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)

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Summary
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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.

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Uribe Orders Transfer of Ex-Para Leaders
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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.

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Dynamics Within 'La Ceja'
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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.

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Public and Private Reactions
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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

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