RECONCILIATION AND REPARATIONS CHIEF UPDATES

UNCLAS BOGOTA 002204 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KJUS PGOV PREL PTER CO SUBJECT: RECONCILIATION AND REPARATIONS CHIEF UPDATES DIPLOMATIC COMMUNITY ON PROGRESS -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (SBU) On March 6, Eduardo Pizarro, president of the National Commission on Reparations and Reconciliation (CNRR), provided the diplomatic community with a progress report since its October launch. The CNRR was established by the Justice and Peace Law to recommend criteria for victim reparations and to ensure the victims were engaged in the process. Many present acknowledged the CNRR,s work to date, underscored the hard road that lay ahead, and offered some thoughts on next steps. End Summary. -------------- Learning Lessons At Home and Abroad -------------- ¶2. (U) Pizzaro launched the meeting with a review of lessons learned from the Commission's study of other peace processes in Colombia and abroad. He noted that the most successful programs had a limited number of victims, and key political, financial, and popular support. Pizarro emphasized the importance of domestic financial resources, saying that over-reliance on international donations would be a mistake. He also acknowledged that reparation efforts without international support have tended to fail. -------------- Colombia's Situation -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Pizarro said Colombia is in a position to construct and implement a successful reparations program. Colombia's strong institutional capacity, excellent human and economic resources, and stable society would aid in designing and implementing a strong program. However, he cited the large*and growing*number of victims and the ongoing conflict as major challenges to the process. Pizarro also reported that time-management and efficiency have been a problem for the CNRR. In an effort to keep the CNRR working, the Commission has developed a &dual-speed strategy8 to allow it to tackle urgent issues, such as developing a victims, database and a pilot regional program, while it waits for the selection of the final two members of the Commission. (The Commission selected its last two members March 8. They are Patricia Helena Perdomo of the Fundacion Pais Libre and Regulo Madero Fernandez of Corporacion Nacion.) ¶5. (SBU) Pizarro thanked the international community for its assistance, but highlighted the importance of not allowing this support to supplant domestic funding. The GOC needed to determine how to sustain the program itself. He acknowledged the big responsibility the CNRR has with the international financial support it is receiving. IOM has been tasked with managing these funds to ensure optimal use. -------------- CNRR Way Forward -------------- ¶6. (SBU) CNRR member Patricia Cespedes followed Pizarro,s comments with a presentation on the CNRR,s preliminary work plan. The CNRR has established an Executive Commission to execute its decisions, which is divided into six work areas, each charged with carrying out different legal requirements. Commission members head committees on the work areas and will supervise activities. The Commission expects to have a final plan by July and will hold a seminar at the end of June to present its three-year plan for each work area. In July, the Commission will hold a closed-door session to make final decisions on the plan and then release it to the public. -------------- Ambassadors Chime In -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Ambassadors in attendance acknowledged the efforts the CNRR had made thus far and the difficult road that lay ahead. Ambassador Wood encouraged the Commission to take concrete action in the near-term to ensure it maintained the confidence and support of the Colombian people. He encouraged the CNRR to increase its cooperation with the Fiscalia, and suggested the CNRR take advantage of the &version libre8 process to uncover illicit assets the demobilized may possess to use as reparations for victims. Wood said the publication of the government's list of individuals eligible for the Justice and Peace Law would likely accelerate the investigative process and provide another opportunity to uncover illicit assets to use in reparations. He noted that once the list is published, those on it will be required to disclose their illicit assets, at which time the GOC will have control over that property, leaving it for reparations. Pizarro replied that the transfer of property will be difficult because of challenges in establishing legitimate ownership, but said Spain and Italy are sending experts to help sort out these issues. Other ambassadors recommended the Commission ensure the public understands that the reparations process will be long and difficult, to manage expectations. ¶8. (SBU) Some ambassadors emphasized the need for a realistic reparations program and improved coordination with the international community. Canadian Ambassador Matthew Levin highlighted the importance of coordination between GOC institutions throughout this process. Several others recommended the CNRR keep its plan updated and hold another session with the diplomatic community in July once the work plan had been finalized. ¶9. (SBU) Others expressed concerns about defining the list of victims and the placement of the displaced on that list. Pizarro noted that the CNRR is legally obligated to address the displaced, but that multiple government agencies will be responsible for assisting them. He also explained that the CNRR is working to provide reparations to communities, as well as individuals. Pizarro said they are developing models for this process, by which communities will decide what would constitute an appropriate reparation, such as having demobilized combatants rebuild destroyed structures. WOOD