TAINTED RIME-5 OFFICERS DISMISSED

S E C R E T BOGOTA 005265

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/AND AND DRL,
GENEVA FOR JEFF DELAURENTIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/23/2014
TAGS: PGOV PHUM MARR MASS PINR PTER CO
SUBJECT: TAINTED RIME-5 OFFICERS DISMISSED

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


1. (S/NF) In January 2004, Colombian military officials
provided Army Commander Major General Carreno with evidence
that five officers from Army Regional Intelligence Center 5
(RIME-5),including its commander, were collaborating with
paramilitary groups. The officers were suspected of sharing
intelligence, coordinating operations, and providing supplies
to paramilitary elements in the Army 5th Division's area of
operations, which includes Bogota and the surrounding
department of Cundinamarca. According to DAO reporting,
Carreno considered the evidence, which came from a former
Army officer working with the paramilitaries, credible enough
to order the five officers' immediate transfer to other units
in March 2004.


2. (S/NF) Embassy approached the Minister of Defense on this
issue asking that a more careful investigation be carried out
and more definitive action than mere transferal be taken. On
May 20, Minister of Defense Uribe told Ambassador that, after
further investigation, he had used his discretionary
authority -- which does not require formal explanation or
justification -- to order the dismissal of all five officers.
Vice-Minister of Defense Andres Penate told PolCouns on May
21 that the administrative outprocessing of the officers will
take approximately three weeks. Embassy will continue to
monitor the case and follow-up as appropriate.
WOOD