Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04BOGOTA11421
2004-11-02 18:31:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bogota
Cable title:  

FOLLOW-UP MEETING WITH FATHER JOAKIN MAYORGA

Tags:  PHUM PGOV KIRF KJUS PTER PINR CO 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BOGOTA 011421 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/03/2014
TAGS: PHUM PGOV KIRF KJUS PTER PINR CO
SUBJECT: FOLLOW-UP MEETING WITH FATHER JOAKIN MAYORGA

REF: A. BOGOTA 8406


B. BOGOTA 8687

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Milton K. Drucker for
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BOGOTA 011421

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/03/2014
TAGS: PHUM PGOV KIRF KJUS PTER PINR CO
SUBJECT: FOLLOW-UP MEETING WITH FATHER JOAKIN MAYORGA

REF: A. BOGOTA 8406


B. BOGOTA 8687

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Milton K. Drucker for
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: On November 3, Father Joakin Mayorga visited
the Embassy to discuss the status of an investigation by the
Office of the Prosecutor General ("Fiscalia") into
accusations made by two Army officers that he had committed
criminal misrepresentation. In February, Mayorga alleged --
on behalf of residents of a peasant community in Bolivar
Department -- that soldiers from the Antonio Narino Marine
Infantry Battalion had killed three community residents and
played a role in the disappearance of a thirteen-year-old boy
in January. Mayorga told us Fiscalia prosecutors have
conducted themselves professionally and will decide whether
to press formal charges by the end of the year. Mayorga has
been told his case is being followed closely by high-ranking
officials in the Fiscalia and the Office of the Inspector
General ("Procuraduria"). Mayorga expressed satisfaction
with the Fiscalia's progress in investigating the alleged
murders and forced disappearance. Church officials have
reassigned Mayorga from Bolivar Department to Bogota for
security reasons. End Summary.


2. (SBU) On November 3, an Embassy official met with Father
Joakin Mayorga, former director of the Roman Catholic
Church's Social Ministry ("Pastoral Social") in the Diocese
of Magangue, Bolivar Department. Mayorga has been the
subject of a Fiscalia investigation after two Army officers,
including the commander of the Antonio Narino Marine Infantry
Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Luis Fernando Rojas, accused
him of criminal misrepresentation (ref A). In February,
residents of the community of Canonico, Bolivar Department,
asked Mayorga to present to the Fiscalia their allegations
that soldiers from the battalion had killed three peasants
and played a role in the disappearance of a thirteen-year-old
boy in January. To date, the Fiscalia has not pressed
charges against Mayorga.


3. (SBU) Mayorga first met with Fiscalia investigators on
August 26 to answer questions related to the officers'
accusations. (The meeting had originally been scheduled for
late June, but was postponed when Mayorga informed
investigators of a schedule conflict.) Mayorga was invited
to a second meeting with investigators on September 17 to
discuss the possibility of reaching a settlement with the
military officers. Although legally required to attend,
neither officer was present for the meeting. Fiscalia
investigators suggested Mayorga issue a retraction in order
to put the matter to rest. He refused, citing his
responsibility to members of the community of Canonico and
his interest in seeing the perpetrators of the alleged
murders and disappearance brought to justice. Mayorga said
he told Fiscalia investigators he was not personally accusing
the military of any wrongdoing. On October 18, Fiscalia
investigators interviewed several community residents,
including family members of the murder victims. The case
against Mayorga remains under investigation. Prosecutors are
expected to decide before the end of the year whether to
charge Mayorga with criminal misrepresentation or close the
investigation.


4. (C) Mayorga said Fiscalia investigators conducted
themselves in a respectful, professional manner and told him
the case was being followed closely by Prosecutor General
Osorio and high-ranking officials within the Procuraduria.
Fiscalia investigators told Mayorga that both offices had
expressed a special interest in resolving the case quickly
and transparently. (When Ambassador raised Mayorga's case
with Vice-President Santos in August, Santos promised to look
into the matter (ref B).) Mayorga told us the Fiscalia's
Human Rights Unit had launched an independent investigation
into the alleged murders and forced disappearance and had
already interviewed most of the victims' family members.
Mayorga was pleased the case was progressing quickly. He
also said the Procuraduria is conducting a disciplinary
investigation to determine whether soldiers from the
battalion were involved in the January incident. Mayorga
confided his suspicion that certain elements within the
battalion actively cooperate with paramilitaries.


5. (C) Mayorga said he had been reassigned to Bogota on
October 1 after other priests and a bishop in the region
began to receive threats from paramilitaries, who told the
priests that they would be held responsible if Mayorga
continued his "subversive work" in Bolivar Department.
Mayorga, who has himself received similar threats over the
past two years, said he protested the decision and feels he
has abandoned the isolated communities in which he had worked.
DRUCKER