SENIOR EXECUTIVE INTELLIGENCE BRIEF -- COLOMBIA: CARLOS CASTANO; FARC CLAIMS TO

Created: 12/30/1998

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

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The SEIB must be returned to CIAorking days

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Reiidriship is limited to those on upprwl reader list on file Mth CIA St IB Cmind Officer. The mulcriinneilhereby'eadintumeiu.

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AMERICAS

Claims To Have Killed Paramilitary Leader

of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) yesterdayocal radio station thai ihey had killed Carlosihe leader of lhe United Scir-Defense Groups ofnine others during an attack onelf described spokesman for Castano said the paramilitary leader had not been heard from since the attack. Some of Castano's Ivcuienanis claim he is sail alive.

Military authoriiics have conflirncdlash look place but say they do not know if Castano was killed.

Ifiht FARC did kill Castano, his supporters may launch reprisals that would complicate, and perhaps delay, peace talks scheduledtobegtn next week between the government and the

Castano has sought to push Insurgent groups out ofin northern Colombia and has attacked civiliansthe insurgents.Castano in recent

months had launched arole in the

nascent peace process, warning subordinates not to interfere with the demilitarized zone set up to facilitate talks and to remain focused on the paramilitaries' long-terma seat at the negotiating table

reports.

efforts have incensed insurgent leaders, who dismiss himurdererool of the slate, according to various

Original document.

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