REPORT ON ARMS SURRENDERED BY THE PARAMILITARIES

C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 005526 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/20/2016 TAGS: KJUS PGOV PREL PTER CO SUBJECT: REPORT ON ARMS SURRENDERED BY THE PARAMILITARIES Classified By: CDA Milton K. Drucker Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d) -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) The ratio of weapons turned in per demobilized paramilitary could be as high as one-to-one, according to MAPP/OAS and GOC experts, if half the demobilizing paramilitaries were not combat troops. However, experts remain concerned about diversion of paramilitary weapons to criminals. End summary. -------------- 1 to 1 Ratio of People to Arms...or 2 to 1? -------------- ¶2. (C) The Mission to Support the Peace Process in Colombia (MAPP/OAS) analysts told poloff it was possible that only 15,000 of the 30,000 demobilized were part of the armed wing of the AUC (the others part of the support network, such as cooks and drivers). In that scenario, the ratio of the 15,000 weapons handed over per paramilitary would be close to one-to-one. Even if all 30,000 demobilized were military personnel (which is unlikely),the ratio of weapons turned in per paramilitary would be closer to two-to-one, about average for peace processes in other countries. ¶3. (C) Nevertheless, MAPP/OAS analysts expressed concern with regard to specific AUC blocs that appear to have kept a large portion of their weapons. For example, the North Bloc had a person-to-weapons ratio of 3:1 (4,760 former combatants demobilized and only 1,458 arms surrendered). Other blocs with similar statistics included AutodefensasCampesinas de Puerto Boyaca and Central Bolivar Bloc of south Bolivar, for whom the ratio was 4:1. ¶4. (C) Analysts from the the GOC's Antiterrorist Analysis Interinstitutional Group (GIAT)--responsible for receiving the arms turned over by paramilitaries and for registering the weapons--estimated that over 4,000 weapons were not turned in. They explained their estimate is based on tracing back to detected shipments of weapons that entered the country illegally. For example, in 2003, a Bulgarian company (ARSENAL SA) sold the AUC 7,640 AK-47 rifles; of these the AUC has only handed over 2,333. -------------- Paramilitary Structures -------------- ¶5. (C) GIAT analysts argued that paramilitary economic and political structures remain active. They said structures could regroup if the GOC failed to provide security in key regions. According to military intelligence, five caches of rifles have been detected in the Departments of Cordoba (2), Bolivar (2),and Casanare (1). GIAT analysts said some of the weapons found in these caches were being sold to narcotraffickers in northern Valle del Cauca Department. -------------- Tracing Origins and Destinations -------------- ¶5. (C) GIAT analysts explained that between November 2004 and April 2006, paramilitaries turned over 9,521 rifles and 195 machine guns (the balance of the 15,000 weapons were handed over outside this period). Of these, 1,877 were made in the United States and brought into Colombia by trafficking rings. Most of the rifles were made in the former Soviet Union (3,547),Bulgaria (2,333),North Korea (1,764),and Poland (47). The machine guns were made in Romania (75), Russia (60),Germany (37),Colombia (20),and Venezuela (3). The majority of the weapons originated from Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Honduras, acquired legally during Central America's internal conflicts in the 1980s and later were sent illegally to Colombia via air and sea. (A more detailed breakdown of the origins has been sent to WHA/AND.) GIAT analysts noted arms confiscations had increased periodically during 2002, 2003, and 2004; however, since the paramilitary demobilization and exploratory talks between the GOC and ELN, this number has decreased in the last two years. -------------- Venezuela Connections -------------- ¶6. (C) The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) works closely with GIAT to assist the GOC to trace weapons. In ATF's records, the 30,944 demobilized paramilitaries have handed over 17,540 weapons, most of which were in good condition. Very few serial numbers were erased compared to previous illegal armed groups demobilizations. Some of the weapons and magazines were made in Colombia. Surprisingly, some rifles had the Venezuelan Armed Forces shield inscribed on them, which suggests that not only the FARC benefits from Venezuelan arms trafficking. Moreover, some GLOCK pistols handed over by the paramilitaries can be traced to a Venezuelan company called CAVIM. Other materials of Venezuelan origin are rifle grenades model M60P1 that were fabricated in the former Yugoslavia. ATF and other U.S. government agencies are investigating the parties who sold brokered sales from U.S. manufacturors, Vulcan House and Krincks, to the paramilitaries. WOOD