URIBE REJECTS AUC PROPOSAL TO JOIN MILITARY

UNCLAS BOGOTA 011206

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PINR PTER PHUM SNAR CO OAS AUC
SUBJECT: URIBE REJECTS AUC PROPOSAL TO JOIN MILITARY



1. (U) President Uribe shot down a United Self Defense Forces
of Colombia (AUC) proposal that demobilized paramilitaries be
incorporated into the armed forces. On October 28, Uribe
said that members of an illegal armed group who demobilize
would be given generous reinsertion benefits but would not be
allowed to join the military. Uribe was responding to an AUC
communique released on October 26 that proposed demobilized
AUC members assist the armed forces by protecting the
country's infrastructure. The AUC specified that the
Ministry of Interior rather than the Ministry of Defense
should supervise the initiative.


2. (U) Although some high level officials, including Minister
of Defense Uribe and OAS Mission Director Caramagna, have
said parts of the proposal are worth considering, President
Uribe's statements make it clear that demobilized
paramilitaries will not be allowed to join the military.
WOOD