SAN JOSE DE APARTADO RESIDENTS CONTINUE TO RETURN

UNCLAS BOGOTA 011321 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PGOV KJUS CO SUBJECT: SAN JOSE DE APARTADO RESIDENTS CONTINUE TO RETURN HOME; COORDINATED GOC ACTION SHOWS STRONG RESULTS -------------- Substantial Progress in San Jose de Apartado -------------- ¶1. GOC officials representing social development (Accion Social) and human rights (Human Rights Ombudsman) accompanied Armed Forces Commander General Freddy Padilla de Leon to San Jose de Apartado (SJA) on December 16 to hold a community festival aimed at cementing improved GOC relations with local residents. The two-day festival, attended by over two thousand local residents, featured a military vallenato music group, games, gifts, and recognition of local community leaders. The fair was the first event of its kind to be held in SJA in fourteen years, with some residents traveling over four hours on foot to attend. A traveling press contingent saw the military distributing supplies to residents, including medical services. San Jose de Apartado was especially hard-hit by paramilitary violence over the last decade, with human rights groups reporting that paramilitary groups have killed more than 150 residents since 1997. Approximately 250 residents live in the nearby Holandita peace community, many of whom were targeted by paramilitary groups, and continue to refuse most GOC services. ¶2. A large number of former SJA residents who had fled the region have returned over the last year, in large part due to better security conditions and a government-built road linking the community to the municipal capital, Apartado. Locals told the press that while more needs to be done to supply electricity and potable water to every village, their living conditions have improved substantially. They credited the presence of community police officers with establishing stability and security. The road--which the GOC is committed to paving--has revolutionized life in the community by giving residents access to new educational, economic, and health opportunities. One said that not long ago it was impossible to buy even a soda in the community, which was a ghost town, but added that 20 small businesses have opened in the past year. GOC officials said the government was investing 10 billion pesos (about USD 500,000) in planting 1,050 hectares of cacao, which would supplement the 2,300 hectares already planted. -------------- Embassy Highlights Security -------------- ¶3. As part of the Embassy's monitoring of SJA developments, Polcouns traveled with the GOC team to the municipality. He emphasized the importance of security for SJA residents to General Padilla, noting that we had received information from a human rights group that the Holandita peace community would be attacked by paramilitaries during the Christmas period. Padilla noted the report and promised to pass it on to local security forces. Polcouns also discussed the situation with the local Accion Social and Human Rights Ombudsman representatives. Both said violence in the region had been minimal since the February 2005 killing of 8 residents by unknown assailants. The Human Rights Ombudsman representative said there was no recent paramilitary presence in the region, and noted better community-military ties. Still, while greatly improved, he said some local residents, especially in rural areas, continue to complain the military does not respect them. We will meet with the SJA Human Rights Ombudsman representative in January when he visits Bogota. WOOD