PLAN COLOMBIA IMPLEMENTATION ROUND-UP, DECEMBER,

id: 24923
date: 1/4/2005 17:41
refid: 05BOGOTA41
origin: Embassy Bogota
classification: SECRET
destination:
header:
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.



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S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BOGOTA 000041

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/01/2014
TAGS: PREL PGOV SNAR MASS PREF EAID KJUS CO
SUBJECT: PLAN COLOMBIA IMPLEMENTATION ROUND-UP, DECEMBER,
2004


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


1. (U) The following is an update of Plan Colombia-related
activities reported during December, 2004.

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DOJ/ICITAP
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2. (U) On December 21, 2004, twenty-one judicial police
investigators and forensic experts graduated from the
240-hour Forensic Linguistic Course taken at the Colombian
Institute "Caro y Cuervo". Forensic Linguistics is vital in
investigations of kidnappings, extortion, and
terrorist-related crimes, where voice samples from cassette
tapes or recorded telephone calls are obtained as evidence
for introduction at trial.

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DOJ/JSRP
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3. (U) During the month of December, the Justice Sector
Reform Program (JSRP) intensified its assistance to the GOC
in preparation for the implementation of the new Criminal
Procedure Code. This Code will come into effect in Armenia,
Bogota, Manizales, and Pereira on January 1, 2005.


4. (U) DOJ provided training in the new Code to: 360 police
investigators in 6 different cities through its two-week
"Investigator as a Witness" course; 120 prosecutors in Bogota
through its two-week criminal trial advocacy course; and 120
judges in three courses with respect to the implementation of
the new Code. In CY 2004, DOJ trained a total of: over 5,000
police investigators, over 500 prosecutors, and over 300
judges. DOJ has also assisted both the Prosecutor General's
Office (Fiscalia) and the Police with establishing monitoring
groups to mentor and assist with the implementation of the
new Code, as well as to report on the progress of the
implementation.

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MILGROUP
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5. (S) The new Joint Task Force Omega Commander, Major
General Carlos Alberto Fracica Naranja, has been quick to
take the reins and imprint his leadership style on the task
force. MG Fracica is much more reliant on, and demanding of,
his staff than was MG Reinaldo Castellanos Trujillo, and was
quick to bring in his field commanders to define his
strategy, set priorities, and outline his vision. (Note: MG
Castillanos was in command ten months before he brought his
subordinate commanders to meet at a single location. End
note.) Indications are that MG Fracica will be aggressive
and results oriented. MG Fracica has emphasized mobility
(both air and ground),small unit operations, fire support
and psychological operations as being key to defeating the
FARC in the Plan Patriota 2, Part B area of operations.


6. (U) SOUTHCOM J3, MILGP and COLMIL Joint Staff conducted
the culminating exercise for the six-month Joint Operations
and Intelligence Center project during the week of December

5. The exercise and associated training greatly improved
COLMIL staff procedures and functions, information flow, and
integration of intelligence. It also identified systematic
problems/improvement areas. USMILGP/SCJ3 anticipates follow
on exercises to further enhance participating nation
capability after the installation of the
communications/intelligence hardware and software packages
supporting Plan Patriota 2, Part B.

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NAS
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7. (U) December 18, the Colombian National Police received an
additional DC-3 aircraft. This is the first of three such
aircraft that will complement the CNP's anti-narcotics
programs. These aircraft -- vintage 1940s -- are totally
rebuilt, equipped with turboprop engines, and are well-suited
for operation at locations with unimproved airstrips.

8. (U) NAS personnel participated in DOD's annual Plan
Colombia Helicopter Program Interim Review. Among the topics
discussed was the refinement of objectives and milestones for
helicopter nationalization.

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RSO
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9. (U) Anti-Kidnapping Initiative: The next six-week crisis
response training (CRT) for GOC anti-kidnapping officers
(Grupo de Accion Unificada para la Libertad Personal, or
GAULA) will begin on January 24, 2005. DS/ATA is still
searching for a full-time program manager. A temporary
program manager is in place and doing an outstanding job.
RSO will propose to DS/ATA that the temporary manager be
given the position on a trial basis for six months, or the
equivalent of two CRT courses.


10. (U) VIP Personal Protection Training Program: Twenty new
members of the President's protective security detail
graduated on December 17th. Training will begin again in
early January.

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USAID
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11. (U) President Uribe visited the Agro-Industrial Center in
Villagarzon (Putumayo) to publicly recognize USG economic,
social and humanitarian assistance to Putumayo and Colombia.
Since 2001, the USG has allocated a total of US $458 million
to implement democracy, alternative development and
humanitarian assistance programs nationwide. In Putumayo, US
$57.4 million has been invested to transform the department's
socio-economic landscape. USAID program activities there
have supported the improvement of 130 kilometers (80 miles)
of roads, built and equipped 37 schools, and promoted
livestock and poultry production. In addition, the
cultivation of nearly 30,000 hectares of licit crops such as
cassava, plantains, rubber, black pepper, and heart of palm
has provided socioeconomic benefits to roughly 20,000
families. The department's illicit coca-based economy has
been dramatically reduced from 66,000 hectares in 2000 to
less than 10,000 hectares in 2003.


12. (U) On December 17, President Uribe and the DCM launched
the new joint USAID/GOC rubber projects in El Bagre
(Antioquia). The projects are part of an agro-industrial
development program being implemented in alliance with the
private sector. USAID's contribution of nearly US $1.8
million to the total US $6.4 million cost of this project
leveraged 72.6 percent in complementary funding from the
private sector. The projects will benefit 343 families
through the cultivation of 1,372 hectares in six
municipalities in northern Antioquia and one in Cordoba.
With these projects, USAID is providing alternative and
sustainable economic growth opportunities to rural
populations that are vulnerable to illicit crop production.


13. (U) The governors of Caldas, Risaralda, and Quindio
publicly recognized the USAID "Economic Assistance Program"
serving Colombia's large internally displaced persons
population. The program generates new employment and
promotes sustainable economic growth through activities such
as technical training, job placement and support to
micro-enterprises. To date, the program has benefited
roughly 3,000 families in the region and more than 9,000
nationwide. In addition, the initiative has received nearly
US $700,000 in matching contributions from more than 35
organizations in the region and over US $6 million nationwide.
WOOD

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