AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH GOVERNOR OF VALLE DE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 006223

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/28/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREF PHUM PINR CO
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH GOVERNOR OF VALLE DE
CAUCA

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


1. (C) Summary. On June 24 the Ambassador met with the
Governor of the Department of Valle de Cauca. The Governor
endorsed Uribe's Democratic Security policy and the use of a
legal framework like the newly adopted Justice and Peace law
to demobilize the AUC and the FARC. He said the FARC may be
missing a golden opportunity to negotiate a demobilization in
the current environment. End summary.


2. (C) Dr. Angelino Garzon was elected Governor of the
Department of Valle de Cauca in 2003, and is a leader of the
left and a member of the Polo Democratico. Garzon told the
Ambassador that "Everyone wants peace and security. Without
security, people can't participate in democracy." While
emphasizing that social programs were important for the
protection of vulnerable communities in the region, security
had to come first. Garzon said if the Constitutional Court
approved the reelection law, parties on the left would not
pose a threat to President Uribe if they relied on a
"traditional leftist agenda, emphasizing only social welfare
programs." He said Uribe understood that security and social
welfare programs both cost money, and that it was important
not to limit his agenda to one issue like welfare reform, but
also to push for more economic and business development in
the country.


3. (C) Garzon saw progress in Uribe's Democratic Security
policy, and said that "the FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces
of Colombia) have reached their apogee." The only logical
next step would be for the international community and other
groups like the Church and NGOs to pressure the GOC to create
a legal framework for the FARC to demobilize. "Uribe is
holding all the cards," he said; "he can continue the
conflict with the FARC or offer it the option to legally
negotiate a settlement. But we have to keep the pressure on
so that the FARC will see the endgame and realize that by not
ending its kidnapping and narcotrafficking now it is missing
an opportunity to negotiate its future." Expressing doubts
about whether FARC leaders were really capable of rationally
negotiating demobilization, the Ambassador asked Garzon
whether he thought this was the most opportune moment for a
settlement. Garzon responded that there was support at many
levels of the GOC to achieve an accord with the FARC -- even
within the military. Even though the military shares
responsibility for the harm that has come to Colombians, he
has heard that they know that now is the right time for an
accord, and that provoking desertions is working.


4. (C) Regarding the Justice and Peace law (see septels)
recently approved by the Congress, Garzon said it was created
with the influences of NGOs and the international community.
"It's not a perfect law, but it's a good political tool.
It's not a perfect process, but it's a process. People are
always going to look for complete reparation. With this law,
they will look at what they have to give up in order to get
peace." Garzon said illegal armed groups had been able to
wield influence at all levels of Government, but that by
using a legal framework for demobilization, Colombia would
maintain its character as a democracy and a country of law.
WOOD