD BEEN A GUEST THO HEEKS PREVIOUSLY AT AN RECEPTION FDR HEADERS OF CONGRESS AND SAID HE HAD BEEN INPRESSED BY THE DEPTH OF VARIOUS OF THE DETERIORATING SECURITY SITUATION IN COLOMBIA HE GRITICIZED HIS FELLOH LEGISLATORS FOR LEAVING OR THEIR DEPARTNENTAL CAPITAL CITIES ADDING THAT HAVE NO IDEA HON BAD THE VIOLENCE IS IN RURAL FOR THE NEXT NINETY HINUTES VALENCIA STRICTLY PROTECT RECOVHTED HIS PERSONAL EXPERIENCES AS A RURAL LANDOHNER AND CONMUNITY LEADER DESCRIBING BEING KIDNAPPED BY BOTH CVERRILLAS AND PARANILITARIES SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE MEETING HE VRGED POLOFF AND FSN NOT TO REVEAL HHAT HE HAS SAYING SINCE HIS CANDOR HAS 5 VALENCIA SAID THAT RURAL SECURITY COOPERATIVES ICONVIVIRSI ARE SUPPOSED TO PROVIDE INTELLIGENCE TO THE ARMED FORCES HOHEVER THIS PROCESS DOES NOT REALLY HORN HE DECLARED AND SONE CONVIVIRS REPORTEDLY NON PASS INFORNATIOH TO PARAMILITARY GROUPS INSTEAD HHER POLOFF ASKED HIM TO EXPLAIN VALENCIA STATED THAT IF A CONVIVIR TELLS THE ARMED FORCES ABOUT A SVSPECTED GUERRILLA IN THEIR COMMUNITY AND THE ARNED FORCES ARREST THIS INDIVIDUAL AND TURN HIM OVER TO A REGIONAL PROSECUTOR OTHER GUERRILLAS TNREATEN THE LIFE OR INTIHIDATE COMNDNITY RESIDENTS INTO SIGNING A PETITION TO SECURE THE RELEASE AFTER A HNILE VALENCIA SAID CONVIVIRS COHCLUBE THAT THERE IS NO POINT IN ASKING THE ARMED FORCES TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST GUERRILLAS HE SAID THAT HHEN HE TOLD THE COHMANDER OF THE NEAREST ARNY BASE ABOUT A NEARBY CUERRILLA ROABBLOCK THE OFFICER REPLIED THAT HE HOULD NOT SEEK A CONFROHTATION HITN THE GUERRILLAS BECAUSE IF ANY HERE KILLED THE OFFICER AND HIS TROOPS ROULD FACE SANCTIONS FOR VIOLATING HUMAN RIGHTS G ICI VALENCIA REPORTED THAT LOCAL LANDOHNERS DISGUSTED NITH CONSTANT SHAKEDOHNS THREATS AND KIDNAPPING ATTENPTS AND FRUSTRATED BY THE SEENING PARALYSIS SEE NO ALTERNATIVE BUT TO HIRE PARANILITARIES TO PROTECT THEM VALENCIA DECLARED HE SAID THAT HE PERSONALLY NNOHS DE AT LEAST ONE INCIDENT IH HHICH THE NILITARY IN HIS DISTRICT INACEO AND SAN ROGUE IN EASTERN ANTIOOVIAI COLLABORATED BY ABANDONING CHECKPOINTS TO ALLOH CARLOADS OF ARNED PARANILITARIES TO PASS BY UNNINDERED LOOK THE OTHER VALENCIA ASSERTED ROHEVER HE HAS UNAHARE OE NORE CONCRETE COOPERATION DETHEEN PARAMILITARIES AND LOCAL MILITARY UNITS VALENCIA BECLARED THAT HOST PEOPLE RANT TO SEE THE DEFEAT AND DO NOT CARE IF THIS IS ACCONPLISHED BY THE ARMED FORCES PARANILITARIES AN ATONIG POLOFF ASKED IF NARGOTRAFFIGKERS IN THE REGION FINANCE THE PARAHILITARIES VALENCIA REPLIED THAT THEY PROBABLY DID ADDING THAT HOST PEOPLE HITN PROPERTY TO DEFEND NO MATTER HHAT THE SOURCE OF THEIR HEALTH TENDED TO SUPPORT PARAMILITARIES 7 VALENCIA SAID HE HAS KIDNAPPED SEVERAL YEARS AGO FOR A HEEK BY GUERRILLAS THE LATTER DID NOT DEMAND A HANSON BUT RATHER HELD VALENCIA NHILE THEY A LOCAL DISPUTE IN HHICN NE HAD BEEN INVOLVED AT THE END OF THE REEK THE GUERRILLA COMNANDER RELEASED VALENCIA SAYING HE HAD BEEN THE GUERRILLA CONTINUED SOMEONE ELSE IN THE TOHN HOULD BE PUNISHED FOR HONORS AND RELATED TO THE DISPUTE THE FOLLOVING DAY ONE OF HAS MURDERED AND A GUERRILLA SUBSEODENTLY INFORNED VALENCIA THAT THIS HAS IN FACT THE INDIVIDUAL TARGETED FOR REPRISAL 8 LC VALENCIA HAS DETAINED IN OCTOBER 1996 BY TEN OR TNELVE ARNED UNIFORMED NEN HHO FORGED NIM OUT OF HIS CAR TIED HIS HANDS BEHIND HIS BACK HELD RIFLES TO HIS HEAD AND THREATENED TO KILL NIH IE HE REFUSED TO ADMIT TO HEING A GVERRILLA GOLLABDRATDR VALENCIA DENIED THE CHARGES EVEN NHEN A HOODED NAN PURPORTING TO BE A GUERRILLA ACCUSED HIM OF HELPING TO RIDE NEAPOHS ON HIS RANCH HHEN THE MAN REMOVED HIS HOOD VALENCIA REALITED HE HAS NOT A GUERRILLA OUT RATHER ONE OF THE PARAHILITARIES IN DISGUISE AND DAD USED THIS PLOY IN AN ATTENPT TO FORCE NIH TO GONEESS VALENCIA SAID THAT TERRIFIED FOR HIS LIFE HE OFFERED UNCLASSIFIED us Department of State Doc No 306501685 Date 08 02 2018 UNCLASSIFIED US Department of State Case No Doc No 006501685 Date 08 02 2018 CONFIDENTIAL INCUMING I TELEGHAM Department of State PAGE B2 OF DR BOGUTA 3357 DD OF DH THROTTZ BOGDTA NB OF 53 2429471 3359233 HIS CAPTORS MONEY THEY LAUGHED AND SAID THEY HAD PLENTY OF HONEY AND HEAPONSI HNAT THEY NANTED HAS INFORHATION VALENCIA REPEATED THAT HE HAD NO INFORMATION NHAT SAVED HIM IN THE END ACCORDING TO VALENCIA HERE SOME DOCUMENTS IN HIS BRIEFCASE THAT SNONED HE KNEN GOVERNOR ALVARO URIBE VELEZ SAYING YOU NHOH HIS CAPTORS RELEASED HIM AND NAVE HOT BOTHERED HIM SINCE D ICI POLOFF ASKED IF THIS MEANT THAT GOVERNOR URIBE HAS CLAHDESTINE LINKS TO PARAMILITARIES VALENCIA NNO ADMIRES URINE EVEN THOUGH THEY HAIL FROM OPPOSING POLITICAL PARTIES SAID ND NE DREH A DIAGRAM TO SHON JNE HEB OF RELATIONSHIPS BETHEEN THE GOVERNOR GONVIVIRS LANDONNERS PARAMILITARIES AND GUERRILLAS ACCORDING TO VALENCIA URIBE STRONGLY SUPPORTS THE CONVIVIRS AND RATES THE GUERRILLAS IN PART BECAUSE THE LATTER MURDERED HIS FATHER URIBE HAS TIES TO LOCAL CATTLE RAHCHERS AND OTHER LANDONHERS AND HAS HIMSELF A CATTLE RANCHER THESE LAHDONNERS IN TURN PAY PARAHILITARIES TO GO AFTER GUERRILLAS HONEVER VALENCIA INSISTED URIBE HIMSELF IS AND AND IS NOT INVOLVED HITH PARAMILITARIES ALTHOUGH THE LATTER RESPECT HIM FOR HIS GUERRILLA STANCE AND BELIEVE THEY SHARE A COMMON VALENCIA ALSO SAID THAT SOHE CONVIVIRS PROBABLY COOPERATE ACTIVELY PARAHILITARIES POLOFE ASKED VALENCIA IF THE MEN NHO RETAINED HIM HERE PART OF CARLOS ACCU IAUTODEFEHSAS CAMPESIHAS DE CORDOBA URABAI VALENCIA LAUGHED RATHER BITTERLY AND SAID TD LG VALENCIA SAID THAT PEOPLE NNO COOPERATE HITH GUERRILLAS GENERALLY DO SO OUT OF INTIMIDATION RATHER THAN BECAUSE THEY IDENTIFY HITH THEIR IDEOLOGY IF A FARMER HAS THENTY CONS VALENCIA SAID THE GUERRILLAS COME ALONG AND DEHANO ONE THE FORMER HAS NO CHOICE OUT TO COMPLY POLOFF ASKED IF PARAMILITARIES PUNISN PEOPLE FOR THIS KIND OF COERCED COOPERATION THE ONE BAD THING ABOUT VALENCIA REPLIED ARE VERY CRUEL AND OFTEN CO AFTER PEOPLE NHO DESERVE ESTIMATED THAT IN THE DISTRICT IN NNICH HE LIVES ABOUT TOO OF THE INHABITANTS HAVE BEEN MURDERED IN THE PAST YEAR OF THOSE TDD ACCORDING TO VALENCIA ABOUT TEN HERE GUERRILLAS TEN HERE ACTIVE GUERRILLA SUPPORTERS AND THE REST HERE OF UHEAIR REPRISALS NE DESCRIBED THE BY PARAMILITARIES HEAR SAN ROGUE OF AN ELDERLY FARM HORKER HELD THE FUNERAL FOR HIS BODY ON MONDAY AND FOR HIS HEAD ON VALENCIA SAID HE ADDED THAT PARAMILITARIES USE BARBARIC TECHNIQUES LINE HACNING THEIR VICTIMS NITH MACHETES TO REINFORCE THEIR MESSAGE THAT COOPERATIHG NITH GUERRILLAS IS UHACGEPTABLE AND DANGEROUS 11 VALENCIA OPINED THAT THE RECENT ANNOUNCEMENT ISEE REFTELI THAT PARAMILITARIES HAD FORMED A NATIONAL COORDINATING GROUP SIGHALLED THEIR INTEREST IN TAKING PART IN EVENTUAL PEACE NEGOTIATIONS RECEIVING AMNESTY IN THE PROCESS AND PAVING THE HAY TO FUTURE PARTICIPATION IN THE POLITICAL ARENA HE SAID THAT CARLOS CASTANO IN PARTICULAR HAS POLITICAL AHBITIONS AND HOULD LINE TO BECOME THE LEADER OF PARAMILITARIES HATIONHIDE 12 CI VALENCIA COMMENTED THAT NEITHER GUERRILLAS NOR THE NILITARY ACTIVELY SEEK DIRECT CONERONTATION NITH EACH OTHER IN GENERAL HE SAID IF EITHER SIDE HEARS THE OTHER IS IN THE VICIHITY THEY TEHD TO TAKE OFF IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION THE GUERRILLAS PREFER HIT AND RUN OPERATIONS AGAINST POLICE STATIONS DR ISOLATED ARMY FACILITIES HE NOTED THE MEDIA CONFLICT AND ACCEPTS NITHOUT QUESTION POLICE AND MILITARY CLAIMS ABOUT BEING ATTACHED DY OVERNHELMINGLY SUPERIOR GUERRIILA FORCES VALENCIA DISCOUNTED TYPICAL NEHSEAPER ACCOUNTS DEPICTING ASSAULTS BY 2ND GUERRILIAS AGAINST A POLICE STATION OR ARMY PATROL HE SAID THAT HE HAS RARELY SEEN SIGNS OF MORE THAN 25 CUERRIILAS ON PATROL IN THE RURAL AREA NHERE NE LIVESI THE SECURITY FORCES EXAGGERATE IN ORDER TO ENHANCE THEIR REPUTATION 13 IO BY CONTRAST VALENCIA DECLARED PARAMILITARIES ACTIVELY BEEN TO ENGAGE GUERRILLAS ION MORE COMMONLY SUSPECTEO COLLABORATORSI HE DESCRIBED A RECENT INCIDENT IN HIS DISTRICT INVOLVING FIVE PARAHILITARIES NNO HERE TOLD THAT A GROUP OF CUERRILLAS SEVERAL MILES ANAY ACCORDING TO VALENCIA NHO HEARD THE STORY FROM AN EYENITNESS THE PARAMILITARIES RETURNED SEVERAL HOURS LATER DISAPPOINTED THAT THEY HAD ONLY BEEN ABLE TO SCARE ANAY RATHER THAN NIPE OUT THE THIRTY GUERRILLAS THEY EHCOUNTERED 11 CI VALENCIA CLOSED BY PRAISING PERUVIAH PRESIDENT BOLD RESCUE ACTION TO FREE THE HOSTAGES IN THE JAPANESE EMBASSY IN LIMA PDLOEF ALSO SPOKE NITH NHO EXPRESSED ADMIRATION FOR DECISIVENESS AGAINST THE MRTA SAYING NHAT NE NEED ONE HEALTHY BOGOTA MATRON TOLD POLOFF KILLED ALL FOURTEEN OF THE GUERRILLAS IN THAT NE SHOULD DO THAT IN 15 ICI COMMENT DESCRIPTION OF THE MULTIFACETED AND VIOLENT STRUGGLE IN EASTERN HAS THE RING OF TRUTH ECHOING SIMILAR ACCOUNTS NE HAVE HEARD FROM OTHER INTERLOCUTORS HE SEEMED TO ACCEPT PARAMILITARISM AS AN INEVITABLE ALTHOUGH TERRIBLE COHSEOUENCE OF THE ARMED UHNILLINGNESS OR INABILITY TO RACE A VIGOROUS CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE GUERRILLAS THE AOMIRATION HERE OF THE PERUVIAN BOLD ACTION AGAINST THE MRTA TERRORISTS REFLECTS NISH FOR A MAGIC BULLET TO SOLVE THEIR SERIOUS SECURITY PROBLEMS FRECNETTE CONFIDENTIAL UNCLASSIFIED US Department of State Case No Doc No C06501685 Date 08 02 2018 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 nsarchiv@gwu edu