Colombia’s national police commander General Oscar Naranjo told then-U.S. Ambassador William Brownfield that he personally suspected Uribe’s former chief of staff and former presidential advisor of having ordered the illegal wiretapping of government opponents, according to leaked cables obtained by WikiLeaks.
Brownfield informed the State Department of his conversation with Naranjo in a secret cable sent in October 2009.
Though he had no proof, and at this time it was his mere conjecture, XXXXXXXXXXXX said he suspected Uribe's Secretary of the Presidency Bernardo Moreno and possibly advisor Jose Obdulio Gaviria had ordered the illegal surveillance. XXXXXXXXXXX said he would pursue the investigation wherever it leads. This falls in the category of informed speculation, but speculation from XXXXXXXXXXXX has a pretty good track record for success.
Naranjo’s name is blanked out in the text, but his name and function is mentioned on two occasions. The subject of the wiretap talks about the hypothesis of the CNP (Colombia National Police). In a second wire, wherein Naranjo informs the ambassador of the illegal wiretaps, his name appears in one of the sub-headlines.
According to Brownfield, Naranjo is “perhaps the smartest, best informed member of the GOC (Government of Colombia). His views and observations are usually worth serious consideration.”
Moreno was convicted of ordering the wiretaps by Colombia’s inspector general and was barred from holding public office for 18 years. Moreno, Gaviria and Uribe’s former press secretary Cesar Mauricio Velasquez are under criminal investigation by the country’s Prosecutor General’s Office.
