SECURITY FORCES PLEDGE TO INVESTIGATE MISHAPS AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BOGOTA 004633

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/06/2014
TAGS: PHUM PTER PINR ASEC CO
SUBJECT: SECURITY FORCES PLEDGE TO INVESTIGATE MISHAPS AND
CORRUPTION

REF: A. BOGOTA 3393


B. BOGOTA 3714

C. BOGOTA 3841

Classified By: Ambassador William B. Wood, reasons
1.4 (b) and (d)

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Summary
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1. (C) Over the past month, the security forces have
committed serious errors, including friendly fire events,
accidental civilian killings, and incidents involving
possible drug-related corruption. Once incident in
particular has exacerbated already tense police-military
relations. The GOC has responded by, sometimes grudgingly,
publicly admitting the mistakes, initiating investigations,
and retiring officials. End Summary.

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A Bad Period for Security Forces:
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2. (U) March and April have been difficult months for the
security forces:

-- On March 19, the Army killed seven anti-kidnapping (GAULA)
police and four civilians in the municipality of Guaitarilla,
Narino department. There are numerous inconsistencies
surrounding the event and suspicions of illicit activity and
manipulation of evidence on the parts of both the police and
military (ref A).

-- On April 10, a battalion from the Army's 6th Brigade
killed five civilians -- including a 6-month-old infant --
who they mistook for FARC guerrillas in the municipality of
Cajamarca, Tolima department (ref B).

-- On April 13, two Army units conducting counterparamilitary
operations engaged in friendly fire in the municipality of
Puerto Gaitan, Meta department. Three soldiers were killed
and one gravely wounded (ref C).

-- On April 15, the CNP arrested Jaime Londono, the head of a
gang that carries out assassinations and other criminal
activity for drug trafficker "Don Diego," in a military
officer's club in Bogota. Londono was with a retired Navy
officer and a civilian, who also were arrested.

-- Over the weekend of April 16, the Navy found 16.5 kilos of
heroin and 10 kilos of cocaine concealed in candy boxes
aboard "La Gloria," the Navy's sail training "tall ship"
stationed in Cartagena, Bolivar department. The ship was
bound for the U.S.

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Public Admission of Errors...
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3. (C) In mid-April, both Minister of Defense (MOD) Uribe and
Armed Forces Commander General Ospina gave interviews to the
country's two leading newspapers in which they admitted their
forces made serious mistakes and promised thorough
investigations. The MOD acknowledged that many new soldiers
need better training but emphasized that the Armed Forces are
capable of effectively confronting illegal armed groups.
Similarly, Navy Commander Admiral Soto immediately announced
the drug seizure on "La Gloria." Army Commander Carreno
visited Cajamarca and, on April 14, held an all day meeting
in Cordoba Department with numerous brigade commanders to
address how to prevent friendly fire and other errors.
Although admissions were sometimes grudging, Colombian
handling of these issues represents a step forward in
transparency and public accountability.

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... Followed by Legal Action
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4. (C) The GOC is taking steps to hold accountable those
responsible:
-- Although the case still is under investigation, both the
CNP and Army punished officers for their failings in the
Guaitarilla case. The CNP dismissed the GAULA chief in
Narino, Captain Jaime Yepes, for authorizing a poorly planned
operation, and the Army relieved "Battle of Boyaca" Battalion
Operations Officer Major Ernesto Coral of duty for
"mishandling information" about the incident. Immediately
after the incident, President Uribe ordered an internal
report, which was subsequently deemed to be unclear with each
service accusing the other of wrongdoing. Next, the
Prosecutor General's Office (Fiscalia) initiated a criminal
investigation and announced on April 27 that the case would
be tried in military courts because the parties involved were
on active duty. So far, both the police and army stories
seem to raise more questions.
-- In response to the "La Gloria" drug seizure, President
Uribe suspended the entire 75-member crew. They will not be
reinstated until they are cleared of any involvement. The
military justice system is investigating, and MOD Uribe and
Admiral Soto have told U.S. officials they believe they have
identified at least three guilty individuals. President
Uribe assured U.S. Coast Guard Commandant, whose visit to
Cartagena coincided with the seizure, that he would punish
those responsible.

-- The Army may be able to clear itself of at least some
responsibility for the civilian deaths in Cajamarca. The
area has long been controlled by the FARC, which had
prohibited all road travel in the area where the civilians
were killed. The Ministry of Defense has provided the
Fiscalia with evidence that the FARC forced the five
civilians to leave their home in order to distract and
confuse the Army unit operating nearby.

-- The Puerto Gaitan case is a clear-cut friendly fire
incident. The military is conducting an internal
investigation. The military relieved the Battalion
commander, Company commander, and Squadron leader of duty.

-- The military has begun an internal investigation as to how
Londono -- a wanted criminal -- was given access to an
officer's club. Initial findings suggest he used fake
documents and was assisted by the retired Navy officer who
accompanied him. He was found in possesion of numerous cell
phones, two handguns, and a large amount of cash, suggesting
he was involved in conducting narcotics-related violence in
Bogota. Normally, his gang's center of operations is in
Cali. The Fiscalia has charged Londono with conspiracy to
commit a crime, use of false documentation, and narcotics
trafficking. The event has received limited media attention,
but a thorough investigation will be key to determining the
extent of Londono,s connection to the military.

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Souring Inter-Service Relations
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5. (C) The Guaitarilla incident has further strained already
tense Police-Army relations and highlighted coordination
problems. Army Commander General Carreno and CNP Commander
General Castro, who have clashed on other occasions, have
been personally involved in the internal investigations that
seek to blame the other service. Impartiality will be
particularly important and equally difficult in this
investigation. The CNP's arrest of Londono in a military
officer's club also has the potential to irritate
police-military rivarly, although less so thanks to Soto's
and Ospina's support for the arrest of the retired Navy
officer who was caught with Londono.

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Grist for Uribe Critics
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6. (C) Uribe's critics in Congress used the events to
question recently approved anti-terrorism legislation,
asserting that the security forces are incapable of
responsibly exercising expanded judicial powers granted them
in the statute. Human rights organizations have expressed
concerns about poor training in the security forces and
possible links to corruption by officials implicated in the
incidents.


WOOD