VZCZCXYZ0004
RR RUEHWEB
DE RUEHBO #2751 2121855
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 301855Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
TO RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3896
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RHMFISS/COMSOCSOUTH
INFO RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 0763
RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ JUL PANAMA 2080
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 7095
RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 2411
UNCLAS BOGOTA 002751
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER CO
SUBJECT: COLOMBIAN FORCES HIT FARC 6TH AND 10TH FRONTS HARD
1. Summary: On July 21st and 26th, the Colombian National
Police and Colombian Air Force, with assistance from the U.S.
Government, executed two successful operations against the
Armed Revolutionary Forces of Colombia (FARC) 6th Front in
Cauca and the 10th Front in Arauca. The combined ground-air
assault on the 10th Front led to the death of de facto Front
commander Jose Rizo Carrascal ("Jurga Jurga"). End Summary
2. On the afternoon of July 21st, the Colombian National
Police (CNP) and Colombian Air Force attacked the FARC 6th
Front headquarters near Corinto, Cauca Department in a
combined ground-air assault. In the action, the CNP
confirmed that seven FARC were killed and two captured. The
CNP also recovered computer equipment and large quantities of
weapons and munitions. The CNP estimate that over 200 FARC
occupied this camp complex, making it one the largest FARC
camps in the area. The Air Forces estimates that at least
twenty additional FARC were killed in a follow-up air strike.
3. On the morning of July 26th, the CNP--together with the
Colombian Air Force--attacked a FARC 10th Front rendezvous
point 28 miles east of Saravena, Arauca department, killing
two FARC (including Company Commander Jose Felipe Rizo
Carrascal alias "Jurga-Jurga") and capturing one FARC. The
Colombian Air Force reported that additional FARC were killed
in action. The CNP suffered one casualty who took light
shrapnel wound to the neck from a FARC mortar round.
4. The CNP's Detective Division (DIJIN) had intelligence that
Jurga-Jurga would make a supply pickup the morning of July
26th near a farmhouse. DIJIN infiltrated twelve Commandos
the night before to set up an observation post near the
house. After observing Jurga's arrival the followign
morning, the Commandos called in a Jungla Airmobile Assault
team as well as a Colombian Air Force (based in Saravena)
strike.
5. Jurga-Jurga was on the Drug Enforcement Administration's
50 Most Wanted List. He also has been the de-facto local
commander of the FARC 10th Front in Arauca, since FARC
Commander German Briceno Suarez, also known as "Granobles,"
is believed to reside inside Venezuela. Granobles is also the
brother of FARC Secretariat member Jorge Briceno Suarez
("Mono Jojoy"). The U.S. Government provides training,
equipment, logistical support, technical intelligence, and
operational advice to the CNP ground and aviation forces that
participated in both operations.
BROWNFIELD