Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04BOGOTA9519
2004-09-20 21:44:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bogota
Cable title:  

POWERFUL PARAMILITARY COMMANDER KILLED

Tags:  PREL SNAR PHUM PINR 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 BOGOTA 009519 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/20/2014
TAGS: PREL SNAR PHUM PINR CO
SUBJECT: POWERFUL PARAMILITARY COMMANDER KILLED

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Milton K. Drucker for reasons
1.5 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 009519

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/20/2014
TAGS: PREL SNAR PHUM PINR CO
SUBJECT: POWERFUL PARAMILITARY COMMANDER KILLED

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Milton K. Drucker for reasons
1.5 (b) and (d)


1. (U) On September 20, the Prosecutor General's Office
("Fiscalia") publicly confirmed that United Self Defense
Forces of Colombia (AUC) commander Miguel Arroyave Ruiz was
killed. Arroyave commanded the AUC's Centauros Bloc and was
participating in peace talks with the government. The
reasons for his death are unknown. He apparently died
outside of the zone of concentration, where he was supposed
to have been located.


2. (C) Arroyave controlled several thousand troops in
Casanare, Arauca, and Meta Departments and several hundred
urban militia members in southern Bogota. He was heavily
involved in drug trafficking and was one of the most powerful
regional AUC commanders. For the past year or so, Arroyave's
forces had been clashing with the independent Self Defense
Forces of Casanare (ACC) for control over territory and drug
trafficking routes, leading to a sharp spike in violence on
Colombia's eastern plains. On August 12, Arroyave agreed to
begin demobilizing his troops. The Peace Commissioner's
Office had hoped to begin demobilization later this month,
but had noted to us that the conflict between the Centauros
Bloc and ACC was a major obstacle.


3. (C) Little is known about Arroyave's subordinates, who
will presumably take command of the Centauros Bloc. It is
not clear who will replace Arroyave at the negotiating table
or if his successor will follow through on Arroyave's
agreement to demobilize. Post will follow up with septels.
DRUCKER