LANDMINE CONCERT RAISES AWARENESS AND MONEY

UNCLAS BOGOTA 005218

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPARTMENT FOR PM/WRA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL KHDP CO
SUBJECT: LANDMINE CONCERT RAISES AWARENESS AND MONEY



1. (U) On May 23, the Vice President's office of Landmine
Coordination (Observatorio de Minas) and the United Nations
Fund for Children (UNICEF) co-sponsored a fund-raising
concert to benefit the University Hospital Rehabilitation
Center in Bucaramanga, Santander Department. The performance
was part of the Colombian government's "Arts and Mines"
series, which encourages local artists to raise awareness and
support for humanitarian landmine action much like the "Night
of a Thousand Dinners." Spanish pop star Miguel Bose and the
Bogota Philharmonic performed for roughly four hundred people
and made headlines in leading daily El Tiempo with landmine
statistics for the three days preceding the concert. UNICEF
has not yet reported the total raised from the event.


2. (U) Vice President Francisco Santos, who is both
personally and professionally engaged on the landmine issue,
asked Bose, a family friend, to perform for the fund-raiser.
Future Arts and Mines concerts planned with famous Colombian
singers such as Shakira, Juanes, and Carlos Vives may raise
funds to expand the rehabilitation centers to other large
urban areas over the next year.


3. (SBU) Comment: This performance confirmed that the
Observatorio can raise funds and media coverage for mine
action projects from the local population. However, the
event changed venues at the last minute, was understaffed,
and demonstrated a level of disorganization already
criticized by other donor nations during the April Policy
Assessment Visit (PAV). End comment.
WOOD