FARC files
The FARC files are computer files which were retrieved from a
Provenance and authenticity
The cross-border raid on the camp took place in the early hours of 1 March 2008. On the afternoon of 2 March 2008, in a short press release, General Óscar Naranjo, director of the
Interpol
The Colombian
The final report was presented on May 15. Interpol's report said that it found no evidence that the Colombian Government had manipulated the laptops,[7] although the initial Colombian security force access to the data sources (between 1 and 3 March) did not conform to international standards.[4] The laptops had been booted and hard drives or USB sticks were viewed. President Hugo Chávez dismissed Interpol's findings as "A show of clowns, ridiculous" given by a "gringo, aggressive, corrupt and vagabond policeman," about which "spending time on is not worthwhile." and threatened to revise (again) both its economic and diplomatic relations with Colombia.[8][9]
On June 15, 2008 Interpol issued a new press release in response to a statement by Ecuador's Foreign Ministry that Interpol considered to be incorrect. The press release stated that "[Ecuador] inaccurately suggests that Interpol had not established whether the eight seized exhibits forensically examined by Interpol's computer forensic experts had been recovered by Colombian authorities on 1 March 2008 from a FARC camp or belonged to Raul Reyes. In fact, based on a review of all the information and material provided by Colombia, including a classified oral briefing, Interpol was able to satisfy itself, and clearly stated in its report, that the seized computer exhibits it was requested to forensically examine were taken from the FARC terrorist camp on 1 March 2008 and belonged to Raul Reyes."[10] Interpol also added: "Validating that the contents of the computer exhibits were not manipulated after their seizure by Colombian authorities is not in any way, shape or form the same as saying that the contents of the user files are true and accurate. Interpol therefore objects to those who suggest that Interpol's report validates the source and accuracy of any particular document or user file contained therein."[10]
According to an unnamed independent German computer expert consulted by
Colombian Supreme Court
In May 2011 the
Allegations
The documents contained a letter from Reyes to the high command of FARC explaining that he had recently held meetings with the Security Minister of Ecuador, Gustavo Larrea, representing President Correa, who had indicated a desire to establish "formal relations with the FARC". In the letter, Reyes conveys the following information to the high command: the intention of the Ecuadorian government to replace police forces that do not accept the presence of the guerrilla organization in the area; the request for the release of a hostage, "perhaps the son of professor
Also obtained were a series of emails from 2000 to 2003 between Reyes, Ortega and
Ecuador's Interior Minister Fernando Bustamante dismissed these allegations as "false". He stated that "We are not going to accept such a thing". He added "It is very easy to say something based on evidence that has not been scrutinized publicly or internationally."[1]
The next day, another set of documents, allegedly indicating a relationship between the FARC and Venezuela, was released. According to Naranjo, the documents suggested that Chávez had given the FARC guerrillas
A letter from the FARC supremo Manuel Marulanda to the Venezuelan President was released on March 4.[21] In this letter, Marulanda thanks the Venezuelan Government for its assistance in the war against the Colombian Government and the Álvaro Uribe presidency which was supported by the United States. FARC also offered their "modest knowledge in defense of the Bolivarian Revolution" in case of "a gringo aggression," understood to mean assistance against a possible military action from the United States.
Denials
Venezuelan Interior minister Ramón Rodríguez Chacín denied the accusations and stated that "They say that they find in that computer a letter from Marulanda to our commander in chief. Everybody already knows (the letters), the ones showed by our commander in chief. Pay attention, Venezuelan and Colombian people, how they manage the manipulation and deception, that kind of santanderist technique and now with fascism".[22] Rodríguez Chacín also stated that months before, Venezuelan authorities had seized another computer, from the deceased narcotrafficker Wilson Varela, which in turn implicated Colombian police and General Óscar Naranjo in drug trafficking. "I deduce links of consanguinity and business between that general and that mafia capo to not reveal important information. Juan David Naranjo was one of his links and adjutants, brother of General Óscar Naranjo Trujillo." said Rodríguez Chacín. He added that he had not previously made the documents public "because of ethics".[23] The affair that involved General Naranjo's brother in drug trafficking had been widely known since May 2006, when Naranjo himself announced it to the press.[24]
The Colombian government stated that it would present the documents to the Organization of American States (OAS) to demonstrate that Venezuela and Ecuador were supporting the FARC, and thereby "violating international law against the harboring of terrorists".[25] President Uribe stated that "our UN ambassador will announce that Colombia intends to denounce Hugo Chávez, President of Venezuela [to the International Criminal Court], for sponsoring and financing people that commit genocide".[26]
On March 3, Ecuadorian security minister Gustavo Larrea admitted having met with FARC, without specifying where. Later that day, Ecuador's government announced it was in "very advanced talks" with FARC, seeking to free 12 hostages including
Newspaper revelations
On March 4, the Colombian newsweekly
On October 8, 2007, details about secret meetings between Rodríguez Chacín and the FARC were recorded, dealing with a request for proof that
A document dated January 18, 2008, records a meeting with Ecuadorian Security Minister Gustavo Larrea and a request for the release of
Wider repercussions
On March 6, 2008 Viktor Bout, an ex-KGB agent turned weapons dealer, was arrested in a luxury hotel in Thailand during a raid staged by US DEA agents and carried out by Thai police forces. He was accused of supplying weapons to several militias in Asia, the Middle East and to the Colombian terrorist group FARC. Sources in Spain[31] claimed that his arrest was made possible by information found on the captured computers, but this was contradicted by sources in Colombia.[32]
The data found on the laptop computers included personal pictures of Raul Reyes and the guerrilla camp which was bombed in the attack. According to Colombian officials, this information not only corroborated some of their previous suspicions
During the diplomatic crisis caused by the
References
- ^ a b "Colombia says FARC documents show Correa ties". Reuters. 2008-03-02. Retrieved 2008-03-02.
- ^ a b "Colombia: Evidence suggests Chávez gave FARC $300M". CNN. 2008-03-03. Archived from the original on 2008-03-09. Retrieved 2008-03-03.
- ^ a b c Frank Bajak (2008-03-05). "Seized laptop shows Chávez-rebel ties". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 2008-03-10. Retrieved 2008-03-05.
- ^ a b IPS, 15 May 2008, Interpol Notes Improper Initial Handling of FARC Laptops Archived June 10, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Interpol (15 May 2008). "INTERPOL's Forensic Report on FARC computers and hardware seized by Colombia. Press statement by Ronald K. Noble, INTERPOL Secretary General". Interpol. Archived from the original on 1 June 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-10.
- ^ "Colombia pide apoyo a la Interpol para descifrar computadores de 'Raúl Reyes'" (in Spanish). El Comercio. 2008-03-06. Retrieved 2008-03-06.[dead link]
- ^ The full Interpol report is available in English and Spanish at the Interpol web page [1] [2]
- ^ Markey, Patrick (May 15, 2008). "Chavez reviews Colombia ties after Interpol report". BOGOTA: Reuters. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
- ^ "Interpol authenticates files from Reyes' computers". eluniversal.com. May 16, 2008. Archived from the original on May 20, 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
- ^ a b "INTERPOL media release. INTERPOL reaffirms key findings of its examination of seized FARC computers in response to efforts to distort conclusions". Interpol. 15 June 2008. Archived from the original on 29 June 2009. Retrieved 10 July 2009.
- Heise Online, 16 May 2008, Interpol-Forensiker zwischen den Fronten
- ^ Colombia Reports, 18 May 2011, Supreme Court dismisses Reyes files as evidence Archived 2013-01-27 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20080527194838/http://www.eltiempo.com/conflicto/noticias/ARCHIVO/ARCHIVO-3983273-0.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 27, 2008. Retrieved May 11, 2011.
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(help) - ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20080527194817/http://www.eltiempo.com/conflicto/noticias/ARCHIVO/ARCHIVO-3983275-0.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 27, 2008. Retrieved May 11, 2011.
{{cite web}}
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(help) - ^ "'FARC asked Gaddafi for $100 million to buy missiles'". 21 March 2011.
- ^ "Gaddafi Death Leaves Open Rumors of Alliance with Colombia's FARC". 21 October 2011.
- ^ "Gaddafi's death setback for FARC: Santos". 23 October 2011.
- ^ "Publican diversas fotos del PC de Reyes (+ imágenes)" (in Spanish). Noticias 24. 2008-03-03. Archived from the original on 2008-03-06. Retrieved 2008-03-03.
- ^ "Pruebas fotográficas de vínculos de Venezuela y Ecuador con las Farc reveló gobierno de Colombia" (in Spanish). El Tiempo. 2008-03-03. Archived from the original on March 5, 2008. Retrieved 2008-03-03.
- ^ Walker, Peter (2008-03-04). "Farc was planning 'dirty bomb', Colombia says". London: Guardian. Retrieved 2008-03-04.
- ^ "Estos son los documentos que involucran a Chávez y a Ecuador con las Farc y que serán mostradas en la OEA" (PDF). El Tiempo. 2008-03-04. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-04-09. Retrieved 2008-03-04.
- ^ "Revelan que Chávez financia a las FARC. Documentos hallados en portátil de Raúl Reyes muestran que aportó U$300 millones y armamento" (in Spanish). El Correo. 2008-03-04. Archived from the original on 2008-03-05. Retrieved 2008-03-04.
- ^ "Minister Rodríguez Chacín said that computer showing Chávez delivered US$300 million to FARC is false" (in Spanish). Globovisión. 2008-03-04. Archived from the original on 2008-03-09. Retrieved 2008-03-04.
- ^ "Family drug bust for crack cop". News 24. 2006-05-11. Archived from the original on 2008-03-09. Retrieved 2008-03-04.
- ^ "Colombia no movilizará tropas a las fronteras con Ecuador o Venezuela". El Tiempo (in Spanish). 2008-03-03. Archived from the original on March 5, 2008. Retrieved 2008-03-03.
- ^ "Álvaro Uribe anunció que denunciará al Presidente Chávez ante Corte Penal Internacional" (in Spanish). Globovisión. 2008-03-03. Archived from the original on 2008-03-08. Retrieved 2008-03-04.
- ^ a b "President: Ecuador was in talks with rebels to release 12 hostages, including Betancourt". International Herald Tribune. 2008-03-04. Retrieved 2008-03-05.
- ^ "Ecuador estaba traficando con secuestrados con fines políticos, afirma Gobierno colombiano". El Tiempo (in Spanish). 2008-03-03. Archived from the original on March 5, 2008.
- ^ "Golpe Mortal". Revista Semana (in Spanish). 2008-03-03.
- ^ "El computador de Reyes". Revista Semana (in Spanish). 2008-03-04.
- ^ "Cae el traficante de armas más buscado del mundo". El País (in Spanish). 2008-03-06. Retrieved 2008-03-06.
- ^ "Capturan al traficante de armas más buscado del mundo". Semana (in Spanish). 2008-03-06. Archived from the original on 2008-03-07. Retrieved 2008-03-06.
- ^ "El Montesinos de Chávez" (in Spanish). Semana.com. 2 February 2008. Archived from the original on 5 April 2009. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
- ^ "Los secretos del PC de Reyes" (in Spanish). Semana.com. 8 March 2008. Archived from the original on 3 February 2009. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
- ^ "Guardianes de caleta de las Farc en Costa Rica conocían a 'Rodrigo Granda' y a 'Raúl Reyes'" (in Spanish). eltiempo.com. 25 October 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
- ^ Kingstone, Steve (26 July 2008). "Detenida "agente" de las FARC en Europa" (in Spanish). BBC News. Retrieved 2008-10-26.
- ^ "Incautan más de 30 Kg. de Uranio que pertenecía a las FARC" (in Spanish). Noticias24.com. 2008-03-26. Archived from the original on 2008-06-14. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
- ^ "Por computador de 'Reyes' investigarán a Wilson Borja, Piedad Córdoba y Gloria Inés Ramírez" (in Spanish). ELESPECTADOR.COM. 22 May 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-09-06. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
- ^ "Funcionario del gobierno chileno renuncia tras ser vinculado a las FARC" (in Spanish). Eluniverso.com. September 10, 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
- ^ "Colombia hostage Betancourt freed". BBC News. 3 July 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-26.
- ^ Forero, Juan (September 13, 2008). "U.S. Links 3 Chávez Aides to Guerrillas". Washington Post. BOGOTA, Colombia. p. A01. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
- ^ "El verdadero complot" (in Spanish). Semana.com. 13 September 2008. Archived from the original on 17 September 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
- ^ "Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC)" (PDF). U.S. Department of the Treasury - Office of Foreign Assets Control. September 11, 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 28, 2008. Retrieved October 25, 2008.
External links
- International Institute for Strategic Studies, May 2011, The FARC Files: Venezuela, Ecuador and the Secret Archive of 'Raúl Reyes' Archived 2011-05-15 at the Wayback Machine
- NACLA, 3 November 2008, Colombia’s Magic Laptops