URIBE ON PARAMILITARY DEMOBILIZATION

id: 13754 date: 2/5/2004 17:15 refid: 04BOGOTA1198 origin: Embassy Bogota classification: CONFIDENTIAL destination: 04BOGOTA993 header: This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. -------------- header ends -------------- C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 001198 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/05/2014 TAGS: PREL KJUS PTER SNAR PHUM CO SUBJECT: URIBE ON PARAMILITARY DEMOBILIZATION REF: BOGOTA 993 Classified By: DCM Milton Drucker, Reasons: 1.5 B & D. ¶1. (C) In a February 4 meeting with Ambassador Wood and visiting U.S. inter-agency delegation, President Uribe stated that he was instructing his Administration to offer paramilitary leaders two options: relocation to so-called "concentration zones" for those who agree to demobilize or prosecution (e.g., jail or death on the battlefield). Ambassador and DAS Peter DeShazo urged Uribe to neither lift the arrest orders on top paramilitary leaders, including Carlos Castano and Salvatore Mancuso of the AUC, nor attempt to change extradition laws (see para 3 reftel). Uribe stressed he would not modify extradition. Uribe added that if demobilized paramilitaries were to be given a temporary safe conduct in concentration zones they would need to be engaged in social service type activities. Uribe noted that since he took office (August 2002),3908 paramilitaries had been captured and an additional 435 had been killed. ¶2. (C) In a January 27 meeting with Ambassador and members of the Core Group (reftel),Peace Commissioner Restrepo had indicated that the GOC would not formally lift arrest warrants for paramilitary leaders, but intended to allow them freedom of movement in designated zones in order to facilitate demobilization (and OAS observation efforts). ¶3. (C) Comment: Uribe is firm on his commitment not to touch extradition in the event of a collective paramilitary demobilization. We will continue to work with the Uribe Administration to find a satisfactory way to deal with the issue of AUC members who already have arrest warrants. Additional items discussed in the February 4 meeting with Uribe will be reported septel. WOOD =======================CABLE ENDS============================