Cablegate: Colombia: Additions to 1988 Annual Terrorism

R 231626Z DEC 88
FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 2025
INFO DIA WASHDC
CIA WASHDC
SECDEF WASHDC
USCINCSO QUARRY HEIGHTS PM
AMEMBASSY CARACAS
AMEMBASSY QUITO
AMEMBASSY LIMA
AMEMBASSY LA PAZ

UNCLAS BOGOTA 19003

STATE FOR S/CT WHARTON

E.O. 12356: N/A
TAGS: KPRP PTER CO
SUBJECT: COLOMBIA: ADDITIONS TO 1988 ANNUAL TERRORISM
REPORT

REF: BOGOTA 18301

1. EMBASSY SUBMISSION FOR THE 1988 ANNUAL TERRORISM
REPORT INADVERTENTLY OMMITTED REFERENCE TO THE QUESTION
ON PLO REPRESENTION. THE PLO DOES NOT/NOT, NOR HAS IT
IN THE PAST, HAD ANY OFFICIAL STATUS OR RECOGNITION IN
COLOMBIA. HOWEVER, AN INDIVIDUAL NAMED MANDOUH GABER
HAS BEEN NOTED IN THE PAST YEAR PRESENTING HIMSELF AS A
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PLO AND ISSUING CALLING CARDS SO
IDENTIFYING HIMSELF. HE DOES NOT ENJOY ANY DIPLOMATIC
OR QUASI OFFICIAL STATUS, HOWEVER.

2. IN ADDITION, SUBSEQUENT TO THE EMBASSY'S ORIGINAL
SUBMISSION, THE GOVERNMENT OF COLOMBIA DECREED
ADDITIONAL EMERGENCY MEASURES IN LATE NOVEMBER TO DEAL
WITH MOUNTING TERRORIST VIOLENCE. THE MEASURES INCLUDE
THE IMPOSITION OF MANDATORY LIFE SENTENCES ON
PERPETRATORS OF MASSACRES OR HOMICIDES COMMITTED IN THE
COURSE OF TERRORIST ATTACKS AGAINST GOVERNMENT
OFFICIALS; IMMEDIATE DETENTION OF PERSONS SUSPECTED OF
CONSPIRING AGAINST PUBLIC ORDER; AN INCREASE IN MILITARY
AND POLICE RECRUITMENT AND THE CREATION OF SPECIAL
GROUPS TO COMBAT TERRORISM; ADDITIONAL MATERIALS
RESOURCES FOR THE ARMED FORCES TO IMPROVE MOBILITY; THE
SPECIAL PROTECTION OF JUDGES AND MAGISTRATES
INVESTIGATING MASSACRES OR ATTACKS AND THE ELIMINATION
OF TRIAL BY JURY IN CASES OF "MONSTROUS CRIMES". THESE
DECREES ARE, HOWEVER, SUBJECT TO AUTOMATIC SUPREME COURT
REVIEW, AND SEVERAL, PARTICULARLY THE MANDATORY LIFE
SENTENCE, ARREST ON SUSPICION OF CONSPIRACY AND THE
ELIMINATION OF JURY TRIAL FOR SOME MURDER TRIALS, ARE
APT TO BE OVERTURNED.

MCNAMARA.

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