RE-EMERGING PARAMILITARY ACTIVITY HIGHLIGHTED IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 001987 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/04/2015 TAGS: KJUS PGOV PREL PTER CO SUBJECT: RE-EMERGING PARAMILITARY ACTIVITY HIGHLIGHTED IN OAS REPORT Classified By: Ambassador William B. Wood. Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d) -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) The OAS Mission in Colombia released on March 1 its sixth quarterly report, which focused on new and ongoing paramilitary activity in areas where these blocs have demobilized. The OAS also voiced concerns regarding the handling of paramilitary armament and cited the need for continued support to the monitoring mission. Although the Embassy cannot verify all of the report's conclusions, Embassy applauds this important contribution to the demobilization process. Embassy urges continued support for the OAS mission and GOC authorities as they seek to address the monumental task of reintegrating thousands of demobilized combatants. END SUMMARY. -------------- Paramilitary Activity Re-emerging -------------- ¶2. (SBU) The Sixth Quarterly Report of the Secretary General to the Permanent Council on the Mission to Support the Peace Process in Colombia, which was published March 1, indicates paramilitary activity in areas west and south of the country has resumed, and in some cases, at the same level as before demobilization. The report cites three categories of renewed paramilitary activity: --Regrouping of demobilized combatants into criminal gangs: Most common in the western and southwestern parts of the country where guerrilla activity is low and government security presence is weak, these groups have re-emerged under the leadership and control of mid-level demobilized combatants. These groups are assuming control of criminal activities, such as extortion, social cleansing, and levies on drug production, that were once controlled by the groups based there. The OAS Mission is concerned competition between these groups for control of illegal activities in this area could provoke turf wars. --Groups who have not demobilized, but who belong to blocs that have demobilized: These groups, located primarily in Cordoba, Meta, Sucre, and Bolivar Departments continue to pursue criminal activities in their areas of influence. In Cordoba, for example, a group of 60-80 paramilitary fighters have been holding meetings with locals advising them of their intention to control the area. This group has also conducted a census to determine the community's capacity for coca base production. --Emergence of new armed players: These groups have emerged most prominently in areas with consolidated illegal economies, and provide an opportunity to demobilized fighters who can not find employment in the legal economy. Groups in Narino and Valle de Cauca Departments, for example, are actively recruiting from the demobilized population. Groups in Antioquia, Norte de Santander, and Narino share the same or similar names, but it is unclear what connection may exist between these groups. -------------- Concerns Over Disarmament -------------- ¶3. (C) The OAS report also notes its concerns over paramilitary disarmament, in particular the destruction of weapons the demobilized handed over at demobilization. (A member of the Colombian Interagency Antiterrorism Analysis Group*which has been charged with monitoring the disarmament process*told poloffs last month that the GOC is still developing a policy for the destruction of these weapons. Until then, these weapons are being stored at military bases near the demobilization sites.) The OAS report notes that a former paramilitary commander in Meta sold some of his weapons to a dissident commander from another bloc and hid another unknown amount of weapons in a cache for a group of about 200 non-demobilized combatants. -------------- Resources Key to Successful Monitoring -------------- ¶4. (U) The report notes that the success of the peace process depends on paying adequate attention to the communities affected by violence and to the reintegration of demobilized combatants. The OAS report begins by acknowledging the international support the Mission has received and listing out some of the countries that have promised support in the future. The OAS Mission plans to open 10 regional offices in areas where demobilizations have taken place and to increase its staff to more than 100 Mission officers. According to OAS officials, the political counselor of the Canadian Embassy in Caracas will soon join the Mission as political adviser to director Sergio Caramagna. The Mission is counting on the formalization of verbal commitments from countries interested in participating in the program to realize that goal. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶5. (C) The Embassy cannot verify the OAS charges, but gives them credence. In total, the OAS report indicates fewer than 1,000 violations in the program that now has demobilized some 22,000 paramilitaries and is still developing its internal monitoring system. These groups no longer have a national structure, they can no longer assume police or military passivity, and the Colombian anti-narcotics efforts, with U.S. support, are increasingly successful, cutting into their operations. ¶7. (C) While the local media has addressed some of the issues raised in the report, its publication gives the charges greater weight and helps answer critics who have faulted the OAS for not highlighting the challenges the GOC faces with the demobilization process. END COMMENT. WOOD