Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05BOGOTA5567
2005-06-10 15:38:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bogota
Cable title:  

DON BERNA'S BLOCS BEGIN DEMOBILIZING

Tags:  PTER PHUM KJUS PGOV CO AUC 
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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 005567 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/10/2015
TAGS: PTER PHUM KJUS PGOV CO AUC
SUBJECT: DON BERNA'S BLOCS BEGIN DEMOBILIZING

REF: BOGOTA 5310

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

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BOGOTA 005567

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/10/2015
TAGS: PTER PHUM KJUS PGOV CO AUC
SUBJECT: DON BERNA'S BLOCS BEGIN DEMOBILIZING

REF: BOGOTA 5310

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


1. (C) Summary: Following senior AUC commanders "Don Berna,"
Vicente Castano, and "Javier Montanez" agreement to
demobilize at least six blocs, the GOC has been preparing by
streamlining the concentration and demobilization process and
reaching out to local officials in areas where the blocs
dominate. Don Berna's Heroes de Tolova will begin
concentrating on June 10 and officially demobilize five to
seven days later. During the process, all relevant agencies,
including the National Registrar, Department of
Administrative Security, Prosecutor General,s Office, and
OAS, will be present to identify, register, and document the
demobilized. Interagency coordination has improved, although
the Prosecutor General's Office is still not fully engaged.
End summary.

--------------
Demobilization Starting
--------------


2. (C) Upon turning himself into authorities, Don Berna
agreed to demobilize all the blocs under his control
(reftel). Estimates vary as to how many men Berna controls,
but several knowledgeable contacts, including independent
security analyst Alfredo Rangel, believe he is responsible
for up to 4,000. Vicente Castano and Javier Montanez also
agreed to demobilize their troops. Estimates of their
paramilitaries are less reliable, but could be as high as
6,000 or 7,000.


3. (C) The first bloc scheduled to demobilize is Don Berna's
Heroes de Tolova, which has 400 paramilitaries and is
powerful in southern Cordoba and northern Choco Departments.
The GOC will begin concentrating the bloc on June 10 in a
specially designated area in the rural district of "Altos de
Rusia," Cordoba. Don Berna's Heroes de Granada will probably
be next. The bloc has an estimated 2,300 members, according
to the OAS verification mission, and dominates Medellin and
the surrounding municipalities in the Aburre Valley. The GOC
is working to find a suitable concentration zone in a rural
area outside Medellin. The other blocs committed to
demobilizing include:

-- Pacific Bloc: controlled by Don Berna; operates on the

coast of Cauca and Valle del Cauca Departments.

-- Self Defense Forces of Meta and Vichada: controlled by
Javier Montanez; operates in the eastern plains.

-- Liberators of the South: controlled by Javier Montanez;
operates on the Pacific coast.

-- Centauros Bloc: under the control of various mid level
commanders but Vicente Castano will be responsible for
demobilization; operates in the eastern plains.

--------------
Streamlining The Process
--------------


4. (C) The GOC has revised the concentration and
demobilization process to make it more efficient. The first
phase will be five to seven days of concentration in a small,
specially designated area. The GOC will cross check the list
of demobilizing bloc members with the Department of
Administrative Security (DAS, rough FBI equivalent) and the
National Registrar's Office to confirm the identities of as
many as possible.


5. (C) Next, a maximum five-day registration period will
begin. The bloc will be divided into groups of 100. Each
group will go through a full day of registration, including
receiving a reinsertion identity card that has name, date of
birth, fingerprint, and photo; taking a demographic survey;
being issued/reissued a national identity card by the
Registrar; a briefing on reinsertion benefits and
obligations; at least two psychological counseling sessions;
and a check-in with the OAS verification mission. The
Prosecutor General's Office (Fiscalia) is also supposed to be
present to begin verifying that the demobilized are not
guilty of any major crimes and are eligible for pardon under
Law 782.

6. (C) Peace Commissioner Restrepo has said no more than 500
paramilitaries can concentrate and demobilize at one time,
meaning large blocs such as the Heroes de Granada will have
to demobilize in several stages. Following registration, the
demobilized will leave the concentration zone, return home,
and report to the nearest Reference and Orientation Center
(CRO),where they will enroll in the Ministry of Interior and
Justice's reinsertion programs and continue the pardon
process with the Fiscalia.

--------------
Cooperation Improving
--------------


7. (C) Coordination among the government agencies involved in
demobilization has improved. Confusion and competition
between the Peace Commissioner's Office and Ministry of
Interior and Justice over control of reinsertion has
decreased. The Ministry manages the CROs. However, Fiscalia
staff continue to complain that the Uribe administration has
not informed them of when or where the demobilizations will
be. The Peace Commissioner and Justice and Interior Ministry
staff, meanwhile, have complained that the Fiscalia has shown
little interest in participating. We continue to urge both
the Fiscalia and other agencies involved in demobilization to
coordinate the important debriefing and pardon process.


8. (C) The Peace Commissioner's Office has been reaching out
to local government officials in areas where demobilizations
are planned to explain and get local support for the
reinsertion process. Restrepo and his staff presented the
revised concentration and demobilization program to local
officials in Medellin and plan to do the same in numerous
other cities in the coming weeks.






DRUCKER