MOD DEFENDS COLOMBIAN DEMOBILIZATION AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BOGOTA 008898

SIPDIS

GENEVA FOR JEFF DELAURENTIS
DRL FOR DANIKA WALTERS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/31/2014
TAGS: PGOV MOPS PHUM CO
SUBJECT: MOD DEFENDS COLOMBIAN DEMOBILIZATION AND
REINSERTION STRATEGY


Classified By: Charge d'Affairs Milton K. Drucker, Reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).

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Summary
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1. (SBU) Foreign Minister Carolina Barco and Minister of
Defense Jorge Uribe briefed foreign diplomats on individual
demobilization, hometown soldiers, and the informants
network. The event was a review of accomplishments that
highlighted the GOC's successes and downplayed its
challenges. Minister Uribe brought three former members of
the FARC to discuss their experiences in the demobilization
and reinsertion process. Although the presentation offered
little new information, several audience members seemed to be
hearing the information for the first time. All speakers
thanked the international community for ongoing support. End
Summary.

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Individual Demobilization on the Rise
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2. (U) On August 25, Foreign Minister Carolina Barco and
Minister of Defense (MOD) Jorge Alberto Uribe addressed
roughly sixty members of the diplomatic corps to outline
progress on the government's individual demobilization
program, informants network, and hometown soldiers ("soldados
de mi pueblo") initiative. President Uribe had asked the MOD
to brief diplomatic officials to increase their understanding
of the programs and foster further international cooperation.
The presentation lasted roughly two and a half hours.


3. (U) Vice Minister of Defense Andres Penate discussed
statistics on individual demobilization. In the first two
years of the Uribe Administration, 5,114 individuals had
voluntarily demobilized and entered the reinsertion program.
Penate said although individual demobilization began under
the Pastrana Administration, participation had been much
lower before 2003. Under Uribe, the program has averaged
over 300 demobilizations per month, due in large part to the
GOC's public announcements, commercials, and other appeals to
illegal armed groups' rank and file members.


4. (SBU) Of the 5,114 persons who have applied for
demobilization assistance, the GOC has denied benefits to 350
because it found that either (1) they were not real members
of an illegal armed group or (2) they were real members who
had committed human rights violations. Such information is
usually uncovered during the interrogation phase of
demobilization. Penate stressed that information gathered
during initial interrogations has proven useful for
understanding groups' psychology and leaders' whereabouts.
He said there had only been six cases of alleged abuse during
processing. Eighty percent of demobilizing fighters
surrender to the Colombian Army in the area of operations and
twenty percent are minors (under eighteen).

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Reincorporation Has First Graduates
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5. (U) Juan David Angel, Director of the GOC's
Reincorporation Program, highlighted the program's successes
and noted that its first "graduates" were just beginning to
leave the two-year program. He added the GOC was grappling
with interagency coordination issues, public resistance to
the newly reincorporated citizens, and a lack of private
sector engagement in the program. His office brought three
demobilized FARC fighters to address the audience at the
meeting's conclusion.

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Hometown Soldiers and Informants Programs Expand
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6. (U) Brigadier General Lesmez praised the "hometown"
soldiers program and showed a brief promotional video. He
noted that hometown soldiers are regular soldiers who receive
the same training, equipment, and salaries as other soldiers,
but serve in their own hometowns. The GOC hopes to have
almost 23,000 hometown soldiers deployed by the end of 2004
and almost 30,000 by the end of 2005. Lesmez said the
program helps bring law and order back to the rural areas.


7. (SBU) Police General Alberto Ruiz Garcia spoke about the
national informants network and the program's successes over
the last year. He distinguished between community watch
volunteers and informants by noting that informants are paid
for their information. Both groups receive training and
radios to report any suspicious activity or crimes. The GOC
claims almost four million volunteers and paid informants who
report to the police, army and navy. Almost two thirds are
unpaid volunteers. There are roughly three million in the
cities, 53,000 in rural areas, and 7,000 protecting major
roadways. Minister Uribe said the GOC hopes to have five
million participants by 2006.


8. (SBU) MOD Uribe closed by thanking the international
community for its cooperation. He encouraged audience
members to question the former FARC members about their
experience in the program and reasons for leaving the FARC.
Juan David Angel told Emboffs that the British Ambassador
wholeheartedly supported the presence of the three and
suggested that the GOC hold future events with ex-fighters.
He also promised to hold another meeting to discuss mass
demobilization issues and other related programs.
DRUCKER