TERRORISM: POSSIBLE MOTIVE FOR THE EXECUTION OF TWO U.S. KIDNAP VICTIMS BY THE REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES OF COLOMBIA

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06583057
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: March 16, 2022
• Document Release Date: August 2, 2016
• Case Number: F-2016-00363
• Publication Date: July 12, 1995

Approved for Release: 2016/07/12 C06583057
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Classified by: UNSPECIFIED
Reason: UNSPECIFIED
Declassify on: April 26, 2042
(SHOC/NF) SUBJ: TERRORISM: POSSIBLE MOTIVE FOR THE EXECUTION OF TWO U.S.
KIDNAP VICTIMS BY THE REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES OF COLOMBIA
Central Intelligence Agency
12 July 1995
Doc Number:
(S//0C/NF) ----- ----- CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY INFORMATION REPORT, NOT
FINALLY EVALUATED INTELLIGENCE ----- --- - - -------------------------- ----- -----
(U) CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
(U) INFORMATION REPORT, NOT FINALLY EVALUATED INTELLIGENCE REPORT CLASS SECRE
T--WNINTEL--NOFORN--NOCONTRACT--ORCON DIST: 12 JULY 1995
(U) REPORT CLASS SEC E T--WARNING --INTELLIGENCE SOURCES OR METHODS INVOLVED-NOT RELEASABLE TO
FOREIGN NATIONALS-- T RELEASABLE TO CONTRACTORS/CONSULTANTS--DISSEMINATION AND EXTRACTION OF
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SOURCE A
CONTEXT A:
(SHOC/NF) 1
(b)(3)
(b)(3)
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
)
HOSTAGES TIMOTHY VAN DYKE AND STEVE WELSH WEF(b)(3)
EXECUTED BY THE FARC AROUND 18-19 JUNE BECAUSE THEY HAD WITNESSED CONTACTS AND
COOPERATION BETWEEN FARC LEADERS AND POLITICIANS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF META DURING
THEIR CAPTIVITY. SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, THE LEADERS OF THE FARC'S 51ST AND 53RD FRONTS
DECIDED THAT THE AMERICANS "KNEW TOO MUCH" AND MUST BE KILLED. SINCE THEN, THE
LEADERS OF THE TWO FRONTS WERE LOOKING FOR A PRETEXT TO MURDER THE TWO U.S.
CITIZENS. FINALLY, THEY DECIDED THAT THEY WOULD BLAME THE EXECUTIONS ON THE PRESENCE
OF COLOMBIAN TROOPS IN THE AREA WHERE THE KIDNAP VICTIMS WERE BEING HELD.
(SHOC/NF) 2. COMMENT: MANY RESIDENTS OF META DEPARTMENT BELIEVE THE 51ST AN(b)(1)
53RD FARC FRONTS OPERATE IN A POTENTIALLY OIL RICH AREA. IT IS LIKELY THAT THE "CONTACT(b)(3)
AND COOPERATION" THAT THE U.S. CITIZENS WITNESSED BETWEEN THE FARC AND DEPARTMENT
OF META POLITICIANS WERE BASED ON FUTURE PETROLEUM EXPLORATION IN THE REGION.)
(SHOC/NF) 3.
COMMENT:
(b)(1)
(b)(1)
AN ALTERNATIVE EXPLANATION(b)(3)
FOR THE VICTIMS' MURDER IS THAT FARC MEMBERS, ANTICIPATING OR ALREADY IN A BATTLE WITH
ARMY TROOPS, SIMPLY DID NOT WANT THE ARMY TO GET THEIR CAPTIVES ALIVE.)
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