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### Viewing cable 04BOGOTA97, RELEASED ELN HOSTAGE DISCUSSES KIDNAPPING

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Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
04BOGOTA97 | 2004-01-07 12:12 | 2011-04-16 00:12 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Bogota

`

    This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

` `

    id: 13081
    date: 1/7/2004 12:57
    refid: 04BOGOTA97
    origin: Embassy Bogota
    classification: CONFIDENTIAL
    destination:
    header:
    This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

    ----------------- header ends ----------------

    C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BOGOTA 000097

    SIPDIS

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/06/2013
    TAGS: PTER PREL PHUM PINR PINS CO ELN
    SUBJECT: RELEASED ELN HOSTAGE DISCUSSES KIDNAPPING

    Classified By: Ambassador William B. Wood, reasons
    1.5 (b) and (d)

    ¶1. (C) On December 24, poloff met with Israeli citizen Ido Guy, who had
    been released by the National Liberation Army (ELN) two days earlier af
    over three months in captivity.  Guy was accompanied by Israeli securit
    liaison Guy Ner, who had been posted at the headquarters of the Colombi
    military's First Division in Santa Marta during much of the hostages'
    captivity.  Guy and Ner made several notable observations about the ELN
    structure and kidnapping methods:

    ------------------
    Sequence of Events
    ------------------

    ¶2. (C) While camping near the city of Santa Marta, in the "Ciudad
    Perdida", one of Colombia's most significant archeological sites, Guy a
    seven other tourists were approached by a dozen armed individuals who,
    without identifying themselves, claimed the area was dangerous and said
    they would guide the tourists to safety.  After walking and camping for
    two days, a guerrilla commander arrived to tell the tourists that the E
    was retaining them as political hostages.  Prior to this, the guerrilla
    had refused to identify themselves.  The hostages were moved frequently
    usually spending no more than a few days at any one location.  However,
    they remained at one camp for nearly a month.  Two days before the
    hostages' release, several allegedly high-ranking ELN commanders, who
    concealed their faces, arrived to ask the hostages how they planned to
    publicly characterize their time in ELN captivity.  Although the
    commanders did not directly pressure the hostages to describe their
    experience with a pro-ELN slant, they were clearly concerned about how
    hostages' stories would affect the ELN's international image.  On Decem
    22, their captors released them to a delegation from the Roman Catholic
    Church  National Conciliation Commission (CCN) and the National Human
    Rights Ombudsman's Office (Defensorma).

    -------------------
    A Spartan Lifestyle
    -------------------

    ¶3. (C) Guy, a former member of the Israeli army, estimated most of his
    captors to be in their late teens or early twenties.  Commanders appear
    slightly older, possibly in their thirties.  Morale among the combatant
    seemed good.  Their educational levels and familiarity with politics an
    current events varied considerably.  Most appeared committed to the ELN
    political ideology and claimed to be combating social inequality.  Near
    all expressed disdain for the United States and President Uribe.  In
    comparing themselves to the FARC, the combatants said the ELN was a mor
    politically focused organization.  Although they were well armed with
    Galil rifles, AK47s, and M-16s, they often played with their weapons an
    did not follow safety precautions.  Only the commanders and a few
    combatants had camouflage uniforms; the others wore civilian clothes.
    Food was scarce.  The combatants found fruits and vegetables growing in
    the area or commandeered livestock and other food from the local
    population.

    ------------------
    Area of Operations
    ------------------

    ¶4. (C) Guy and Ner believe the kidnapping was approved at the highest
    levels of the ELN.  Orders for the combatants came via radio or letters
    delivered by local residents, who were often indigenous persons.  The E
    appeared firmly in control of territory near "Ciudad Perdida" and showe
    little concern about the possible presence of other illegal armed group
    or the Colombian military.  As they moved in what Guy believed was an
    easterly direction, however, the combatants appeared much less familiar
    with the territory and became more concerned about security.  Residents
    many villages through which the group passed appeared complicit with th
    ELN, although in other communities combatants tried to conceal the
    hostages and threatened villagers with retaliation if they did not assi
    them.

    -----------------
    Hostage Treatment
    -----------------

    ¶5. (C) Guy said he and his fellow hostages were treated moderately well
    probably on the direct orders of senior ELN leaders.  For example, the
    hostages ate before their captors did and were provided medical care --
    albeit rudimentary -- by female combatants with limited medical supplie
    Guy was given a pair of rubber boots to replace the inadequate shoes he
    was wearing when he was kidnapped.  They were allowed to keep their
    watches and other valuables and could listen to the news on the radio.
    Guy claimed he was never seriously afraid he would be executed, but
    worried about health problems and the possibility of a firearms acciden
    The hostages were not allowed to contact their families and were not to
    ahead of time when they would be released.  About a dozen armed combata
    usually guarded them, although an additional contingent joined them for
    several days shortly after the kidnapping.  Early in their ordeal the
    hostages unsuccessfully attempted to escape, after which their captors
    threatened to treat them more harshly but never followed up on their
    threats.  All told, Guy estimated the hostages walked approximately 300
    miles during their captivity.
    -----------------------------------
    Disappointing COLMIL Rescue Efforts
    -----------------------------------

    ¶6. (C) Ner was frustrated by the First Division's efforts to locate the
    hostages.  In his view, the division used the kidnapping as a
    justification for launching operations in the region that were only
    tangentially related to the hostages.  He also believes that now-retire
    General Leonel Gomez, then-Commander of the First Division, was less th
    honest in describing his efforts to find the hostages.  For example, Ne
    recounted that Gomez had claimed the hostages were taken southwest, and
    that First Division troops had found some of the hostages belongings
    along that route.  However, Ner believes the hostages were taken east a
    that Gomez falsely claimed to have found some of the hostages' belongin
    in order to appease Ner and other interested parties.  According to Guy
    only once during their entire captivity, when they heard a helicopter i
    the distance, did the hostages see evidence of Colombian military
    operations.  The Colombian military did not debrief the hostages for
    intelligence purposes after their release.  Representatives of the
    Prosecutor General's Office ("Fiscalia") were the only government agent
    to speak with the hostages and, in Ner's opinion, the interviews they
    conducted were cursory.
    WOOD

    =======================CABLE ENDS============================

`