UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No M-2007-04237 Doc No C06501352 Date 08 02 2018 IKtLtAJt IN 1-ULLI 11'1111 1 crn nrr REVIEW AUTHORITY Paul Hilburn Senior Reviewer Department of Stat PAGE BI OF 94 BOGOTA 91345 90 OF 06 212311Z ACTION ARA-00 I I SHB3060 INFO LOG-09 ACDA-08 ACRE-00 INLO-91 AID-91 ACO-00 INL-01 OASY-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-99 OIGO-0I TEDE-90 IHR-09 1-09 -ADS-00 PM-00 ASUS-91 PMB-00 DSCC-00 ORL-09 1024W ------------------0668ED 0123131 38 R 01231OZ AUG 97 FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA TO SECSTATE WASHDC 7882 INFO SECDEF WASHDC DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHOC NOIC JOHNSTOWN PA SECDEF WASNDC OCDEPS NSC WASHDC USIA WASHDC 2789 DEPT OF TREASURY WASNDC N COMING GRAM BOGOTA 07345 99 OF 96 0123111 S88306B 2 C A REVIEW OF BEDOYA'S PREVIOUS POSITIONS BEFORE ASSUMING COMMAND OF THE MILITARY FORCES GIVES SOME CLUE TO HOW HE WAS VIEWED BY HIS CIVILIAN SUPERIORS AS MILITARY ATTACHE IN WASHINGTON HE OCCUPIED A POSITION TRADITIONALLY HELD BY A SENIOR OFFICER WHOSE CAREER IS NEAR AN END AND WHO IS BEING LET DOWN EASY RECENT PRESS REPORTS HAVE CLARIFIED THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF BEDOYA ' S SELECTION IT WAS FERNANDO BOTERO SAMPER'S CAMPAIGN MANAGER AND THEN-NEWLY APPOINTED DEFENSE MINISTER WHO INSISTED MG BEDOYA BE BROUGHT BACK TO ASSUME COMMAND OF THE ARMY A DEMAND WHICH SAMPER RESISTED VIGOROUSLY BEFORE FINALLY GIVING IN BEDOYA SERVED AS ARMY COMMANDER FOR A YEAR BEFORE HIS PROMOTION TO FULL GENERAL AND ANOTHER YEAR BEFORE TAKING CHARGE OF THE MILITARY FORCES IN DECEMBER 1996 ----------------------------------- ------------PUBL IC RECORD OF THE SAMPER-BEDOYA CONFRONTATION ------------------------------------------------ DEA WASHDC DIRONDCP WASHDC DIRNSA FT GEORGE G MEADE MD FBI WASHDC DIA WASHDC USCINCSO QUARRY HEIGHTS PM 3 C ON JULY 9 1995 A MEMO FROM THE MILITARY HIGH COMMAND TO DEFENSE MINISTER FERNANDO BOTERO WAS LEAKED TO THE PRESS IN THAT MEMO THE GENERALS DISAGREED WITH THE PLAN TO DEMILITARIZE LA URIBE AN AREA OF GREAT SIGNIFICANCE TO BOTH THE ARMY AND THE GUERRILLAS AS A FORMER INSURGENT STRONGHOLD WHICH THE ARMY HAD TAKEN BACK BY CIA WASHDC T- -tR-ET-BOGOTA 007345 STATE FOR ARA AHD INL AND ULEI NSC FOR JAMES DOBBINS ONDCP FOR JANET CRIST SBUTHCBM Also FOR POLAR DEA FOR OF OFL OC AX JUSTICE FOR GRIM WARREN RICHARD AND HDDS VAN VLIET FBI FOR CID IRS IRU2 USIA FOR AR I GAR TREASURY FOR FINCEN E O 12958 07 31 02 TAGS PREL PGOV PHUM MARR MASS SHAR PINR• KJUS KCRM CO SUBJECT BEDOYA'S DEPARTURE NOW WHY WHAT IT MEANS REF A BOGOTA 7119 B BOGOTA 7122 U FORCE ON JULY 19 SAMPER REMINDED PARTICIPANTS AT THE SIXTIETH BIRTHDAY OF THE NAVAL ACADEMY 'I AM IN COMMAND HERE ON APRIL 15 1996 GUERRILLAS SLAUGHTERED THIRTY SOLDIERS RIDING IN AN UNPROTECTED CONVOY NEAR PUERRES MARINO DEPARTMENT ON AUGUST 30 1996 ELEMENTS OF THE COLOMBIAN REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES FARC ATTACKED THE MILITARY BASE AT LAS DEL'ICIAS PUTUMAYO LEAVING 31 DEAD AND KIDNAPPING 6B SOLDIERS BEDOYA BLAMED THE DISASTER ON FAILURE OF INTELLIGENCE BUT PRESS ACCOUNTS ALSO SUGGESTED FAILURE OF LEADERSHIP ON NOVEMBER 13 1996 THE FARC PROPOSED DEMILITARIZATION OF 13 890 SQUARE KILOMETERS IN CAQUETA AS A CONDITION FOR FREEING THE CAPTIVES ON DECEMBER 6 THE MILITARY FORCES BEGAN ON CIVILIAN GOVERNMENT ORDERS TO DEMILITARIZE UNILATERALLY A PART OF CAQUETA WHICH HAD NOT BEEN NEGOTIATED WITH THE FARC AHD THE LATTER REFUSED TO PLAY ALONG THAT EFFORT DIED GUILLERMO ALBERTO GONZALEZ WAS NAMED DEFENSE MINISTER ON JANUARY 10 1991 AS BEDOYA THEN ACTING MINISTER AFFIRMED THAT A MINISTER OF DEFENSE MUST BE SPOTLESS GONZALEZ TOOK OFFICE ON FEBRUARY 3 SIX WEEKS LATER HE WAS GONE AMID ACCUSATIONS OF HAVING TAKEN MARCO MONEY FOR A POLITICAL CAMPAIGN BEDOYA WAS AGAIN ACTING MINISTER CALLING FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF MILITIAS TO FIGHT THE GUERRILLAS CLASSIFIED BY POUECONOFF RICHARD HAWKINS REASON 1 5 0 1 C SUMMARY GEN HAROLD BEDOYA'S SUDDEN DISMISSAL AS CHIEF OF THE COLOMBIAN MILITARY FORCES BY PRESIDENT ERNESTO SAMPER ON JULY 24 HAD BEEN GESTATING A LONG WHILE BUT THE TIMING CAUGHT EVERYONE BY SURPRISE AS THE DUST SETTLES FROM THE POLITICAL NEAR-CRISIS IT BECOMES INCREASINGLY CLEAR THAT SAMPER DID MUCH MORE IN FIRING BEDOYA THAN GET RID OF A POWERFUL AND STUBBORN OPPONENT IN FACT THAT DISMISSAL SIGNALED A STRONG PUSH BY SAMPER AND HIS CLOSEST SUPPORTERS TO LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR A PEACE PROCESS IN COLOMBIA SAMPER WILL BE REMEMBERED BY VIRTUE OF HIS MARCO ASSOCIATIONS THE INTERNATIONAL DISREPUTE HE HAS BROUGHT TO COLOMBIA AND HIS FAILURE TO DELIVER ON CENTRAL PROMISES OF HIS CAMPAIGN SUCH AS IMPROVEMENT OF LIVING CONDITIONS LOWERING OF INFLATION AND GENERATION OF NEW EMPLOYMENT IN THE AUTUMN OF THE SINGLE TERM ALLOWED HIM UNDER THE CONSTITUTION HE IS PLAYING HIS LAST HIGH CARD IN AN URGENT BID TO BE ASSOCIATED IN HISTORY WITH HIS EFFORTS TOWARD PEACE AND IN FAVOR OF HUMAN RIGHTS SAMPER AND HIS ADMINISTRATION WILL PUSH HARD ON THE PEACE PROCESS WHICH FOR NOW HAS OVERWHELMING PUBLIC SUPPORT END SUMMARY UNTIL CURRENT DEFMIN ECHEVERRI ASSUMED OFFICE ON APRIL 10 ON APRIL 24 SAMPER NAMED JOSE HOE RIOS AS GOVERNMENT NEGOTIATOR FOR THE RELEASE OF THE PRISONERS BEDOYA GRUMBLED PRIVATELY BUT LOUDLY THAT AN INSURGENT SYMPATHIZER HAD ND PLACE IN THE GOC JUNE 15 SAN THE LIBERATION Of THE 60 SOLDIERS OF LAS DEIICIAS AND ANOTHER TEN MARINES CAPTURED IN CHOCO AT EARTAGENA DEL CHAIRA AMID A LARGE ZONE DEMILITARIZED FOR 32 DAYS AS AGREED WITH THE FARC BEDOYA SAID PUBLICLY ON JUNE 16 THAT THE HANDOVER EVENT WAS A CIRCUS WITH A LOT OF CLOWNS HE DID NOT DENY THAT HIGH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS WERE INCLUDED IN THAT CHARACTERIZATION OH JUNE 17 JOSE HOE RIOS CAVED BEDOYA'S WORDS 'PURE ENVY ON JUNE 18 SAMPER RECEIVED THE NEWLY RELEASED SOLDIERS AT THE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE WHILE THE GENERALS STAYED AWAY ON JUNE 19 IN RESPONSE TO A LEADING PRESS QUESTION BEDOYA SAID HE WAS READY 10 SERVE THE COJOMBIAN PEOPLE IN ANY WAY THEY WISHED INCLUDING AS A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE RUNUP TO THE CRISIS -------------------------- WHY WAS BEDOYA IN COMMAND -------------------------- 4 ICI OH JUNE 18 THE EVENING BEFORE BEDOYA SHOWED SOME OPENNESS TO A PRESIDENTIAL BID HE MET IN THE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE WITH SAMPER DEFENSE MINISTER ECHEVERRI JOSE HOE RIOS PEACE ADVISER UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No M-2007-04237 Doc No C06501352 Date 08 02 2018 UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No M-2007-04237 Doc No C06501352 Date 08 02 2018 SECRET Department qf State SHB3060 PAGE 62 OF 04 BOGOTA 87345 00 OF 66 0123112 DANIEL GARCIA-PEHA AND TWO INUESTIGATORS THE MEETING'S PURPOSE WAS TO CONDUCT A SOBER ANALYSIS OF LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE LIBERATION RIGS EMPHASIZED THREE POINTS THE MYTH THAT THE FARC WOULD NEVER NEGOTIATE WITH THE SAMPER GOVERNMENT WAS DEAD THE GOC AHD THE GUERRILLAS HAD TESTED EACH OTHER'S INTENTIONS AND BOTH HAD COMPLIED TO THE LETTER WITH THE NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT AND THE SUPPORT OF THE COLOMBIAN PEOPLE FOR THE AGREEMENT WAS IMPRESSIVE SAMPER IMMEDIATELY ANNOUNCED HE WAS GOING TO BEGIN A PEACE PROCESS INCOMING TELEGRAM BOGOTA 07345 98 OF 06 012311Z SH63060 APPARENTLY MISCALCULATED RIGHT TO THE END HIS BEWILDERED AND SORROWFUL SUBORDINATES GREETED HIS FINAL EXIT FROM HIS OFFICE WITH A MOVING FAREWELL DEMONSTRATION SERRANO NOTED THAT GENERALS ALIGNED WITH BONETT GOT THE COMMAND POSTS AND THOSE OF BEDOYA'S CAMP SUCH AS RAMIREZ GOT SENIOR ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS THE REST OF THE MILITARY LOYAL BUT OUT OF STEP A FEW DAYS BEFORE HE HAD TOLD THE GENERALS IN A PRIVATE MEETING HE UNDERSTOOD THE DIFFICULT POSITION THE DEMILITARIZATION PUT THEN IN BUT AFTER EIGHT MONTHS NO OTHER SOLUTION WAS IN SIGHT DESPITE THEIR MANY ASSURANCES THAT THEY WOULD FIND THE CAPTURED SOLDIERS THE MILITARY NEVER DELIVERED AS SAMPER WENT PUBLIC ON JUNE 23 WITH HIS INTENTION TO PURSUE PEACE BEDOYA SAID ONE COULDN'T SIT DOWN WITH 'HARCOBANDITS ' NOTE MG BONETT THEN ARMY COMMANDER 6 PUBLICLY SUPPORTED THIS POSITION END NOTE OTHER EVENTS HEATED CONFRONTATION THAT IS WHY WHEN THE GENERALS SAT DOWN TOGETHER ON THE ALREADY SIMMERING POT INCLUDING BOHETT'S EXONERATION OF FORMER THE EVENING OF JULY 24 THE BIG QUESTION WAS NOT LET'S COUP BUT WHAT TO 00 BEDOYA MUST HAVE KNOWN THE DEPTH OF LOYALTY HIS FELLOW OFFICERS FEEL TOWARD THEIR COUNTRY AND THEIR DUTY SO WHAT COULD HE HAVE BEEN THINKING WHEN HE DEFIED SAMPER ALL REPORTS INDICATE THAT THE MILITARY COMMAND AS A BODY WAS OFFENDED AND INJURED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE FIRING OF THEIR COMMANDER HOWEVER IN FACT GENERAL YANINE OF INVOLVEMENT IN A PARAMILITARY MASSACRE AND THE OPEN LETTER TO SAMPER FROM THE HEADS OF THE FOUR GREAT ECONOMIC CONGLOMERATES SUPPORTING A PEACE INITIATIVE AMONG OTHERS MEANWHILE THE FARC AND THE NATIONAL LIBERATION ARMY ELN CONTINUED GAINING GROUND KILLING TWENTY SOLDIERS IN A HELICOPTER SHOOTDOWN IN ARAUCA COMMENT ANOTHER CASE OF MILITARY POOR PLANNING AND INEPT LEADERSHIP END COMMENT AND MAINTAINING STEADY PRESSURE BY ATTACKS ROADBLOCKS AND KIDNAPPINGS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY TOE TO TOE CNP GENERAL SERRANO'S VERSION C BEDOYA'S VIEWS ARE WIDELY SHARED AMONG THE SENIOR MILITARY COMMAND BONETT IS NOT THE ONLY OTHER GENERAL WITH A VISCERAL DISTASTE FOR ANY ACCOMMODATION 10 THE GUERRILLAS HOWEVER THERE WAS NEVER ANY DANGER OF A COUP DURING THE SAMPER-BEDOYA THE MILITARY HAS FOR SEVERAL YEARS BEEN OUT OF STEP WITH THE TIMES AND THE NEEDS OF THE COUNTRY THE GENERALS HAVE OPPOSED PEACE PLANS WHILE FAILING TO ESTABLISH ANY MILITARY STRATEGY FOR CONFRONTING THE GUERRILLA THREAT INDEED UNDER BEDOYA AND BOHETT THE ARMY'S RECORD IN THE FIELD AGAINST THE GUERRILLAS HAS CONTINUED TO BE ONE OF REACTION AND IS WORSE THAN EVER BUT IN FAIRNESS TO THE ARMY THE LACK OF A MILITARY STRATEGY BEGINS WITH AN APPARENT GOVERNMENT-WIDE FAILURE TO UNDERSTAND AND COUNTER THE GUERRILLAS' AGENDA 5 S AMBASSADOR MET WITH NATIONAL POLICE DIRECTOR MG SERRANO ON SATURDAY JULY 26 AND DISCUSSED THE BEDOYA DISMISSAL SERRANO HAD GATHERED CONSIDERABLE INFORMATION ON THE EVENTS AFTER THE FACT ACCORDING TO SERRANO BEDOYA AND BONETT HAD SERIOUS DIFFERENCES BEHIND THE SCENES SERRAND RECALLED THE RUMORS THAT BEDOYA AND BONETT WERE CIRCULATING LETTERS EACH AIMED AT GAINING SUPPORTERS AMONG THE GENERALS AND SAID THOSE RUMORS WERE TRUE COMMENT OTHER EMBASSY SOURCES STILL CANNOT CONFIRM INDEPENDENTLY THE ------------------------------- EXISTENCE OF THE LETTERS END COMMENT SERRANO WONDERED ALOUD TO PROBABLY NOT OPPOSE SAMPER PUBLICLY BUT HE MAY BE NO MORE WHAT EXTENT BONETT COOPERATED IN GETTING RID OF BEDOYA HE SAID THE MOVE TO REPLACE BEDOYA HAD BEEN PLANNED FOR EARLIER IN JULY AND TRACTABLE IN PRIVATE THAN WAS BEDOYA BONETT HAS A REPUTATION FOR WOULD NAVE INCLUDED DISMISSAL OF CENERALS BONETT AND RAMIREZ A BEDOYA LOYALIST COMMENT RAMIREZ IS FORMER INTELLIGENCE MERCURIAL TEMPERAMENT THE TIINLY VEILED MILITARY INTRANSIGENCE TOWARD CIVILIAN AUTHORITY WHIP HE AND BEDOYA EXEMPLIFY DATES BACK TO THE DAYS OF DICTATOR GENERAL ROJAS PINILLA FOLLOWING WHICH THE MILITARY ENTERED INTO A TACIT AGREEMENT WITH CIVILIAN GOVERNMENT WE WON'T TELL YOU HOW 10 RUN THE COUNTRY IF YOU LET US MANAGE MILITARY MATTERS THE RESULT WAS STAGNATION IN MILITARY THINKING AND DEAFNESS TO CUES FROM OUTSIDE THE RANKS AS AN EXAMPLE THE ARMY RESISTED THE IDEA OF COUNTERNARCOTICS OPERATIONS FOR MANY YEARS UNTIL IT BECAME OBVIOUS THAT THEY WOULD OTHERWISE RECEIVE NO DIRECTOR FOR BOTH THE ARMY AND MILITARY FORCES AND IN THE FORMER ROLE OVERSAW THE TWENTIETH INTELLIGENCE BRIGADE SUSPECTED OF MARCO PARAMILITARY AND DEATH SQUAD TIES HE IS NOW INSPECTOR GENERAL OF THE ARMY SERRANO HAS BEEN LOBBYING FOR SOME TIME TO GET RID OF RAMIREZ END COMMENT SERRANO CLAIMED NO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OF EVENTS BUT SAID 11 IS NOW CLEAR THAT THE MASS DISMISSAL WAS PUT OFF UNTIL AFTER THE INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS OF JULY 20 WHEN SAMPER ANNOUNCED PLANS TO MOVE TOWARD PEACE NEGOTIATIONS AND INSTITUTE CHANGES IN THE CODE OF MILITARY JUSTICE IT WAS ONLY WHEN BEDOYA DEFIED SAMPER'S REQUEST TO RESIGN THAT THE PRESIDENT DECIDED TO OFFER THE JOB TO BONETT AND KEEP THE OTHER GENERALS ONE INSUBORDINATE COMMANDER IS A PROBLEM TWO OR MORE WOULD CONSTITUTE A DE FACTO COUP ACCORDING TO SERRANO IN A MEETING OF MANY GENERALS LATE ON JULY 24 WHEN RETIRED GENERAL ALVARO VALENCIA ASKED BONETT IF HE WOULD ACCEPT THE TOP JOB THE LATTER CLAIMED HE WAS 100-CONFUSED TO DECIDE AND WENT HOME TWO HOURS LATER HE CALLED SAMPER TO SAY HE WOULD ACCEPT AND HE TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLEAD FOR A THIRD STAR NOTE THIS IS A FULL GENERAL IN THE COLOMBIAN ARMY ' THE COLOMBIAN MILITARY HAS NO FOURSTAR OFFICERS END NOTE SAMPER SIGNED BEDOYA'S DISMISSAL LATE AT NIGHT ON JULY 24 ON JULY 2S BEDOYA FOUND HIMSELF ALONE WITH AN AIDE IN CROCO HIS PUBLIC RECEPTION THERE CANCELLED HE ARRIVED BACK IN BOGOTA TWENTY MINUTES BEFORE BOHETT'S SWEARING-IN BEDOYA - - - - ------ FORCES OF CHANGE AND RESISTANCE -----------------------------7 S BONETT AND MOST OF HIS SENIOR MILITARY CONFRERES SHARE MANY OF BEDOYA'S VIEWS THOUGH MAYBE NOT HIS SIMPLICITY OF ANALYSIS BONETT IF HE GETS HIS THIRD STAR WILL BE IN COMMAND FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER CALENDAR YEAR AT LEAST UNTIL HIS PROMOTION HE WILL MORE U S MILITARY AID BECAUSE OF HUMAN RIGHTS CONCERNS AT THAT POINT IN CONVENTIONAL MILITARY THOUGHT AND WORD EVERY GUERRILLA BECAME A NARCOTRAFFICKER THE CURRENT MILITARY ATTITUDE TOWARD BEDOYA'S DISMISSAL AND POTENTIAL CHANGES IN THE CODE OF MILITARY JUSTICE OWES MUCH TO THIS LONGSTANDING RESISTANCE TO CHANGE -THE KEY QUESTION IS IS BONEIT THE LEADER WHO CAN BRING FLEXIBILITY AND NEW IDEAS TO THE MILITARY ON THE ANSWER HANGS HIS CAREER ALONG WITH ANY HOPE OF LURING OR DRIVING THE GUERRILLAS TO THE BARGAINING TABLE REASONS OF STATE S C SAMPER AND ECHEVERRI GAVE NO CONCRETE REASONS FOR BEDOYA'S DISMISSAL CITING ONLY REASONS OF STATE AND SAYING THAT SUCH c rnnrT UNCLASSIFIED U S ' Department of State Case No M-2007-04237 Doc No C06501352 Date 08 02 2018 UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No M-2007-04237 Doc No C06501352 Date 08 02 2018 SECRET Department of State PAGE 83 OF 84 BOGOTA 2734S BB OF 06 8123112 SUB3969 REASONS WERE HOT FOR PUBLIC CONSUMPTION IT IS CLEAR THAT PEACE ADVISORS IN THE SAMPER GOVERNMENT INSISTED NO PEACE PROCESS COULD BE STARTED WITH BEDOYA UNDERMINING 11 BEDOYA BELIEVED AND SAID THAT HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE PEACE MOVEMENT WERE THEMES ADVANCED BY I THE SUBVERSIVES HE LOBBIED CONGRESS TO BLOCK CHANGES TO COLOMBIA'S OBJECTIONABLE AND OUT-OF-DATE CODE OF MILITARY JUSTICE AND REFUSED TO ADMIT THE POSSIBILITY' THAT RECENT MILITARY DISASTERS WERE SIGNS OF INEPT COMMAND HE SAID THE ONLY REASON THE GUERRILLAS WANTED THE DEMILITARIZATION OF PART OF CAOUETA WAS TO CONDUCT DRUG TRAFFICKING THERE UNDISTURBED COMMENT REPORTS DO INDICATE INTENSIFIED MOVEMENT OF PRECURSOR CHEMICALS AND NARCOTICS PRODUCTS THROUGH THE AREA DURING DEMILITARIZATION END COMMENT WHY THE FIRING AT THIS POINT--OTHER THEORIES 9 C SEVERAL OTHER POSSIBLE REASONS FOR BEDOYA'S DISMISSAL HAVE BEEN ADVANCED HONE MAKES SENSE THE ACCUSATION THAT SAMPER FIRED HIM UNDER POLITICAL PRESSURE FROM THE GUERRILLAS IS JUST MILITARY SOUR GRAPES THE IDEA THAT THE FIRING WAS A SMOKESCREEN TO DIVERT ATTENTION FROM THE CORNERSTONE TRIAL IN MIAMI MISSES THE MARK AS WELL ATTEMPTS BY THE MINISTERS OF DEFENSE AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS TO LINK THE FIRING TO NEGOTIATIONS OVER END-USE MONITORING EUM ARE LIKEWISE UNTRUE ALTHOUGH THAT PROCESS WAS UNDOUBTEDLY ACCELERATED BY THE CHANGE OF COMMAND ALL DURING THE EUM NEGOTIATIONS BEDOYA HAD HIS DEFENSE MINISTERS INTIMIDATED NEITHER ESGUERRA GONZALEZ NOR ECHEVERRI WOULD TAKE HIM ON WITH BEDOYA'S LAWYER TRYING TO GIVE LEGAL SUBSTANCE TO HIS OBSTINACY THE MINISTERS WERE NOT BOLD ENOUGH TO BRING HIM INTO LINE COMMENT BOTERO WHO KNEW POLITICAL-MILITARY AFFAIRS WELL WAS MUCH MORE WILLING TO TAKE ON THE GENERALS BOTERO BROUGHT SERRANO BACK TO COLOMBIA FROM A SIDE TRACK AS AN ATTACHE IN WASHINGTON IN 19941 AND HE SURELY THOUGHT THAT RESCUING BEDOYA WAS AN EQUALLY WISE DECISION BOTERO WAS A HARD-LINER AGAINST THE GUERRILLAS ONE OF THOSE WHO FOUNDED THE I CONVIVIRS AND HE MAY HAVE FELT HE NEEDED AN EQUALLY FIRM GENERAL BUT BEOOYA DELIVERED NOT RESULTS BUT OBSTINACY END COMMENT BEDOYA ALSO COUNTED TOO MUCH ON SUPPORT FROM WASHINGTON IN CONFRONTING HIS BOSSES HE THOUGHT HE HAD THE SAME UNWAVERING SUPPORT ENJOYED BY NATIONAL POLICE DIRECTOR GEN SERRANO BUT THE REPUTATION OF THE POLICE IN COUNTERHARCOTICS ACTION FAR OUTSHINES THAT OF THE ARMY SAMPER CALCULATED CORRECTLY THAT BEDOYA'S ANTIGUERRILLA COMMAND RECORD PLUS HIS LACK OF SYMPATHY FOR THE USG'S HUMAN RIGHTS POLICY WOULD OBVIATE ANY USG OBJECTION BEDOYA THE MAN 10 S ACCORDING TO RECENT PRESS ANALYSES BEDOYA IS EITHER AN HONEST PATRIOT A REACTIONARY BLOCKHEAD AN INSUBORDINATE LOUT OR AN UNFORTUYATE VICTIM OF CIRCUMSTANCE ALL THESE READINGS ARE PROBABLY CORRECT BUT WHETHER ONE ADMIRED THE MAN OR DETESTED HIM A GENERAL SENSE OF SADNESS PREVAILS IN COLOMBIA IN THE AFTERMATH OF HIS DISMISSAL IN THIS SOCIETY WHERE THERE IS NO MORAL LODESTAR AND EVERYTHING IS RELATIVE FEW PROMINENT PUBLIC FIGURES STICK UP CONSISTENTLY FOR WHAT THEY BELIEVE RIGHT OR WRONC THE HONEST AND INTRACTABLE BEDOYA 010 JUST THAT BEDOYA IS AN IMPRESSIVE MAN IN STATURE AND IN BEARING AND HIS PEERS PLACE BIM AMONG THE BEST AS A SENIOR COMMANDER HOWEVER HE WAS INARTICULATE SHOWED LITTLE FLAIR FOR ANALYSIS AT LEAST IN POLITICAL TERNS AND OVERSIMPLIFIED COMPLEX ISSUES IT PAINED HIM TO ADMIT THAT MEMBERS Of THE ARMED FORCES MIGHT COMMIT HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS OR OTHER CRIMES IMPUGNING MILITARY HONOR A STRICT CONSTITUTIONALIST HE AND HIS LAWYERS USED THAT DOCUMENT AS A SHIELD TO PROTECT THE INCOMING TELEGRAM BOGOTA 07345 80 OF 06 8123112 SH83060 COMMAND ENTRUSTED TO HIM FROM CRITICISM AND CHANGE HIS HARD LINE MADE OBSERVERS OF ALL POLITICAL PERSUASIONS DOUBT THE GOVERNMENT'S ABILITY TO MOVE TOWARD NEGOTIATION HIS CONSTANT BARELY DISGUISED CONTEMPT FOR SAMPER AND THE GOC'S CONCILIATORS WAS EVENTUALLY RETURNED WITH INTEREST BY THE PRESIDENT IN EVERY GOOD AND BAD SENSE OF THE WORD HE STOOD LIKE A ROCK AS ONE FOREIGN COMMENTATOR PUT 11 BEDOYA DID HIS DUTY AS GOD GAVE PIN THE LIGHT TO SEE IT UNFORTUNATELY THE LORD GAVE HIM A DIN BULB ---------- ------------------------------THE FIRING IN CONTEXT THE BIGGER PICTURE ll IC SAMPER KNOWS THAT HIS GOVERNMENT WILL NEVER ACHIEVE PEACE IN THE SHORT TIME LEFT TO IT BUT HE THINKS HE SEES AN OPPORTUNITY TO ESTABLISH THE BASIS FOR AN EVENTUAL END TO INSURRECTION BEDOYA WAS AN INSTITUTIONAL AND PERSONAL IMPEDIMENT TO THAT BEGINNING NONETHELESS HIS FIRING CAUGHT ALL BY SURPRISE WHY BEDOYA HAD DEFIED SAMPER SO MANY TIMES HAD SO OFTEN BORDERED ON PUBLIC INSUBORDINATION AND HAD NEVER BEEN FIRED MANY PEOPLE INCLUDING BEDOYA HIMSELF CAME TO BELIEVE HE WAS UNTOUCHABLE THAT SAMPER LACKED THE GUTS TO FIRE HIM REPORTEDLY BEDOYA ASKED THE PRESIDENT HOW CAN YOU FIRE ME WHEN ONDCP DIRECTOR MCCAFFREY JUST SAID I'M A GOOD GUY BEDOYA MISCALCULATED HIS MISTAKE HAS NO DOUBT BEEN INSTRUCTIONAL FOR OTHERS WHO NIGHT FEEL INVULNERABLE POSSIBLY INCLUDING SERRANO BEDOYA IN CIVILIAN CLOTHES CONTINUES TO TALK TO THE PRESS DEMANDING TO KNOW THE REASONS FOR HIS FIRING HIS QUIXOTIC PERSISTENCE IS QUAINT TOUCHING AND INCREASINGLY RIDICULOUS DESPITE BEDOYA'S CONTINUED HINTS OF A PRESIDENTIAL BID POLLS SAY THE PUBLIC THINKS HE WAS DONE WRONG BUT FEW WOULD VOTE FOR HIM ICOMMENT BEDOYA HATED THE POLITICAL SIDE OF MILITARY FORCES COMMAND AND WOULD BE EVEN MORE UNCOMFORTABLE IN THE VIRTUAL WORLD OF CIVILIAN POLITICS END COMMENT 12 CI BUT WHERE DID SAMPER FIND THE GRIT TO DO THE DEED IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THE 1997-1996 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN COLOMBIAN PRESS ANALYSTS HAVE BEEN QUICK TO SUM UP THE SAMPER ADMINISTRATION AS A BAD DREAM FROM WHICH THE COUNTRY WILL SOON AWAKEN ONE COMMENTATOR SAID THAT ON AUGUST 9 1996 SAMPER WILL BE THE LONELIEST MAN IN SPAIN BUT SAMPER IS A CONSUMMATE POLITICIAN SUPERB AT SENSING CHANGES IN THE NATION'S MOOD HE WEIGHED HIS POSSIBLE OPTIONS AGAINST PUBLIC SENTIMENT AND THE TICKING CLOCK AND DETERMINED 10 BET THE FARM ON THE PEACE PROCESS YANKING THE MILITARY INTO FORMATION BEHIND HIM WITH THE HELP OF HIS PEACE-PROCLAIMING DEFENSE MINISTER THIS HE PROBABLY FEELS IS HIS ONE REMAINING CHANCE TO BE REMEMBERED WILL AS PRESIDENT WHILE EVERYONE DISMISSED HIM AS TOO WEAK HE RODE A WAVE OF PUBLIC SENTIMENT AND PRESS SUPPORT WHICH CARRIED HIM OVER THE ROCK IN HIS PATH ----------------------------------------------------------------SAMPER ADMINISTRATION AND GUERRILLAS--U S POLICY TOWARD COLOMBIA 13 C THE SAMPER GOVERNMENT SEEMS TO HAVE GIVEN UP HOPE FOR MILITARY SUCCESS AND OBSERVERS SHOULD NOT LOOK FOR STRONG ACTION TO GAIN A BETTER POSITION VIS-A-VIS THE GUERRILLAS THE COC WITH OVERWHELMING PUBLIC SUPPORT IS MOVING IN THE OTHER DIRECTION TOWARD PEACE NEGOTIATIONS HAVING OPENLY STATED ITS WISH TO NEGOTIATE THE GOVERNMENT HAS LOWERED ITS GUARD ITS ENEMY HAS NO REASON TO DO THE SAME AND MANY REASONS TO INCREASE ITS ATTACKS AND INCURSIONS BUT WITH LESS THAN A YEAR LEFT OF HIS MANDATE SAMPER HAS NO TIME TO FORCE HIS OPPONENTS TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE BONETT ALSO LOOKING FOR HIS PLACE IN HISTORY AS THE MILITARY PEACEMAKER WILL PROBABLY NOT UNDERMINE SAMPER THE ONLY LOSERS IN THE SHORT RUN ARE THOSE WHO ARE OUT OF STEP BEDOYA AND PERHAPS THE COLOMBIAN ARMED FORCES- IN THE LONGER RUN IF THE UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No M-2007-04237 Doc No C06501352 Date 08 02 2018 UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No M-2007-04237 Doc No C06501352 Date 08 02 2018 SECRET Department of State INC0M1NGTELEGRAM SHB3060 PAGE 01 OF 04 BOGOTA 07345 00 OF 06 012311Z MILITARY CANNOT KEEP PACE 111TH IRE CHANGING TIBESj 11 IS THE GOC AHD THE''COLONBIAN PEOPLE WHO VILL LOSE FRECHETTE f ------ SECRET UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No M-2007-04237 Doc No C06501352 Date 08 02 2018 '