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) -------------- Summary -------------- ¶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. -------------- A Bad Period for Security Forces: -------------- ¶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. -------------- Public Admission of Errors... -------------- ¶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. -------------- ... Followed by Legal Action -------------- ¶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. -------------- Souring Inter-Service Relations -------------- ¶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. -------------- Grist for Uribe Critics -------------- ¶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