P 040029Z MAR 08 FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1644 C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 000800 SUBJECT: COLOMBIAN FORCES KILL FARC'S

KEY LEADER, SPURRING REGIONAL TENSIONS Classified By: Political Counselor John S. Creamer. Reason: 1.4(b,d) ------Summary ------1. (U) Summary: The GOC announced March 1 that its military forces killed Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) Secretariat member Raul Reyes in a cross-border operation in Ecuador. Reyes' death shattered the FARC's myth of invincibility, and boosted popular support for President Uribe's democratic security strategy. Venezuela and Ecuador accused Colombia of violating international law, with both deploying troops to their borders. Latin countries urged a diplomatic solution to the rising tensions. The GOC made public evidence from computer files found at Reyes' camp revealing Venezuelan and Ecuadorian government ties to the FARC. The GOC plans to provide the evidence to the OAS which will hold an emergency meeting on March

4. France voiced concern that Reyes' death would harm prospects for a humanitarian exchange, but local media reported the FARC issued a statement saying it would continue efforts to achieve a humanitarian accord. End Summary. ------------------------------------Reyes Death a Blow to FARC Leadership ------------------------------------2. (U) On March 1, Colombian forces killed Luis Edgar Devia Silva (aka Raul Reyes), a leading FARC Secretariat member, in an air and ground strike against a FARC camp located 1.8 kilometers inside Ecuador. Reyes had often traveled abroad to garner political support and was a likely successor to the FARC's octogenarian leader, Manuel Marulanda. His death is viewed as a significant blow to the leadership and morale of the FARC. Seventeen FARC members and one Colombian solder were also reportedly killed in the operation. The GOC said Reyes was wanted in connection with 57 murders, four kidnappings, and 26 counts of terrorism and rebellion. -----------------------------Positive but Cautious Reaction -----------------------------3. (U) Colombian media and the general public reacted positively to Reyes' death. Former Colombian President Ernesto Samper said Uribe's tough policies were "showing results;" security

analyst Alfredo Rangel said Reyes' death was a "devastating blow" to its "myth of invulnerability." Opposition Senator Gustavo Petro speculated that the army's "greatest military success" could lead the FARC to seek alternatives to end the war. Former President and Liberal party leader Cesar Gaviria said he fully supports GOC actions and asked Venezuelan President Chavez to respect the Colombian president. 4. (C) Colombia's daily, El Tiempo, reported that the FARC issued a statement saying it would continue efforts to achieve a humanitarian accord. Catholic Bishops' Conference Secretary Fabian Marulanda called on the FARC to accept the Church's invitation to engage in dialogue on a humanitarian exchange. Hostage family members, including Ingrid Betancourt's son, expressed concern about the fate of family members after the attack. French President Nicholas Sarkozy called for Betancourt's immediate release and said "humanitarian concerns should prevail." French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said Reyes' death was "bad news" for the hostages. Reyes was the main contact for French and Swiss negotiators Noel Saenz and Jean Pierre Gontard, as well as longtime Colombian politician Alvaro Leyva. Still, Reyes was a FARC hardliner who did little to advance a humanitarian exchange. -------------------------------Regional Reaction Stirs Tensions -------------------------------5. (U) Regional reactions were heated as Chavez

paid tribute to his "fellow revolutionary" and accused the GOC of murdering Reyes due to U.S. pressure. He accused the GOC of violating Ecuador's sovereignty, warning that any incursion into Venezuelan territory would be "cause for war." Chavez ordered ten army battalions to the border with Colombia and closed Venezuela's embassy in Bogota. Ecuadorian president Rafael Correa initially announced he had been informed in advance of the operation but later accused the GOC of "lying" about the incident. Correa ordered Ecuadorian troops to deploy to its northern border, withdrew Ecuador's Ambassador in Bogota, and expelled the Colombian Ambassador in Quito. He called the attack on Reyes' camp a "massacre." 6. (C) Former Cuban President Fidel Castro accused the U.S. of helping plan the attack to fuel a regional crisis while Nicaraguan president Daniel Ortega condemned the GOC for killing the peace process. The Brazilian government condemned the military strike and called on Bogota to offer an explicit apology to Ecuador for its "territorial violation." It also suggested the OAS form a committee to investigate the circumstances of the attack. At Ecuador's request, the OAS Permanent Council will meet hold an emergency session on March 4. Colombian Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos told us the GOC would use the session to highlight Venezuela's and Ecuador's support of the FARC. ---------------------------------------------GOC Concerned about Some Regional Ties to FARC ----------------------------------------------

7. (U) Foreign Minister Fernando Araujo apologized for Colombia's incursion into Ecuadorian territory on March 2, but said the GOC abided by all international laws in its operations. Colombian National Police director Oscar Naranjo later revealed the contents of computer files found at Reyes' camp which showed communications between Ecuadorian Internal Security Minister Gustavo Larrea and the FARC aimed at "formalizing" the GOE's relations with the terrorist group. The GOE denied the accusations. 8. (U) At a March 3 press conference, Naranjo announced evidence indicating the Venezuelan government provided the FARC with $300 million. He also claimed the FARC gave Chavez $50,000 after his failed coup attempt in 1992. Naranjo said the computer files showed the FARC purchasd 50 kilograms of uranium and sold 700 kilograms of cocaine worth $1.5 million. Casa Narino spokesman Cesar Mauricio Velasquez said that all evidence would be handed over to the OAS and the United Nations for international verification. Vice President Francisco Santos Calderon accused unnamed governments of "deliberately violating" UN Security Resolution 1373 which prohibits members states from hosting groups that finance, plan or commit acts of terrorism. Brownfield (Edited and reading.) reformatted by Andres for ease of