URIBE TRANSFERS EX-PARAMILITARY LEADERS TO MAXIMUM

C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 011005 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/04/2016 TAGS: KJUS PGOV PINR PREL PTER CO SUBJECT: URIBE TRANSFERS EX-PARAMILITARY LEADERS TO MAXIMUM SECURITY PRISON REF: A. BOGOTA 10958 ¶B. BOGOTA 10976 Classified By: Political Counselor John S. Creamer. Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d) -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) On December 1, President Uribe ordered the transfer of the 59 ex-paramilitary leaders being held at the "La Ceja" detention center to the Itagui maximum-security prison in Antioquia Department. Uribe said he took this decision because of escape plan rumors, and allegations that the leaders had ordered murders from La Ceja. Still, Interior and Justice Minister Holguin said the paramilitary peace process continued, and Prosecutor General Iguaran stressed that the Fiscalia would soon take the first "version libres" under the Justice and Peace Law. Reaction to Uribe's decision has been largely positive. End summary. -------------- Uribe Orders Transfer of Ex-Para Leaders -------------- ¶2. (U) President Uribe ordered on December 1 the transfer of the 59 ex-paramilitary leaders being held at the "La Ceja" detention center to the Itagui maximum-security prison in Antioquia Department. The ex-paras had initially expressed opposition to the move, but relented in the face of 300 heavily armed troops and police officers. ¶3. (U) Uribe said the transfer was in response to escape rumors and recent murders of narcotraffickers and other criminal associates of the ex-para leaders. The GOC suspects that some para leaders in La Ceja planned the murders of "Omega" and "Danielito," as well as other close associates of "Jorge 40," "Don Berna," "Macaco," and "Diego Vecino." Uribe had earlier said the leaders could be extradited if it was confirmed they were behind the murders. The President also announced on November 30 that he feared La Ceja would end up becoming another La Catedral, the luxurious prison from which narcotrafficking kingpin Pablo Escobar managed his criminal activities and later escaped. ¶4. (U) Minister of Interior and Justice Carlos Holguin told the press on December 1 that the move stemmed from, "The limited security measures (at La Ceja) and persistent rumors of an escape. The GOC had to avoid this at any price." He added that despite this recent measure, the paramilitary peace process continued. Prosecutor General Iguaran said on November 4 that the implementation of the Justice and Peace Law was still on course and the first "version libres" would be taken soon. -------------- Dynamics Within 'La Ceja' -------------- ¶5. (C) In recent weeks tensions and personal grudges had grown among the ex-paras in La Ceja. 'El Tiempo' reported that just a week ago a fistfight broke out between "Mancuso," "Macaco," and "Javier Montanez," prompting other ex-para leaders to intervene. XXXXXXXXXXXX told us on November 30 that the killings of "Omega" and "Danielito" were part of a paramilitary strategy to kill those who know the most. Political analyst XXXXXXXXXXXX told us on November 30th that Senator Miguel de La Espriella, who publicly revealed his participation in a 2001 meeting between paramilitary chiefs and approximately 40 legislators, was acting on behalf of former paramilitary leaders in La Ceja, who hope to pressure the GOC to agree to an eventual national pact or truth commission, which would undo the Justice and Peace Law (ref A). ¶6. (U) Also on December 1, an Inspector General's Office (Procuraduria) report said security conditions at La Ceja were insufficient. The report highlighted how each ex-para leader had a cellular phone, unlimited access to the internet, and approximately 50 visitors a day. -------------- Public and Private Reactions -------------- ¶7. (C) Public reaction to the GOC's decision to transfer the ex-paras to a maximum-security prison has been positive. Still, in at least four areas of the country there were limited public protests against Uribe's decision. Some 300 people blocked the highway between Bogota and Medellin for nine hours. Several press commentators attributed Uribe's decision to an attempt to insulate himself from the 'para-politician' scandal (Ref B). On December 2, a spokesperson for the former paramilitary leaders said, "Every time there is a political crisis, the smokescreen of blaming the paramilitary leaders reappears." Meanwhile, former President and Liberal Party leader Cesar Gaviria told us on December 4 that Uribe did the right thing by transferring the paras to Itagui. Still, Gaviria cautioned that it will be hard to ensure their security in a prison that also houses guerrilla and narco elements. DRUCKER =======================CABLE ENDS============================