Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04BOGOTA4507
2004-05-04 11:20:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bogota
Cable title:  

U/S GROSSMAN'S MEETING WITH HUMAN RIGHTS NGOS

Tags:  PGOV PHUM PREL PINR PTER KJUS CO 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BOGOTA 004507 

SIPDIS

GENEVA FOF JEFF DELAURENTIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/03/2014
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL PINR PTER KJUS CO
SUBJECT: U/S GROSSMAN'S MEETING WITH HUMAN RIGHTS NGOS


Classified By: Ambassador William B. Wood for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BOGOTA 004507

SIPDIS

GENEVA FOF JEFF DELAURENTIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/03/2014
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL PINR PTER KJUS CO
SUBJECT: U/S GROSSMAN'S MEETING WITH HUMAN RIGHTS NGOS


Classified By: Ambassador William B. Wood for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (U) April 29, 2004, 1:45-2:30pm, U.S. Embassy Bogota


2. (U) Participants:

U.S.
--------------
U/S Marc Grossman
Ambassador William B. Wood
General James T. Hill, SouthCom
Ambassador Daniel A. Johnson, POLAD
Col. Napoli, Southcom
Stewart Tuttle, Deputy Political Counselor
Charles Barclay, WHA/AND
Kiersten Stiansen, Notetaker

Colombia
--------------
Mario Gomez, Restrepo Barco Foundation
Carlos Rodriguez, Colombian Commission of Jurists (CCJ)
Catalina Diaz, Colombian Commission of Jurists (CCJ)
Marco Romero, Consultancy for Human Rights and
Displacement (CODHES)
Patricia Villaveces, Free Country Foundation
Monsignor Hector Fabio Henao, Roman Catholic Church's
Social Pastoral Association

--------------
Summary
--------------


3. (C) Summary: On April 29, Under Secretary Grossman met
representatives of five human rights organizations to discuss
the human rights and humanitarian situation in Colombia. U/S
Grossman emphasized the importance of advancing democracy and
human rights and the USG's commitment to helping the GOC in
these areas. All five organizations agreed that democracy
and human rights go hand in hand and expressed their concerns
regarding military collusion with paramilitaries, impunity,
and continued violations, by all actors, of international
humanitarian law. End Summary.

--------------
Strong Democracy Key to Success in Colombia
--------------


4. (C) During his April 29 visit to Bogota, U/S Grossman
told human rights representatives that the USG considers the
advancement of human rights and democracy to be a fundamental
aspect of its policy in Colombia. Carlos Rodriguez of the
CCJ said democracy can only exist in unison with the rule of
law and a complete separation of powers in government. He
expressed concern about granting "judicial" powers to the
Armed Forces because it could aggravate the problem of

impunity. U/S Grossman agreed that impunity for human rights
violations is a problem and added that a strong judicial
system is needed to ensure a strong democracy. U/S Grossman
also explained that he and General Hill were in the meeting
together to show that improving the security situation and
strengthening the Colombian military go hand-in-hand with
fostering democracy and respect for human rights.

--------------
Concerns Over GOC-NGO Polarization
--------------


5. (C) All NGO representatives agreed that relations between
the GOC and domestic human rights groups are not ideal.
Romero said he is concerned about the lack of diversity in
the political arena. Rodriguez echoed this concern,
asserting that President Uribe had increased polarization in
the country with speeches in September 2003 and February 2004
in which he criticized some human rights activists as
terrorist sympathizers. Romero and Monsignor Henao expressed
concerns that the Government's policy of large-scale
detentions was only applied against alleged guerrilla --
rather than paramilitary -- sympathizers.

-------------- --------------
Violence Down, but Concerns Remain Over Paramilitaries
-------------- --------------


6. (C) The Restrepo Barco Foundation's Gomez noted
improvements in the overall human rights and security
situation and said that many criticisms of Government
security policy are inconsistent and depend on ideological
predispositions. Monsignor Henao said it is important to
acknowledge improvements but also look closely at remaining
problems to determine if they affect certain groups
disproportionately. U/S Grossman agreed. The organizations
also pointed out that there continue to be ties between
illegal paramilitaries and some elements of the security
forces. U/S Grossman said the GOC must break "forever" any
relationship between the Armed Forces and the paramilitaries.
Regarding the paramilitary peace process, Diaz of the CCJ
said negotiations must be conducted in a way that guarantees
victims' rights and provides adequate reparations. She added
that bringing real democracy to regions historically
controlled by paramilitaries should be a priority.

-------------- --------------
U.S. Committed to Helping Improve Human Rights Situation
-------------- --------------


7. (C) U/S Grossman emphasized the USG's respect for
Colombian human rights organizations and said the USG will
continue to work with the GOC on improving the human rights
situation. He added that he had raised the importance of
human rights in his earlier meetings with the President and
Vice-President. Success in Colombia will ultimately be
measured not just by victories against narco-terrorism, but
also by an increased Government commitment to human rights
and the rule of law. Diaz complemented the Department for
its 2003 Human Rights Report on Colombia and for its
decisions in support of human rights, including the
suspension of assistance to military units with questionable
human rights records. U/S Grossman said he is proud of
actions the Embassy has taken in support of human rights in
Colombia.
WOOD