Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04BOGOTA5077
2004-05-18 15:38:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bogota
Cable title:  

GOC INITIATES INTERAGENCY SOCIAL ASSISTANCE

Tags:  PHUM PINR PTER PREL PINS 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 005077 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/18/2014
TAGS: PHUM PINR PTER PREL PINS CO
SUBJECT: GOC INITIATES INTERAGENCY SOCIAL ASSISTANCE
PROJECTS

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

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

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BOGOTA 005077

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/18/2014
TAGS: PHUM PINR PTER PREL PINS CO
SUBJECT: GOC INITIATES INTERAGENCY SOCIAL ASSISTANCE
PROJECTS

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

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


1. (U) Three months ago the GOC, with SOUTHCOM assistance,
established the Coordination Center for Integrated Action
(CCAI). The Center is directed by presidential adviser and
International Assistance Coordinator Luis Alfonso Hoyos and
is staffed by more than ten ministries and agencies. It will
design and direct interagency social and economic assistance
programs in areas where the armed forces are re-establishing
security. Although still in its early stages, the CCAI has
identified five target areas -- the former FARC safehaven
(despeje) in southern Colombia, the Sierra Nevada, Catatumbo,
Arauca Department, and Tumaco -- and begun important social
assistance projects in some of the highly conflictive areas.
End summary.

-------------- ---
Objective: Coordinated, Sustained State Presence
-------------- ---


2. (U) Recognizing that stability and state presence will not
be established with military and police operations alone, the
GOC created the Coordination Center for Integrated Action
(CCAI) with SOUTHCOM assistance in early 2004. It is staffed
with representatives from the Office of the President, the
Ministry of Defense, National Police, Military, Ministry of
Interior and Justice (MOI/J),Social Solidarity Network
(RSS),Ministry of Education, Ministry of Social Protection,
Family Welfare Institute (ICBF),and Registrar's Office. The
Prosecutor General's Office (Fiscalia),Inspector General
(Procuraduria),Human Rights Ombudsman, and other agencies
will play an auxiliary role. Presidential adviser and
International Assistance Coordinator Luis Alfonso Hoyos is
the director. Vice Minister of Defense Andres Penate, Chief
of the Joint Staff General Freddy Padilla, and Plan Colombia
Director Diego Molano are on the board of directors.
President Uribe and his cabinet are strong proponents of the
program and have been actively involved in its creation.


3. (U) The CCAI will design and implement interagency social

and economic projects in areas that the security forces have
secured under Uribe's Democratic Security Strategy. SOUTHCOM
provided funding for training and office space. The CCAI has
designated five priority areas where they have begun
assessing the humanitarian needs and designing appropriate
projects. The criteria for these areas were on-going
security operations, a traditionally limited state presence,
strategic importance, and a heavy presence of illegal armed
groups:

-- The former despeje (Cartagena del Chaira and San Vicente
del Caguan in Caqueta Deparment and Miraflores, Calamar, and
La Macarena in Guaviare Department) is the focus of Plan
Patriota Phase 2B and is FARC-dominated. The National Police
recently established a presence in Miraflores and Calamar.
One assessment visit was made to Caqueta but the Guaviare
assessment trip was cancelled for security reasons.

-- Catatumbo region of Norte de Santander Department is
traditionally dominated by the ELN but also has a FARC and
paramilitary presence. One assessment trip has been taken.

-- Sierra Nevada region in Magdalena, Cesar, and La Guajira
Departments has a heavy paramilitary and ELN presence and
some FARC units. It received widespread public attention in
late 2003 when the ELN demanded a GOC-sponsored investigation
into the "humanitarian crisis" there in exchange for
releasing several foreign hostages. Four assessment trips
have been taken.

-- Arauca Department was a former "rehabilitation and
reconciliation zone," where President Uribe declared a state
of emergency and granted the police and military some
extended powers early in his term. The Constitutional Court
shot down this policy several months later. Arauca is
contested by the FARC, paramilitaries, and, less so, the ELN.
The Cano Limon oil pipeline has long been an ELN and FARC
target and the department is plagued by
narcoterrorist-related corruption and violence. U.S. Special
Forces help train the 18th Brigade, which is headquarted
there.

-- Tumaco, Narino Department is on the Pacific Coast and a
FARC-dominated haven for drug trafficking.

--------------
Early Progress
--------------


4. (U) Working in coordination, the CCAI has begun key
projects:

-- Resource allocation: The RSS has budgeted approximately
USD 24,000 to the Sierra Nevada, USD 54,000 to Catatumbo, USD
131,000 to San Vicente del Caguan, and USD 296,000 to
Cartagena del Chaira for reconstruction programs. The Social
Protection Ministry has allocated USD 123,000 for the Sierra
Nevada and USD 106,000 for Caqueta Department.

-- Return of Displaced families: 49 families have been
returned to Catatumbo, 350 to La Guajira, and 36 to Cesar.

-- Infrastructure: Renovation of six roads, two bridges, and
several schools and hospitals has begun in the Sierra Nevada.
Four roads, a water treatment plant, and health clinic are
being built in Catatumbo. Four community housing centers are
planned for Catatumbo.

-- Health: 750 people have been vaccinated in the Sierra
Nevada.

-- Documentation: 149 people in Magdalena Department have
received identification cards.

-- Education: 190 new school spaces will be created in
Catatumbo.


5. (C) Establishing a state presence in newly secured areas
is central to making the security forces' successes
permanent. The CCAI will play an important role in ensuring
that state services are provided in a well-coordinated
manner. Although it was only created three months ago, the
CCAI already has begun showing results.
WOOD