COLOMBIA The articles that follow were current as of 2:34 am, Saturday, March 25, 1995 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The following material was downloaded from the Consular Affairs Bulletin Board, U.S. Department of State, at 202-647-9225. The Consular Affairs Bulletin Board provides information on international travel for U.S. citizens. It includes information on travel advisories, U.S. passports, the types of assistance provided by Citizens Consular Services and the Citizens Emergency Center, and visa information for aliens wishing to come to the United States. It also permits access to the information contained on the Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) Electronic Bulletin Board. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 03/23/95 DH26183 CARTEL GIRLFRIEND USES DIP CAR REUTERS REPORTED THAT THE GIRL- FRIEND OF A CALI CARTEL KINGPIN WAS FOUND TO BE DRIVING A DIPLOMATIC CAR REGISTERED TO A MILITARY ATTACHE FROM THE EL SALVADORAN EMBASSY. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 03/17/95 DH26045 FARC LEADER DEAD? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 03/16/95 DH26002 U.S. DRUG TRAFFICKER CAUGHT REUTER REPORTS THAT COLOMBIAN POLICE CAPTURED A SUSPECTED U.S. DRUG TRAFFICKER WHO WAS POSING AS AN IMPORT/EXPORTER OF AUTO PARTS. U.S. EXTRADITION PROCEEDINGS ARE UNDER WAY. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 03/14/95 DH25926 PHYSICIANS STRIKE REUTERS REPORTED THAT THOUSANDS OF COLOMBIAN DOCTORS AND NURSES WENT ON STRIKE BRINGING SERVICES IN MOST OF THE COUNTRY HOSPITALS TO A NEAR HALT. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 03/13/95 DH25889 REWARD FOR CALI DRUG LEADERS REUTERS REPORTS THAT COLOMBIAN OFFICIALS ARE CONSIDERING OFFERING REWARDS OF UP TO $5.7 MILLION EACH FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO THE CAPTURE OF THE LEADERS OF THE CALI CARTEL. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 03/10/95 DH25826 POLICE TARGET CALI CARTEL REUTERS REPORTED THAT A SPECIAL ARMY AND POLICE TEAM HAD TO RELEASE THE DAUGHTER AND SON OF CALI DRUG LORD RODRIGUEZ OREJUELA JUST HOURS AFTER THEIR ARREST. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 03/10/95 DH25827 KIDNAP VICTIM RELEASED REUTERS REPORTED THAT A FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, WHO HAD BEEN KIDNAPPED AND HELD BY GUERRILLAS FOR NEARLY FIVE MONTHS, WAS RELEASED ON FRIDAY. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 03/09/95 DH25768 FARC KIDNAPPING CAMPAIGN SANTA FE DE BOGOTA EL TIEMPO REPORTS THAT DOCUMENTS SIEZED BY THE ARMY SHOW THE FARC HAS PLANS TO KIDNAP A TOTAL OF 80 RANCHERS AND MERCHANTS TO FINANCE 2 NEW FRONTS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 03/08/95 DH25784 SPANISH EMBASSY ROBBED THE US EMBASSY REPORTED THAT TWO THIEVES, WHO LATER IDENTIFIED THEMSELVES AS FARC MEMBERS, GAINED ENTRY INTO THE SPANISH EMBASSY AND STOLE A NUMBER OF WEAPONS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 03/06/95 DH25805 FARC BALKS ON RELEASING SWEDES THE US EMBASSY REPORTED THAT THE FARC HAS BACKED AWAY FROM THEIR PROMISE TO RELEASE THEIR SWEDISH HOSTAGES. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 03/06/95 DH25704 ITALIAN DRUG TRAFFICKER NABBED ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 03/05/95 DH25693 FARC ATTACKS TOWN KILLING 14 REUTER REPORTS THAT ABOUT 500 FARC MEMBERS RAIDED ITUANGO, A SMALL TOWN 185 MILES NW OF BOGOTA, KILLING EIGHT POLICE OFFICERS AND 6 CIVILIANS BEFORE LEAVING IN STOLEN BUSES MONDAY. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 03/03/95 DH25652 CALI DRUG TRAFFICKER CAPTURED REUTER REPORTS THAT COLOMBIAN ARMY AND POLICE SECURITY FORCES CAPTURED JORGE RODRIGUEZ OREJUELA, ONE OF THE 7 LEADERS OF THE CALI CARTEL, IN A DECISIVE BLOW TO THE POWERFUL DRUG CRATEL. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 03/03/95 DH25679 FARC SENDS LETTER TO U.S. FIRM A U.S.-BASED MULTINATIONAL FIRM REPORTED THAT IT RECEIVED A NON-THREATENING LETTER FROM THE FARC GUERRILLA GROUP INDICATING ITS INTENTION OF RENEWING PEACE TALKS WITH THE GOVERNMENT. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 03/03/95 DH25726 LEADER OF ELN ASSAULT CAPTURED AMERICAN EMBASSY BOGOTA REPORTS COLOMBIAN FORCES HAVE CAPTURED FOUR MEMBERS OF THE ELN, INCLUDING THE MAN BELIEVED TO BE THE LEADER OF THE ASSAULT ON CARARABO, RAFAEL BLANCO FLORES. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 03/01/95 DH25587 DRUG CERTIFICATION DOWNGRADED REUTER REPORTED THAT PRESIDENT CLINTON DOWNGRADED COLOMBIA AS A COOPERATOR IN THE FIGHT AGAINST DRUG TRAFFICKING. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 02/28/95 DH25542 ABDUCTED SWEDES TO BE RELEASED REUTERS REPORTED THAT FARC REBELS HAVE PLEDGED TO RELEASE TWO SWEDISH ENGINEERS, ACCORDING TO THEIR SWEDISH EMPLOYER. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 02/23/95 DH25380 QUAKE IN NORTHEASTERN COLOMBIA REUTERS REPORTED THAT A STRONG EARTHQUAKE SHOOK THE NORTHEASTERN COLOMBIA, BUT NO REPORTS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED INDICATING SERIOUS DAMAGE OR DEATHS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 02/23/95 DH25396 OIL PIPELINE DYNAMITED BY ELN MEXICO CITY NOTIMEX REPORTED THAT ECOPETROL HAS BLAMED THE COLOMBIA PIPELINE ATTACK ON THE ELN. THE ATTACK OCCURED IN THE ANTIOQUIA DEPARTMENT, 250KM NW OF SANTA FE DE BOGOTA. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 02/23/95 DH25402 FARC LEADER VISITS SWEDEN STOLKHOLM RADIO REPORTS THAT AN UNNAMED FARC LEADER SECRETLY VISITED SWEDEN AND TOLD HIS HOSTS THAT THE TWO KIDNAPPED SWEDES WERE BARGAINING CHIPS FOR TALKS WITH THE COLOMBIAN GOVT. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 02/20/95 DH25403 AMNESTY INTL CONDEMS COLOMBIA SANTA FE DE BOGOTA STATES THAT A REPORT BY AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL HAS PLACED COLOMBIA ON A LIST OF COUNTRIES WHICH ROUTINELY USE ASSASSINATION AND FORCED VANISHINGS TO ENFORCE LAWS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 02/16/95 DH25224 POLICE HELICOPTER SHOT DOWN SANTA FE DE BOGOTA REPORTS THAT A COUNTERNARCOTICS HELICOPTER OPERATING IN PUTUMAYO REGION WAS SHOT DOWN BY NARCO-GUERRILLAS. 3 WERE KILLED, 3 INJURED, AND 3 ARE MISSING. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 02/14/95 DH25139 GERMAN ENGINEER KIDNAPPED REUTER REPORTS THAT MARXIST REBELS HAVE KIDNAPPED A GERMAN ENGINEER WORKING FOR ALABAMA-BASED DRUMMOND CO. INC NEAR EL PASO, 360 MILES NORTH OF BOGOTA. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 02/14/95 DH25164 FARC AMBUSHES SOLDIERS SANTA FE DE BOGOTA REPORTS THAT 5 SOLDIERS WERE KILLED IN AN AMBUSH BY FARC WHILE ON PATROL IN THE GUAVIARE DEPARTMENT. ONE SOLDIER AND SEVERAL WEAPONS WERE REPORTED MISSING. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 02/10/95 DH25066 SWEDISH PROOF OF LIFE RECEIVED ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 02/08/95 DH25262 RFF/FARC LEADER CAPTURED EL TIEMPO REPORTED THAT JOSE FEDOR REY, A FORMER FARC LEADER AND FOUNDER OF THE RICARDO FRANCO FRONT, WAS CAPTURED IN A TAVERN IN CALI. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 02/07/95 DH24985 FIVE HIKERS MURDERED IN ANDES ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 02/02/95 DH24902 13 DIE IN MASSACRE REUTERS REPORTED THAT GUNMEN KILLED 9 FAMILY MEMBERS IN A HOUSE IN CALDAS PROVINCE AND 3 PEOPLE IN THE GETAWAY CAR AND A POLICEMAN WERE KILLED IN SUBSEQUENT SHOOTOUT IN VANDETTA ATTACK. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 01/31/95 DH24819 BRAZILIAN ENGINEERS ABDUCTED ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 01/31/95 DH24821 POLITICIAN KILLS PARTY MEMBER ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 01/23/95 DH24590 GUERRILLAS ATTACK PIPELINE SANTA FE DE BOGOTA REPORTS THAT 9000 BARRELS OF OIL WERE SPILLED INTO THE MAGDALENA AND SIMANA RIVERS FOLLOWING A GUERRILLA ATTACK ON THE AYACUCHO OIL PIPELINE IN CESAR DEPT. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 01/23/95 DH24593 POLICE FREE 3 FOREIGN HOSTAGES REUTER REPORTS THAT COLOMBIAN POLICE FREED THREE FOREIGN TOURIST WHO WERE BEING HELD HOSTAGE BY AN ARMED GROUP IN A RAID THAT RESULTED IN THE ARREST OF ONE SUSPECT. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 01/19/95 DH24454 EARTHQUAKE IN CENTRAL COLOMBIA REUTERS REPORTED THAT A STRONG EARTHQUAKE SHOOK CENTRAL COLOMBIA, KILLING AT LEAST ONE PERSON. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 01/18/95 DH24437 YET ANOTHER AMCIT KIDNAPPED ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTS THAT MEMBERS OF A SPLINTER GROUP OF THE EPL KIDNAPPED EDWARD GRAVOWSKY, A CIVIL ENGINEER WITH SOCOCO, S.A. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 01/17/95 DH24357 POPE BOYCOTT ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 01/17/95 DH24377 PARAMILITARY/REBELS AT WAR SANTA FE DE BOGOTA REPORTS THAT PARAMILITARY FORCES AND GUERRILLAS IN CORDOBA AND URABA DECLARED WAR ON EACH OTHER OVER A LAND DISTRIBUTION ISSUE. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 01/17/95 DH24384 EXTRADITION REVISITED REUTERS REPORTED THAT THE COLOMBIAN GOVERNMENT MAY REVIVE EXTRADITION -- THE PUNISHMENT MOST FEARED BY COCAINE KINGPINS -- IN LIGHT OF PUBLIC DISGUST WITH LIGHT SENTENCES FOR TRAFFICKERS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 01/17/95 DH24398 KIDNAPPING--A GROWING INDUSTRY ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 01/17/95 DH24405 "SOCIAL CLEANSING" IN MEDELLIN THE US EMBASSY REPORTED ON A RECENT ARTICLE BY AN AP STRINGER REGARDING THE "SOCIAL CLEANSING" OF UNDESIREABLE ELEMENTS (THIEVES, BEGGARS, PROSTITUTES) IN MEDELLIN. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 01/16/95 DH24355 U.S. WOMAN MISTAKENLY ARRESTED ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 01/14/95 DH24404 PARAMILITARY MASSACRES THE US EMBASSY REPORTED ON TWO RECENT MASSACRES CARRIED OUT BY PARAMILITARY GROUPS IN THE CESAR AND ANTIOQUIA DEPARTMENTS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 01/13/95 DH24302 PLOT TO KILL PROSECUTOR TELEVISION REPORTING INDICATED THAT THE PROSECUTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE HAD UNCOVERED A PLOT BY A DRUG TRAFFICKER TO ASSASSINATE THE PROSECUTOR GENERAL. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 01/13/95 DH24315 REBEL ATTACKS LEAVE 9 DEAD ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 01/13/95 DH24703 FARC KIDNAP MASTERMIND NABBED ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 01/11/95 DH24235 AIRLINER EXPLODES IN MID-AIR REUTERS REPORTED THAT A DC-9 JET, HEADED FOR CARTAGENA FROM BOGOTA, EXPLODED IN MID-AIR. OVER 50 ARE FEARED DEAD. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 01/08/95 DH24145 COCA GROWERS RENEW PROTEST REUTER REPORTS THAT COCA GROWERS RENEWED THEIR PROTEST AGAINST GOVERNMENT PLANS TO DESTROY THEIR ILLEGAL CROPS BY TORCHING AN OIL PUMPING STATION DESPITE ARRIVAL OF NEGOCIATORS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 01/08/95 DH24146 FARC SHOOTS DOWN GOV'T HELO REUTER REPORTS THAT THE FARC SHOT DOWN ONE OF TWO POLICE HELICOPTERS AS IT ESCORTED FUMIGATION PLANES FLYING OVER COCA PLANTATIONS IN A CONTINUING GOV'T PROGRAM OF COCA ERADICATION. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 01/08/95 DH24147 GUERRILLAS STAGE JAILBREAK REUTERS REPORTED FARC GUERRILLAS OVERPOWERED THREE GUARDS AT A MUNICIPAL JAIL IN MOCOA AND SET FREE 93 PRISONERS, SOME OF WHICH WERE FARC MEMBERS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 01/05/95 DH24061 TENSION IN PUTUMAYO INCREASES SANTA FE DE BOGOTA REPORTS THAT TENSION REMAINS HIGH IN PUTUMAYO WHERE DEMONSTRATORS OPPOSED TO ILLEGAL CROP ERADICATION SEIZED 7 OUT 8 ECOPETROL FUEL TANKS IN THE AREA. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 01/05/95 DH24079 PUTUMAYO-OIL TANKS ABLAZE REUTER REPORTS THAT THE MILITARY ARRRIVED IN PUTUMAYO TO RESTORE ORDER AS DEMONSTRATORS SET TWO OIL STORAGE TANKS ON FIRE TO PROTEST GOVERNMENT PLANS TO DESTROY THEIR COCA CROP. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 01/03/95 DH24006 PUTUMAYO PEASANTS PROTEST SANTA FE DE BOGOTA REPORTS THAT THE ARMY IS ON STANDBY TO ENTER PUTUMAYO TO QUELL DEMONSTRATORS WHO ARE DEMAND- ING A SUSPENSION OF HERBICIDAL SPRAYING OF ILLEGAL COCA CROPS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 12/25/94 DH24478 US EMBASSY GETS FARC XMAS CARD ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 12/20/94 DH23775 U.S. JURY CONVICTS NARCO HOOD ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 12/13/94 DH23660 TWO BOMBS EXPLODE IN BOGOTA ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 12/06/94 DH23485 KILLING STATISTICS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 12/05/94 DH23455 ANTI-NARCOTICS EFFORTS ACCORDING TO PRESS REPORTING, THE U.S. HAS AGREED TO BEGIN SHARING REAL-TIME RADAR INTELLIGENCE WITH THE COLOMBIAN GOVERNMENT AGAIN. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 12/01/94 DH23356 ROLLERSKATING CHAMPION KILLED ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 11/27/94 DH23259 GUERRILLAS SET OFF SEVEN BOMBS MEXICO CITY NOTIMEX REPORTS THAT 7 BOMBS WERE SET BY THE ELN IN A REVENGE BOMBING AGAINST CERTAIN DRUGSTORE OWNERS WHO DID NOT COMPLY WITH EXTORTION ATTEMPTS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 11/13/94 DH22968 LOCAL LIONS CLUB HEAD ABDUCTED ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 11/13/94 DH22977 POLICE FEND OFF FARC ATTACK REUTERS REPORTED THAT COLOMBIAN RIGHT-WING PARAMILITARIES FOUGHT ALONGSIDE A SMALL GROUP OF POLICE OFFICERS TO PREVENT A FARC FRONT FROM TAKING OVER A SMALL TOWN IN ANTIOQUIA PROVINCE ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 11/02/94 DH22750 REBELS AMBUSH POLICE/STUDENTS REUTER REPORTS THAT ONE STUDENT AND ELEVEN POLICEMEN WERE KILLED IN AN AMBUSH BY MARXIST GUERRILLAS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 10/30/94 DH22672 KINGPIN DISCUSSES SURRENDER REUTER REPORTS THAT A DRUG KINGPIN WHO REPORTEDLY EXPORTS 700 TONS OF COCAINE A YEAR, HAS TOLD TIME MAGIZINE THE TERMS UNDER WHICH HE WOULD SURRENDER. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 10/30/94 DH22677 MUNICIPAL ELECTION VIOLENCE REUTER REPORTS THAT COLOMIANS VOTED IN RELATIVE CALM ON SUNDAY DESPITE A GUERRILLA ATTACK ON A POLICE PATROL AND THE BURNING OF TWO BUSES. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 10/25/94 DH22521 TRAVEL WARNING ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 10/25/94 DH22522 ELN KIDNAP CHIEF CAPTURED ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 10/25/94 DH22523 MORE SECURITY SUCCESSES ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 10/25/94 DH22547 ESCOBAR AIDE GETS FIVE YEARS REUTERS REPORTED THE FORMER CHIEF OF THE MILITARY WING OF DECEASED DRUG LORD PABLO ESCOBAR'S ORGANIZATION WAS SENTENCED TUESDAY TO PRISION FOR 5 YEARS AND 5 MONTHS FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 10/24/94 DH22526 EXECUTION-STYLE MURDERS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 10/24/94 DH22529 FARC REBELS AMBUSH 9 POLICEMEN ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 10/22/94 DH22489 U.S. MORMON CHAPELS BOMBED ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 10/21/94 DH22449 GUNMEN KILL INDIAN LEADER ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 10/21/94 DH22451 104 CORRUPT POLICEMEN FIRED ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 10/21/94 DH22454 MARKET BOMBED IN BOGOTA ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 10/19/94 DH22388 BOMBING IN CUCUTA ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 10/16/94 DH22343 EX-PRES. CANDIDATE KIDNAPPED REUTER REPORTS THAT A FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE WHO VOWED TO CLEAN UP CORRUPTION WITH THE HELP OF HER SPIRITIAL POWERS WAS KIDNAPPED BY MARXIST GUERRILLAS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 10/16/94 DH22394 BANK ROBBERS STEAL $30 MILLION ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 10/15/94 DH22323 ELECTIONS MAY BE CANCELLED REUTER REPORTS THAT THE GOVERNMENT FOUND EVIDENCE THAT SOME CANDIDATES IN UPCOMING MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS WERE BEING FINANCED BY DRUG TRAFFICKERS WHO WANT TO WIN POWER AT THE LOCAL LEVEL ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 10/12/94 DH22455 FARC REBELS ARRESTED IN BOGOTA ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 10/09/94 DH22199 REBELS ATTACK-BUT TALK PEACE? REUTERS REPORTS THAT JUST HOURS BEFORE AN INTERVIEW OF THE LEADER OF THE ELN TO DISCUSS PEACE TALKS WITH THE GOVERNMENT, REBELS ATTACKED SIX POLICE POSTS, WOUNDING THREE OFFICERS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 10/09/94 DH22200 GUNMAN KILLS JOURNALIST REUTER REPORTS THAT A LONE GUNMAN SHOT TO DEATH A COLOMBIAN JOURNALIST AS HE WAS DRINKING AT A PUB IN BOGOTA. THE GUNMAN FLED TO A WAITING TAXI,IN WHAT APPEARS TO BE A PREPLANNED MURDER ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 10/03/94 DH22045 ESCOBAR BROTHER TARGETED AGAIN ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 09/29/94 DH21965 "THIS IS A NARCO-DEMOCRACY.." REUTER REPORTS THAT ONE DAY AFTER RETIRING, U.S. DEA CHIEF JOE TOFT, STATED THAT COLOMBIAN DRUG TRAFFICKERS HAVE SUCH INFLUENCE THAT THE COUNTRY HAS BECOME A "NARCO-DEMOCRACY." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 09/24/94 DH21786 FARC KIDNAPS ANOTHER AMERICAN ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 09/24/94 DH21967 ASSASSINATION PLOT UNCOVERED EL ESPECTADOR REPORTS THE DISCOVERY OF A PLOT TO KILL GENERAL LUIS ENRIQUE MONTENEGRO RINCO, METROPOLITAN POLICE COMMANDER IN SANTA FE DE BOGOTA, AND HIS MOTHER. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 09/22/94 DH21756 ATTACK ON U.S. AMBASSADOR SANTA FE DE BOTOGA REPORTED THAT FARC GUERRILLAS IN THE EASTERN MOUNTAINS OF CAQUITA OPENED FIRE ON A HIGH- LEVEL U.S. DELEGATION AS THEY ATTEMPTED TO LAND IN FIVE HELICOPTERS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 09/21/94 DH21710 NEW GUERRILLA GROUP EMERGES SANTA FE DE BOGOTA REPORTS THAT A NEW SELF-STYLED GUERRILLA GROUP, THE NATIONAL LIBERATION PEOPLE'S FRONT (FPLN) HAS SURFACED IN COLOMBIA. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 09/20/94 DH21663 ELN ASSASSINATES LEGISLATOR SANTA FE DE BOGOTA REPORTS THAT THE ELN CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR ASSASSINATING A LIBERAL CONGRESSMAN AS HE WAS LEAVING THE UNIVERSITY OF MEDELLIN WITH HIS DRIVER AND BODYGUARD. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 09/19/94 DH21634 CONGRESSMAN ASSASSINATED ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 09/18/94 DH21618 CONGRESSMAN KIDNAPPED ACCORDING TO REUTERS, UNIDENTIFIED GUNMEN KIDNAPPED A CONGRESSMAN AND A LOCAL POLITICIAN IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF YOLOMBO, LOCATED ABOUT 95 MILES NORTHWEST OF BOGOTA. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 09/14/94 DH21523 M-19 GROUP OCCUPIES TOWN SANTA FE DE BOGOTA TELEVISION ANNOUNCED THAT DISSIDENT MEMBERS OF THE TERRORIST GROUP M-19 TOOK OVER THE COLOMBIAN TOWN OF VALLE DEL CAUCA. DAMAGE AND INJURIES REPORTED. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 09/13/94 DH21463 MULTINATIONAL OIL FIELDS HIT ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 09/08/94 DH21356 OFFICER MOONLIGHTS AS ROBBER REUTER REPORTS THAT POLICE ARE SEARCHING FOR A COLOMBIAN ARMY LT. WHO USES HIS ANNUAL LEAVE TO LEAD OTHER SOLDIERS ON ARMED ROBBERY MISSIONS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 09/08/94 DH21357 VIOLENT OUTBREAK KILLS STUDENT SANTA FE DE BOGOTA REPORTS THAT IN AN OUTBREAK OF VIOLENCE ON THE UNIVERSITY OF TOLIMA CAMPUS, ONE STUDENT WAS KILLED. THE STUDENTS WERE PROTESTING INCREASED TUITION COSTS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 09/05/94 DH21258 CORRUPTION AND THE TOP COP REUTERS REPORTED THAT THE COLOMBIAN PROSECUTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE IS INVESTIGATING THE FORMER DEPUTY CHIEF OF POLICE GENERAL FABIO CAMPOS FOR ALLEGED NARCOTICS CONNECTIONS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 08/29/94 DH21098 14 KILLED IN REBEL CLASH REUTER REPORTS THAT 6 SOLDIERS AND 8 FARC REBELS WERE KILLED IN CLASHES IN THE OIL PRODUCING PROVINCE OF CASANARE. OIL OPERATIONS WERE NOT AFFECTED. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 08/29/94 DH21111 EXPLOSION AT AIR FORCE SCHOOL MADRID EFE REPORTED THAT AN EXPLOSIVE DEVICE WAS THROWN AT A SENTRY POST OF THE MARCO FIDEL SUAREZ AIR FORCE SCHOOL IN CALI. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 08/27/94 DH21070 BOMB HURLED AT MARINES BOGOTA TELEVISION REPORTED THAT 6 COLOMBIAN NAVAL MARINES WERE INJURED AFTER A BOMB WAS TOSSED AT THEIR VEHICLE AS IT WAS TRAVELLING IN WESTERN BOGOTA. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 08/21/94 DH20909 ELN AGREES TO PEACE TALKS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 08/19/94 DH20922 RIGHTIST GROUP CLAIMS ATTACK SANTA FE DE BOGOTA REPORTS THAT THE ULTRARIGHT GROUP "COLOMBIA WITHOUT GUERRILLAS CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ATTACK ON A VILLAGE IN VALLE DEL CAUCA DEPT AND THE MURDER OF 3 PEOPLE. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 08/18/94 DH20837 FARC OFFERS PEACE TALKS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 08/18/94 DH20844 GUERRILLAS DYNAMITE BUS PARIS AFP IN SPANISH REPORTED THAT GUERRILLAS DYNAMITED AN INNER-CITY BUS BY MISTAKE, KILLING AT LEAST 18 PEOPLE. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 08/18/94 DH20920 FARC/ELN PREPARE OFFENSIVE SANTA FE DE BOGOTA REPORTS THAT GUERRILLA GROUPS ARE PREPARING TO LAUNCH A STRONG OFFENSIVE IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS WITH THE INTENTION OF IMPOSING CONDITIONS ON UPCOMING PEACE TALKS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 08/16/94 DH20757 POLICE KILLED IN FARC AMBUSH REUTERS REPORTS THAT COLOMBIAN MARXIST GUERRILLAS (FARC) KILLED SEVEN ANTI-DRUG POLICE RETURNING FROM A PATROL IN A MOUNTAINOUS AREA USED FRO OPIUM POPPY GROWING. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 08/11/94 DH20641 MOURNERS TRASH BOGOTA'S CENTER ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 08/10/94 DH20590 MORE POLICE CORRUPTION REUTERS REPORTED THAT COLOMBIA'S POLICE FORCE HAS DISMISSED ANOTHER 34 OFFICERS FOR RECEIVING BRIBES FROM DRUG CARTELS. TOTAL DISMISSALS FOR THE CALI POLICE FORCE STANDS AT 51. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 08/09/94 DH20554 LEFT-WING LEADER ASSASSINATED REUTER REPORTED THAT A GUNMAN FIRING FROM A JEEP SHOT DEAD A PROMINENT LEFT-WING LEADER, SENATOR MANUEL CEPEDA VARGAS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 08/07/94 DH20488 COCAINE SEIZED FROM AIRLINER REUTERS REPORTS THAT POLICE SEIZED A HALF TON OF COCAINE SUNDAY FROM AN AVIANCE AIRLINER SHORTLY BEFORE IT TOOK OFF FOR MEXICO AND MIAMI. FOUR AVIANCA EMPLOYEES WERE ARRESTED. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 08/04/94 DH20408 POLICE ARREST THEIR OWN-PART 2 REUTERS REPORTED THAT 17 POLICE OFFICERS WERE ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY ACCEPTING BRIBES FROM THE CALI DRUG CARTEL. THIS FOLLOWS ON THE HEELS OF A MASS ARREST OF AIRPORT SECURITY COPS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 08/03/94 DH20356 POLICE ARRESTED AT INT AIRPORT ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 08/03/94 DH20385 MORMON TEMPLES BOMBED-UPDATE THE U.S. EMBASSY IN BOGOTA CONFIRMS THAT TWO MORMON TEMPLES WERE BOMBED BY PRESUMABLY FARC ELEMENTS. FOUR BOMBS EXPLODED AT THE TEMPLES IN CALI AND TWO COLOMBIANS WERE SLIGHTLY INJURED. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 08/02/94 DH20339 FARC BOMBS MORMON TEMPLES HAMBURG DPA REPORTED THAT FARC CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR TWO BOMB ATTACKS ON MORMON TEMPLES IN THE CITY OF CALI TO PROTEST POTENTIAL U.S. MILITARY INTERVENTION IN HAITI. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 07/30/94 DH20257 MINISTER ESCAPES ASSASSINATION REUTERS REPORTS THAT COLOMBIA'S MINISTER OF TRANSPORT ESCAPED UNHARMED FROM AN ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT SATURDAY AS HIS MOTORCADE WAS GOING TO AN INAUGURAL CEREMONY IN LA GUAJIRA. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 07/29/94 DH20207 GUERRILLAS TO ATTACK UNTIL 8/7 BOGOTA TELEVISION STATES THAT GUERRILLA ATTACKS WILL CONTINUE UNTIL THE INCOMING SAMPER GOVERNMENT IS SWORN IN ON AUG 7. IF NO RESOLUTION IS NEGOCIATED, THE ATTACKS WILL CONTINE ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 07/29/94 DH20388 ELN BOMBS OIL PIPELINE SANTA FE DE BOGOTA REPORTED THAT ELN ELEMENTS BLEW UP THE CANO LIMON-COVENAS OIL PIPELINE IN SARAVENA MUNICIPALITY. 6000 BARRELS OF OIL SPILLED. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 07/27/94 DH20144 FARC, ELN ATTACK COMM CENTER SANTA FE DE BOGOTA INRAVISION TELEVISION REPORTED THAT CLASHES BETWEEN JOINT FARC AND ELN FORCES AGAINST THE AUTHORITIES ARE TAKING PLACE FOR CONTROL OF A COMMUNICATIONS FACILITY. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 07/23/94 DH20048 REBELS KILL 10 SOLDIERS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 07/22/94 DH20049 INTERNATL AIRPORT TARGETED? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 07/22/94 DH20194 GUERRILLAS CONTINUE ATTACKS THE U.S. EMBASSY REPORTS THAT THE FARC HAVE ATTACKED POLICE STATIONS, AN ARMY BASE AND BRITISH PETROLEUM CONVOY IN AN ESCALATION OF TERRORISM. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 07/19/94 DH19930 ARMY GENERAL ASSASSINATED THE US EMBASSY AND REUTERS REPORTED THE ASSASSINATION OF A COLOMBIAN ARMY GENERAL BY SUSPECTED FARC GUERRILLAS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 07/19/94 DH19940 AIR CARRIER LICENSES REVOKED ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 07/19/94 DH19941 VIOLENT DEATHS IN 1993 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 07/17/94 DH19827 AIRLINES THREAT 2ND UPDATE RSO BOGOTA HAS ADVISED THAT ALL OSAC COUNTRY COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE TELEPHONE CALLS TO AMERICAN AIRLINES. OTHER OSAC MEMBERS HAVE NOT RECEIVED SIMILAR CALLS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 07/17/94 DH19862 REBELS CONTINUE THEIR ATTACKS MEXICO CITY NOTIMEX REPORTED THAT THE COLOMBIAN ARMY HAS GONE ON ALERT TO COMBAT AN APPARENT GUERRILLA OFFENSIVE ENTITLED "FAREWELL TO GAVIRIA." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 07/17/94 DH19888 ANTI-DRUG POLICY CHANGING ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 07/17/94 DH19891 BOGOTA FOREGOES ANTI-DRUG AID ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 07/16/94 DH19825 THREAT TO AMERICAN AIRLINES AMERICAN AIRLINES HAS APPARENTLY RECEIVED SEVERAL CALLS IN BOGOTA THREATENING TO BLOW UP AN AMERICAN AIRLINES AIRCRAFT. THE SAME CALLER IS BELIEVED TO HAVE MADE BOTH CALLS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 07/16/94 DH19826 UPDATE TO AIRLINES THREAT DSS/ITA HAS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE REGIONAL SECURITY OFFICER. PLEASE SEE SECURITY INCIDENTS FOR THE LAST INFORMATION, AS OF SUNDAY, JULY 17, 1994 CONCERNING THIS THREAT ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 07/15/94 DH19803 OVER 40 KILLED IN FARC AMBUSH ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 07/13/94 DH19708 POLICE CHIEF IMPLICATED REUTERS IS REPORTING THAT THE NATIONAL POLICE CHIEF MAY BE IMPLICATED IN A BRIBE PURPORTEDLY FROM THE CALI CARTEL ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 07/13/94 DH19804 EPL/D LEADER CAPTURED THE US EMBASSY REPORTED THAT EPL/D GUERRILLA LEADER OSCAR MANUEL PACHECO WAS CAPTURED IN MONTERIA. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 07/11/94 DH19683 ELN READY TO RENEW TALKS REUTERS REPORTED THAT THE NATIONAL LIBERATION ARMY (ELN) HAS INDICATED TO PRESIDENT-ELECT SAMPER A WILLINGNESS TO RENEW PEACE TALKS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 07/10/94 DH19727 KIDNAPPED COUNCILMAN FREED THE AMERICAN EMBASSY IN BOGOTA REPORTED THAT KIDNAPPED VICE PRESIDENT OF THE LA PAZ CITY COUNCIL, JOSE MORON ARAUJO, WAS FREED UNHARMED. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 07/09/94 DH19728 ARMED CLASHES CONTINUE THE AMERICAN EMBASSY IN BOGOTA REPORTED THAT ARMED CLASES BETWEEN SECURITY SERVICES AND GUERRILLAS WERE REPORTED RECENTLY. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 07/08/94 DH19725 MILITIA LEADER ASSASSINATED THE AMERICAN EMBASSY IN BOGOTA REPORTED THAT THE UNIDENTIFIED ASSAILANTS OF A MILITIA LEADER MAY BE PART OF "DEATH TO THE DEMOBILIZED MILITIAS". ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 07/07/94 DH19726 ARMS CACHE DISCOVERED THE AMERICAN EMBASSY IN BOGOTA REPORTED THAT SECURITY FORCES DISCOVERED A LARGE GUERRILLA ARMS CACHE, POSSIBLY BELONGING TO FARC. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 07/06/94 DH19551 DRUGLORD'S COMPUTER CENTER ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 07/03/94 DH19475 PLAYER'S KILLER ARRESTED REUTERS REPORTED THE ARREST OF THE KILLER OF ANDRES ESCOBAR, A MEMBER OF COLOMBIA'S WORLD CUP SOCCER TEAM. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 07/02/94 DH19431 COLOMBIA SOCCER PLAYER KILLED REUTERS REPORTED THAT A SOCCER PLAYER ON THE COLOMBIAN NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM THAT RECENTLY LOST IN THE WORLD CUP WAS SHOT AND KILLED AT A MEDELLIN RESTURANT. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 07/02/94 DH19468 COLOMBIA SOCCER PLAYER KILLED ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 06/30/94 DH19365 EPL/D SIGNS PEACE ACCORD ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 06/26/94 DH19265 NEW PRESIDENT THREATENED ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 06/25/94 DH19298 4TH-RANKING ELN LEADER CAUGHT PRESS SOURCES REPORTED THAT ARMY UNITS CAPTURED THE FOURTH RANKING MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL LIBERATION ARMY (ELN), WHO WAS IN THE PROCESS OF EXTORTING MONEY FROM A COLOMBIAN. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 06/25/94 DH19150 COLOMBIA PRESIDENT-ELECT WIRE AND SATELLITE NEWS SOURCES ARE REPORTING THAT AMBASSADOR BUSBY MET WITH PRESIDENT ELECT ERNESTO SAMPER TO DISCUSS RUMORS THAT SAMPER HAS ACCEPTED CALI CARTEL ELECTION CONTRIBUTIONS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 06/23/94 DH19106 PREZ-ELECT GETS DEATH THREATS REUTERS REPORTED THAT A "REVITALIZED" MEDELLIN CARTEL HAS ISSUED DEATH THREATS AGAINST PRESIDENT-ELECT SAMPER AND HIS FAMILY. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 06/22/94 DH19047 EPL/D LEADER CAPTURED REUTERS REPORTED THAT COLOMBIAN SOLIDERS HAVE CAPTURED THE LEADER OF THE DISSIDENT FACTION OF THE POPULAR LIBERATION ARMY (EPL/D), THE COUNTRY'S 3RD LARGEST INSURGENT ORGANIZATION. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 06/22/94 DH19076 THREAT TO WORLD CUP TEAM REUTER REPORTED THAT A PLAYER AND THE COACH OF COLOMBIA'S WORLD CUP TEAM RECEIVED THREATENING FAXES AT THEIR LOS ANGELES HOTEL BEFORE THE MATCH WITH THE U.S. ON 06/22/94. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 06/21/94 DH19014 ELN RELEASES ELECTORAL MEMBERS MEXICO CITY NOTIMEX REPORTED THE RELEASE OF SIX ELECTORAL MEMBERS AND TWO DELEGATES WHO WERE KIDNAPPED BY THE EFRAIN PABON PABON FRONT, A SELF-STYLED ELN. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 06/21/94 DH19023 EPL AGREES TO DISARM REUTERS REPORTED A PEACE AGREEMENT REACHED BETWEEN COLOMBIA'S GOVERNMENT AND MARXIST GUERRILLAS (EPL). UNDER THE TERMS, 150 REBELS WILL SURRENDER WEAPONS AND DEMOBILIZE JULY 1. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 06/19/94 DH18939 ELECTION OFFICIALS KIDNAPPED MEXICO CITY NOTIMEX REPORTED TEN ELECTORAL DELEGATES AND VOTING OFFICIALS KIDNAPPED BY THE SIMON BOLIVAR GUERRILLA GROUP IN THE NORTHEASTERN PART OF COLOMBIA ON SUNDAY. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 06/17/94 DH18915 ELN BOMBS 18 BANKS REUTERS REPORTED THAT MARXIST REBELS (ELN) BOMBED 18 BANKS IN MEDELLIN BEFORE DAWN FRIDAY, 2 DAYS BEFORE SECOND-ROUND PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS. MINOR DAMAGE RESULTED AND NO DEATHS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 06/14/94 DH18826 ELN BOMBS RADIO STATIONS REUTERS REPORTED THAT THE ELN BOMBED TWO RADIO TRANSMISSION TOWERS ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF CARTAGENA ON THE EVE OF THE FOURTH IBERO-AMERICAN SUMMIT. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 06/05/94 DH18660 BOMB KILLS 2 IN ARAUCA PARIS AFP REPORTED THAT A DYNAMITE BOMB EXPLODED, KILLING THE TWO PEOPLE WHO WERE CARRYING IT. GUERRILLAS ARE BLAMED. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 06/02/94 DH18620 OIL PIPELINE BOMBED AGAIN BOGOTA TELEVISION REPORTED THAT ELN GUERRILLAS BOMBED A SECTION OF THE CANO LIMON COVENAS OIL PIPELINE NEAR THE MUNICIPALITY OF PELAYA IN THE SOUTHERN CESAR DEPARTMENT. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 05/29/94 DH18566 CAR-BOMB SUSPECTS FREED EL PANAMA AMERICA REPORTED THAT THE TWO COLOMBIAN SUSPECTS IN THE GRENADE CAR-BOMB ATTACK OF A JEWISH BUSINESS- MAN HAVE BEEN RELEASED DUE TO INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE AGAINST THEM. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 05/27/94 DH18591 CANO LIMON-COVENAS LINE BOMBED EL TIEMPO REPORTED THAT COLOMBIAN GUERRILLAS BOMBED THE CANO LIMON-COVENAS OIL PIPELINE NEAR THE MUNICIPALITY OF EL TARRA. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 05/26/94 DH18509 630 MILITIA MEMBERS DEMOBILIZE THE U.S. EMBASSY REPORTED THAT 630 POPULAR MILITIA MEMBERS IN MEDELLIN WERE SCHEDULED TO DEMOBILIZE IN RETURN FOR GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT AND THE RELEASE OF 50 IMPRISONED COLLEAGUES. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 05/26/94 DH18512 REBELS BURN 10 MEDELLIN BUSES REUTERS REPORTED THAT COLOMBIAN GUERRILLAS BURNED 10 BUSES IN MEDELLIN IN PROTEST OF AN ACCORD SIGNED BY THE GOVENMENT AND MEDELLIN POPULAR MILITIA GROUPS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 05/25/94 DH18486 GUERRILLAS THREATEN ELECTION REUTERS REPORTED THAT ELN REBELS HAVE THREATENED TO KILL ANY ELECTION OFFICIALS WHO ATTEMPTED TO SET UP POLLING BOOTHS IN CERTAIN AREAS OF THE COUNTRY WHERE THE ELN IS STRONGEST. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 05/24/94 DH18463 FARC CLAIMS MEDELLIN BOMB REUTERS REPORTED THAT THE FARC CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR SUNDAY'S BOMBING IN MEDELLIN WHICH KILLED 6 POLICEMEN. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 05/23/94 DH18427 BOMB KILLS POLICE/HOTEL DAMAGE SANTA FE BOGOTA TELEVISION REPORTED THAT A BOMB EXPLODED AS A POLICE CAR PASSED THE COLOMBIA HOTEL IN MEDELLIN. FOUR POLICE WERE KILLED, AND THE FACADE OF THE HOTEL WAS DAMAGED. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 05/23/94 DH18447 MEDELLIN BOMBING -- NARCO? BOGOTA TELEVISION REPORTED THAT COLOMBIAN AUTHORITIES HAVE NOT RULED OUT MEDELLIN CARTEL COMPLICITY IN THE MEDELLIN BOMBING OF MAY 22, 1994. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 05/14/94 DH18303 ASSASSINATION PLOT FOILED MEXICO CITY NOTIMEX REPORTED THAT AT LEAST 5 REMOTE-CONTROLLED BOMBS WERE DISCOVERED, WHICH GUERRILLAS HAD PLANNED TO SET OFF AGAINST THE HELICOPTER OF THE SANTANDER DEPT GOVERNOR. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 05/11/94 DH18251 STATE OF EMERGENCY LIFTED REUTERS REPORTED THAT PRESIDENT GAVIRIA ENDED A 10-DAY STATE OF EMERGENCY BUT HAS INSTITUTED A "JUDICIAL EMERGENCY" TO KEEP DANGEROUS PRISONERS FROM BEING RELEASED FROM JAIL. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 05/07/94 DH18204 GUERRILLA LEADER ARRESTED ACCORDING TO PARIS AFP, COLOMBIAN ARMY AND SECRET POLICE ARRESTED 12 LEFTIST GUERRILLAS AND CONFISCATED A CACHE OF WEAPONS AND EXPLOSIVES, FOILING A PLOT TO SABOTAGE MAY ELECTIONS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 04/28/94 DH18217 GUERRILLA BOMBING UPDATE IN A COMPILATION OF RECENT TERRORIST INCIDENTS IN COLOMBIA, IT WAS REPORTED THAT GUERRILLAS BLEW UP A SECTION OF THE CANO-LIMON COVENAS OIL PIPELINE. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 04/27/94 DH18032 TREASURER OF CANDITATE KILLED MADRID EFE REPORTED THAT THE ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 04/22/94 DH17985 SEARCH BLOC POLICEMAN KILLED ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 04/18/94 DH17908 ARMY FOILS PLOT REUTERS REPORTED THAT THE COLOMBIAN ARMY FOILED A PLAN BY REBELS TO AMBUSH AND BOMB A CONVOY OF VEHICLES BELONGING TO THE BRITISH PETROLEUM CO. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 04/12/94 DH17803 WARDEN MESSAGE THE U.S. EMBASSY HAS ISSUED A WARDEN MESSAGE INDICATING AN INCREASED KIDNAPPING THREAT TO U.S. CITIZENS. FULL TEXT CAN BE FOUND IN THE PUBLIC STATEMENTS/TRAVEL ADVISORIES SECTION. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 04/09/94 DH17772 GOVERNMENT, REBELS SIGN ACCORD REUTERS REPORTED THAT THE COLOMBIAN GOVERNMENT SIGNED A PEACE ACCORD WITH REBEL LEADERS TO END A DECADES-LONG ARMED STRUGGLE. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 04/07/94 DH17737 GUERRILLAS SHUT DOWN PIPELINE MEXICO CITY NOTIMEX REPORTED THAT THE ELN DYNAMITED A SECTION OF THE CANO LIMON-COVENAS PIPELINE, CAUSING A FIRE AND OIL SPILLAGE. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 04/07/94 DH17739 BOMB EXPLODES IN CITY REUTERS REPORTED THAT A BOMB WAS DETONATED IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE CAPITAL, CAUSING DAMAGE TO NEARBY BUILDINGS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 04/01/94 DH17646 MISSING US MISSIONARY-UPDATE REUTERS IDENTIFIED THE MISSING AMERICAN MISSIONARY AS RAY RISING OF THE INSTITUTE OF SUMMER LINGUISTICS. THE MILITARY BELIEVES HIS ABDUCTORS MAY BE MEMBERS OF THE FARC. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 03/31/94 DH17619 NEW REBEL GROUP EMERGES REUTERS REPORTED THAT ACCORDING TO A POLICE SPOKESMAN, A NEW GROUP COMPRISED OF FORMER M-19 AND EPL MEMBERS HAS BEGUN TO CONDUCT SUBVERSIVE OPERATIONS IN COLOMBIA. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 03/31/94 DH17634 U.S. MISSIONARY MISSING THE U.S. EMBASSY HAS REPORTED ON THE PROBABLE KIDNAPPING OF A U.S. MISSIONARY IN THE META DEPARTMENT. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 03/30/94 DH17598 FRENCH HOSTAGES RELEASED REUTERS REPORTED THAT TWO FRENCH WOMEN KIDNAPPED MARCH 2 IN THE LA MACARENA NATIONAL PARK IN SOUTHEASTERN META PROVINCE WERE RELEASED BY THEIR MARXIST GUERRILLA CAPTORS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 03/27/94 DH17534 GUERRILLAS THREATEN AIRCRAFT COLOMBIAN GUERRILLAS GUARDING POPPY AND COCA FIELDS HAVE THREATENED TO FIRE AT ANY AIRCRAFT WHICH FLIES OVER THE PLANTATIONS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 03/26/94 DH17554 THREE INDIAN LEADERS MURDERED THE MURDER OF THREE INDIAN LEADERS, THE LATEST IN A SERIES OF KILLINGS, HAS SPARKED OUTRAGE AMONG CITIZENS AND OFFICIALS IN COLOMBIA. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 03/23/94 DH17510 POLICE UNCOVER PLOT MADRID EFE REPORTED THAT NATIONAL POLICE DISCOVERED A PLOT TO CARRY OUT ATTACKS AGAINST CERTAIN CAMPAIGN HEADQUARTERS, INCLUDING THAT OF THE LIBERAL PARTY PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 03/15/94 DH17413 TWO OIL EMPLOYEES MURDERED REUTERS REPORTED THAT TWO EMPLOYEES FROM AN INTERNATIONAL OIL FIRM WERE MURDERED BY MARXIST GUERRILLAS. GUERILLAS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 03/15/94 DH17440 ELN RELEASES VOTING OFFICIALS ACCORDING TO MEDIA REPORTS, THE ELN RELEASED 13 VOTING OFFICIALS OF THE RIO DE ORO MUNICIPAL OFFICE AND MURDERED ONE VOTING OFFICER IN THE AGUA SAL DISTRICT. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 03/13/94 DH17353 VIOLENCE MARS ELECTION REUTERS REPORTED THAT MARXIST GUERRILLAS KIDNAPPED 31 ELECTION OFFICIALS FROM CARCASI IN SANTANDER PROVINCE. GUERRILLAS ALSO MURDERED THE TOWN COUNCIL PRESIDENT OF UPIA. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 03/13/94 DH17355 ELECTORAL OFFICIALS RELEASED THIRTY TWO ELECTORAL OFFICIALS WERE RELEASED AFTER BEING KIDNAPPED BY THE ELN JUST BEFORE THE START OF THE COLOMBIAN ELECTIONS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 03/12/94 DH17330 CALI DRUG LEADER SURRENDERS REUTERS REPORTED THAT JULIO FABIO URDINOLA, ONE OF THE LEADERS OF THE CALI CARTEL, HAS SURRENDERED TO AUTHORITIES IN CALI, THE FIRST OF THE CARTEL TO DO SO. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 03/09/94 DH17282 ARMY AND REBELS CLASH, 24 DIE IN RECENT CLASHES BETWEEN GOVERNMENT TROOPS AND MARXIST REBELS, 24 PEOPLE HAVE DIED. THESE INCIDENTS OCCURRED JUST DAYS BEFORE CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS, TO BE HELD ON 03/13/94. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 03/08/94 DH17251 CITIBANK BRANCH BOMBED U.S. CITIBANK SOURCES REPORTED THE BOMBING OF A CITIBANK BRANCH IN PEREIRA. NO GROUP HAS CLAIMED RESPONSI- BILITY FOR THE ATTACK. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 03/08/94 DH17266 BOMB ATTACK ABORTED A BOMB ATTACK ON THE JUSTICE PALACE IN FLORENCIA WAS PREVENTED WHEN COLOMBIAN POLICE CAPTURED SIX SUBVERSIVES PREPARING THE BOMB NEAR THE PALACE. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 03/06/94 DH17244 BOMB FOUND IN MORMON CHURCH THE U.S. EMBASSY REPORTED THAT LOCAL POLICE DEACTIVATED A BOMB THAT WAS PLACED IN A MORMON CHURCH IN CHINCHINA, CALDES DEPARTMENT. NO CLAIMS OF RESPONSIBILITY WERE RECEIVED. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 03/04/94 DH17284 BOMB FOUND IN MORMON CHURCH DSS/ITA HAS LEARNED THAT AN UNIDEN- TIFIED PERSON PLANTED A BOMB IN A MORMON CHURCH IN BARRANQUILLA. IT WAS LATER DEACTIVATED BY POLICE. NO CLAIMS OF RESPONSIBILITY. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 03/04/94 DH17285 ATTEMPTED MORMON CHURCH BOMB DSS/ITA HAS LEARNED THAT A PIPE BOMB WAS DEACTIVATED AT A MORMON CHURCH IN MANIZALES. BOMB EXPERTS OPINED THAT IT WOULD HAVE DESTROYED HALF THE BUILDING UPON DETONATION. NO CLAIMS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 03/04/94 DH17187 WARNING MESSAGE ISSUED THE U.S. EMBASSY ISSUED A WARNING TO ALL U.S. CITIZENS TO AVOID TRAVEL TO VILLAVICENCIO UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. SEE PUBLIC STATEMENTS/TRAVEL ADVISORY FOR FULL TEXT. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 03/02/94 DH17122 REBELS KIDNAP FRENCH TOURISTS REUTERS REPORTED THAT COLOMBIAN GUERRILLAS KIDNAPPED TWO FRENCH TOURISTS WHILE THEY WERE VISITING A COLOMBIAN NATIONAL PARK. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 03/02/94 DH17160 MANNING RELEASED EL TIEMPO REPORTED THAT KIDNAPPED AMERICAN MINING ENGINEER LEWIS MANNING WAS RELEASED BY HIS ELN CAPTORS DURING THE EVENING OF MARCH 2, 1994. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 03/02/94 DH17287 SHOOTING AT MORMON CHURCH DSS/ITA HAS LEARNED THAT TWO UNI- FORMED MEN WEARING MASKS USED MACHINE GUNS TO SHOOT OUT THE WINDOWS OF A MORMON CHAPEL IN BUGA. NO INJURIES OR CLAIMS OF RESPONSIBILITY. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 02/25/94 DH17049 WARDEN MESSAGE FOR AMCITS THE U.S. EMBASSY HAS RELEASED A WARDEN MESSAGE TO THE AMERICAN COMMUNITY IN COLOMBIA. FOR FULL TEXT SEE THE PUBLIC STATEMENTS/TRAVEL ADVISORIES SECTION OF THE EBB. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 02/24/94 DH17033 MORE BOMBS IN MEDELLIN EMISORAS CARACOL REPORTED THAT TWO BOMBS EXPLODED DURING EARLY MORNING HOURS -- ONE AT A TRAVEL AGENCY AND THE OTHER AT A PRIVATE SECURITY COMPANY. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 02/23/94 DH17018 CALI DRUG KINGPIN ARRESTED MADRID EFE REPORTED THE ARREST OF NOTED DRUG KINGPIN JAIME OREJUELA CABALLERO, COUSIN OF REPUTED CALI CARTEL LEADER GILBERTO RODRIGUEZ OREJUELA. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 02/22/94 DH17004 KIDNAPPED POLITICIANS RELEASED MEXICO CITY NOTIMEX REPORTED THAT COLOMBIAN GUERRILLAS RELEASED 6 OF THE 8 POLITICIANS KIDNAPPED LAST WEEKEND IN CENTRAL AND SOUTHEASTERN COLOMBIA. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 02/21/94 DH16988 CONSULATE ATTACK CLAIMED MADRID EFE REPORTED THAT A MEDELLIN URBAN MILITIA GROUP CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FEBRUARY 20 ATTACKS AGAINST THE VENEZUELAN CONSULATE AND FOUR POLITICAL PARTY OFFICES. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 02/15/94 DH16878 ACCORD STRUCK WITH MILITIAS REUTERS REPORTED THAT THE GOVERN- MENT HAS STRUCK A PRELIMINARY ACCORD WITH TWO MEDELLIN MILITIA GROUPS, THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN COLOMBIA'S MOST VIOLENT CITY. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 02/12/94 DH16833 KEY EPL/D LEADER CAPTURED MADRID EFE REPORTED THAT ALVARO SOLANO, A KEY LEADER OF THE DISSIDENT FACTION OF THE POPULAR LIBERATION ARMY (EPL/D) WAS CAPTURED IN NEIVA WHILE BOARDING A PLANE. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 02/12/94 DH16841 SECURITY NOTICE TO U.S. FIRMS THE U.S. EMBASSY RELEASED A SECURITY NOTICE TO THE OSAC COUNTRY COUNCIL CONCERNING A THREAT TO U.S. FIRMS. SEE PUBLIC STATEMENTS/TRAVEL ADVISORIES SECTION OF EBB FOR FULL TEXT ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 02/10/94 DH16800 COLOMBIAN AMBASSADOR KILLED HAMBURG DPA REPORTED THAT UNKNOWN GUNMEN KILLED COLOMBIA'S AMBASSADOR TO HONDURAS, LUCELLY GARCIA, ON A HIGHWAY LEADING TO IBAGUE. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 02/08/94 DH16802 ANTI-U.S. DEMONSTRATIONS THE U.S. EMBASSY REPORTED ON DEMONSTRATIONS CONDUCTED BY ECOPETROL WORKERS AND UNIVERSITY STUDENTS PROTESTING THE PRESENCE OF U.S. TROOPS IN COLOMBIA. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 02/07/94 DH16758 CLINIC BOMBED IN BOGOTA BOGOTA TELEVISION REPORTED THAT PRESUMED GUERRILLAS BOMBED THE SAN PEDRO CLAVIER CLINIC IN BOGOTA, CAUSING NO INJURIES BUT SERIOUS PROPERTY DAMAGE. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 02/07/94 DH16766 SENATOR EVADES ELN KIDNAPPING REUTERS REPORTED THAT COLOMBIAN SENATOR AMILKAR ACOSTA ESCAPED A POTENTIAL KIDNAP ATTEMPT BY THE ELN ON AN ISOLATED HIGHWAY IN THE NORTHERN PROVINCE OF CESAR. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 02/04/94 DH16724 ITALIAN BUSINESSMAN RELEASED REUTERS REPORTED THAT THE FARC RELEASED PROMINENT ITALIAN BUSINESSMAN GEOVANNI CESAMA VITALY AFTER HOLDING HIM HOSTAGE FOR FIVE MONTHS. NO WORD IF A RANSOM WAS PAID. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 02/04/94 DH16759 ELN SEIZES RADIO STATIONS THE U.S. EMBASSY REPORTED THAT THE ELN HAD TEMPORARILY SEIZED THREE RADIO STATIONS TO BROADCAST VARIOUS CLAIMS OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR RECENT ACTIONS ON THEIR PART. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 02/03/94 DH16670 FOREIGN & U.S. FIRMS ATTACKED REUTERS REPORTED THAT POLICE ARE BLAIMING THE ELN FOR AN ATTEMPTED BOMBING OF THE MEDELLIN HEADQUARTERS OF U.S. CITIBANK/DINERS CLUB AND THE BOMBING OF THREE OTHER FOREIGN TARGETS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 02/03/94 DH16696 UPDATE TO FEB 3 BOMBINGS THE U.S. EMBASSY PROVIDED ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE ATTACKS CARRIED OUT AGAINST U.S. AND FOREIGN FIRMS IN MEDELLIN. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 02/03/94 DH16722 FARC CLAIMS MEDELLIN BOMBINGS HAMBURG DPA REPORTED THAT THE FARC SENT A COMMUNIQUE TO MEDELLIN RADIO STATIONS CLAIMING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ATTACKS ON FEBRUARY 3 TO PROTEST THE PRESENCE OF U.S TROOPS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 02/02/94 DH16667 ANOTHER MAYOR KILLED REUTERS REPORTED THAT GUNMEN AMBUSHED AND KILLED THE MAYOR OF LA UNION, LOCATED 110 MILES NORTHWEST OF BOGOTA. NO GROUP HAS CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ATTACK. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 02/02/94 DH16686 UPDATE TO ANTI-U.S. THREAT THE U.S. EMBASSY REPORTED THAT THE COLOMBIAN MILITARY POLICE HAVE SPECULATED THAT REBELS ARE POSSIBLY PLANNING TO CARRY OUT ANTI-U.S. ATTACKS IN BOGOTA TO PROTEST U.S. TROOPS IN COLOMBIA ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 01/28/94 DH16581 WARNING THE STATE DEPARTMENT ADVISES THAT U.S. CITIZENS ARE WARNED AGAINST TRAVEL TO COLOMBIA UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. SEE PUBLIC STATEMENTS/TRAVEL ADVISORIES FOR FULL TEXT ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 01/28/94 DH16605 EPL/D LEADER ARRESTED REUTERS REPORTED THAT THE NUMBER THREE LEADER OF THE DISSIDENT FACTION OF THE POPULAR LIBERATION ARMY (EPL/D) WAS ARRESTED IN CARTAGENA WHILE TRYING TO RECRUIT NEW MEMBERS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 01/25/94 DH16532 EMBASSY NOTICE THE U.S. EMBASSY IN COLOMBIA ADVISED THE AMERICAN COMMUNITY ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF VIOLENCE. SEE FULL TEXT IN THE PUBLIC STATEMENTS/TRAVEL ADVISORY FILE. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 01/23/94 DH16504 FARC MASSACRE KILLS 35 REUTERS REPORTED THAT 20 ARMED GUNMEN OF THE FARC OPENED FIRE ON A STREET PARTY AND INDISCRIMINATELY MASSACRED 35 PEOPLE IN APARTADO, LOCATED IN THE URABA REGION OF COLOMBIA. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 01/23/94 DH16509 MORMON CHAPELS BOMBED LDS OFFICIAL REPORTED THAT GUERRILLAS DESTROYED TWO OF THEIR CHAPELS BY BOMBS. THE CHAPELS WERE LOCATED IN MEDELLIN AND IN BUCARAMANGA. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 01/23/94 DH16510 COKE BOTTLING FRANCHISE BOMBED COCA COLA SECURITY OFFICIALS CONFIRMED THAT THEIR BUCARAMANGA BOTTLING FRANCHISE HAD BEEN BOMBED BY PRESUMED GUERRILLAS CAUSING MINIMAL DAMAGE AND NO INJURIES. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 01/21/94 DH16501 POPAYAN OFFICIAL KIDNAPPED ACCORDING TO COLOMBIAN TELEVISION REPORTING, UNKNOWN PERSONS KIDNAPPED THE PRESIDENT OF THE POPAYAN MUNICIPAL COUNCIL. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 01/18/94 DH16489 PIPELINE TEMPORARILY SHUT DOWN PRESS REPORTING INDICATED THAT A SECTION OF THE COLOMBIAN PIPELINE HAD TO BE TEMPORARILY SHUT DOWN DUE TO EXTENSIVE DAMAGE CAUSED BY ELN BOMBING ATTACKS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 01/17/94 DH16456 FARC KIDNAPS U.S. MISSIONARIES REUTERS AND THE U.S. EMBASSY REPORTED THAT MEMBERS OF THE FARC HAVE KIDNAPPED TWO U.S. MISSIONARIES NEAR VILLAVICENCIO, IN APPARENT PROTEST OF U.S. TROOPS STATIONED IN COLOMBIA. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 01/17/94 DH16457 ELN ATTACKS FINANCE MINISTER REUTERS REPORTED THAT ELN REBELS DETONATED A BOMB NEAR THE MOTORCADE OF COLOMBIA'S FINANCE MINISTER, WRECKING HIS ARMORED CAR AND INJURING A BODYGUARD ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 01/17/94 DH16464 FARC OCCUPIES RURAL TOWN PARIS AFP REPORTED THAT FARC REBELS TEMPORARILY OCCUPIED THE SANTANDER DEPARTMENT TOWN OF FLORIAN, KILLING TWO POLICEMEN AND ROBBING THE LOCAL BANK BEFORE FLEEING. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 01/15/94 DH16490 ANTI-US DEMONSTRATION ACCORDING TO PRESS REPORTING, DEMONSTRATORS BURNED A U.S. FLAG IN FRONT OF THE COLOMBIAN-AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER IN MEDELLIN TO PROTEST U.S. MILITARY PRESENCE IN COLOMBIA. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 01/14/94 DH16492 CAR BOMB ATTACK FOILED REUTERS REPORTED THAT COLOMBIAN POLICE CONFISCATED A CAR AND 65 POUNDS OF DYNAMITE THAT WAS BEING PREPARED FOR USE AGAINST COLOMBIA'S DIRECTOR OF PRISONS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 01/13/94 DH16404 MAYOR KILLED NEAR CUSIANA REUTERS REPORTED THAT THE MAYOR OF CHAMEZA, LOCATED NEAR THE CUSIANA OILFIELD, WAS GUNNED DOWN BY ELN REBELS WHILE SHE WAS WORKING IN HER OFFICE. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 01/12/94 DH16393 M-19 MEMBERS OCCUPY CHURCH ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 01/07/94 DH16336 COLOMBIAN TOURIST VAN BOMBED REUTERS REPORTED THAT TWO PERSONS WERE KILLED AND 8 OTHERS WERE WOUNDED WHEN ELN GUERRILLAS BOMBED A TOURIST VAN NEAR SAN JOSE, 100 MILES NORTHEAST OF BOGOTA. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 01/07/94 DH24130 MORE DEMONSTRATIONS PLANNED ACCORDING TO COLOMBIAN MEDIA REPORTS, PEASANTS HAVE GATHERED IN REMOLINO DEL CAGUAN AND PLAN TO MARCH ON FLORENCIA IF THE GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO SPRAY CROPS WITH GLYOPHOSPHATE. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 01/06/94 DH16306 GUERRILLA STATISTICS PUBLISHED THE U.S. EMBASSY REPORTED THAT THE COLOMBIAN ARMY RELEASED STATISTICS INDICATING THAT ARMED FORCES HAD KILLED 993 GUERRILLAS DURING 1993 AND HAD CAPTURED ANOTHER 1,873. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 01/05/94 DH16288 COLONEL ACCUSED OF KILLINGS REUTERS REPORTED THAT THE COLOMBIAN NAVY IS INVESTIGATING ACCUSATIONS MADE BY TWO UNNAMED NAVY OFFICERS THAT THE NAVY CHIEF OF INTELLIGENCE ORDERED THE KILLINGS OF OVER 50 PERSONS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 01/01/94 DH23994 WEEKEND DEATH TOLL ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 12/31/93 DH16221 DRIVE-BY SHOOTING KILLS FIVE ACCORDING TO DIARIO LAS AMERICAS, FIVE PERSONS, INCLUDING THE SISTER OF A NATIONAL POLICEMAN, WERE KILLED IN A DRIVE-BY SHOOTING IN BARRANQUILLA. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 12/31/93 DH16273 EIGHT PEASANTS KILLED BY FARC THE U.S. EMBASSY REPORTED THAT FARC GUERRILLAS MURDERED 8 PEASANTS IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF SAN JUAN DE LA CHINA, ON THE SUSPICION THAT THE PEASANTS WERE ARMY INFORMANTS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Daily Highlights) COLOMBIA 07/19/20 DH19937 GUERRILLAS ATTACK NEAR BOGOTA ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Anniversary Dates) COLOMBIA 10/08/1987 AV00235 REBEL UMBRELLA GROUP FOUNDED THE SIMON BOLIVAR GUERRILLA COORDINATING BOARD (CNG) IS AN UMBRELLA ORGANIZATION UNDER WHICH THE REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES OF COLOMBIA (FARC), THE NATIONAL LIBERATION ARMY (ELN) AND A DISSIDENT FACTION OF THE POPULAR LIBERATION ARMY (EPL) COORDINATE POLITICAL POSITIONS AND ORGANIZE JOINT TERRORIST OPERATIONS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Anniversary Dates) COLOMBIA 08/28/1985 AV00234 DEATH OF M-19 LEADER APRIL 19 MOVEMENT (M-19) LEADER IVAN MARINO OSPINA WAS KILLED IN A CLASH WITH GOVERNMENT TROOPS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Anniversary Dates) COLOMBIA 11/20/1983 AV00237 LEGALIZATION OF THE M-19 THE APRIL 19 MOVEMENT (M-19), A LEFTIST TERRORIST ORGANIZATION, WAS LEGALIZED BY AN AMNESTY LAW AFTER THE GROUP HAD MADE PEACE WITH THE GOVERNMENT. THE M-19 IS NOW A LEGITIMATE POLITICAL PARTY. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Anniversary Dates) COLOMBIA 03/04/1982 AV00228 EXTRADITION TREATY IN EFFECT THE U.S.-COLOMBIAN EXTRADITION TREATY, AIMED IN PART AT DRUG TRAFFICKERS, CAME INTO EFFECT. THE TREATY WAS LATER INVALIDATED BY THE COLOMBIAN SUPREME COURT. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Anniversary Dates) COLOMBIA 04/29/1967 AV00156 FOUNDING OF THE EPL EPL (POPULAR LIBERATION ARMY) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Anniversary Dates) COLOMBIA 08/15/1964 AV00207 ELN BEGINS ARMED STRUGGLE THE NATIONAL LIBERATION ARMY (ELN) BEGINS ITS ARMED STRUGGLE. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Anniversary Dates) COLOMBIA 05/27/1964 AV00230 ASSAULT ON PEASANT "REPUBLIC" ON THIS DATE, GOVERNMENT TROOPS ATTACKED THE "INDEPENDENT REPUBLIC" THAT COMMUNIST PEASANT GROUPS HAD SET UP AT MARQUETALIA, CALDAS DEPARTMENT. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Anniversary Dates) COLOMBIA 11/11/1957 AV00236 EPL DECLARES WAR ON GOVERNMENT THE POPULAR LIBERATION ARMY (EPL), A LEFTIST TERRORIST ORGANIZATION, HAS SINCE MADE PEACE WITH THE GOVERNMENT AND BECOME A LEGITIMATE POLITICAL PARTY. HOWEVER, A DISSIDENT FACTION CONTINUES THE ARMED STRUGGLE AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Anniversary Dates) COLOMBIA 07/17/1930 AV00231 COMMUNIST PARTY FOUNDED ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Anniversary Dates) COLOMBIA 07/20/1810 AV00232 INDEPENDENCE DAY ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Anniversary Dates) COLOMBIA 08/07/0000 AV00233 BATTLE OF BOYACA ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 03/23/95 SC24569 CARTEL GIRLFRIEND USES DIP CAR BOGOTA REUTERS REPORTED THAT A POLICE RAID REVEALED THAT THE GIRLFRIEND OF A KNOWN CALI CARTEL KINGPIN HAD AUTHORIZATION TO DRIVE A MERCEDES WITH DIPLOMATIC PLATES THAT WAS REGISTERED TO A MILITARY ATTACHE AT THE EL SALVADORAN EMBASSY IN BOGOTA. THE MILITARY ATTACHE WAS APPARENTLY OUT OF THE COUNTRY AT THE TIME, BUT DOCUMENTS IN THE CAR AUTHORIZED PATRICIA CONDE TO USE THE CAR. THE SALVADORAN EMBASSY ACKNOWLEDGED THE CAR WAS THE PROPERTY OF ONE OF ITS DEFENCE ATTACHES. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 03/17/95 SC24433 FARC LEADER DEAD? BOGOTA REUTERS REPORTED THAT LOCAL NEWS STATIONS WERE BROADCASTING THAT MANUEL MARULANDA VELEZ, LONGTIME LEADER OF THE REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES OF COLOMBIA (FARC) HAD DIED OF A HEART ATTACK NEAR THE TOWN OF GRANADA IN THE META DEPARTMENT ON MARCH 13. COLOMBIA'S DEFENSE MINISTER STATED HE HAD RECEIVED NO INFORMATION TO CONFIRM THIS AND ADDED THAT IT COULD BE PART OF A GUERRILLA STRATEGY OF DISINFORMATION. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 03/16/95 SC24391 U.S. DRUG TRAFFICKER CAUGHT BOGOTA REUTER REPORTS THAT THE COLOMBIAN POLICE CAPTURED A SUSPECTED U.S. DRUG TRAFFICKER DURING AN OPERATION IN THE SOUTHWESTERN CITY OF CALI WHERE HE WAS USING AN AUTO PARTS BUSINESS AS A FRONT. STATE SECURITY POLICE JULIO CIPREANO AS HE WAS DRIVING IN A CAR ALONG A DOWNTOWN STREET. THE PROSECUTOR- GENERAL'S OFFICE IS ARRANGING THE CUBAN-AMERICAN'S EXTRDITION TO THE UNITED STATES WHERE A SOUTH FLORIDA DISTRICT COURT JUDGE HAS ISSUED A WARRENT FOR HIS ARREST FOR SMUGGLING COCAINE INTO THE U.S. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 03/14/95 SC24315 PHYSICIANS STRIKE REUTERS REPORTED THAT THOUSANDS OF COLOMBIAN DOCTORS AND NURSES WENT ON STRIKE TUESDAY, BRINGING SERVICES IN MOST OF THE COUNTRY'S HOSPITALS TO A HALT. THEY ARE PROTESTING LOW SALARIES AND ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL MEDICAL UNION, THE APPROXIMATELY 120,000 DOCOTS, NURSES, AND OTHER STAFF INTEND TO STAY OUT OF WORK FOR TWO DAYS. THE GOVERNMENT RECENTLY INCREASED HOSPITAL SALARIES BY 18 PERCENT, BUT THE UNION SAID SALARIES WERE STILL NOT COMPETITIVE WITH THOSE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 03/13/95 SC24278 REWARD FOR CALI DRUG LEADERS BOGOTA, COLOMBIA REUTERS REPORTS THAT COLOMBIA IS CONSIDERING LAUNCHING A PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN OFFERING CASH REWARDS FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO THE CAPTURE OF THE LEADERS OF THE CALI CARTEL, ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL DRUG ORGANIZATIONS, ACCORDING TO POLICE AND MILITARY OFFICIALS. AN ARMY OFFICIAL TOLD REUTERS THE DEFENSE MINISTRY WOULD LIKELY BROADCAST TELEVISION COMMERCIALS OFFERING ABOUT FIVE BILLION PESOS ($5.7 MILLION) FOR EACH OF THE SUSPECTED LEADERS, INCLUDING MIGUEL AND GILBERTO RODRIGUEZ OREJUELA. THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE CALI CARTEL WOULD BE DESIGNED TO HELP THE SPECIAL ARMY AND POLICE TEAM THAT HAS BEEN HUNTING FOR THE DRUG LORDS IN THE SOUTHWESTERN CITY FOR MORE THAN A YEAR. THE TEAM'S MOST SIGNIFICANT BLOW AGAINST THE CARTEL CAME WHEN IT CAPTURED JORGE ELIECER RODRIGUEZ OREJUELA, THE YOUNGER BROTHER OF MIGUEL AND GILBERTO. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 03/10/95 SC24214 POLICE TARGET CALI CARTEL REUTERS REPORTED THAT A SPECIAL ARMY AND POLICE TEAM ARRESTED HUMBERTO AND MARIA ALEJANDRA OREJUELA, CHILDREN OF CALI DRUG KINGPIN RODRIGUEZ OREJUELA. THEY WERE ARRESTED AT THE CALI AIRPORT WHERE THEY HAD JUST RETURNED FROM THE U.S. DUE TO THE REVOCATION OF THEIR VISAS BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT. THEN, JUST HOURS AFTER THEIR ARREST, THEY WERE RELEASED BECAUSE THE WARRANTS AGAINST THEM HAD EXPIRED. THE WARRANTS HAD BEEN ISSUED IN 1993 FOR ILLICIT ENRICH- MENT. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 03/10/95 SC24215 KIDNAP VICTIM RELEASED REUTERS REPORTED THAT FORMER COLOMBIAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, REGINA BETANCOURT DE LISKA, WAS RELEASED BY GUERRILLAS AFTER BEING KIDNAPPED AND HELD FOR ALMOST FIVE MONTHS. MRS. BETANCOURT WAS TAKEN CAPTIVE BY A GROUP OF UNARMED GUNMEN NEAR HER RANCH LAST OCTOBER 15. HER CAPTORS WERE MEMBERS OF THE DEFUNCT M-19 WHO HAVE FORMED A NEW GROUP CALLED "COLOMBIA VIVA." MRS. BETANCOURT CLAIMS TO HAVE A MESSAGE FROM THE GUERRILLAS FOR THE GOVERNMENT. OTHER THAN BEING TIRED AND DIRTY FROM WALKING MILES THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS, MRS. BETANCOURT WAS IN GOOD SHAPE AND SAID THE GUERRILLAS TREATED HER VERY WELL. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 03/09/95 SC24155 FARC KIDNAPPING CAMPAIGN SANTA FE DE BOGOTA EL TIEMPO REPORTS THAT DOCUMENTS RECOVERED BY THE ARMY IN RECENT ACTIONS AGAINST THE REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES OF COLOMBIA (FARC) REVEAL THAT THE GUERRILLAS ARE ATTEMPTING TO KIDNAP A TOTAL OF 80 RANCHERS AND MERCHANTS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF CUNDINAMARCA. THESE KIDNAPPINGS ARE AIMED AT FINANCING THE CREATION OF TWO NEW FRONTS WHICH WOULD HAVE THE MISSION OF EXTENDING THE FARC PRESENCE TO THE NORTHERN AND NORTH EASTERN ZONES OF CUNDINAMARCA. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 03/08/95 SC24171 SPANISH EMBASSY ROBBED BOGOTA THE US EMBASSY REPORTED THAT TWO INDIVIDUALS, LATER IDENTIFYING THEMSELVES AS MEMBERS OF THE FARC 22 GUERRILLA FRONT, GAINED ENTRY IN THE SPANISH EMBASSY (IN NORTH BOGOTA) AND STOLE A NUMBER OF WEAPONS. THE CONTRACT GUARD ON DUTY APPARENTLY LET THE TWO MEN AFTER THEY EXPLAINED THEY WERE THERE TO FIX THE GENERATOR (WHICH IN FACT WAS BROKE). THE "GENERATOR REPAIRMEN" WERE THEN LED TO THE BASEMENT WHERE THEY WERE ALLOWED TO WORK UNESCORTED. THE "REPAIRMEN" THEN PROCEEDED TO STEAL EIGHT WEAPONS (3 SUBMACHINE GUNS, 2 RIFLES, 2 PISTOLS AND A REVOLVER) FROM AN UNLOCKED CABINET IN THE SAME ROOM. WHEN TWO SECURITY PERSONNEL CONFRONTED THE REPAIRMEN AS THEY WERE LEAVING WITH THE WEAPONS, THE ROBBERS ANNOUNCED THEY WERE FARC MEMBERS. THE SECURITY PERSONNEL WERE THEN TIED UP AND THE THIEVES DEPARTED. THE RSO'S POLICE CONTACTS BELIEVE THIS INCIDENT WAS A PURE CRIMINAL INCIDENT AND THAT SOMEONE SUPPLIED INSIDE INFORMATION TO THE THIEVES. (THE SPANISH EMBASSY HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH A NUMBER OF CONTRACT GUARDS RECENTLY, AND THE CONTRACT GUARD AND/OR THE COMPANY ARE SUSPECTED.) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 03/06/95 SC24093 ITALIAN DRUG TRAFFICKER NABBED BOGOTA REUTERS REPORTED THAT COLOMBIAN POLICE CAPTURED ITALIAN DRUG TRAFFICKER UGO RANIERI AS HE WAS DRIVING ALONG A MAJOR AVENUE IN WESTERN BOGOTA. RANIERI IS WANTED BY INTERPOL FOR RUNNING A SMUGGLING RING IN COLOMBIA THAT HAD SHIPPED THOUSANDS OF POUNDS OF COCAINE TO ITALY. HE HAS ALSO BEEN ACCUSED OF SHIPPING 265 POUNDS OF HEROIN INTO HIS NATIVE COUNTRY AS WELL. IN A SEPARATE MATTER, POLICE ARRESTED A CANADIAN ON FEBRUARY 23 WHO WAS ALLEGEDLY WORKING FOR THE CALI CARTEL IN THAT SOUTHWESTERN CITY. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 03/06/95 SC24192 FARC BALKS ON RELEASING SWEDES MONTERIA, CORDOBA DEPARTMENT THE U.S. EMBASSY REPORTED THAT THE REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES OF COLOMBIA (FARC) FAILED TO RELEASE TWO SWEDISH ENGINEERS AS HAD BEEN PROMISED BY A FARC REPRESENTATIVE WHO MET WITH SWEDISH BUSINESSMEN LAST WEEK. AFTER THE HOSTAGES' EMPLOYER COMPLIED WITH GUERRILLA DEMANDS TO READ A PROPAGANDA STATEMENT, THE FARC ADDED A FURTHER CONDITION THAT THE COLOMBIAN GOVERNMENT WITHDRAW ITS FORCES FROM THE AREA (CORDOBA DEPARTMENT) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 03/05/95 SC24082 FARC ATTACKS TOWN KILLING 14 BOGOTA, COLOMBIA REUTER REPORTS THAT APPROXIMATELY 500 HEAVILY ARMED MEMBERS OF THE REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES OF COLOMBIA (FARC) RAIDED THE SMALL TOWN OF ITUANGO SUNDAY KILLING EIGHT POLICE OFFICERS AND SIX CIVILIANS, ACCORDING TO FATHER JAIRO BARRERA CORREA. DURING THE ATTACK THE GUERRILLAS DESTROYED MANY BUILDINGS AND TOOK THE MAYOR AND SIX OTHER PEOPLE HOSTAGE BEFORE LEAVING IN STOLEN BUSES ON MONDAY. POLICE CONFIRMED THE ATTACK ON THE TOWN, WHICH IS LOCATED IN THE PROVINCE OF ANTIOQUIA ABOUT 185 MILES NORTHWEST OF BOGOTA, AND STATED THAT THEY HAD SENT REINFORCEMENTS TO SEARCH FOR THE GUERRILLAS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 03/03/95 SC24041 CALI DRUG TRAFFICKER CAPTURED CALI REUTER REPORTS THAT COLOMBIAN SECURITY FORCES CAPTURED ONE OF THE SEVEN LEADERS OF THE CALI CARTEL, DEALING A DECISIVE BLOW AGAINST ONE OF THE WORLDS MOST POWERFUL DRUG ORGANISATIONS. A SPECIAL ARMY AND POLICE TEAM CAPTURED JORGE RODRIGUEZ OREJUELA IN CALI CITY, 180 MILES SOUTHWEST OF BOGOTA. THE CAPTURE WAS PART OF WIDER OPERATION THROUGHOUT CALI AND SURROUNDING TOWNS AND INVOLVES 3000 SOLDIERS AND POLICE. THE CAPTURE CAME JUST ONE DAY AFTER THE U.S. SCOLDED COLOMBIA FOR NOT DOING ENOUGH TO FIGHT DRUG TRAFFICKING. THE U.S. GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED IT WOULD CONTINUE TO "CERTIFY" COLOMBIA AS A COOPERATING COUNTRY BUT ONLY BECAUSE IT WAS IN ITS "NATIONAL INTEREST" TO DO SO. THE SPECIAL ARMY AND POLICE TEAM, SIMILAR TO THE ONE THAT HUNTED DOWN PABLO ESCOBAR IN MEDELLIN, HAD BEEN WORKING IN CALI FOR MORE THAN A YEAR WITHOUT ANY SIGNIFICANT RESULTS PRIOR TO THE OREJUELA CAPTURE. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 03/03/95 SC24068 FARC SENDS LETTER TO US FIRM CALI, COLOMBIA A US-BASED MULTINATIONAL FIRM IN COLOMBIA REPORTED THAT IT RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE COLOMBIAN GUERRILLA GROUP "FARC" INDICATING IT'S INTENTION OF REOPENING TALKS WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF COLOMBIA. NOTE: DS/ITA WOULD BE INTERESTED IN ANY OTHER SIMILAR COMMUNICATIONS MADE TO AMERICAN COMPANIES. PLEASE RESPOND VIA EBB E-MAIL. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 03/03/95 SC24115 LEADER OF ELN ASSAULT CAPTURED BOGOTA AMERICAN EMBASSY BOGOTA REPORTS THAT COLOMBIAN FORCES CAPTURED 4 (FOUR) ELN GUERRILLAS AND KILLED ANOTHER WHILE TRACKING THE GUERRILLA COLUMN THAT HAD ATTACKED CARARABO. AMONG THOSE CAPTURED WAS RAFAEL BLANCO FLORES, ALIAS "CARRILLO", WHOM THE AUTHORITIES ACCUSE OF LEADING THE ASSAULT. THE COLOMBIAN ARMED FORCES COMMANDER REPORTEDLY TOLD VENEZUELAN AUTHORITIES THAT FLORES WILL ANSWER FOR HIS CRIMES IN COLOMBIA AND WILL NOT BE TURNED OVER TO VENEZUELA FOR TRIAL. IN ADDITION, WEAPONS "CORRESPONDING" TO THOSE TAKEN FROM CARARABO WERE UNCOVERED AT A GUERRILLA ARMS CACHE. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 03/01/95 SC23978 DRUG CERTIFICATION DOWNGRADED BOGOTA REUTER REPORTS THAT THE UNITED STATES DOWNGRADED COLOMBIA AS A COOPERATOR IN THE FIGHT AGAINST DRUG TRAFFICKING BUT STATED IT WOULD CONTINUE AID TO THE COCAINE PRODUCING COUNTRY. PRESIDENT CLINTON ANNOUNCED THAT THE U.S. WOULD CONTINUE TO "CERTIFY" COLOMBIA AS A COOPERATING COUNTRY BUT ONLY BECAUSE IT WAS "VITAL TO U.S. NATIONAL INTERESTS" TO DO SO, NOT BECAUSE ITS DRUG FIGHTING EFFORTS HAD BEEN SATISFACTORY. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 02/28/95 SC23931 ABDUCTED SWEDES TO BE RELEASED STOCKHOLM REUTERS REPORTED THAT THE REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES OF COLOMBIA (FARC) HAVE PLEDGED TO RELEASE TWO SWEDISH ENGINEERS THEY KIDNAPPED ON DECEMBER 14, 1995, ACCORDING TO THEIR SWEDISH EMPLOYERS (SKANSKA ENGINEERING). THE FARC HAS DEMANDED THAT THE COMPANY ONLY READ OUT A STATEMENT FROM THE FARC AS THE ONLY CONDITION FOR THE PAIR'S RELEASE. THE FARC STATEMENT INDICATED THAT THE KIDNAPPING HAD BEEN TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THE DAMAGE BEING CAUSED TO COLOMBIA'S ECO-SYSTEM BY THE URRA HYDROELECTRIC DAM, BEING BUILT BY SKANSKA. ACCORDING TO SKANSKA, THE FARC HAS PLEDGED TO HAND OVER DANNY APPLEGATE AND TOMMY TYRVING TO A COMMITTEE OF COLOMBIAN AND FOREIGN NATIONALS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 02/23/95 SC23772 QUAKE IN NORTHEASTERN COLOMBIA SANTANDER DEPARTMENT REUTERS REPORTED THAT A STRONG EARTHQUAKE (5.8 RICHTER SCALE) SHOOK NORTH- EASTERN COLOMBIA BUT FIRST REPORTS DID NOT INDICATE SERIOUS DAMAGE OR DEATHS. THE EPICENTER OF THE QUAKE OCCURRED NEAR THE SMALL TOWN OF JORDAN IN THE SANTANDER PROVINCE, ABOUT 140 MILES NORTHEAST OF BOGOTA. THE QUAKE WAS JUST BARELY PERCEPTIBLE IN BOGOTA. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 02/23/95 SC23788 OIL PIPELINE DYNAMITED BY ELN SANTA FE DE BOGOTA MEXICO CITY NOTIMEX REPORTED THAT THE COLOMBIAN PETROLEUM ENTERPRISE (ECOPETROL) HAS BLAMED THE ARMY OF NATIONAL LIBERATION (ELN) FOR DYNAMITING THE COLOMBIA PIPELINE. THE ATTACK ON THE PIPELINE, THE SECOND LARGEST IN THE COUNTRY, TOOK PLACE IN REMEDIOS MUNICIPALITY, ANTIOQUIA DEPARTMENT, ABOUT 250 KM NORTHWEST OF SANTA FE DE BOGOTA. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 02/23/95 SC23794 FARC LEADER VISITS SWEDEN SWEDEN STOLKHOLM RADIO REPORTED THAT A HIGH RANKING REPRESENTATIVE OF THE REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES OF COLOMBIA (FARC) GUERRILLA GROUP SECRETLY VISITED STOLKHOLM FOR TALKS WITH THE HEAD OF SWEDEN'S INTERNATIONAL TRADE COUNCIL. THE UNNAMED GUERRILLA LEADER TOLD HIS HOSTS THAT THE TWO SWEDES WHO WERE KIDNAPPED LAST DECEMBER ARE BEING HELD AS NEGOTIATING CARDS FOR USE IN FARC'S TALKS WITH THE COLOMBIAN GOVERNMENT. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 02/20/95 SC23795 AMNESTY INTL CONDEMS COLOMBIA BOGOTA SANTA FE DE BOGOTA REPORTS THAT COLOMBIA IS ONE OF THE WORLD'S SIX BLACK SHEEP WHEN IT COMES HUMAN RIGHTS ACCORDING TO AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL IN THEIR ANNUAL REPORT. COLOMBIA IS LISTED ALONG WITH IRAQ, SRI LANKA, ZIMBABWE, TURKEY, AND MOROCCO. THE ISSUES DISCUSSED IN THE REPORT WERE FORCED VANISHING AND THE ASSASSINATIONS OF PEOPLE BY STATE SECURITY FORCES AND THE UTILIZATION OF INTELLIGENCE SERVICES TO COVER UP THESE CRIMES. ACCORDING TO THE NONGOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION (NGO) COLOMBIA IS ONE OF THE WORLD'S LEADERS IN THE NUMBER OF FORCED VANISHINGS AND ILLEGAL ASSASSINATIONS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 02/16/95 SC23621 POLICE HELICOPTER SHOT DOWN PUERTO ASIS, PUTUMAYO SANTA FE DE BOGOTA TELEVISION REPORTED THAT A GUERRILLA GROUP OPERATING NEAR PUERTO ASIS, PUTUMAYO, SHOT DOWN A POLICE COUNTERNARCOTICS HELICOPTER ON 2/16 TWO OFFICERS AND ONE AGENT WERE KILLED, THREE UNIFORMED SOLDIERS WERE INJURED AND THREE OTHERS ARE MISSING. THE HELICOPTER WAS OPERATING NEAR TWO COCA PROCESSING LABS WHEN IT WAS SHOT DOWN. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 02/14/95 SC23538 GERMAN ENGINEER KIDNAPPED BOGOTA REUTER REPORTS THAT MARXIST REBELS HAVE KIDNAPPED A GERMAN ENGINEER WORKING FOR A U.S. COAL COMPANY IN NORTHERN COLOMBIA. HE IS THE LATEST IN A SERIES OF ABDUCTIONS OF FOREIGNERS. TWO PEOPLE DIED DURING THE KIDNAPPING. FOUR HEAVILY ARMED MEN STOPPED A TRUCK USED BY ALABAMA-BASED DRUMMOND CO. INC. EARLY MONDAY MORNING NEAR THE TOWN OF EL PASO, ABOUT 360 MILES NORTH OF BOGOTA AND OVERPOWERED THE THREE MEN INSIDE. GERMAN ENGINEER LEO RUTHING WAS DRIVING, ACCOMPANIED BY TWO COLOMBIANS CONTRACTED BY THE COAL COMPANY, WHICH IS DEVELOPING A MAJOR MINING PROJECT IN THE AREA. THE KIDNAPPERS THEN DROVE OFF AT HIGH SPEED, CRASHING THE TRUCK AND KILLING ONE OF THE COLOMBIAN ENGINEERS AND ONE OF THE ABDUCTORS. NO RANSOM DEMAND HAS BEEN RECEIVED AS YET THE KIDNAPPERS WHO ARE BELIEVED TO BE MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL LIBERATION ARMY RUTHING IS THE LATEST VICTIM OF AWAVE OF KIDNAPPINGS OF FOREIGNERS BY COLOMBIAN GUERRILLAS OR COMMON CRIMINALS. EIGHT AMERICAN ARE CURRENTLY HELD ALONG WITH A CANADIAN, TWO BRAZILIANS AND TWO SWEDES. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 02/14/95 SC23563 FARC AMBUSHES SOLDIERS EL GUAVIARE SANTA FE DE BOGOTA REPORTS THAT FIVE SOLDIERS WERE KILLED AND ONE IS MISSING AS A RESULT OF AN ATTACK ON A MARINE INFANTRY UNIT BY THE FARC'S 44TH FRONT. THE UNIT, WHICH WAS PATROLLING BETWEEN PUERTO COLUMBIA AND EL BARRACON, ALSO REPORTED THE LOSS SVERAL RIFLES, GRENADES, AMMUNITION, AND TWO RADIOS. THE BRIGADE COMMANDER BLAMED THE LOSSES ON POOR SECURITY DURING THE MARCH BACK TO SAN JOSE DEL GUAVIARE. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 02/10/95 SC23466 SWEDISH PROOF OF LIFE RECEIVED STOCKHOLM REUTERS REPORTED THAT FAMILIES OF TWO SWEDISH ENGINEERS KIDNAPPED BY MARXIST GUERRILLAS IN COLOMBIA ON DECEMBER 14, 1994, HAVE RECEIVED LETTERS INDICATING THEY ARE ALIVE, ACCORDING TO THEIR EMPLOYER, THE CONSTRUCTION FIRM SKANSKA OF SWEDEN. THE LETTERS STATED THAT DANNY APPLEGATE AND TOMMY TYRVING WERE IN GOOD HEALTH AND BEING TREATED WELL, AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE HANDWRITING OF THE TWO LETTERS BELONGED TO THE TWO HOSTAGES. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 02/08/95 SC23658 RFF/FARC LEADER CAPTURED CALI EL TIEMPO REPORTED THAT JOSE FEDOR, A DISSIDENT MEMBER OF THE REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES OF COLOMBIA (FARC) AND THE LEADER/FOUNDER OF THE RICARDO FRANCO FRONT (RFF), WAS CAPTURED IN CALI. FEDOR IS CHARGED WITH (AND ADMITTED) KILLING OVER 160 GUERRILLA MEMBERS OF HIS ORGANIZATION IN TACUEYO. FEDOR PURGED HIS GUERRILLA GROUP IN 1985 AND ACCUSED 164 MEMBERS OF BEING MILITARY INFORMANTS BEFORE HE EXECUTED THEM. FEDOR HAD BEEN A FUGITIVE FROM JUSTICE FOR 9 YEARS BEFORE HE WAS CAPTURED IN A CALI TAVERN. FEDOR WAS ALSO A FUGITIVE FROM THE FARC WHO HAD CONDEMNED HIM TO DEATH AFTER THE MASSACRE OF THE RFF. FEDOR HAD INITIALLY DESERTED FROM THE FARC IN 1982 AFTER HE STOLE APPROXIMATELY $2 MILLION FROM THE GROUP. HE THEN ORGANIZED THE RICARDO FRANCO FRONT. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 02/07/95 SC23385 FIVE HIKERS MURDERED IN ANDES BOGOTA, COLOMBIA REUTERS REPORTED THAT FIVE COLOMBIAN HIKERS WERE TORTURED THEN MURDERED BY FARC GUERRILLAS WHO ASSUMED THEY WERE COLOMBIAN ARMY SCOUTS. THE SHORT HAIRCUTS OF THE HIKERS MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE GUERRILLAS' SUSPICIONS. THE MURDERS TOOK PLACE IN THE MOUNTAINS OF THE NEVADO DEL TOLIMA NATIONAL PARK, LOCATED ABOUT 90 MILES WEST OF BOGOTA. REPORTEDLY, THE YOUNG HIKERS HAD THEIR SHOULDERS AND LEGS BROKEN BEFORE THEY WERE SHOT IN THE HEAD. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 02/02/95 SC23307 13 DIE IN MASSACRE CALDAS PROVINCE REUTERS REPORTED THAT ON FEBRUARY 2, GUNMEN BURST INTO A HOME WHERE FAMILY MEMBERS WERE MOURNING THE DEATH OF A RELITIVE AND SHOT DEAD NINE PEOPLE INCLUDING A 3-YEAR-OLD GIRL. THRE PEOPLE IN THE GETAWAY CAR AND A POLICEMAN WHO CONFRONTED THEM DIED MINUTES LATER IN A GUNFIGHT. POLICE BELIEVE THE INCIDENT WAS RELATED TO A FAMILY VANDETTA. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED IN THE COFFEE-GROWING REGION OF CALDAS PROVINCE. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 01/31/95 SC23224 BRAZILIAN ENGINEERS ABDUCTED SAN CARLOS REUTERS REPORTED THAT COLOMBIAN GUNMEN KIDNAPPED TWO BRAZILIAN ENGINEERS WORKING AT THE ABANDONED CENTRAL CALDERAS HYDROELECTRIC DAM NEAR THE TOWN OF SAN CARLOS. KIDNAPPED WERE CARLOS MOCRA AND AN UNIDENTIFIED MAN. THE KIDNAPPERS WERE MOST LIKELY MARXIST GUERRILLAS KNOWN TO OPERATE IN THE AREA, LOCATED MORE THAN 90 MILES NORTHWEST OF BOGOTA IN THE ANTIOQUIA PROVINCE. THE BRAZILIAN EMBASSY HAD LITTLE COMMENT OTHER THAN TO SAY THAT THE TWO WERE WORKING FOR THE SWISS-SWEDISH ENGINEERING GROUP ASEA BROWN BOVERI. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 01/31/95 SC23226 POLITICIAN KILLS PARTY MEMBER BUCARAMANGA REUTERS REPORTED THAT A COLOMBIAN CONGRESSMAN SURRENDERED TO POLICE ON TUESDAY AFTER KILLING A MEMBER OF HIS POLITICAL PARTY BY SHOOTING HIM IN THE FACE DURING AN ARGUMENT. THE SHOOTER, WHO WAS ONCE A MEMBER OF THE LOWER HOUSE'S PEACE COMMISSION, LATER SAID THAT HE HAD ACTED IN SELF-DEFENSE AGAINST THE VICTIM, A CAMPAIGN ORGANIZER. AFTER A PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION, POLICE SPECULATE THAT THE VICTIM HAD ATTEMPTED TO HIT THE POLITICIAN WHICH BROUGHT ABOUT THE SHOOTING. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 01/23/95 SC22998 GUERRILLAS ATTACK PIPELINE MAGDALENA AND SIMANA RIVERS, CESAR DEPARTMENT SANTA FE DE BOGOTA REPORTED THAT GUERRILLAS ATTACKED THE AYACUCHO OIL PIPELINE IN CESAR DEPARTMENT. 9000 BARRELS OF OIL WERE SPILLED INTO THE MAGDALENA AND SIMANA RIVERS. ECOPETROL TRIED TO HOLD BACK THE CRUDE WITH FLOATING BARRIERS; HOWEVER, THE GUERRILLAS DESTROYED THEM ALSO. AUTHORITIES HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO CONTAIN THE OIL AND THE SPILL WILL REACH THE MOUTH OF THE MAGDALENA RIVER ON THE ATLANTIC OCEAN IN THE NEXT 24-48 HOURS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 01/23/95 SC23000 POLICE FREE 3 FOREIGN HOSTAGES BOGOTA REUTERS REPORTS THAT COLOMBIAN POLICE FREED THREE FOREIGN TOURISTS WHO WERE BEING HELD HOSTAGE BY AN ARMED GROUP IN THE CENTRAL PROVINCE OF CUNDINAMARCA. FREED WERE ALFRED MANN, A DUTCH CITIZEN, AND DOMINICAN REPUBLICANS FUSTINA AZA PEREZ DE PESQUERO AND MERCEDES SANTA RUIZ DURING A RAID EARLY MONDAY ON A FARM NEAR THE TOWN OF PACHO, 40 MILES NORTH OF BOGOTA. ONE SUSPECT WAS ARRESTED. ALL THE HOSTAGES WERE IN GOOD CONDITION. THEY HAD BEEN HELD BY UNIDENTIFIED KIDNAPPERS FOR 80 DAYS WHO DEMANDED A TOTAL OF $1.5 MILLION FOR THEIR RELEASE. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 01/19/95 SC22866 EARTHQUAKE IN CENTRAL COLOMBIA CENTRAL COLOMBIA REUTERS REPORTED THAT A STRONG EARTHQUAKE SHOOK CENTRAL COLOMBIA, RATTLING BUILDINGS, SCARING CITIZENS AND CUTTING SOME TELEPHONE LINKS. INHABITANTS OF BOGOTA RAN OUT OF TALL BUILDINGS INTO THE STREET IN PANIC. ONE MAN DIED IN NORTHERN BOGOTA WHEN A WALL FELL ON TOP OF HIM. CRACKS IN OVER 25 BUILDINGS WERE REPORTED IN THE CENTER AND NORTH OF THE CAPITAL. IN ADDITION, SEVERAL TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS WERE CAUSED BY FRIGHT, ONE BUILDING WAS ON FIRE AND SEVERAL THOUSANDS OF PHONE LINES WERE CUT. THE QUAKE'S EPICENTER WAS NEAR THE TOWN OF TAURAMENA, 70 MILES EAST OF BOGOTA. DAMAGE WAS NOT GREATER BECAUSE OF THE EARTHQUAKE'S SHORT DURATION OF ONLY ABOUT 10 SECONDS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 01/18/95 SC22849 YET ANOTHER AMCIT KIDNAPPED BOGOTA ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTS THAT LEFTIST GUERRILLAS KIDNAPPED AN AMERICAN CIVIL ENGINEER IN NORTHEAST COLOMBIA. THIS BRINGS TO TEN THE NUMBER OF AMERICANS BELIEVED TO BE HELD CAPTIVE. EDWARD GRAVOWSKY WAS ABDUCTED TUESDAY NIGHT IN THE VILLAGE OF EL HATICO 465 MILES NORTHEAST OF BOGOTA ACCORDING TO SOCOCO, S.A., THE COMPANY FOR WHICH GRAVOWSKY WORKS. HE WAS SEIZED BY A SPLINTER GROUP OF THE POPULAR LIBERATION ARMY (EPL). THE EPL WAS DISBANDED IN MARCH 1991, AND ITS FORMER MEMBERS WERE REINSERTED INTO SOCIETY, BUT A SPLINTER GROUP COMPRISED OF ABOUT 150 INSURGENTS REMAINS ACTIVE, PARTICULARLY ALONG THE CARIBBEAN COAST IN NORTHERN COLOMBIA. GRAVOWSKI IS THE FOURTH FOREIGNER KIDNAPPED BY COLOMBIAN GUERRILLAS IN THE PAST FOUR MONTHS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 01/17/95 SC22773 POPE BOYCOTT COLOMBO REUTERS REPORTED THAT SRI LANKAN BUDDHISTS, ANGERED BY POPE JOHN PAUL'S REMARKS ON THEIR RELIGION IN HIS RECENTLY PUBLISHED BOOK, WILL GO AHEAD WITH A THREATENED BOYCOTT OF HIS VISIT TO THE ISLAND AND STAGE A PROTEST. SRI LANKAN POLICE ARE DUE TO LAUNCH A HUGE SECURITY OPERATION FOR THE POPE'S VISIT WITH BODYCHECKS OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PILGRIMS, INCLUDING CATHOLIC NUNS. TRAFFIC WILL BE BANNED ON ALL ROADS TO BE USED BY THE POPE. THE PROTESTS HAVE ARISEN OVER REMARKS IN THE POPE'S BOOK, WHERE HE DESCRIBED BUDDHISM AS AN "ATHEISTIC SYSTEM." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 01/17/95 SC22792 PARAMILITARY/REBELS AT WAR CORDOBA AND URABA SANTA FE DE BOGOTA REPORTED THAT PARAMILITARY AND GUERRILLA MEMBERS OF CORDOBA AND URABA HAVE ANNOUNCED THAT THERE WILL BE AN ALL-OUT WAR BETWEEN THE TWO GROUPS NOW. THE "WAR" BEGAN IN ANTIOQUIA'S URABA REGION AND CORDOBA IN THE LAST FEW DAYS. GUERRILLA FRONTS AND PARAMILITARY GROUPS HAVE PLACED HAPLESS PEASANTS AND CATTLEMEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CROSSFIRE WHO HAVE BENEFITED FROM THE LAND DISTRIBUTION MADE BY THE ALLEGED DRUG TRAFFICKER, FIDEL CASTANO. AS A RESULT OF THE FIGHTING, HUNDREDS OF PEASANTS FROM NORTHERN URABA, VALENCIA, ARBOLITES, SAN PEDRO, AND TIERRA ADENTRO HAVE BEGUN TO MIGRATE TO URBAN CENTERS. THE STATE HAS BEEN ASKED TO MEDIATE THE CONFLICT TO PREVENT A WAR AND THE EXODUS OF PEASANTS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 01/17/95 SC22798 EXTRADITION REVISITED BOGOTA REUTERS REPORTS THAT PUBLIC DISGUST WITH LIGHT SENTENCES FOR DRUG TRAFFICKERS IS PUTTING PRESSURE ON THE COLOMBIAN GOVERNMENT TO REVIVE EXTRADITION -- THE PUNISHMENT COCAINE KINGPINS FEAR MOST. EXTRADITION WAS OUTLAWED IN THE 1991 COLOMBIAN CONSTITUTION AFTER A WAVE OF DRUG TERROR. IN ITS PLACE, THE GOV'T INTRODUCED A PLEA BARGAINING SYSTEM OFFERING BIG SENTENCE REDUCTIONS TO DRUG LORDS WHO SURRENDERED. HOWEVER, THE PUBLIC MOOD HAS CHANGED TO THAT OF REVULSION WITH THE LIGHT SENTENCES IMPOSED ON TRAFFICKERS AND A FEELING THAT DRUG LORDS HAVE EXPLOITED THE PLEA BARGAINING SYSTEM BY THREATENING OR BRIBING JUDGES AND PROSECUTORS TO PUNISHMENT. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 01/17/95 SC22812 KIDNAPPING--A GROWING INDUSTRY BOGOTA REUTERS REPORTED THAT KIDNAPPING HAS BECOME A $350 MILLION DOLLAR INDUSTRY IN COLOMBIA, WITH FOUR VICTIMS SNATCHED DAILY AND 64 FOREIGNERS ABDUCTED IN THE PAST 3 YEARS FOR HUGE RANSOMS, ACCORDING TO A REPORT BY THE ANTI-KIDNAP FREE COUNTRY FOUNDATION. THE FOUNDATION REPORTED THAT FEWER THAN ONE IN 30 KIDNAPPERS WERE CAUGHT AND SENTENCED OVER THE PAST 3 YEARS BECAUSE OF POOR POLICE WORK AND A WEAK LEGAL SYSTEM. ALTHOUGH REPORTED KIDNAPPINGS FELL 23 PERCENT BETWEEN 1992 AND 1993, LAST YEAR THEY SHOT UP MORE THAN A THIRD TO 1,378 ABDUCTIONS. HOWEVER, IT IS ESTIMATED THAT FEWER THAN HALF THE KIDNAPPINGS THAT ACTUALLY TAKE PLACE ARE REPORTED. SECURITY FORCES RESCUED ONLY ONE IN 10 OF THE REPORTED KIDNAP VICTIMS OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS AND MANY OTHERS WERE MURDERED BY THE KIDNAPPERS, WHO OFTEN DEMANDED A FEE FROM THE FAMILY TO RETURN THE DEAD BODY. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 01/17/95 SC22819 "SOCIAL CLEANSING" IN MEDELLIN MEDELLIN THE US EMBASSY REPORTED ON A NEWS ARTICLE PREPARED BY AP STRINGER PAUL HAVEN ON MEDELLIN "SOCIAL CLEANSING" OPERATIONS (I.E. EXTRAJUDICIAL ATTACKS OR ASSASSINATIONS OF "UNDESIREABLE" SOCIAL ELEMENTS SUCH AS PROSTITUTES, BEGGARS, DRUG ADDICTS, STREET CHILDREN, ETC.). HAVEN CITED UNSPECIFIED "OFFICIAL STATISTICS" THAT SHOW THAT MEDELLIN (POPULATION 1.7 MILLION) WITNESSED 5,577 IN MURDERS IN 1994 FOR WHICH THE JUSTICE SYSTEM RESPONDED WITH ONLY 550 CONVICTIONS. HAVEN ARGUES THAT IN THE FACE OF SUCH JUDICIAL INEFFICIENCY, THE RISE OF PRIVATE VIGILANTE GROUPS SHOULD NOT COME AS A SURPRISE. THE GROUPS APPARENTLY TARGET SPECIFIC VICTIMS, SUCH AS CAR THIEVES, PROSTITUTES, DRUG ADDICTS, ETC. AND THAT THE POLICE AND CIVILIAN POPULATION LOOK THE OTHER WAY. HAVEN CITES A POLICE SOURCE WHO STATED THAT THERE IS "MOST CERTAINLY" TACIT POLICE COOPERATION WITH MANY OF THESE GROUPS, ALTHOUGH WHEN A POLICEMAN IS CAUGHT PARTICIPATING IN SUCH ACTIONS, HE IS USUALLY BROUGHT BEFORE THE LAW. HAVEN ACCURATELY ASSERTS, HOWEVER, THAT FEW POLICE ARE EVER SUCCESSFULLY PROSECUTED FOR "SOCIAL CLEANSING" CRIMES. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 01/16/95 SC22771 U.S. WOMAN MISTAKENLY ARRESTED CALI REUTERS REPORTED THAT COLOMBIAN POLICE MAY HAVE MISTAKENLY ARRESTED U.S. WOMAN ALFREIDA BROWN AND HER COLOMBIAN HUSBAND ON THE SUSPICION THAT SHE WAS WANTED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING IN THE UNITED STATES. MS BROWN AND HER HUSBAND WERE ARRESTED DURING AN ARMY/POLICE RAIDON A HOUSE IN A RESIDENTIAL SUBURB OF CALI. APPARENTLY ALL OF MS. BROWN'S PAPERS WERE IN ORDER AND THERE IS NO OFFICIAL REQUEST FOR HER EXTRADITION TO THE U.S. IF THE POLICE EVENTUALLY SET BROWN FREE, THE RAID WILL BECOME THE LATEST BLUNDER COMMITTED BY THE SPECIAL TEAM IN ITS SEARCH FOR THE LEADERS OF THE CALI CARTEL. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 01/14/95 SC22818 PARAMILITARY MASSACRES CESAR AND ANTIOQUIA DEPARTMENTS THE US EMBASSY REPORTED THAT MEMBERS OF A SELF-DEFENSE GROUP WITH CLAIMED TIES TO REKNOWNED PARAMILITARY LEADER FIDEL CASTANO, TORTURED AND KILLED 6 PRESUMED GUERRILLAS OF THE REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES OF COLOMBIA (FARC) AFTER DETAINING THEM AT A ROADBLOCK NEAR NECOCLI, ANTIOQUIA DEPARTMENT. THE CORPSES BORE SIGNS OF EXTREME TORTURE, SOME OF WHICH WERE DECAPITATED. IN A SEPARATE AND UNRELATED INCIDENT, 7 INDIVIDUALS WERE ABDUCTED FROM A PARTY ON JANUARY 15 IN THE PATINO REGION OF AGUACHICA (CESAR DEPARTMENT) BY A GROUP OF 20 ARMED AND MASKED MEN DRESSED IN MILITARY FATIGUES. THE ATTACKERS ARRIVED AT THE PARTY, READ OFF A LIST OF NAMES AND TOOK THE NINE BY FORCE, WARNING OTHERS NOT TO FOLLOW. SEVERAL HOURS LATER THE TORTURED AND MUTILATED BODIES OF 7 OF THE MEN WERE FOUND NEARBY. IT IS BELIEVED THIS LATTER ATTACK WAS CARRIED OUT BY THE "MACETOS" PARAMILITARY GROUP, WHICH IS REPORTEDLY CENTERED IN THE SAN MARTIN MUNICIPALITY. THE GROUP, WHICH WAS ACCUSED OF SIMILAR MASSACRES LAST YEAR, DIRECTS ITS OPERATIONS AGAINST GUERRILLAS AND GUERRILLA SYMPATHIZERS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 01/13/95 SC22718 PLOT TO KILL PROSECUTOR ACCORDING TO SANTA FE DE BOGOTA INRAVISION TELEVISION, THE PROSECUTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE DISCOVERED A PLOT TO KILL THE PROSECUTOR GENERAL, ALFONSO VALDIVIESO SARMIENTO. JUAN DIEGO ARCILA HENAO, WHO IS ONE OF ESCOBAR'S FORMER LIEUTENANTS AND WHO IS CURRENTLY SERVING A PRISON SENTENCE, IS THE ALLEGED MASTERMIND OF THE PLOT. AS A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE, HENAO HAS BEEN TRANSFERRED FROM MODELO PRISON TO EL BARNE PRISON IN THE CITY OF TUNJA. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 01/13/95 SC23110 FARC KIDNAP MASTERMIND NABBED BOGOTA EL TIEMPO REPORTED THAT SECURITY FORCES CAPTURED THE COMMANDER OF 22ND FRONT OF THE REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES OF COLOMBIA (FARC) IN NORTHWESTERN BOGOTA. THE 22 FARC FRONT IS COMPRISED OF OVER 100 REBELS IN THE CUNDINAMARCA DEPART- MENT. MORE IMPORTANTLY, TRUJILLO IS BELIEVED TO BE THE MASTERMIND BEHIND THE MAJORITY OF THE FARC KIDNAPPINGS THAT OCCUR IN CUNDINAMARCA. TRUJILLO WAS APPARENTLY ON LEAVE IN BOGOTA WHERE HE WAS REPORTEDLY GATHERING INTELLIGENCE TO CONDUCT MORE KIDNAPPINGS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 01/11/95 SC22651 AIRLINER EXPLODES IN MID-AIR BOGOTA REUTERS REPORTED THAT 51 PEOPLE WERE FEARED DEAD AFTER A DC-9 JET BELONGING TO DOMESTIC CARRIER INTERCONTINENTAL DE AVIACION EXPLODED IN MID-AIR AND PLUNGED INTO A SWAMPY MARSH. THE PLANE WAS ON A DOMESTIC FLIGHT FROM BOGOTA TO CARTAGENA WHEN IT LOST RADIO CONTACT AND CRASHED ONLY MINUTES BEFORE LANDING. MORE THAN 400 POLICE, SOLDIERS, RED CROSS WORKERS AND OTHERS COMBED THE CRASH SITE. THERE WAS NO IMMEDIATE WORD AS TO WHY THE PLANE MIGHT HAVE CRASHED WHEN THE CREW GAVE NO HINT OF ANY PROBLEMS IN THEIR LAST RADIO CONTACT. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 01/08/95 SC22563 COCA GROWERS RENEW PROTEST PUTUMAYO, COLOMBIA REUTERS REPORTS THAT COCA GROWERS HAVE RENEWED THEIR PROTEST AGIANST GOVERNMENT PLANS TO DESTROY THEIR ILLEGAL CROPS IN PUTUMAYO BY SETTING FIRE TO AN OIL PUMPING STATION DESPITE THE ARRIVAL OF A GOVERNMENT MISSION TO DISCUSS THEIR DEMANDS. HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE RETURNED TO SURROUND THE EIGHT OIL PUMPING STATIONS TO PROTEST AGAINST THE ARRIVAL OF MORE SOLDIERS IN THE AREA. THE PROTEST HAS THUS FAR COST ECOPETROL THOUSANDS OF BARRELS OF LOST PRODUCTION, AND ABOUT $2.5 MILLION IN DAMAGES. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 01/08/95 SC22564 FARC SHOOTS DOWN GOV'T HELO BOGOTA REUTER REPORTS THAT COLOMBIAN MARXIST GUERRILLAS SHOT DOWN A POLICE HELICOPTER AS IT ESCORTED FUMIGATION PLANES FLYING OVER COCA PLANTATIONS. THE PLANES WERE SPRAYING NEAR PUTUMAYO, SCENE OF RECENT PROTESTS AGAINST GOVERNMENT ERADICATION EFFORTS. MILITARY AUTHORITIES SUSPECT MEMBERS OF THE REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES OF COLOMBIA (FARC) SHOT ONE OF TWO HELICOPTERS DOWN WITH MACHINEGUN FIRE EARLY ON SUNDAY AS THEY ACCOMPANIED PLANES SPRAYING PLANTATIONS IN THE WITH DESTRUCTIVE HERBICIDE. GUERRILLAS OFTEN COLLABORATE WITH DRUG TRAFFICKERS TO PROTECT DRUG PLANTATIONS AND PROCESSING LABS HIDDEN DEEP IN THE JUNGLE. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 01/08/95 SC22565 GUERRILLAS STAGE JAILBREAK MOCOA, COLOMBIA REUTERS REPORTED THAT 50 FARC GUERRILLAS DISGUISED AS MILITARY INSPECTORS OVERPOWERED THE THREE GUARDS AT THE MUNICIPAL PRISON IN MOCOA AND SET 93 PRISONERS FREE. MOCOA IS LOCATED 185 MILES SOUTHWEST OF BOGOTA. AT LEAST ONE OF THE ESCAPEES WAS A FARC GUERRILLA CHARGED WITH SETTING FIRE TO THE FUEL TANKS AT THE COLOMBIAN PETROLEUM ENTERPRISE SITE IN CURUYACO. NO SHOTS WERE FIRED. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 01/05/95 SC22481 TENSION IN PUTUMAYO INCREASES PUTUMAYO, COLOMBIA SANTA FE DE BOGOTA ANNOUNCED THAT THE PUBLIC ORDER SITUATION IN PUTUMAYO REMAINS TENSE. DEMONSTRATORS OPPOSED TO HERBICIDE SPRAYINGS SEIZED SEVEN OF OF EIGHT ECOPETROL FUEL TANKS IN THE AREA; HOWEVER THE ARMY HAS BEEN ABLE TO SEIZE CONTROL OF FIVE OF THE TANKS, LEAVING TWO IN THE HANDS OF THE PROTESTORS. WHILE THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPRESSIVE ACTIONS BY THE MILITARY, THE ARMY HAS BEEN DEPLOYED TO CRITICAL POINTS TO PREVENT PUBLIC DISTURBANCES. THE STRIKERS HAVE ALSO BEEN ABLE TO BLOCK TRAFFIC, PREVENTING TRANSPORTATION VEHICLES FROM PASSING IN SEVERAL PLACES IN PUTUMAYO. THE ARMY STATED ITS GOAL IS TO ENTIRELY ERADICATE ILLEGAL CROPS WITHIN APPROXIMATELY 24 MONTHS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 01/05/95 SC22498 PUTUMAYO-OIL TANKS ABLAZE PUTUMAYO, COLOMBIA - NEAR THE ECUADORIAN BORDER REUTER REPORTS THAT COLOMBIAN COCA GROWERS HAVE SET TWO OIL STORAGE TANKS ON FIRE TO PROTEST AGAINST GOVERNMENT PLANS TO TO DESTROY THEIR ILLEGAL CROPS. THE DEMONSTRATORS THREW FIRE BOMBS AT THE TANKS WHEN NEWLY DEPLOYED SOLDIERS TRIED TO BREAK UP THEIR OCCUPATION OF A PUMPING STATION AT ONE OF EIGHT OIL FIELDS IN THE AREA. SOLDIERS ORDERED INTO THE AREA HAVE CHARGED WITH RESTORING ORDER TO ALLOW THE STATE OIL COMPANY ECOPETROL TO RENEW OPERATIONS AT THE FIELDS, 310 MILES SOUTH OF BOGOTA. THE PROTESTERS ARE DEMANDING THAT THE GOVERNMENT SUSPEND PLANS TO FUMIGATE COCA CROPS IN THE AREA. COLOMBIAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ARE UNDER HEAVY PRESSURE FROM THE U.S. TO PRODUCE RESULTS IN ITS FIGHT AGAINST DRUG TRAFFICKING, HAS NOT BEEN FUMIGATING IN PUTUMAYO FOR SOME TIME BUT INTENDS TO BEGIN ANEW. THE GOVERNMENT HAS CONFIRMED THAT UNTIL THE DEMONSTRATORS SUSPEND THEIR PROTESTS, TALKS WILL NOT BE HELD. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 01/03/95 SC22427 PUTUMAYO PEASANTS PROTEST PUTUMAYO SANTA FE DE BOGOTA REPORTS THAT THE ARMY IS POISED TO ENTER PUTUMAYO AREAS OCCUPIED BY DEMONSTRATORS WHO ARE DEMANDING A SUSPENSION OF THE SPRAYING OF HERBICIDE ON ILLEGAL COCA CROPS. MORE THAN 2000 PEASANTS ABANDONED THEIR PLOTS AND TOOK OVER SEVERAL VILLAGES. ACCORDING TO MILITARY SOURCES, THE PEASANTS ARE FINANCED BY DRUG TRAFFICKERS AND GUERRILLAS HAVE THREATENED THEM INTO PROTESTING. THOSE WHO REFUSE TO TAKE PART RECEIVE DEATH THREATS. DEMONSTRATORS HAVE ALSO SET UP PICKETS IN ECOPETROL'S (COLOMBIAN PETROLEUM ENTERPRISE) SOUTHERN DISTRICT, PREVENTING CRUDE OIL FROM BEING PUMPED THROUGH THE TRANS-ANDEAN PIPELINE. ECOPETROL HAS LOST MILLIONS FROM BEING PREVENTED FROM PUMPING AT LEAST 5000 BARRELS OF OIL A DAY. BUSINESSES ARE AT A COMPLETE STANDSTILL AND FOOD IS BECOMING SCARCE. PEASANTS ARE IN FEAR OF RETURNING TO THEIR HOMES, APPARENTLY BECAUSE OF THREATS BY GUERRILLAS AND GROUPS OF DRUG TRAFFICKERS WHO CULTIVATE COCA IN THE AREA. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 12/25/94 SC22889 US EMBASSY GETS FARC XMAS CARD BOGOTA THE U.S. EMBASSY REPORTED THAT THE EMBASSY WAS ON THE CHRISTMAS CARD LIST OF THE REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES OF COLOMBIA (FARC) LAST YEAR. THE U.S. MISSION RECEIVED A HALLMARK QUALITY CARD (ADDRESSED TO THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE U.S. EMBASSY) THAT CALLED FOR THE NEED FOR A "NATIONAL RECONCILIATION THAT RECOGNIZED HUMAN RIGHTS, SOCIAL JUSTICE AND THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE NATION." THE CARD WAS SIGNED BY THE NATIONAL SECRETARIAT OF THE FARC-EP. THERE WAS NO GIFT WITH THE CARD. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 12/20/94 SC22201 U.S. JURY CONVICTS NARCO HOOD NEW YORK REUTERS REPORTED THAT A U.S. FEDERAL JURY CONVICTED COLOMBIAN DRUG CARTEL HITMAN DANDENNY MUNOZ-MOSQUERA IN THE 1989 BOMBING OF AN AVIANCA AIRLINER THAT KILLED 107 PEOPLE. THIRTEEN COUNTS OF GUILTY WERE READ AGAINST MUNOZ, WHO WAS AN EXPLOSIVES EXPERT FOR THE MEDELLIN CARTEL. HE FACES A MAXIMUM OF LIFE IN PRISON WITHOUT PAROLE WHEN HE IS SENTENCED ON MARCH 3. THE U.S. HAS CLAIMED JURISDICTION IN THE CASE BECAUSE TWO U.S. NATIONALS WERE KILLED IN THE EXPLOSION. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 12/13/94 SC22088 TWO BOMBS EXPLODE IN BOGOTA BOGOTA MEXICO CITY NOTIMEX REPORTED THAT BOGOTA POLICE HAVE GONE ON ALERT AFTER THE EXPLOSION OF TWO MEDIUM-INTENSITY BOMBS. THE POLICE ARE ALSO PREPARING FOR A TRANSPORTATION STRIKE THAT IS SET TO BEGIN DURING THE EARLY MORNING HOURS OF DECEMBER 14. GUERRILLAS WERE MOST LIKELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BOMBINGS, ONE OF WHICH WAS TARGETED AGAINST A TRAFFIC UNIT AND THE OTHER AGAINST A SMALL URBAN POLICE STATION. MODERATE PROPERTY DAMAGE WAS REPORTED BUT NO INJURIES. ANOTHER DEVICE WAS REPORTEDLY DEFUSED NEAR A TRANSPORTATION UNION FINANCIAL ORGANIZATION. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 12/06/94 SC21919 KILLING STATISTICS NATIONWIDE REUTERS REPORTED THAT THE HEAD OF THE ANDEAN COMMISSION OF JURISTS ADVISED THAT GOVERNMENT SOLDIERS, MARXIST GUERRILLAS AND RIGHT-WING PARAMILITARY GROUPS HAVE KILLED NEARLY 2000 PEOPLE THIS YEAR, GIVING COLOMBIA ONE OF THE HIGHEST POLITICAL MURDER RATES IN THE WORLD. THE NUMBERS TRANSLATE INTO FIVE KILLINGS A DAY AND ONE TORTURE EVERY TWO DAYS FOR POLITICAL REASONS. THE COMMISSION CITED, AS AN EXAMPLE, AN INCIDENT LAST MARCH IN WHICH THE VI ARMY BRIGADE SHOT AND KILLED AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD BOY NEAR HIS HOUSE IN CENTRAL TOLIMA PROVINCE. THE TROOPS KEPT SHOOTING AT THE BOY TO PREVENT HIS MOTHER FROM HELPING HIM AND LATER ARRESTED HIS FATHER, ACCUSING HIM OF BEING A GUERRILLA. PRESIDENT SAMPER HAS OFFERED TO NEGOTIATE PEACE WITH COLOMBIA'S GUERRILLAS, HAS INTRODUCED A HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR THE ARMY AND POLICE, AND ENCOURAGED CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL OF PROTOCOL II OF THE GENEVA CONVENTIONS WHICH OBLIGES COMBATANTS TO RESPECT BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS. THE COMMISSION WAS ENCOURAGED BY SAMPER'S ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT SECURITY FORCES ABUSED HUMAN RIGHTS, AND SAID THE MOVE "SETS A PRECEDENT. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 12/05/94 SC21889 ANTI-NARCOTICS EFFORTS ACCORDING TO SANTA FE DE BOGOTA REPORTING, THE U.S. HAS AGREED TO BEGIN SHARING REAL-TIME RADAR INTELLIGENCE WITH THE COLOMBIAN GOVERNMENT AGAIN. TWO RADARS IN SOUTHERN COLOMBIA WHICH ARE USED TO DETECT DRUG TRAFFICKER AIRCRAFT ARE TO BE REACTIVATED WITHIN THE WEEK. THE COLOMBIAN GOVERNMENT STATED THAT IT DOES PLAN TO OPEN FIRE ON ANY AIRCRAFT WHICH REFUSES TO ANSWER IDENTIFICATION CALLS OR WHICH APPEARS HOSTILE. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 12/01/94 SC21793 ROLLERSKATING CHAMPION KILLED MEDELLIN REUTERS REPORTED THAT TWO-TIME WORLD ROLLERSKATING CHAMPION GUILLERMO LEON BOTERO NARANJO WAS SHOT DEAD BY UNIDENTIFIED GUNMEN IN MEDELLIN. LEON BOTERO WAS WALKING WITH HIS MOTHER IN A PARK WHEN HE WAS SHOT 3 TIMES BY GUNMEN RIDING TOGETHER ON A MOTORCYCLE. THE TWO ASSAILANTS WERE LATER CAPTURED AFTER THEY CRASHED THEIR MOTORCYCLE AFTER TRYING TO FLEE FROM THE SCENE. ONE OF THE GUNMEN HAD A PIECE OF PAPER IN HIS POCKET WITH THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF LEON BOTERO. THE MOTIVE FOR THE ATTACK IS STILL UNKNOWN. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 11/27/94 SC21697 GUERRILLAS SET OFF SEVEN BOMBS SANTA FE DE BOGOTA MEXICO CITY NOTIMEX REPORTS THAT AT LEAST SEVEN MEDIUM-INTENSITY BOMBS WERE DETONATED EARLY THIS MORNING IN THE CITY OF SANTA FE DE BOGOTA BY SUSPECTED URBAN GUERRILLAS. THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPORTED INJURIES, BUT THERE HAS BEEN PROPERTY DAMAGE. THE EXPLOSIONS ALL TOOK PLACE AROUND 6:00 AM AND DESTROYED WINDOWS IN A DOZEN STORES IN DOWNTOWN, EASTERN, AND NORTHERN SANTA FE DE BOGOTA. POLICE STATE THAT THE BOMBS ARE THE WORK OF COLOMBIAN GUERRILLAS LOOKING TO "GRAB ATTENTION" DURING THE PEACE NEGOCIATIONS. SEVEN SUSPECTS WERE CAPTURED IN A SECURITY DRAGNET THROUGH NEIGBORHOODS AFFECTED BY THE BOMBS. POLICE STATE THAT THESE ARE REVENGE BOMBINGS BY ELN URBAN CELLS AGAINST CERTAIN DRUGSTORE OWNERS. THE OWNERS APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN THREATENED WITH EXTORTION BY THE GUERRILLA GROUP AND REFUSED TO COOPERATE. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 11/13/94 SC21408 LOCAL LIONS CLUB HEAD ABDUCTED FLORIDA REUTERS REPORTED THAT GUNMEN KIDNAPPED MIGUEL SANDOVAL, A LIONS CLUB REPRESENTATIVE, AND ALFONSO LIZARAZO, A COMEDY HOST OF A WEEKLY TELEVISION SHOW. THE TWO MEN WERE DRIVING WITH THEIR ASSISTANTS TO CALI AFTER HOLDING A FUND-RAISING EVENT IN FLORIDA WHERE THEY WERE FORCED TO STOP AT A ROADBLOCK AND TAKEN HOSTAGE. REBELS FROM THE REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES OF COLOMBIA (FARC) ARE KNOWN TO OPERATE IN THE AREA. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 11/13/94 SC21416 POLICE FEND OFF FARC ATTACK BOGOTA REUTERS REPORTED THAT COLOMBIAN RIGHT-WING PARAMILITARIES FOUGHT ALONGSIDE A SMALL GROUP OF POLICE OFFICERS TO REPEL A LEFTIST GUERRILLA OFFENSIVE ON A NORTHWESTERN TOWN IN WHICH 21 PEOPLE DIED. POLICE AND PARAMILITARIES EXCHANGED GUNFIRE WITH THE GUERRILLAS FOR ABOUT FIVE HOURS ON SATURDAY IN SAN PEDRO DE URABA BEFORE FORCING THEM TO RETREAT WITH THEIR WOUNDED INTO THE NEARBY MOUNTAINS. THE BATTLE ALSO LEFT THREE PEOPLE WOUNDED AND CAUSED DAMAGES TO THE BANK, TOWN HALL AND POLICE STATION. MORE THAN 200 MEMBERS OF THE REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES OF COLOMBIA (FARC) HAD TRIED TO TAKE OVER THE TOWN, ABOUT 275 MILES NORTHWEST OF BOGOTA IN ANTIOQUIA PROVINCE. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 11/02/94 SC21190 REBELS AMBUSH POLICE/STUDENTS BOGOTA REUTER REPORTS THAT SUSPECTED MARXIST GUERRILLAS AMBUSHED A POLICE CARAVAN AND A SCHOOL BUS IN SOUTHWESTERN COLOMBIA EARLY WEDNESDAY, KILLING 11 POLICE OFFICERS AND ONE STUDENT. THE REBELS ATTACKED THREE POLICE VEHICLES AND A SCHOOL BUS WITH GRENADES AND MACHINE GUNS ALONG A ROAD NEAR THE MUNICIPALITY OF PURAC, ABOUT 200 MILES SOUTHWEST OF BOGOTA. THE VEHICLES WERE CARRYING ABOUT 40 POLICE OFFICERS, WHILE THE BUS WAS BRINGING A GROUP OF STUDENTS TO A NEARBY VOLCANO ON AN EXCURSION. REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES OF COLOMBIA (FARC) WHO OPERATE IN CAUCA PROVINCE, WERE BELIEVED RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ATTACK. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 10/30/94 SC21113 KINGPIN DISCUSSES SURRENDER CALI/NEW YORK REUTER REPORTS THAT A CALI DRUG KINGPIN, WHO REPORTEDLY EXPORTS 700 TONS OF COCAINE A YEAR FROM COLOMBIA, HAS TOLD TIME MAGAZINE THE TERMS UNDER WHICH HE WOULD SURRENDER; HOWEVER, THE DEAL COULD STRAIN U.S./COLOMBIA RELATIONS. GILBERTO RODRIGUEZ ORJUELA, CHEIF OF THE CALI CARTEL, TOLD TIME THAT HIS PLAN INCLUDES THE SURRENDER OF HIS BOTHER AND OTHERS TO COLOMBIAN AUTHORITIES AND DISMANTLING OF THEIR TRAFFICKING OPERATIONS, WHICH HE ESTIMATES COULD CUT THE FLOW OF COCAINE TO U.S. CITIES BY 60 PERCENT. IF COLOMBIAN AUTHORITIES ACCEPT THE DETAILS OF THE OFFER, THE DRUG LORDS WOULD WALK AWAY WITH LITTLE JAIL TIME AND THEIR FORTUNES INTACT. RODRIGUEZ TOLD TIME THAT HE WOULD SUBMIT ONLY TO COLOMBIAN LAWS OFFERING LENIENCY TO DRUG KINGPINS WHO GIVE UP AND PROTECTION FROM EXTRADITION TO THE U.S., WHERE HE FACES CHARGES OF DRUG DEALING AND THREATENING A U.S. DEA AGENT WITH DEATH. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 10/30/94 SC21119 MUNICIPAL ELECTION VIOLENCE BOGOTA REUTER REPORTS THAT COLOMBIANS VOTED FOR MORE THAN 12,500 MAYORS, COUNCILLORS AND GOVERNORS IN RELATIVE PEACE ON SUNDAY DESPITE A GUERRILLA ATTACK ON A POLICE PATROL AND THE BURNING OF TWO BUSES. THE GOVERNMENT WAS SATISFIES WITH THE RELATIVE CALM; HOWEVER, THERE WERE A FEW INCIDENTS: --FARC ATTACKED A POLICE PATROL WOUNDING 3 POLICE AND 3 CIVILIANS, RISARALDA --FARC SET FIRE TO A BUS IN NORTHERN CESAR PROVINCE AND ANOTHER IN THE MIDDLE MAGDALENA RIVER VALLEY. THE WORST PRE-ELECTION VIOLENCE OCCURRED IN THE NOTHERWESTERN PROVINCE OF SANTANDER IN WHICH 10 PEOPLE WERE KILLED. THE GOVERNMENT HAS RECOGNISED THAT GUERRILLAS, RIGHT-WING PARAMILITARIES AND DRUG TRAFFICKERS HAVE BEEN INTERFERING IN SOME ELECTIONS BY SUPPORTING FAVORED CANDIDATES AND INTIMIDATING OPPONENTS. ALTHOUHG IT HAS ADMITTED THAT IT COULD DO LITTLE IN MOST CASED FOR LACK OF EVIDENCE, THE GOVERNMENT HAS CANCELLED ELECTIONS IN NINE MUNICIPALITIES, INCLUDING CHITA IN CENTRAL BOYACA PROVINCE, FOLLOWING THE ASSASSINATION OF SEVEN CANDIDATES. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 10/25/94 SC20964 TRAVEL WARNING SEE THE PUBLIC STATEMENTS/TRAVEL ADVISORIES SECTION OF THE EBB FOR A NEW TRAVEL WARNING ON COLOMBIA. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 10/25/94 SC20965 ELN KIDNAP CHIEF CAPTURED SAN ANTONIO DEL TACHIRA THE U.S. EMBASSY REPORTED THAT ACCORDING TO THE MEDIA, THE VENEZUELAN NATIONAL GUARD, WITH ASSISTANCE FROM THE COLOMBIAN DAS (FBI EQUIVALENT), RECENTLY CAPTURED JOSE ISAAC MONCADA, THE NATIONAL LIBERATION ARMY'S (ELN) CHIEF OF KIDNAPPING IN THE BORDER TOWN OF SAN ANTONIO DEL TACHIRA. ELSEWHERE, THE COLOMBIAN ARMY CAPTURED THE SECOND-IN-COMMAND OF THE DISSIDENT POPULAR LIBERATION ARMY (EPL-D), GUILLERMO ECHAVARRIA YEPES, IN TURBO, ANTIOQUIA DEPARTMENT. DSS/ITA COMMENT: WHILE THE APPARENT CAPTURE OF THE ELN'S KIDNAP CHIEF IS PRAISEWORTHY, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT KIDNAPPINGS WILL TAPER OFF SIGNIFICANTLY. THE ELN HAS PLENTY MORE CAPABLE GUERRILLAS TO PICK UP WHERE ISAAC MONCADA LEFT OFF. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 10/25/94 SC20966 MORE SECURITY SUCCESSES THE U.S. EMBASSY REPORTED THAT COLOMBIAN POLICE DISCOVERED AND DISMANTLED 12 DYNAMITE STICK BOMBS PLACED UNDER THE SALGUERO BRIDGE BETWEEN VALLEDUPAR AND LA PAZ, CESAR DEPARTMENT, ON OCTOBER 23. AUTHORITIES BELIEVE ELN GUERRILLAS OPERATING IN THE AREA LIKELY MEANT TO BLOW UP THE BRIDGE WHEN AN ARMY PATROL WOULD BE TRAVELING ON IT. THE POLICE ALSO DISCOVERED A FARC ARMS CACHE IN VILLAVICENCIO, META DEPARTMENT, ON OCTOBER 20. THE FARC MAY HAVE BEEN PLANNING TO AMBUSH ARMY TROOPS AS WELL AS ATTACK VARIOUS POLICE SUBSTATIONS IN VILLAVICENCIO. FINALLY, COLOMBIAN TROOPS UNCOVERED AND DISMANTLED FOUR LARGE ELN CAMPS (WITH A TOTAL PERSONNEL CAPACITY OF 500) IN A RAIN FOREST BETWEEN ANTIOQUIA AND BOLIVAR DEPARTMENTS IN LATE SEPTEMBER-EARLY OCTOBER. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 10/25/94 SC20990 ESCOBAR AIDE GETS FIVE YEARS BOGOTA REUTERS REPORTED A COLOMBIAN JUDGE SENTENCED A FORMER MEMBER OF THE MEDELLIN DRUG CARTEL TO FIVE YEARS AND FIVE MONTHS IN PRISON FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING ON TUESDAY. THE FORMER CHIEF OF THE MILITARY WING OF DECEASED DRUG LORD PABLO ESCOBAR'S ORGANIZATION IS BEING HELD IN A MAXIMUM SECURITY PRISON NEAR MEDELLIN. HE STILL FACES CHARGES OF TERRORISM, ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF ARMS, AND ESCAPE FROM PRISON. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 10/24/94 SC20969 EXECUTION-STYLE MURDERS MEDELLIN REUTERS REPORTED THAT FIVE MEN DRESSED IN BLACK AND ARMED WITH AUTOMATIC PISTOLS AND SUBMACHINE GUNS FATALLY SHOT 10 YOUTHS (AGE 14-20) EXECUTION- STYLE IN A POOR NEIGHBORHOOD NEAR MEDELLIN. THE GUNMEN FORCED THE YOUTHS TO LIE FACE DOWN ON THE GROUND AND SHOT THEM. SHOOTINGS ARE COMMON AMONG RIVAL STREET GANGS, URBAN GUERRILLA CELLS AND VIGILANTE GROUPS IN THE AREA. POLICE, HOWEVER, STATED THAT THE YOUTHS DID NOT BELONG TO ANY STREET GANG OR OTHER CRIMINAL ORGANIZATION. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 10/24/94 SC20972 FARC REBELS AMBUSH 9 POLICEMEN RIOSUCIO REUTERS REPORTED THAT MARXIST GUERRILLAS BELONGING TO THE REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES OF COLOMBIA (FARC) ATTACKED A GROUP OF POLICE OFFICERS TRAVELING BY BOAT ALONG THE ATRATO RIVER, 275 MILES NORTHWEST OF BOGOTA. THE POLICE OFFICERS WERE GOING TO INVESTIGATE A REPORTED MURDER ON MONDAY AFTERNOON WHEN THEY WERE AMBUSHED. THE FARC IS KNOWN TO OPERATE IN CHOCO PROVINCE ON THE PACIFIC COAST NEAR THE DARIEN GAP. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 10/22/94 SC20933 U.S. MORMON CHAPELS BOMBED NEIVA HAMBURG DPA REPORTED THAT SUSPECTED COLOMBIAN GUERRILLAS BOMBED TWO U.S. MORMON CHAPELS IN NEIVA. NO INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE REGARDING ANY INJURIES OR PROPERTY DAMAGE. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 10/21/94 SC20893 GUNMEN KILL INDIAN LEADER SAN ANDRES SOTAVENTO REUTERS REPORTED THAT UNIDENTIFIED GUNMEN SHOT DEAD ARNULFO AYALA CARPIO, A MAJOR INDIAN LEADER, ON THE ZENU INDIAN RESERVE OF SAN ANDRES SOTAVENTO (290 MILES NW OF BOGOTA), THE SAME RESERVE WHERE FOUR LEADERS WERE KILLED SEVEN MONTHS BEFORE. THE SHOOTING OCCURRED SOON AFTER THE ARREST OF A SUSPECT IN THE MARCH KILLINGS OF THE FOUR OTHER ZENU LEADERS. NEARLY 80 INDIAN LEADERS HAVE BEEN ASSASSINATED IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS. THE SUSPECTED CULPRITS ARE RIGHT-WING PARAMILITARIES AND OTHER ARMED GROUPS WHO ARE TRYING TO SEIZE INDIAN LAND THROUGH THREATS AND INTIMIDATION. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 10/21/94 SC20895 104 CORRUPT POLICEMEN FIRED BOGOTA REUTERS REPORTED THAT THE COLOMBIAN GOVERNMENT HAS DISMISSED 104 POLICE OFFICERS FOR COLLABORATING WITH DRUG TRAFFICKERS, IN ONE OF THE BIGGEST SCANDALS EVER TO ROCK THE COUNTRY'S POLICE DEPARTMENT. THIRTY OFFICERS WERE DISCHARGED FOR HELPING DRUG SMUGGLERS PASS UNDETECTED THROUGH SECURITY ONTO FLIGHTS ABROAD AT THE CAPITAL'S INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. ANOTHER 74 OFFICERS WERE FIRED FOR ALLEGEDLY RECEIVING BRIBES FROM THE CALI CARTEL FOR PROVIDING INFORMATION TO THE DRUG LORDS ABOUT A SPECIAL POLICE TEAM THAT WAS COMBATTING THE CARTEL. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 10/21/94 SC20898 MARKET BOMBED IN BOGOTA BOGOTA PARIS AFP REPORTED THAT A MEDIUM-INTENSITY BOMB EXPLODED DURING THE EVENING AT A SUPERMARKET IN SOUTHERN BOGOTA, INJURING ONE PERSON AND CAUSING CONSIDERABLE PROPERTY DAMAGE. THE BOMB APPARENTLY DAMAGED THE SUPERMARKET'S WINDOWS AND FACADE. OTHER STORES NEXT DOOR ALSO SUSTAINED CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE. THE DEVICE WAS PROBABLY DETONATED BY COLOMBIAN GUERRILLAS IN PROTEST OF THE UPCOMING GUBERNATORIAL AND MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS ON OCTOBER 30. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 10/20/94 SC20861 POLICE VAN AMBUSHED IN DRIVEBY COLOMBIA REUTERS REPORTED THAT A POLICE VAN CARRYING POLICE INFORMERS WAS AMBUSHED BY UNIDENTIFIED GUNMEN OUTSIDE OF MEDELLIN IN A DRIVE-BY SHOOTING. THREE PASSENGERS WERE KILLED IN THE SHOOTING, INCLUDING TWO POLICE INFORMERS AND A POLICE INSPECTOR. POLICE BELIEVE THE INFORMERS WERE THE INTENDED TARGET OF THE ATTACK. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 10/19/94 SC20833 BOMBING IN CUCUTA CUCUTA BOGOTA TELEVISION REPORTED THAT A BOMB EXPLODED IN CUCUTA NEAR THE VEHICLE FORMER SENATOR FELIX SALCEDO GUALDION. SALCEDO GUALDION WAS WOUNDED, ALONG WITH HIS 3 BODYGUARDS AND A WOMAN WHO WAS PASSING BY THE SITE. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 10/16/94 SC20788 EX-PRES. CANDIDATE KIDNAPPED BOGOTA REUTER REPORTS THAT A FORMER COLOMBIAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE WHO HAD VOWED TO CLEAN UP CORRUPTION WITH THE HELP OF HER SPIRITUAL POWERS HAS BEEN KIDNAPPED BY MARXIST GUERRILLAS. POLICE SAID FORMER SENATOR REGINA BETANCOURT DE LISKA WAS TAKEN HOSTAGE LATE ON STAURDAY BY ARMED MEN IN MILITARY UNIFORMS AT HER RANCH NEAR THE CITY OF CALI. THE GUERRILLAS TOLD BETANCOURT'S DAUGHTER THEY WOULD RELEASE HER MOTHER WITH A MESSAGE FOR THE GOVERNMENT REGARDING ITS OFFER TO NEGOTIATE A PEACE AGREEMENT. BETANCOURT IS A NOTED WITCH....AND FOUNDER OF THE POLITICAL PARTY METAPOLITICAL UNITARIAN MOVEMENT. COLOMBIAN GUERRILLAS OFTEN TADE POLITICIANS HOSTAGE TO USE THEM AS MESSENGERS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 10/16/94 SC20839 BANK ROBBERS STEAL $30 MILLION VALLEDUPAR, NORTHERN COLOMBIA REUTERS REPORTED THAT ROBBERS STOLE $30 MILLION IN PESO CURRENCY FROM A BRANCH OF COLOMBIA'S CENTRAL BANK IN ONE OF THE BIGGEST ROBBERIES IN THE COUNTRY'S HISTORY. BUT MORE THAN HALF THE LOOT--SOME 18.5 BILLION PESOS-- IS IN CRISP NEW BILLS OF VARIOUS DENOMINATIONS THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN ISSUED AND ARE CONSIDERED TO BE WORTHLESS. POLICE SAID A GROUP OF ARMED MEN ENTERED THE BRANCH IN NORTHERN COLOMBIA LAST WEEKEND, TIED UP THE GUARDS, KNOCKED OUT THE SECURITY SYSTEM OF ALARMS AND CLOSED-CIRCUIT CAMERAS AND BROKE INTO THE SAFE USING AN ACETYLENE TORCH. THE ROBBERY, WHICH OCCURRED IN VALLEDUPAR (435 MILES NORTH OF BOGOTA), MAY HAVE BEEN AN INSIDE JOB, ACCORDING TO POLICE. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 10/15/94 SC20769 ELECTIONS MAY BE CANCELLED BOGOTA REUTERS REPORTED THAT DEFENSE MINISTER BOTERO STATED THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS FOUND EVEDENCE THAT SOME COANDIDATES IN UPCOMING MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS WERE BEING FINANCED BY DRUG-TRAFFICKERS WHO WANTED TO WIN POWER AT THE LOCAL LEVEL TRAFFICKERS HAVE ORGANISED A PLAN TO WIN CONTROL OF A STRING OF TOWNS IN SIX PROVINCES THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE MAGDALENA RIVER VALLEY, A CENTER OF DRUG ACTIVITY. PRESIDENT SAMPER STATED HE WOULD CANCEL THE RESULTS OF ANY ELECTION IF IT WERE PROVEN THAT DRUG TRAFFICKERS HAD MEDDLED IN THE CAMPAIGN. COLOMBIA ELECTS PROVINCIAL GOVERNORS, MAYORS AND TOWN AND CITY COUNCILLORS ON OCTOBER 30. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 10/12/94 SC20899 FARC REBELS ARRESTED IN BOGOTA BOGOTA THE U.S. EMBASSY REPORTED THAT, ACCORDING TO EL TIEMPO NEWSPAPER, POLICE CAPTURED TWO SUSPECTED LEADERS OF THE FARC'S URBAN MILITIA (MILITIAS BOLIVARIANAS) IN BOGOTA. THE "JAIME BATEMAN CAYON" MILITIA HAD APPARENTLY INITIATED OPERAITONS IN BOGOTA BY DISTRIBUTING MESSAGES DIRECTED AGAINST THE INHABITANTS OF THE SLUMS IN SOUTH BOGOTA. THE MESSAGES ANNOUNCED THE CREATION OF SECURITY BRIGADES WHERE EACH CITY BLOCK WOULD SELECT COMMUNITY SECURITY GUARDS. IN THE ARREST, POLICE CONFISCATED TWO HAND GRENADES, FIVE REVOLVERS, ONE PISTOL, THREE SHOTGUNS, 145 ROUNDS OF AMMUNITION, AND POLICE AND ARMY UNIFORMS ALONG WITH TWO RADIOS. MILITIA SEALS, FARC AND ELN PAMPHLETS, AND NUMEROUS EXTORTIONIST LETTERS DIRECTED AGAINST BUSINESSES IN SOUTH BOGOTA. IN A RELATED INCIDENT, POLICE DETAINED TWO INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE RECRUITING NEW PERSONNEL FOR THE MILITIA BOLIVARIANAS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 10/09/94 SC20647 REBELS ATTACK-BUT TALK PEACE? BOGOTA REUTERS REPORTS THAT COLOMBIAN MARXIST GUERRILLAS ATTACKED SIX POLICE POSTS AND WOUDED THREE OFFICERS IN BOGOTA HHHHOURS BEFORE ONE OF THEIR LEDERS SAID THEY WERE INTERESTED IN A GOVERNMENT OFFER TO NEGOTIATE PEACE. THE ELN ATTACKED THE POSTS WITH GRENADES AND MACHINE-GUNS IN SIX POOR NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGHOUT WESTERN AND SOUTHEASTERN BOGOTA. THREE OFFICIERS WERE WOUNDED IN THE ATTACKS AND ONE GUERRILLA DIED WHEN A GRENADE EXPLODED IN HIS HAND. FARC ALSO ATTACKED A POLICE POST IN THE NEARBY TOWN OF SOACHA. THE ATTACKS CAME SHORTLY BEFORE AN INTERVIEW OF MANUEL PEREZ, LEADER OF THE ELN, WHO STATED THEY WERE INTERESTED IN INITIATING PEACE TALKS WITH THE GOVERNMENT AND NEGOCIATE AN END TO THEIR 30 YEAR STRUGGLE. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 10/09/94 SC20648 GUNMAN KILLS JOURNALIST BOGOTA REUTER REPORTS THAT A LONE GUNMAN SHOT TO DEATH A COLOMBIAN JOURNALIST AS HE WAS DRINKING AT A PUB IN BOGOTA. IN WHAT APPEARS TO BE A PLANNED MURDER, AN UNIDENTIFIED MAN APPROACHED ORLANDO VILLAR JIMENEZ AND SHOT HIM, KILLING HIM INSTANTLY. THE GUNMAN THEN FLED TO A WAITING TAXI. VILLAR HAD WARKED AS A PRESS RELATIONS OFFICER IN THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN OF LIBERAL CANIDATE ERNESTO SAMPER, NOW PRESIDENT. MORE THAN 100 JOURNALISTS HAVE BEEN KILLED IN COLOMBIA SINCE 1977. DRUG TRAFFICKERS, GUERRILLAS AND PARAMILITARIES HAVE BEEN BLAMED IN MOST CASES. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 10/03/94 SC20494 ESCOBAR BROTHER TARGETED AGAIN BOGOTA REUTERS REPORTED THAT THE COLOMBIAN GOVERNMENT HAS BEGUN AN INVESTIGATION INTO A SECOND ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT AGAINST ROBERTO ESCOBAR, THE BROTHER OF DECEASED DRUG LORD PABLO ESCOBAR. ACCORDING TO ROBERTO, SOMEONE TRIED TO SHOOT HIM AS HE WALKED OUT ONTO A PATIO AT THE ITAGUI PRISON. LAST DECEMBER, ROBERTO ESCOBAR WAS LEFT PARTIALLY DEAF AND BLIND AFTER A LETTER BOMB EXPLODED IN HIS FACE, AN ACT HE BLAMED ON THE CALI CARTEL. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 09/29/94 SC20415 "THIS IS A NARCO-DEMOCRACY.." BOGOTA REUTER REPORTS THAT A DAY AFTER RETIRING, FORMER LOCAL CHIEF OF THE U.S. DRUG ADMINISTRATION SAID THAT COLOMBIAN DRUG TRAFFICKERS HAVE SUCH INFLUENCE ON THE GOVERNMENT THAT THE COUNTRY HAS BECOME A "NARCO-DEMOCRACY." JOE TOFT, WHO HAD NEVER SPOKEN IN PUBLIC BECAUSE OF HIS STATUS AS A SPECIAL DEA AGENT, STATED IN A TELEVISION INTERVIEW THAT HE HAD LOST HOPE FOR COLOMBIA AFTER REALISING THE EXTENT OT WHICH THE CALI CARTEL HAD PENETRATED THE GOVERNEMENT. THE UNITED STATES HAS OPENLY QUESTIONED THE SERIOUSNESS WITH WHICH COLOMBIA HAS BEEN FIGHTING TRAFFICKERS. IT HAS CRITICISED COLOMBIA FOR FAILING TO BE AS AGGRESSIVE IN PERSECUTING THE CALI CARTEL AS IT HAD BEEN WITH THE ON BASED IN MEDELLIN. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 09/24/94 SC20235 FARC KIDNAPS ANOTHER AMERICAN PUERTO TEJADA, CAUCA PROVINCE REUTERS REPORTED THAT 15 REBELS FROM THE REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES OF COLOMIBA (FARC) KIDNAPPED U.S. CITIZEN THOMAS HARGROVE AT A MAKESHIFT ROAD- BLOCK JUST OUTSIDE THE TOWN OF PUERTO TEJADA. HARGROVE, WHO WORKS AT THE INTERNATIONAL CENTER OF TROPICAL AGRICULTURE (CIAT), WAS DRIVING IN A JEEP ALONG THE ROAD NORTH TO CANDELERIA WHEN HE WAS ABDUCTED. HIS ABANDONED JEEP ALONG WITH IDENTIFICATION PAPERS WERE LATER FOUND BY POLICE. NO RANSOM DEMAND HAS BEEN RECEIVED AS OF YET. MEMBERS OF THE 6TH FRONT OF THE FARC ARE KNOWN TO OPERATE IN THE AREA WHERE HARGROVE WAS KIDNAPPED. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 09/24/94 SC20417 ASSASSINATION PLOT UNCOVERED SANTA FE DE BOGOTA EL ESPECTADOR REPORTS THAT INTELLIGENCE WORK CONDUCTED BY THE NATIONAL ARMY'S 13TH BRIGADE HAS LED TO THE DISCOVERY OF A PLOT TO KILL GENERAL LUIS ENRIQUE MONTENEGRO RINCO, METROPOLITAN POLICE COMMANDER IN SANTA FE DE BOGOTA, AND HIS MOTHER. ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, A MESSAGE BEGAN CIRCULATING AT COURTYARD NO. 7 OF THE NATIONAL MODELO JAIL, A PRISON FOR DANGEROUS CRIMINALS WHO SUPPOSEDLY PLANNED TO CONTACT ACCOMPLICES CURRENTLY AT LARGE, AND THEY WOULD CARRY OUT THE ATTACK. APPARENTLY THE SO-CALLED DE LA COSTA CARTEL OFFERED 20 MILLION PESOS FOR AN ATTACK ON THE RESIDENCE WHERE THE GENERAL AND HIS MOTHER LIVE. THE ATTACK WAS PLANNED IN RETALIATION FOR GENERAL MONTENEGRO'S EFFECTIVE ACTIONS IN TEH ATLANTIC COAST REGION, WHERE JUDICIAL POLICE AND INVESTIGATION UNITS UNDER HIS COMMAND MANAGED TO DEAL HARCH BLOWS AGAINST THE DRUG TRAFFICKERS OPERATING IN THAT PART OF THE COUNTRY. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 09/22/94 SC20205 ATTACK ON U.S. AMBASSADOR CAQUITA/EASTERN MOUNTAINS OF COLOMBIA SANTA FE DE BOGOTA REPORTED THAT GUERRILLAS IN CAQUITA OPENED FIRE ON THE U.S. AMBASSADOR, THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, THE COLOMBIAN MILITARY LEADERSHIP, AND THE DEFENSE MINISTER AS THEY ATTEMPTED TO LAND IN FIVE HELICOPTERS. THE LANDING WAS ABORTED AND THE HELICOPTERS IMMEDIATELY TURNED BACK. THE GROUP WAS UNEXPECTEDLY GREETED BY GUNFIRE FROM A FARC FRONT WHICH IS IN CHARGE OF PROTECTING DRUG LABS IN THE EASTERN MOUNTAINS. THE MAIN GOAL OF THE HIGH-LEVEL U.S. DELEGATION WAS TO GET A FIRST-HAND LOOK AT HOW ANTINARCOTICS OPERATIONS ARE CONDUCTED IN CAQUETA. THE SHOOTING INCIDENT OCCURRED ABOUT 40 MINUTES AFTER THE FLIGHT BEGAN FROM THE MILITARY BASE IN CAQUITA, AND THE HELICOPTER CARRYING REPORTERS WAS FORCED TO MANEUVER TO AVOID GUNFIRE; HOWEVER, IT WAS HIT FOUR TIMES, ONCE IN THE TAIL ROTOR, WHICH COULD HAVE DOWNED IT. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 09/21/94 SC20159 NEW GUERRILLA GROUP EMERGES BOGOTA SANTA FE DE BOGOTA REPORTS THAT A NEW SELF-STYLED GUERRILLA GROUP, THE NATIONAL LIBERATION PEOPLE'S FRONT (FRENTE POPULAR DE LIBERACION NACIONAL-- FPLN), HAS SURFACED IN COLOMBIA. IN A COMMUNIQUE, THE NEW GROUP ANNOUNCED ON TUESDAY THAT IT WILL MAINTAIN ARMED STRUGGLE AND THAT IT REJECTS THE GOVERNMENT'S CALL TO REBEL ORGANIZATIONS TO USHER IN THE PEACE PROCESS. THE HITHERTO UNKNOWN FPLN BECAM KNOWN WHEN IT KIDNAPPED CONGRESSMAN JUAN IGNACIO CASTRILLON AND ANOTHER POLITICAL LEADER LAST SUNDAY NEAR THE NORTHWESTERN CITY OF MEDELLIN. THE FPLN RELEASED THE TWO MEN ON TUESDAY, ALONG WITH A COMMUNIQUE IN WHICH THEY ANNOUNCED THEIR EXISTENCE AND BELIEFS. CASTRILLON, A MEMBER OF THE CONGRESSIONAL PEACE COMMISSION, STATED THE GROUP DOES NOT ACCEPT THE PEACE PROPOSALS OF PRESIDENT SAMPER AND VOWS TO CONTINUE ITS VIOLENT ACTIONS. THE FPLN IS APPARENTLY MADE UP OF ABOUT 100 DISSIDENT GUERRILLAS FROM THE ELN AND EPL AND IT FOLLOWS A MARXIST-LENINIST POLITICAL IDEOLOGY. THE GROUP CAME INTO BEING BECAUSE OF PEACE NEGOCIATIONS WITH THE GOVERNMENT BETWEEN THE FARC AND ELN. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 09/20/94 SC20112 ELN ASSASSINATES LEGISLATOR MEDELLIN, ANTIOQUIA DEPARTMENT SANTA FE DE BOGOTA STATED THAT THE NATIONAL LIBERATION ARMY (ELN) CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR ASSASSINATING LIBERAL CONGRESSMAN ARLEN URIBE MARQUEZ AS HE WAS LEAVING THE UNIVERSITY OF MEDELLIN IN HIS CAR WITH HIS DRIVER AND BODYGUARD. ACCORDING TO POLICE SOURCES, THE CONGRESSMAN HAD BEEN RECEIVING DEATH THREATS. THE CONGRESSMAN WAS LEAVING THE UNIVERSITY AFTER DELIVERING A LECTURE WHEN THE ASSAILANTS SHOT HIM IN THE HEAD AND CHEST. SINCE 1989, FIVE CONGRESSMEN HAVE BEEN MURDERED IN THE ANTIOQUIA DEPARTMENT. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 09/19/94 SC20082 CONGRESSMAN ASSASSINATED MEDELLIN REUTERS REPORTED THAT UNIDENTIFIED GUNMEN ASSASSINATED CONGRESSMAN ARLEN URIBE MARQUEZ AS HE WAS LEAVING A UNIVERSITY PARKING LOT IN MEDELLIN. A WITNESS REPORTED THAT GUNMEN THREW A FRAGMENTATION GRENADE INTO THE PARKING LOT BEFORE OPENING FIRE ON URIBE, KILLING HIM AND HIS BODYGUARD. THE RED AND BLACK FLAG OF THE NATIONAL LIBERATION ARMY (ELN) WAS FOUND ON THE SCENE. URIBE HAD RECEIVED DEATH THREATS PRIOR TO HIS ASSASSINATION. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 09/18/94 SC20066 CONGRESSMAN KIDNAPPED YOLOMBO: ACCORDING TO REUTERS, UNIDENTIFIED GUNMEN KIDNAPPED A CONGRESSMAN AND A LOCAL POLITICIAN IN YOLOMBO, WHICH IS LOCATED ABOUT 95 MILES NORTHWEST OF BOGOTA. CONGRESSMAN JUAN IGNACIO CASTRILLON AND FORMER MAYOR ALBERTO BUILES ORTEGA WERE KIDNAPPED LATE SATURDAY BY SUSPECTED MARXIST GUERRILLAS. THE GOVERNMENT OF COLOMBIA HAS OFFERED TO HOLD PEACE TALKS WITH THE GUERRILLAS IN AN EFFORT TO END A 20 YEAR WAR. THE GOVERNMENT LIKEWISE HAS REFUSED TO TALK WITH RIGHT-WING PARAMILITARIES WHO WERE IN THE EMPLOY OF DRUG TRAFFICKERS AND WEALTHY RANCH OWNERS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 09/14/94 SC19973 M-19 GROUP OCCUPIES TOWN BOGOTA SANTA FE DE BOGOTA TELEVISION ANNOUNCED THAT 100 DISSIDENT MEMBERS OF THE DWINDLING TERRORIST GROUP M-19 ATTACKED THE TOWN OF VALLE DEL CAUCA WITH GUNS AND GRENADES. MAKING REFERENCE TO A JAIME BATEMAN MOVEMENT, THE GROUP SHOUTED THAT M-19 WAS NOT DEAD AND WAS STILL ALIVE. SEVERAL BUILDINGS WERE DAMAGED AND AT LEAST ONE TAXI DRIVER WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED IN THE HOUR- LONG OCCUPATION OF THE TOWN. ONE AND A HALF MILLION PESOS WERE STOLEN FROM THE AGRARIAN BANK. THIS ATTACK COMPLICATES THE PEACE TALKS CURRENTY BEING HELD WITH THE M-19 TERRORIST GROUP. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 09/13/94 SC19914 MULTINATIONAL OIL FIELDS HIT AGUAZUL REUTERS REPORTED THAT NATIONAL LIBERATION ARMY (ELN) GUERRILLAS ATTACKED TWO OIL FIELDS OPERATED BY THE KELT ENERGY MULTINATIONAL OIL COMPANY, BUT NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE REBELS BOMBED AND DAMAGED TWO PRODUCTION STATIONS AT TWO OILFILEDS--THE GLORIA AND GLORIA NORTE FIELDS. THE BLASTS SET ABLAZE CONTAINER TANKS HOLDING THOUSANDS OF BARRELS OF CRUDE OIL. THE ATTACK AGAINST KELT OCCURRED NEAR THE REGION WHERE BRITISH PETROLEUM IS DEVELOPING THE GIANT CUSIANA OIL FIELD. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 09/08/94 SC19807 OFFICER MOONLIGHTS AS ROBBER MEDELLIN REUTER REPORTS THAT POLICE ARE SEARCHING FOR A COLOMBIAN ARMY LIEUTENANT WHO USES HIS ANNUAL LEAVE TO LEAD FOUR SOLDIERS ON ARMED ROBBERY MISSIONS. THE LIEUTENANT AND HIS GANG OF THIEVES ATTACKED A GOLD TRUCK NEAR THE MINING TOWN OF MACEO, 138 MILES NORTHWEST OF BOGOTA ON WEDNESDAY AND STOLE ITS CARGO. GUARDS OPENED FIRE AND TWO OF THE ROBBERS WERE WOUNDED. THE GANG'S MILITARY CONNECTION WAS DISCOVERED WHEN THE INJURED SOLDIERS REPORTED TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL AND WERE UNABLE TO EXPLAIN THEIR GUNSHOT WOUNDS. POLICE ARE HUNTING DOWN THE LIEUTENANT WHO LEADS THE GANG. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 09/08/94 SC19809 VIOLENT OUTBREAK KILLS STUDENT BOGOTA, UNIVERSITY OF TOLIMA SANTA FE DE BOGOTA INRAVISION NETWORK REPORTED THAT AS A RESULT OF A SERIOUS OUTBREAK OF VIOLENCE, AT THE UNIVERSITY, ONE STUDENT IS DEAD, THREE STUDENTS ARE WOUNDED, 11 SOLDIERS ARE INJURED AND MANY STUDENTS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED. THE CONFRONTATION BEGAN WHEN SOLDIERS CAME ONTO THE CAMPUS WHILE THE STUDENTS WERE PROTESTING THE INCREASE IN TUITION, PRIVATIZATION OF THE UNIVERSITY, AND THE DEFENCE OF HUMAN RIGHTS. SHORTLY AFTER THE SOLDIERS ARRIVED, ROCKS WERE HURLED AND TEAR GAS AND WEAPONS FIRED ON THE CAMPUS PROTESTERS. ONE PERSON WAS TAKEN HOSTAGE BY THE STUDENTS AND WILL BE HELD PENDING THE RETURN OF STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN REPORTED MISSING. DESPITE THE INCIDENT, THE ACADEMIC COUNCIL OF THE UNIVERSITY HAS DECIDED TO KEEP IT OPEN. HOWEVER, THERE IS A CHANCE THAT IT MAY BE CLOSED. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 09/05/94 SC19709 CORRUPTION AND THE TOP COPS BOGOTA REUTERS REPORTED THAT THE COLOMBIAN PROSECUTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE IS INVESTIGATING FORMER DEPUTY CHIEF OF POLICE GENERAL FABIO CAMPOS CAMPOS ON SUSPICION OF FAVORING COCAINE TRAFFICKERS. MORE THAN FIFTY CALI POLICE AND OTHER AIRPORT SECURITY OFFICERS HAVE BEEN DISMISSED FOR NARCOTICS CONNECTIONS THIS YEAR. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 08/29/94 SC19546 14 KILLED IN REBEL CLASH BOGOTA REUTER REPORTS THAT SIX SOLDIERS AND EIGHT MARXIST-LED GUERRILLAS WERE KILLED IN CLASHES IN THE OIL-RICH EASTERN PLAINS OF COLOMBIA BUT OIL OPERATIONS WERE NOT AFFECTED. FIVE SOLDIERS WERE WOUNDED IN THIS LATEST CLASH WITH THE FARC. BRITISH PETROLIUM COMPANY PLC IS DEVELOPING THE GIANT CUSIANA AND CUPIAGUA OILFIELDS 75 MILES TO THE SOUTH OF THE AREA WHERE THE BATTLE TOOK PLACE. THE COMPANY IS ALSO DRILLING AN EXPLORATION WELL NOT FAR FROM WHERE THE INCIDENT TOOK PLACE. THE CLASH IN NO WAY AFFECTED ANY OF THE COMPANY'S OPERATIONS IN THE PROVINCE OF CASANARE. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 08/29/94 SC19559 EXPLOSION AT AIR FORCE SCHOOL CALI, COLOMBIA MADRID EFE REPORTED THAT AN EXPLOSIVE DEVICE WAS THROWN FROM A MOTORCYCLE AT ONE OF THE SENTRY POSTS ON THE PERIMETER OF THE MARCO FIDEL SUAREZ AIR FORCE SCHOOL IN CALI. NO CASUALTIES WERE REPORTED. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 08/26/94 SC19698 FARC GUN RUNNER KILLED ACANDI EL TIEMPO REPORTED THAT SECURITY FORCES KILLED JOSE ADONAY YEPES, ALLEGEDLY THE MAIN GUN RUNNER FOR THE REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES OF COLOMBIA (FARC). YEPES REPORTEDLY BROUGHT INTO COLOMBIA MORE THAN 3,000 WEAPONS (MOSTLY AK-47'S) FROM CENTRAL AMERICA. THE SOURCE OF HIS WEAPONS WERE REPORTEDLY DEMOBILIZED REBELS FROM EL SALVADOR AND NICARAGUA. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 08/21/94 SC19357 ELN AGREES TO PEACE TALKS BOGOTA REUTERS REPORTED THAT COLOMBIA'S SECOND LARGEST INSURGENT GROUP, THE NATIONAL LIBERATION ARMY (ELN), IS EXPECTED TO SEND A LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT WELCOMING HIS OFFER FOR PEACE TALKS. A TELEVISION PROGRAMS STATED THAT THE ELN WANTED TO REACH A CONSENSUS WITH THE COUNTRY'S OTHER GUERRILLA GROUPS BEFORE BEGINNING TALKS WITH THE GOVERNMENT. THIS PEACE OVERTURE COMES IN THE WAKE OF A AN ELN AMBUSH ON A BUS IN CHOCO PROVINCE THAT KILLED 18 PEOPLE. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 08/19/94 SC19370 RIGHTIST GROUP CLAIMS ATTACK BOGOTA SANTA FE DE BOGOTA REPORTS THAT THE ULTRARIGHT GROUP "COLOMBIA WITHOUT GUERRILLAS" CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ATTACK ON A VILLAGE IN THE VALLE DEL CAUCA DEPARTMENT AND THE MURDER OF THREE PEOPLE. THE MURDER THE THREE PEASANTS AND THE APPEARANCE OF SIGNS READING COLSINGUE IN LA MAGDALENA VILLAGE, 8 KM FROM BUGA, MARKED THE APPEARANCE OF THIS PARAMILITARY GROUP IN THE DEPARTMENT OF VALLE DEL CAUCA. THE THREE PEASANTS WERE MEMBERS OF THE ALASKA VILLAGE COMMUNITY BOARD. THE GROUP CALLS ITSELF "COLOMBIA WITHOUT GUERRILLAS," HAS PROMISED TO CONTINUE MURDERING ANYONE THEY DEEM AS MEMBERS OF OR SYMPATHIZERS OF GUERRILLA GROUPS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 08/18/94 SC19286 FARC OFFERS PEACE TALKS BOGOTA REUTERS REPORTED THAT COLOMBIA'S LARGEST GUERRILLA GROUP, THE REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES OF COLOMBIA (FARC) ISSUED A STATEMENT SAYING THAT IT WAS WILLING TO TAKE UP A GOVERNMENT OFFER OF PEACE NEGOTIATIONS. THE GOVERNMENT SAID IT HAD NOT YET RECEIVED ANY LETTER FROM THE FARC NOR A DIRECT COPY OF THEIR STATEMENT AND THEREFORE COULD NOT COMMENT ON ITS CONTENTS. THE FARC MAY HAVE POSSIBLY HELD A MEETING LAST WEEK IN A TOWN NEAR BOGOTA TO DISCUSS THE POSSIBILITY OF STARTING PEACE NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE GOVERNMENT. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 08/18/94 SC19293 GUERRILLAS DYNAMITE BUS SANTA FE DE BOGOTA PARIS AFP IN SPANISH REPORTED THAT AT LEAST 18 PEOPLE WERE KILLED AND TWO INJURED IN CHOCO DEPARTMENT, NORTHWESTERN COLOMBIA, WHEN GUERRILLAS DYNAMITED AN INTER-CITY BUS, RADIO NETWORKS REPORTED. SUBOFFICER GABRIEL MOSQUERA, COMMANDER OF THE POLICE GARRISON AT TADO, 700 KM FROM SANTA FE DE BOGOTA, NEAR WHERE THE ATTACK OCCURRED, TOLD RCN RADIO THAT THE REBELS BLEW UP THE BUS BY MISTAKE, BELIEVING IT WAS TRANSPORTING SOLDIERS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 08/18/94 SC19368 FARC/ELN PREPARE OFFENSIVE BOGOTA SANTA FE DE BOGOTA REPORTS THAT GUERRILLA ARE PREPARING TO LAUNCHY A STRONG OFFENSIVE IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS WITH THE INTENTION OF IMPOSING THEIR CONDITIONS FOR POSSIBLE PEACE TALKS WITH THE SAMPER ADMINISTRATION. THE FARC AND ELN WILL TRY TO BOYCOTT THE UPCOMING REGIONAL ELECTION IN AT LEAST 70 MUNICIPALITIES WHICH GUERRILLA FRONTS CONSIDER TO BE MILITARY OBJECTIVES. ACCORDING TO REPORTS GATHERED BY SECURITY AGENCIES, THE GUERRILLAS WILL CONCENTRATE THEIR ACTION IN CESAR, GUAJIRA, NORTE DE SANTANDER, VICHADA CORDOBA, CUNDINAMAMRCA, BAYACA, CASANARE, ANTIOQUIA, AND ATLANTICO DEPARTMENT ACCORDING TO GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS THE REBELS' STRATEGY SEEKS TO INTIMIDATE LIBERAL, CONSERVATIVE, AND M-19 CANDIDATES WHO WILL RUN IN THE OCT 30 ELECTIONS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 08/16/94 SC19206 POLICE KILLED IN FARC AMBUSH BOGOTA REUTERS REPORTS THAT COLOMBIAN MARXIST GUERRILLAS (FARC) KILLED SEVEN MEMBERS OF AN ANTI-DRUG POLICE PATROL IN AN AMBUSH IN A MOUNTAINOUS AREA USED FOR OPIUM POPPY GROWING. THE GUERRILLAS BLEW UP THE ROAD AS THREE VEHICLES CARRYING 36 POLICE WENT BY. THEY THEN ATTACKED WITH SUB-MACHINEGUNS AND EXPLOSIVES. THE ATTACK OCCURRED MONDAY NEAR THE TOWN OF CALOTO IN CAUCA PROVINCE ABOUT 170 MILES SOUTHWEST OF BOGOTA WHEN THE PATROL WAS RETURNING TO BASE AFTER A TRIP TO LOCATE POPPY FIELDS. IN RECENT YEARS THE DRUG CARTELS HAVE DIVERSIFIED FROM COCAINE PRODUCTION TO HEROIN WHICH REQUIRES REFINEMENT OF THE LAYTEX EXTRACTED FROM THE OPIUM POPPY. TRAFFICKERS NOW PAY GUERRILLAS TO PROVIDE SECURITY FOR THEIR DRUG OPERATIONS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 08/11/94 SC19093 MOURNERS TRASH BOGOTA'S CENTER BOGOTA REUTERS REPORTS THAT PROTESTERS MARCHING ALONGSIDE A FUNERAL PROCESSION FOR ASSASSINATED LEFT-WING SENATOR CEPEDA TRASHED THE CAPITAL'S CENTER WITH STONES, SPRAY PAINT AND SMALL BOMBS. THE PROTESTERS ACCUSING THE MILITARY FOR THE SHOOTING DEATH OF THE LEFTIST LEADER. MARCHERS THREW STONES AT POLICE, SHATTERED STORE WINDOWS AND SPRAY PAINTED THE SIDES OF BUILDINGS WITH THE WORDS"MILITARY ASSASSINS," AS THE PROCESSION OF MORE THAN 5,000 PEOPLE WALKED TOWARD A DOWNTOWN CEMETERY. THE PROTESTERS ALSO HURLED SMALL BOMBS THAT EXPLODED LOUDLY IN CLOUDS OF THICK SMOKE BUT CAUSED NO MAJOR DAMAGE. POLICE IN RIOT GEAR SHOT TEAR GAS TO QUELL THE PROTEST. NO INJURIES OR ARRESTS WERE REPORTED, AND A DAMAGE ESTIMATE HAS NOT BEEN MADE YET. CEPEDA, THE SOLE REPRESENTATIVE OF A COALITION OF THE COLOMBIAN COMMUNIST PARTY AND THE LEFTIST PATRIOTIC UNION PARTY, WAS ASSASSINATED ON HIS WAY TO WORK ON TUESDAY POLICE HAVE NO SUSPECTS, BUT BELIEVE THAT A RIGHT-WING PARAMILITARY GROUP WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SHOOTING. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 08/10/94 SC19042 MORE POLICE CORRUPTION BOGOTA REUTERS REPORTED THAT THE CALI CITY POLICE FORCE HAS DISMISSED ANOTHER 34 OFFICERS FOR RECEIVING BRIBES FROM THE CALI DRUG CARTEL. THE TOTAL NUMBER OF OFFICERS DISMISSED IN CALI CURRENTLY STANDS AT 51. LAST WEEK, 21 OFFICERS WERE ARRESTED IN BOGOTA IN CONNECTION TO SMUGGLING OPERATIONS AT THE AIRPORT. CORRUPTION HAS LONG BEEN SUSPECTED IN THE COLOMBIAN POLICE AND ARMY, BUT THIS SCANDAL IS THE WORST EVER TO HIT THE DEPARTMENT. MORE DISMISSALS ARE EXPECTED. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 08/09/94 SC19004 LEFT-WING LEADER ASSASSINATED BOGOTA REUTER REPORTED THAT A GUNMAN FIRING FROM A JEEP SHOT DEAD ONE OF COLOMBIA'S MOST PROMINENT LEFT-WING LEADERS, SENATOR MANUEL CEPEDA VARGAS. CEPEDA WAS A WELL-KNOWN HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGNER AND THE LEFTIST PATRIOTIC UNION AND COMMUNIST PARTY'S SOLE REPRESENTATIVE IN THE COLOMBIAN SENATE. NO ONE HAS CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ATTACK, BUT POLICE SOURCES SAID SUSPICION FELL ON A NEW PARAMILITARY GROUP CALLED "COLOMBIA WITHOUT GUERRILLAS." HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS SAY THE PATRIOTIC UNION (UP) HAS BEEN ONE OF LATIN AMERICA'S MOST PERSECUTED POLITICAL PARTIES, WITH MORE THAN 2,000 OF ITS MEMBERS AND ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES SHOT DEAD IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 08/07/94 SC18940 COCAINE SEIZED FROM AIRLINER BOGOTA REUTERS REPORTED THAT COLOMBIAN POLICE SEIZED HALF A TON OF COCAINE SUNDAY FROM AN AVIANCA AIRLINER SHORTLY BEFORE IT TOOK OFF FOR MEXICO AND MIAMI. THE DRUG WAS CONCEALED INSIDE 12 SUITCASES SMUGGLED INTO THE HOLD OF THE AIRLINER WITH THE HELP OF AIRLINE EMPLOYEES. FOUR AVIANCA IMPLOYEES WERE ARRESTED. LAST WEEK 30 AIRPORT POLICE WERE ARRESTED IN BOGOTA FOLLOWING ALLEGATIONS THAT THEY WERE TAKING BRIBES FROM TRAFFICKERS TO ALLOW DRUG SHIPMENTS THROUGH SECURITY CHECKS. COLOMBIA IS THE WORLD'S BIGGEST EXPORTER OF COCAINE, SENDING BETWEEN 700 AND 1000 METRIC TONS OF THE DRUG TO THE UNITED STATES AND EUROPE EACH YEAR. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 08/04/94 SC18864 POLICE ARREST THEIR OWN-PART 2 BOGOTA REUTERS REPORTS THAT A SECOND SCANDAL HIT COLOMBIA'S POLICE FORCE THIS WEEK WITHT THE ARREST OF 17 OFFICERS FOR ALLEGEDLY ACCEPTING BRIBES FROM THE CALI DRUG CARTEL. THE OFFICERS WERE ARRESTED AFTER A SPECIAL ARMY AND POLICE TEAM SEARCHING FOR THE CARTEL LEADERS FOUND INFORMATION DURING A HOUSE RAID INDICATING THEY HAD RECEIVED BRIBES FROM THE TRAFFICKERS. U.S. DRUG AUTHORITIES HAVE REPEATEDLY EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE CARTEL HAVING INFILTRATED THE ARMY AND POLICE. THE ARREST COMES ONE DAY AFTER 30 OFFICERS WERE ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY ASSISTING DRUG SMUGGLERS PASS UNDETECTED THROUGH SECURITY ONTO INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS AT THE AIRPORT. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 08/03/94 SC18815 POLICE ARRESTED AT INT AIRPORT BOGOTA REUTERS REPORTED THAT 39 POLICE OFFICERS STATIONED AT BOGOTA'S INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WERE ARRESTED AND ACCUSED OF HELPING COCAINE COURIERS THWART AIRPORT SECURITY IN EXCHANGE FOR BIG BRIBES. A NATIONAL POLICE OFFICIAL TOLD REUTERS THAT THE COLONEL IN CHARGE OF AIRPORT SECURITY AND AN UNSPECIFIED NUMBER OF AIRPORT POLICE HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED, PENDING AN INVESTIGATION. TRAFFICKERS ALLGEDLY MADE MADE PAYMENTS TO POLICE IN RETURN FOR ALLOWING TRAVELERS CARRYING NARCOTICS TO BOARD INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS. THE SCANDAL WAS UNCOVERED WHEN 5 POLICE OFFICERS WHO REFUSED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SCAM WERE FIRED FROM THEIR AIRPORT JOBS BY THE COLONEL AND DECIDED TO TELL THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 08/03/94 SC18848 MORMON TEMPLES BOMBED-UPDATE CALI THE U.S. EMBASSY IN BOGOTA CONFIRMED FROM POLICE SOURCES THAT UNIDENTIFIED TERRORISTS, PRESUMABLY THE FARC, EXPLODED FOUR BOMBS, TWO EACH AT TWO MORMON TEMPLES IN CALI THE NIGHT OF AUGUST 2. THE ASSAILANTS PLACE ONE BOMB CONTAIN- ING APPROXIMATELY ONE-HALF KILO OF DYNAMITE AND ONE TIN CAN "BOMB" FULL OF GUERRILLA PROPAGANDA PANPHLETS AT EACH OF THE TWO TEMPLES. TWO MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES (AN ADULT AND A 15 YEAR OLD) WORKING ON A UTILITY POLL IN FRONT OF ONE OF THE TEMPLES SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES FROM ONE OF THE BLASTS. ACCORDING TO THE CALI POLICE, MATERIAL DAMAGES AT THE TWO TEMPLES ARE ESTIMATED AT $2,500 AND $370. THE PAMPHLETS WHICH WERE SCATTERED BY THE TIN CAN BOMBS CRITICIZING A POSSIBLE U.S. LED MILITARY INTERVENTION IN HAITI. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 08/02/94 SC18799 FARC BOMBS MORMON TEMPLES CALI HAMBURG DPA REPORTED THAT THE COMMUNIST GUERRILLA GROUP REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES OF COLOMBIA (FARC) TODAY CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR TWO BOMB ATTACKS ON MORMON TEMPLES IN THE CITY OF CALI, VALLE DEL CAUCA DEPARTMENT, TO PROTEST POTENTIAL U.S. MILITARY INTERVENTION IN HAITI. PAMPHLETS FOUND AT THE SCENE PROTESTED THE POSSIBLE INTERVENTION. THE ATTACKS, CONDUCTED WITH SMALL-SCALE BOMBS, LEFT ONE FIFTEEN-YEAR OLD BOY WOUNDED AND CAUSED PROPERTY DAMAGE AT THE TEMPLES LOCATED IN THE COLON AND SANTA HELENA AREAS. SINCE JULY 15 GUERRILLA GROUPS HAVE STEPPED UP THEIR ATTACKS TO CARRY OUT A PLAN CALLED "FAREWELL TO PRESIDENT GAVIRIA," WHICH IS DESIGNED TO "SHOW THEIR STRENGTH" TO FUTURE PRESIDENT ERNESTO SAMPER. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 07/30/94 SC18718 MINISTER ESCAPES ASSASSINATION BOTOGA REUTERS REPORTS THAT COLOMBIA'S MINISTER OF TRANSPORT ESCAPED UNHARMED FROM AN ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT ON SATURDAY AS HIS MOTORCADE WAS DRIVING TO AN INAUGURAL CERMONY IN THE NORTHEASTERN PENINSULA OF LA GUAJIRA. THE MOTORCADE WAS AMBUSHED BY UNIDENTIFIED GUNMEN USING MACHINE GUNS BETWEEN THE TOWNS OF NUEVAVILLA AND EL MOLINO. A BODYGUARD WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED IN THE ATTACK. SUSPECTED MEMBERS OF FARC HAVE INCREASED THEIR ATTACKS AGAINST ARMY OUTPOSTS AND POLICE STATIONS IN RECENT WEEKS. THE ATTEMPT ON THE MINISTER'S LIFE IS THE FIRST TO BE CARRIED OUT AGAINST A TOP GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL THIS YEAR. LAST WEEK, FARC WAS BLAMED FOR KILLING AN ARMY GENERAL. THE MOST AUDACIOUS ATTACKS HAVE BEEN AGAINST POLICE STATIONS IN AND AROUND THE CAPITAL. HOWEVER, THEIR WORST ASSAULT WAS CARRIED OUT TWO WEEKS AGO AGIANST AN OIL INSTALLATION IN THE SOUTHWESTERN PROVINCE OF PUTUMAYO DURING WHICH MORE THAN 30 PEOPLE DIED. MILITARY OFFICIALS INTERPRET THE ATTACKS AS A SHOW OF FORCE BEFORE THE NEW GOVERNMENT COMES INTO POWER NEXT WEEK. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 07/29/94 SC18851 ELN BOMBS OIL PIPELINE SARAVENA MUNICIPALITY SANTA FE DE BOGOTA REPORTED THAT ELN GUERRILLAS ONCE AGIN BLEW UP THE CANO LIMON-COVENAS OIL PIPELINE AT THE 95 KM MARKER IN SARAVENA MUNICIPALITY. ECOPETROL (COLOMBIAN PETROLEUM ENTERPRISE) SPOKESMEN REPORTED THAT APPROXIMATELY 6000 BARRELS OF OIL SPILLED. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 01/07/94 SC22548 MORE DEMONSTRATIONS PLANNED ACCORDING TO SANTA FE DE BOGOTA INRAVISION, AS THE CRISIS IN PUTUMAYO WAS BEING RESOLVED, HUNDREDS OF PEASANTS WERE GATHERING IN REMOLINO DEL CAGUAN TO ANNOUNCE A PROTEST MARCH ON FLORENCIA IF THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT STOP AERIAL SPRAYING WITH GLYOPHOSPHATE. PEASANT LEADERS WENT TO BOGOTA ON TUESDAY TO DEMAND THAT THEY BE ALLOWED TO SUBSTITUTE CROPS AND THAT THE GOVERNMENT STOP USING GLYOPHOSPHATE. ORGANIZERS OF THE MARCH SAID THEY WILL SUSPEND THEIR PLANS IF THE GOVERNMENT ENTERS INTO A DIALOGUE WITH THEM OVER THE ISSUE. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security Incidents COLOMBIA 01/01/94 SC22418 WEEKEND DEATH TOLL BOGOTA REUTERS REPORTED THAT COLOMBIAN POLICE STATED THAT COLOMBIA HAD EXPERIENCED ONE OF ITS MOST PEACEFUL NEW YEARS IN RECENT MEMORY WITH RELATIVELY LOW TALLY OF 79 PEOPLE KILLED. THERE WERE 58 MURDERED AND 21 KILLED IN CAR ACCIDENTS IN THE LAST 12 HOURS OF 1994 AND THE FIRST 12 HOURS OF 1995. LAST YEAR 96 PEOPLE DIED IN THE SAME PERIOD, 74 OF THEM MURDERED. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (General Crime) COLOMBIA 08/18/92 GC00022 INTRODUCTION: THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE WARNS U.S. CITIZENS TO EXERCISE EXTRA CAUTION WHEN TRAVELING TO COLOMBIA. THE RECENT ESCAPE FROM A COLOMBIAN PRISON OF SEVERAL DRUG TRAFFICKERS HAS INCREASED THE THREAT TO U.S. GOVERNMENT INTERESTS IN COLOMBIA. THE U.S. EMBASSY IS LIMITING TRAVEL TO COLOMBIA BY U.S. GOVERNMENT PERSONNEL TO ONLY ESSENTIAL TRAVEL. WHILE MANY U.S. CITIZENS WHO VISIT COLOMBIA DO SO WITHOUT INCIDENT, SOME PARTS OF THE COUNTRY ARE DANGEROUS. (REFER TO U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE TRAVEL ADVISORY FOR A LIST). TRAVELERS SHOULD DEFER ALL TRAVEL TO THOSE AREAS DUE TO GUERRILLA AND CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES. A CLIMATE OF GENERALIZED VIOLENCE EXISTS. THE INDEX OF GUERRILLA AND OTHER NARCO VIOLENCE CONTINUES TO REMAIN HIGH. IN ADDITION, THE CURRENT RATIONING OF ELECTRICITY THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY HAS RESULTED IN EXTENSIVE BLACKOUTS, WITH THE RESULTANT RISE IN VIOLENT CRIME. GUERRILLA ACTIVITY: WITH THE BREAKUP IN MAY 1992 OF PEACE NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE COLOMBIAN GOVERNMENT, THE COUNTRY'S REMAINING INSURGENCY GROUPS HAVE FOCUSED ON TAKING THEIR WAR TO THE CITIES, USING URBAN TERRORISM. BOTH THE COLOMBIAN REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES (FARC) AND THE NATIONAL LIBERATION ARMY (ELN), UNITED IN THE SIMON BOLIVAR GUERRILLA COORDINATOR (CGSB), HAVE MADE EFFORTS TO INCREASE THEIR PRESENCE AND INFRASTRUCTURE IN URBAN AREAS, PARTICULARLY IN AND AROUND BOGOTA. THE CAPITAL AND OTHER MAJOR COLOMBIAN CITIES (INCLUDING BARRANQUILLA, SITE OF THE U.S. CONSULATE) HAVE BEEN HIT BY SPORADIC TERRORIST ATTACKS, THE MOST COMMON OF WHICH HAVE BEEN BOMBINGS OF FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AT NIGHT, APPARENTLY INTENDED TO CAUSE DAMAGE BUT NO INJURIES. IN SOME CASES, THE BANKS APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN TARGETED BECAUSE THEY WERE MULTINATIONAL OR U.S. COMPANIES. OTHER MANIFESTATIONS OF THE GUERRILLAS' URBAN TERRORISM HAVE BEEN THE THE BURNING OF BUSES AND ATTACKS ON POLICE STATIONS. MEANWHILE, RURAL INSURGENT FRONTS HAVE CONTINUED THEIR TERRORISM AGAINST THE COUNTRY'S ECONOMIC INFRASTRUCTURE. THE ELN, IN PARTICULAR, CONTINUES TO TARGET THE PETROLEUM INDUSTRY, INCLUDING U.S. INTERESTS. NARCO-TERRORISM: WITH THE RECENT ESCAPE FROM PRISON OF PABLO ESCOBAR ALONG WITH SEVERAL OF HIS ASSOCIATES AND THE RESULTANT EFFORTS BY THE COLOMBIAN GOVERNMENT TO CAPTURE THEM, INCREASED THREATS AND VIOLENCE FROM THE MEDELLIN DRUG CARTEL ARE CURRENTLY UNDERWAY. A CAMPAIGN OF BOMBINGS, KIDNAPPINGS, AND ASSASSINATIONS DIRECTED AGAINST THE COLOMBIAN GOVERNMENT AS WELL AS U.S. INTERESTS WHICH EXISTED BEFORE ESCOBAR'S IMPRISONMENT IS EXPECTED TO RESUME. THERE ARE INCREASING REPORTS OF GUERRILLA ALLIANCES OF CONVIENCE WITH NARCO-TRAFFICKERS, WHO ARE A STEADY SOURCE OF FUNDS FOR THE VARAIOUS GROUPS. MEANWHILE, THE POTENTIAL THREAT TO BOTH COLOMBIAN AND U.S. GOVERNMENT PERSONNEL FROM THE CALI TRAFFICKING ORGANIZATION INCREASED DRAMATICALLY IN 1992 AS A RESULT OF SUCCESSFUL COLOMBIAN GOVERNMENT STRIKES AGAINST THE ORGANIZATION'S OPERATIONS. IN APRIL 1992, COLOMBIAN AUTHORITIES ARRESTED THE EXTREMELY VIOLENT MAJOR CALI TRAFFICKER, IVAN URDINOLA, WHO REMAINS INCARCERATED. WHILE THE PRIMARY TARGET OF ANY CALI ORGANIZATION RETALIATION LIKELY WOULD BE POLICE OR OTHER COLOMBIAN GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES, U.S. GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES ALSO MAY BE AT RISK. HOMICIDES: COLOMBIA CONTINUES TO BE ONE OF THE MOST VIOLENT COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD. THE PER CAPITA HOMICIDE RATE IS APPROXIMATELY TEN TIMES THAT OF THE U.S. WITH ROUGHLY 75 MURDERS PER 100,000 INHABITANTS. KIDNAPPINGS: THE COLOMBIAN NATIONAL POLICE (CNP) REPORTED 1,819 KIDNAPPINGS FROM JANUARY 1990 TO MARCH 1991, 910 - OR ABOUT 50 PERCENT - OF WHICH WERE COMMITED BY COMMON CRIMINALS. IN 1991, FOUR AMERICAN CITIZENS WERE KIDANPPED AND IN 1992, FIVE AMERICAN CITIZENS HAVE BEEN KIDNAPPED. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE MAJORITY OF KIDNAPPINGS, WHICH ARE FOR RANSOM, ARE NOT REPORTED TO THE POLICE. KIDNAPPING FOR RANSOM OR POLITICAL PURPOSES IS AN ONGOING THREAT IN COLOMBIA. KIDNAPPING OF COLOMBIANS IS FREQUENT AND AT TIMES AMERICANS HAVE BEEN HELD FOR RANSOM OR TO MAKE A POLITICAL POINT. AMERICAN RESIDENTS SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION AND CONTINUALLY REVIEW THEIR SECURITY PRACTICES TO MINIMIZE THIS THREAT. CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: THE IMPUNITY WHICH CRIMINALS ENJOY AS A RESULT OF INADEQUATE POLICE CAPABILITY AND A LARGELY NON-FUNCTIONAL JUDICIAL SYSTEM, MAKE U.S. CITIZENS IN COLOMBIA VULNERABLE. THE LEVEL OF VIOLENCE AND THE LACK OF LAW ENFORCEMENT IN COLOMBIA ARE CLEAR EVIDENCE OF THE GOVERNMENT'S INABILITY TO CONTROL CRIME AND PROTECT ITS CITIZENS. THIS IS DUE IN LARGE PART TO MANPOWER CONSTRAINTS, INADEQUATE TRAINING, AND A LACK OF TECHNICAL EXPERTICE WITHIN COLOMBIAN LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. ONLY 12 PERCENT OF ALL CRIMES COMMITTED IN COLOMBIA REACH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. POLICE CONTACT LISTING: A LISTING OF THE COLOMBIAN NATIONAL POLICE COMMANDS IN THE MAJOR CITIES OF COLOMBIA IS AS FOLLOWS: BOGOTA (1) 243-09046 MENDILLIN (94) 251-87-35 BARRANQUILLA (958) 41-32-78 CARTAGENA (953) 60-508 CALI (923) 83-90-04 PERSONAL SAFETY TIPS: IN GENERAL, VISITORS TO COLOMBIA ARE ADVISED TO AVOID REMOTE AREAS, TAKE SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS AGAINST STREET CRIME IN MAJOR CITIES, USE ONLY OFFICIAL TAXIS, AND CONTACT THE EMBASSY OR CONSULATE FOR UP-TO-DATE SECURITY AND LOCAL TRAVEL INFORMATION. RESIDENTS OF COLOMBIA SHOULD PRACTICE GOOD SECURITY BY VARYING THEIR TRAVEL PATTERNS AND SCHEDULES, ESPECIALLY TO AND FROM WORK, AND BY BEING ALERT TO UNUSUAL ACTIVITY IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS WHICH MIGHT INDICATE THE POSSIBILITY THAT THEY ARE BEING WATCHED. ALL AMERICANS SHOULD AVOID REMOTE AREAS WHERE NARCO-TRAFFICKERS AND/OR GUERRILLAS, RATHER THAN THE GOVERNMENT, OFTEN CONTROL THE TERRITORY. NIGHTTIME TRAVEL OUTSIDE MAJOR CITY LIMITS SHOULD BE AVOIDED AND TRAVEL ACROSS THE COUNTRY BY CAR OR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IS STRONGLY DISCOURAGED SINCE THE ROBBING OF BOTH BUSES AND PASSENGER VEHICLES IS COMMONPLACE IN COLOMBIA. STREET CRIME: VISITORS SHOULD BE WARY OF COMMON CRIMINALS IN MAJOR CITIES TO INCLUDE BOGOTA AND BARRANQUILLA. UNFORTUNATELY, STREET CRIME WHICH INCLUDES PURSE SNATCHING, PICKPOCKETING AND JEWELRY THEFTS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM. BY EXERCISING CAUTION AND COMMON SENSE, IT IS POSSIBLE TO LESSEN THE CHANCES OF BECOMING A TARGET OF PETTY THEFT. VISITORS ARE CAUTIONED TO CARRY ONLY NECESSARY ITEMS AND TO KEEP CASH AND IDENTIFICATION IN FRONT POCKETS. IT IS ADVISABLE TO TUCK PURSES INTO THE CROOK OF AN ARM, HOLD CLOSE TO THE BODY AND KEEP A HAND OVER THE CLASP. VISITORS SHOULD NOT CARRY ANYTHING THAT THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE. THE SAME PRECAUTION APPLIES TO JEWELRY. SMALL POST-TYPE EARRINGS SHOULD BE WARN INSTEAD OF LARGE HOOP EARRINGS. NECKLACES SHOULD BE KEPT UNDER A BLOUSE OR SWEATER SO AS NOT TO BE VISIBLE. WATCHES SHOULD ALSO BE KEPT OUT OF SIGHT. ALL JEWELRY SHOULD BE REMOVED PRIOR TO GOING TO A MARKET OR OTHER CROWDED AREA. ALSO ON THE INCREASE ARE REPORTS OF INDIVIDUALS POSING AS PLAIN CLOTHES POLICE OFFICERS IN THE VICINITY OF MAJOR HOTELS. HOTEL GUESTS ARE APPROACHED, NORMALLY BY TWO MEN, WHO STATE THEY HAVE NARCOTIC RELATED QUESTIONS AND THE PERSON MUST ACCOMPANY THEM TO A LOCAL POLICE STATION. ONCE TAKEN AWAY FROM THE PUBLIC AREA, THE PERSON IS ROBBED A KNIFE OR GUN POINT. IF CONFRONTED WITH ANY SUCH SCENARIO, THE INDIVIDUAL SHOULD IMMEDIATELY RETURN TO THE SAFETY OF THE HOTEL. IT SHOULD ALSO BE NOTED THAT DUE TO A DROUGHT, THE ENTIRE COUNTRY IS EXPERIENCING SEVERE DAILY AND NIGHTLY POWER OUTAGES. SERIOUS CRIMES (SUCH AS HOMICIDE, RAPE, ASSAULT AND KIDNAPPING) HAVE GREATLY INCREASED SINCE THE BLACKOUTS BEGAN. AIRPORTS: VISITORS TO COLOMBIA SHOULD TAKE EXTRA CARE IN AIRPORTS, WHERE MANY PASSPORTS ARE STOLEN. THE MOST COMMON THEFT IS HAND BAGGAGE PLACED ON THE FLOOR. OF SPECIAL CONCERN TO ALL AMERICANS TRAVELING TO BOGOTA IS THE LACK OF OVERALL SECURITY AT EL DORADO AIRPORT. INSIDE EL DORADO, TRAVELERS SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION WHEN ENTERING RESTROOMS, DINING IN A RESTAURANT, OR WAITING IN LINE. CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR OF EVERY SORT CAN BE FOUND IN THE WAITING ROOMS AND WALKWAYS OF EL DORADO, RANGING FROM ASSAULTS TO THEFT OF UNATTENDED BAGS AND PURSES. TAXIS: UNLESS IT'S RAINING OR RUSH HOUR, TAXIS ARE PLENTIFUL AND PROVIDE AN INEXPENSIVE WAY TO GET AROUND BOGOTA. HOWEVER, A FEW SIMPLE PRECAUTIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN. WHEN ENTERING A TAXI: ENSURE THAT REAR DOORS ARE LOCKED AND WINDOWS ROLLED UP. TAXIS THEMSELVES ARE OFTEN TARGETS FOR CRIMINALS. FOR THIS REASON, DRIVERS WILL SOMETIMES HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS RIDE WITH THEM. UNFORTUNATELY, SOMETIMES THAT "EXTRA" PASSENGER IS NOT ALONG FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE DRIVER BUT AS AN ACCOMPLICE. THEREFORE, DO NOT ENTER A TAXI IN WHICH ANYONE BUT THE DRIVER IS RIDING. ILLEGAL TAXIS, WHICH ARE SOMETIMES IDENTIFIED BY A DRIVER AND ANOTHER OCCUPANT, WITH IRREGULAR MARKINGS, ARE DANGEROUS. MOST AIRPORTS HAVE OFFICIAL TAXI QUEUES. VISITORS SHOULD NOT ACCEPT OFFERS OF RIDES FROM PERSONS STANDING IN THE VICINITY OF AIRPORT TERMINAL EXITS. DRUGGINGS: ANOTHER AREA OF CONCERN TO VISITORS IN COLOMBIA IS THE USE OF THE DRUG SCOPOLOMINE. SCOPOLOMINE, OR BURUNDANGA AS IT IS KNOWN ON THE STREET, IS USED BY CRIMINALS FOR THE PURPOSE OF DRUGGING AND THE ROBBING UNWARY VICTIMS. COLOMBIAN DOCTORS REPORT THAT HOSPITALS RCEIVE AN ESTIMATED 2,000 SCOPOLOMINE VICTIMS EVERY MONTH IN BOGOTA. ONE OUT OF EVERY THREE PATIENTS IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM HAS BEEN INTOXICATED WITH THE DRUG. THE DRUGGINGS OCCUR IN ALL AREAS OF THE CITY THROUGHOUT THE DAY, BUT WITH MORE FREQUENCY AT NIGHT. THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO ADMINISTER SCOPOLOMINE IS IN A LIQUID FORM WHICH CAN INCAPACITATE THE VICTIM IN TWO TO THREE SECONDS. HOWEVER, RESEARCH HAS REVEALED THAT STREET TACTICS CAN INVOLVE THE DRUG BEING UTILIZED IN A SPRAY, DUST OR SMOKE FORM AS WELL. A LARGE MAJORITY OF DRUGGING INCIDENTS TAKE PLACE IN BARS AND DISCOTHEQUES. SOME INCIDENTS OCCUR WHEN THE WAITER BRINGS YOU A DRINK. ON THE WAY TO THE TABLE, HE/SHE WILL DRUG THE DRINK OR BOTTLE. THIS USUALLY OCCURS TOWARDS THE END OF THE NIGHT, WHEN MOST PEOPLE ARE LESS OBSERVANT. AFTER BEING DRUGGED, THE WAITER HELPS YOU TO THE DOOR WHERE AN ACCOMPLICE IS WAITING. ANOTHER COMMON TACTIC IS THROUGH A CASUAL CONVERSATION IN A BAR. DURING THE COURSE OF THE CONVERSATION OR AT A TIME WHEN YOUR DRINK IS LEFT UNATTENDED, THE DRUG IS ADMINISTERED. TO DEFEND AGAINST SUCH TACTICS, AVOID GOING TO NIGHTCLUBS ALONE. WHILE INSIDE SUCH ESTABLISHMENTS, TRY TO WATCH YOUR DRINK BEING PREPARED AND BROUGHT TO THE TABLE. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR DRINK UNATTENDED. STREET DRUGGINGS ARE ALSO COMMON AND MAY INVOLVE SPRAY, DUST OR SMOKE. THESE SCENARIOS TYPICALLY INVOLVE BEING APPROACHED BY A STRANGER ON THE STREET WHO INITIATES A CONVERSATION AND THEN ADMINISTERS THE DRUG. THE BEST PREVENTATIVE MEASURE IS TO TRY NOT TO WALK ALONE. AVOID STOPPING AND TALKING TO STRANGERS OR ACCEPTING ANYTHING TO EAT, DRINK OR SMOKE FROM THEM. IN GENERAL, THESE ARE ALSO GOOD RULES TO FOLLOW TO AVOID BECOMING A VICTIM OF MANY STREET CRIMES WHICH ALSO UTILIZE THE APPROACHMENT TECHNIQUE. DRUGGINGS ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ARE FREQUENT AND THEREFORE BUSES SHOULD BE AVOIDED. THERE ARE A HOST OF SYMPTOMS SCROPOLOMINE DRUGGING WHICH INCLUDE DISORIENTATION, INCOHERENCE, DILATED PUPILS, MOUTH DRYNESS, RESTLESSNESS, FAST HEART RATE, BLURRED VISION AND STUPOR. VICTIMS OF SUSPECTED SCOPOLOMINE DRUGGINGS SHOULD BE TAKEN IMMEDIATELY TO A HOSPITAL. MAJOR CITY SNAPSHOTS: BOGOTA: BOGOTA HAS SUFFERED MORE THAN ITS SHARE OF STREET CRIME AND VIOLENCE ASSOCIATED WITH MOST LARGE CITIES. FOR THIS REASON, AMERICANS ARE ENCOURAGED TO LIVE IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE CITY WHICH IS RELATIVELY SAFE AND CRIME FREE. THE MAJORITY OF APARTMENT BUILDINGS, IN THE NORTHERN AREA, HAVE 24-HOUR PORTERO (GUARD) SERVICE WHEREBY VISITOR ACCESS CAN BE CAREFULLY MONITORED. VISITORS ARE WARNED TO EXERCISE CAUTION WHEN VISITING TOURIST AREAS AND ARE STRONGLY ADVISED TO AVOID THE SOUTHERN AND WESTERN SECTORS OF THE CITY WHERE MOST OF THE CRIMES OCCUR. BARRANQUILLA: THE PORT CITY OF BARRANQUILLA HAS BEEN RELATIVELY FREE OF GUERRILLA AND NARCO VIOLENCE. HOWEVER, RECENTLY THE CITY HAS BEEN HIT BY SPORADIC TERRORIST ATTACKS, THE MOST COMMON OF WHICH HAVE BEEN BOMBINGS OF MULTINATIONAL COMPANIES. THESE ATTACKS HAVE CAUSED PROPERTY DAMAGE BUT NO INJURIES. IN ADDITION, ROBBERY AND STREET CRIME WITHIN THE CITY ITSELF CONTINUES TO BE A GROWING PROBLEM. VIOLENCE OUTSIDE THE CITY REMAINS HIGH. INSURGENT BOMBINGS OF ELECTRIC TOWERS AND HIGHWAY BANDITRY BY VARIOUS CRIMINAL ELEMENTS IN AREAS SURROUNDING BARRANQUILLA ARE COMMON OCCURRENCES. NIGHTTIME TRAVEL OUTSIDE THE CITY IS NOT ADVISABLE. CARTAGENA: CARTAGENA HAS LARGELY BEEN SPARED THE GUERRILLA VIOLENCE AND NARCOTERRORISM ENDEMIC IN OTHER PARTS OF COLOMBIA. THE MAJOR TOURIST AREAS ARE HEAVILY PATROLLED BY POLICE. FOR THIS REASON, CARTAGENA IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE SAFEST OF COLOMBIA'S MAJOR CITIES. HOWEVER, THE RECENT SLUMP IN TOURISM HAS RESULTED IN AN INCREASE IN PETTY STREET CRIME. CALI: TRADITIONALLY, CALI HAS BEEN CONSIDERED A RELATIVELY SAFE CITY FOR VISITORS. HOWEVER, 1992 HAS BEEN WITNESS TO SIGNIFICANT VIOLENCE ATTRIBUTABLE TO IN-FIGHTING AMONG WARRING DRUG LORDS. IT IS BELIEVED THE VIOLENCE IN CALI WILL CONTINUE WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR FURTHER ESCALATION. MEDELLIN: MEDELLIN HAS THE REPUTATION, AND RIGHTFULLY SO, OF BEING COLOMBIA'S MOST DANGEROUS CITY. THE INDISCRIMINATE NARCO-RELATED VIOLENCE AND BOMBINGS WHICH LESSENED THROUGH 1991 AND EARLY 1992 NOW, WITH THE ESCAPE OF PABLO ESCOBAR, HAVE THE POTENTIAL OF DEVELOPING ONCE AGAIN. AS THIS REPORT WAS BEING PREPARED, A CAR BOMB EXPLODED IN A MEDELLIN SHOPPING CENTER CAUSING CONSIDERABLE PROPERTY DAMAGE AND PERSONAL INJURY. IN ADDITION, THE DEPARTMENT OF ANTIOQUIA (HOME OF MEDELLIN) ACCOUNTED FOR APPROXIMATELY 40 PERCENT OF ALL HOMICIDES COMMITTED IN COLOMBIA IN 1991. MEDELLIN CONTINUES TO SUFFER THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF COMMON CRIME OF ANY CITY IN COLOMBIA. GENERAL INFORMATION: UPON ARRIVAL IN COLOMBIA, U.S. CITIZENS SHOULD SEEK THE LATEST TRAVEL INFORMATION AND REGISTER WITH THE AMERICAN CITIZENS SERVICES UNIT OF THE EMBASSY IN BOGOTA, CALLE 38, NO. 8-61, AT (571) 85-1300 (EXT.206, 215) OR WITH THE CONSULATE IN BARRANQUILLA, CALLE 77, CARRERA 68, CENTRO COMMERCIAL MAYORISTA, AT (575) 457-088. REGISTRATION FACILITATES THE PROVIDING OF EMERGENCY SERVICES SHOULD IT BECOME NECESSARY. (SUBMITTED BY THE U.S. EMBASSY IN BOGOTA ON AUGUST 17, 1992.) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Country Contacts) COLOMBIA 03/13/95 CC00044 (LATIN AMERICA AND CARIBBEAN) U.S. EMBASSY CALLE 38, NO. 8-61 BOGOTA (57) (1) 320-1300/1688 TOURIST POLICE (BOGOTA) 267-6348 OR 266-2161 LOCAL POLICE (ANYWHERE IN COLOMBIA) 156 U.S. CONSULATE CALLE 77 CARRERA 68, CENTRO COMMERCIAL MAYORISTA, BARRANQUILLA (57) (5) 45-7088 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Special Topics) OSAC COUNTRY COUNCILS 04/08/94 ST00006 OSAC COUNTRY COUNCILS HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS: A. LATIN AMERICA/CARIBBEAN ARGENTINA - BUENOS AIRES BRAZIL - RIO DE JANIERO AND SAO PAOLO COLOMBIA - BOGOTA GUATEMALA - GUATEMALA CITY MEXICO - MEXICO CITY PERU - LIMA TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO - PORT-OF-SPAIN B. EAST ASIA/PACIFIC INDONESIA - JAKARTA PHILIPPINES - MANILA SINGAPORE CONTINUED ON NEXT SCREEN 19940519$$$ C. MIDDLE EAST ALGERIA - ALGIERS EGYPT - CAIRO D. EUROPE BELGUIM - BRUSSELS FRANCE - PARIS GERMANY - BONN AND FRANKFURT GREECE - ATHENS HUNGARY - BUDAPEST ITALY - ROME AND MILAN NETHERLANDS - THE HAGUE POLAND - WARSAW RUSSIA - MOSCOW AND ST. PETERSBURG SPAIN - MADRID CONTINUED ON NEXT SCREEN 19940519$$$ UNITED KINGDOM - LONDON FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING OSAC ACTIVITIES PLEASE CONTACT OSAC AT (202) 663-0533 - OR CONTACT THE REGIONAL SECURITY OFFICER AT THE EMBASSY OR CONSULATE. 19940519*** ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Travel Advisories) Colombia - Travel Warning October 24, 1994 Warning: The Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the dangers of travel to Colombia. With the exception of several popular tourist areas, violence continues to affect a significant portion of the country. Recent kidnappings and attacks have targeted U.S. citizens and institutions. Additional information can be found in the Department of State's Consular Information Sheet on Colombia. No. 94-045 This replaces the Travel Warning for Colombia dated January 28, 1994, to incorporate updated information. Colombia - Consular Information Sheet October 31, 1994 Warning: The Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the dangers of travel to Colombia. With the exception of several popular tourist areas, violence continues to affect a significant portion of the country. Recent kidnappings and attacks have targeted U.S. citizens and institutions. Country Description: Colombia is a medium income country with a diverse economy. Tourist facilities vary, depending on cost and area. Entry Requirements: A passport and a return/onward ticket are required for stays of up to three-months. Minors (under 18) traveling alone, with one parent, or with a third party must present written authorization from the absent parent(s) or legal guardian, specifically granting permission to travel alone, with one parent or with a third party. This authorization must be notarized, authenticated by a Colombian Embassy or Consulate, and translated into Spanish. For current information concerning entry and customs requirements for Colombia, travelers can contact the Colombian Embassy at 2118 Leroy Place N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008, telephone: (202) 387-8338 or the nearest Consulate in Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, New Orleans, New York, Houston or San Juan. Medical Facilities: Medical care is adequate in major cities, but varies in quality elsewhere. Health problems in Colombia include the presence of cholera, though cholera is found largely in areas outside the cities and usual tourist areas. Visitors who follow proper precautions regarding food and drink are not usually at major risk. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services. U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States. The Medicare/Medicaid program does not provide for payment of medical services outside the United States. In some cases, supplemental medical insurance with specific overseas and medical evacuation coverage has proven useful. For additional health information, travelers can contact the Centers for Disease Control's international travelers' hotline (404) 332-4559. Crime Information: Based on Colombian government statistics, Colombia's per capita murder rate of 77.5 murders per 100,000 inhabitants is seven times higher than that of the United States. While narcotics and guerrilla related violence account for much of this, common criminals are responsible for 75 percent of the reported murders. Minor crime is prevalent in cities, especially in the vicinity of hotels and airports. Theft of hand luggage and travel documents at airports is common. Taking illegal taxis, which are sometimes characterized by two drivers and irregular markings, may be dangerous. Attempts at extortion and kidnappings on rural buses are not unusual. Many criminals use the drug "scopolamine" to incapacitate tourists, rob them, and then leave them unconscious, often for over 24 hours. The drug is administered in drinks (in bars), through cigarette smoke (in taxis), and in powder form (tourists are approached by someone asking directions, with the drug concealed in a piece of paper. The drug renders the person disoriented and powerless to resist the criminal's orders. Another common scam is an approach to an obvious tourist by an alleged "policeman" who says that he is checking for counterfeit U.S. dollars and wants to "check" the foreigner's money. The person gives the criminal his/her money, receives a receipt and the "policeman" disappears. The loss or theft of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Useful information on guarding valuables and protecting personal security while traveling abroad is provided in the Department of State pamphlet, "A Safe Trip Abroad," it is available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. Also available from the same address is the Department of State publication, "Tips for travelers to Central and South America." Areas of Instability: Violence in Colombia by criminal and guerrilla organizations is widespread. Travel by road outside the major cities is considered dangerous because of guerrilla activities in the countryside. As a result, the official travel of U.S. Government employees in Colombia is restricted as described below. The security situation in Colombia is volatile. U.S. citizens may consult the Department of State or the U.S. Embassy in Santa Fe de Bogota or the U.S. Consulate in Barranquilla to obtain the latest information about areas of instability in Colombia. The following areas are considered particularly dangerous: - Cundinamarca Department: rural roads. - Colombia east of the Andes except the city of Leticia in the Amazonas Department and adjacent tourist areas in Amazonas. - All of Antioquia Department (zone) including the city of Medellin. - Most of the North Coast, except for the major tourist areas such as Santa Marta, Barranquilla, Cartagena, and San Andres. - The Northern half of Choco Department, particularly the Uraba region, except for the tourist area of Capurgana. - The Magdelena Medio region: The Magdelena River valley south to Tolima, including western Boyaca, eastern Caldas, and northwestern Cundinamarca. - Rural Valle de Cauca Department and most of the Cauca River valley including the cities of Cali and Buenaventura, and the road between Cali and Buenaventura. - Tolima Department south of Espinal, especially if traveling after dark. - Road travel in Huila and Cauca Departments. The cities of Neiva and Popayan are considered to be safe if reached by air. Restrictions on U.S. Government Employees: Because of security concerns, U.S. government employees assigned to Colombia or temporarily visiting in connection with their official government duties face severe restrictions on travel within Colombia. Travel by such personnel to the areas of instability listed above is generally limited to essential official functions and must be authorized by the Embassy. Requests by Embassy personnel for travel by car outside the Santa Fe de Bogota metropolitan area are considered on a case by case basis. The official travel of all U.S. government personnel traveling to Colombia must be approved in advance by the U.S. Embassy. Terrorist Activities: Several terrorist or guerrilla groups are active in Colombia and U.S. interests are among their targets. Kidnapping for ransom or political purposes is increasing in Colombia. Several U.S. citizens have recently been kidnapped by guerrillas. In 1994, properties of churches identified with the U.S. were bombed in Bucaramanga, Cali and Medellin, and a bomb damaged a Coca-Cola bottling plant in Bucaramanga. Drug Penalties: U.S. citizens are subject to the laws of the country in which they are traveling. Penalties in Colombia for possession, use and trafficking in illegal drugs are strict, and convicted offenders can expect lengthy jail sentences and fines. Firearms: Colombian law prohibits tourists and business travelers from importing or bringing firearms into Colombia. The penalty for illegal importation and/or possession of firearms is 3 to 10 years in prison. Aviation Oversight: In December 1991, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration assessed Colombia's Civil Aviation Authority as in compliance with international aviation safety oversight standards for Colombia's carriers operating to and from the U.S. The same level of safety oversight would typically be applied to operations to other destinations. For further information, travelers may contact the Department of Transportation at 1-800- 322-7873. Embassy Location/Registration: Upon arrival U.S. citizens are urged to register with the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Bogota at Calle 38 No. 8-61, telephone: (57-1) 320-1300 or the Consulate in Barranquilla at Calle 77, Carrera 68, Centro Comercial Mayorista, telephone: (57-58) 457- 088, and to obtain updated information on travel and security within Colombia. No. 94-255 This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated September 2, 1994 by updating the warning and information on crime, terrorism and areas of instability. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------