NATIONAL RECONCILIATION AND REPARATIONS COMMISSION

C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 005807 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/28/2016 TAGS: KJUS PGOV PINR PREL PTER CO SUBJECT: NATIONAL RECONCILIATION AND REPARATIONS COMMISSION MEETS AUC LEADERS, REPORT ON ADVANCES Classified By: Ambassador William B. Wood. Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d) -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) National Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (CNRR) representatives met for the first time with paramilitary leaders on June 21 to begin discussions about reparations and reconciliation. The CNRR will follow the Justice and Peace Law and international humanitarian law to define victims. The Commission plans to present its first report in July, in which it will publish its position on reparations, reconciliation, demobilization, and reincorporation. End summary. -------------- CNRR AND AUC LEADERS TO WORK TOGETHER -------------- ¶2. (C) AUC leaders met for the first time with CNRR representatives on June 21 to begin discussions about reparations and reconciliation. According to USAID-hired CNRR Guatemalan reparations consultant Alex Segovia, who attended the meeting, AUC leaders agreed to begin formal discussions on July 10. AUC leaders also emphasized that they "will not turn their backs on the peace process" and they will accept the Constitutional Court's formal opinion on the Justice and Peace Law, even though they disagreed with some of the Court's earlier pronouncements on the Law. AUC leaders told the CNRR representatives their intention was to establish their own gathering place and headquarters for contacts with civil society, similar to the ELN's House of Peace. Their &Villa de la Esperanza,8 or "House of Hope," will be located to the north of Medellin in the Municipality of Copacabana. ¶3. (C) AUC leaders emphasized they are not rearming and that the groups referenced in the MAPP/OAS Sixth Quarterly Report and the media are criminal organizations, and as such, should be pursued by law enforcement. According to Segovia, AUC leaders said they were concerned that the State was incapable of reclaiming territories left by the paramilitaries. Moreover, they warned that about 4,500 middle ranking officers who are unemployed and can easily resort to illegal activities need special attention since they will not be satisfied with the government's minimum wage stipend. Segovia explained that in El Salvador specific programs were designed for demobilized middle ranking officers, which proved successful. -------------- CNRR REACHING CONSENSUS IN KEY AREAS -------------- ¶4. (C) Segovia explained that the CNRR will abide by the Justice and Peace Law and international humanitarian law to define victims eligible for reparations. The Commission has decided that reparations should include symbolic, collective, and individual compensation. Although all victims would be recognized, not all will qualify for reparations. Individual reparations will be limited. The CNRR agreed to give equal importance to reparations and reconciliation. Furthermore, as a medium-term goal, Commission representatives would like to create a "National Reparations Plan" that could possibly be converted into public policy to set the basis for reparations. ¶5. (C) CNRR representatives understand that writing reports and monitoring should be a priority for the Commission. The Commission plans to present its first report in July, which will establish its position on reparations, reconciliation, demobilization, and reincorporation. Follow-up reports would be generated every semester. For these reports, the CNRR will gather information produced by the international community, NGOs, the GOC, as well as victims and regional authorities. To avoid giving the responsibility to one person to write the Commission's report on the birth of illegal armed groups, which is part of its mandate, the CNRR will form a committee of Colombian and international experts to work on this project. Furthermore, the Commission plans to design a tracking and monitoring system that will feed off existing processes (SAME, Procuraduria, Fiscalia, Defensoria, and Accion Social). ¶6. (C) The Commission,s organizational structure will be technical in nature and it will consist of an Executive Director, who will oversee three areas: (1) reparations and attention to victims; (2) monitoring, evaluation and public reports; and (3) reconciliation. Each area will be headed by a different person (seperate from the commissioners and their advisors) to avoid turf battles and promote consensus. The Commission will create a group of three high level advisors who will be in charge of strategic analysis. Additionally, Segovia said that Organization for International Migration Mission (IOM),the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and three commissioners will work on a report that will identify existing information, problems, bottlenecks, and general guidelines for the Commission. ¶7. (C) Commissioner Representatives Monseor Nel Beltran and Gustavo Villegas are working on a proposal on how regional commissions will function. Segovia suggested that the Commission should develop a set of uniform guidelines and procedures to guide its work in the regions. Following regional field visits in Medellin and Sincelejo, the Commissioners concluded that victims will only participate if their security is guaranteed; regional commissions must provide judicial counseling for victims on how to file and follow-up on claims. Commissioners warned that participation will not be the same in every region. For example, in Sincelejo, the social fabric is fragmented, though they are starting to come together to work with the CNRR. Moreover, Segovia said that as determined by the law, regional asset recovery commissions will be created; Medellin and Sincelejo will be pilot programs. -------------- CNRR FINANCIAL AND OTHER CONCERNS -------------- ¶8. (C) Segovia warned that certain things need to be funded right away (such as staff) but donor resources will be slow in coming. The GOC budget is insufficient. The CNRR needs to work with an expert on public finances to include CNRR expenses in the national budget. Moreover, the GOC has not been present at most meetings; they usually send a technical level person without decision-making power and Commission members are concerned that the GOC may later veto CNRR decisions. Therefore, the CNRR is considering making decisions binding regardless of whether the GOC is present. Another concern is that the current group of advisors (14) should work as one group for all the commissioners. -------------- BIO NOTE: ALEX SEGOVIA -------------- ¶9. (SBU) Dr. Alexander Segovia is an expert in reparations. He most recently served as facilitator between the Truth Commission in Peru and victims groups. He has also served as a consultant for the United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, the Inter-American Development Bank, and several Central American governments. WOOD