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