Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05BOGOTA1071
2005-02-02 13:46:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bogota
Cable title:  

AUC'S SOUTHWESTERN ANTIOQUIA BLOC DEMOBILIZES

Tags:  PTER PHUM KJUS CO OAS 
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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 001071 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2015
TAGS: PTER PHUM KJUS CO OAS
SUBJECT: AUC'S SOUTHWESTERN ANTIOQUIA BLOC DEMOBILIZES


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Summary
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BOGOTA 001071

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2015
TAGS: PTER PHUM KJUS CO OAS
SUBJECT: AUC'S SOUTHWESTERN ANTIOQUIA BLOC DEMOBILIZES


--------------
Summary
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1. (U) The 126 members of the Self Defense Forces of
Southwestern Antioquia demobilized on January 30, bringing
the total number of the United Self-Defense Forces of
Colombia (AUC) members to have demobilized since December
2003 to 4,699. Senior paramilitary commanders Salvatore
Mancuso and Ernesto Baez represented the AUC, Peace
Commissioner Restrepo spoke on behalf of the GOC, and local
government, church, police, and OAS officials attended. The
bloc operated in the foothills of the Antioquia-Choco border.
The FARC operate in the western part of these mountains.
Several measures have been taken to prevent FARC incursions,
including a permanent police station in the rural district
where the bloc demobilized. Six bloc members, including the
two commanders, were implicated in serious crimes and
directed to go to the concentration zone in Santa Fe de
Ralito, Cordoba Department. One of the commanders, "Rene,"
did not even leave Ralito to attend the event because he is
wanted for involvement in the 1997 Mapiripan massacre. The
bloc turned in about 100 guns and almost 200 grenades, most
of which were old. The vast majority of the bloc members
were from Antioquia. End Summary.

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Second Bloc to Demobilize in 2005
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2. (U) On January 30, 126 members (122 men and four women) of
the Self Defense Forces of Southwestern Antioquia demobilized
in a public event in a specially designated zone
approximately three hours from the city of Medellin. As
usual, senior paramilitary commanders Salvatore Mancuso and
Ernesto Baez represented the AUC. Baez read a note from the
bloc commander, alias "Rene," who could not leave the
concentration zone in Santa Fe de Ralito because he is wanted
for involvement in the 1997 Mapiripan massacre in Meta
Department. Peace Commissioner Restrepo spoke on behalf of
the GOC, and local government, church, police, and OAS
officials attended.


3. (U) The demobilization took place in a school in the rural
district of Alfonso Lopez, in the municipality of Ciudad
Bolivar. The demobilization zone will last until February

15. By that time, all paramilitaries must have left and
reported to a Reference and Orientation Center (CRO). The
bloc operated in the foothills along the Antioquia-Choco
border. The FARC have a presence in the western parts of
these mountains, but had been blocked from southwest
Antioquia, including from the Cali-Medellin highway, by the
paramilitaries. In order to prevent FARC incursions into the
former AUC territory, the police have a permanent station in
the urban center of the rural district. The GOC installed a
new communications antenna, and the Governor of Antioquia
offered to match any new vehicle that the national government
provided to the police or military in the area. Restrepo
praised the police for their commitment to protecting the
region.

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Old Weapons and Antioquia Natives
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4. (U) Unlike other demobilized blocs, the Southwestern
Antioquia group turned in old weapons. The OAS and a
government interagency group comprised of several security
forces and run by the Department of Administrative Security
(DAS, rough FBI equivalent) inventoried the weapons. They
will be stored on an Army base in Medellin. According to the
OAS, the group turned in 66 rifles, 16 revolvers, 7 pistols,
168 grenades, four mortars, and 34 radios.


5. (C) During the concentration, 124 bloc members took a
demographic survey; were issued Reincorporation Program IDs;
signed individual renunciations of AUC membership; were
entered into the tracking and monitoring system; had their
national identification cards ("cedulas") verified, replaced,
or newly issued; and were given their first monthly
reincorporation stipend of about USD 150 plus an additional
USD 60 for relocation costs. The bloc's two commanders did
not go through this process. Rene, the senior commander, did
not attend the demobilization because of his active arrest
warrant. The other commander, Juan Gonzalez, attended the
event but reportedly returned directly to Ralito because he
was implicated in serious crimes. Four other bloc members
were implicated in serious crimes, including one woman for
homicide, and directed to go to Ralito on government provided
transportation.


6. (U) One-hundred eighteen bloc members were from Antioquia.
Of these, 107 will report to the CRO in Medellin and 11 to
the CRO in Turbo to continue the reinsertion process. The
remaining six were from elsewhere in Colombia.


7. (U) This is the second AUC demobilization in 2005. The
first involved 925 members of the Northern Bloc in Cordoba
Department. This brings the total demobilized to 4,699 since
December 2003. The next demobilization of approximately 100
members of the Self Defense Forces of La Mojana is
tentatively scheduled for February 2.






WOOD