CARAMAGNA TROUBLED BY RESTREPO'S GROWING DISTRUST OF THE MAPP/OAS

C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 007911 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/29/2016 TAGS: KJUS PGOV PINR PREL PTER CO SUBJECT: CARAMAGNA TROUBLED BY RESTREPO'S GROWING DISTRUST OF THE MAPP/OAS Classified By: Ambassador William B. Wood. Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d) -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) Sergio Caramagna, Director of the Mission to Support the Peace Process in Colombia (MAPP/OAS),told the Ambassador 24 August he was worried his public spat with Peace Commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo over the inclusion on the demobilized list of Juan Carlos Sierra, widely regarded as a narcotrafficker, would undermine OAS Secretary General Insulza's confidence in him. Representatives of countries supporting the OAS Mission told Caramagna in a separate meeting Sierra's inclusion in the demobilized list was troubling. End summary. -------------- MAPP/OAS PRESS STATEMENT SPARKED DISPUTE -------------- ¶2. (C) Caramagna told the Ambassador on 24 August that he was perplexed with Restrepo's reaction to the Mission's press release two days earlier. The press release stated the Mission had no prior knowledge of the demobilization of Juan Carlos Sierra, identified in press reports as a drug trafficker and not an AUC member. Caramagna said his intention was not to embarrass the GOC, but rather to publicly support President Uribe's decision to get tough with paramilitary leaders. ¶3. (C) Caramagna said Restrepo seemed not to have read the three-paragraph press release, but instead reacted to the media's interpretation of it. Several press agencies said Caramagna questioned the designation of Sierra as a leader of the AUC. Restrepo's four-page rebuttal to the OAS release said Caramagna should have raised the Sierra issue with the GOC and not gone public. ¶4. (C) Caramagna noted the government could have demobilized Sierra, but the Mission was not informed and could not validate his demobilization. Moreover, he said the Mission was being pressured from the press and Ambassadors from neighboring counties to come out publicly with an opinion about Sierra. Even the Colombian Ambassador to the OAS in Washington had asked the Mission for a statement. He said relations with the Peace Commissioner had progressively worsened since the Mission began its more critical verification role. Caramagna said he had tried to contact Restrepo several times in recent weeks, but Restrepo did not return his calls. -------------- �00A;RESTREPO'S ANGRY PHONE CALL TO CARAMAGNA -------------- ¶5. (C) Caramagna said Restrepo had called him the day after the Mission's press release. He said Restrepo had questioned the Mission's role and accused him of converting it to serve his own interests. Restrepo said he felt Caramagna was undermining his office. Caramagna noted the Mission's consistent support for the para process, and said Restrepo was having a difficult time distinguishing between friend and foe. ¶6. (C) The Ambassador reiterated his support and respect for the Mission. He cautioned Caramagna that Restrepo was under significant pressure. Caramagna recognized that Restrepo faced constant criticism and said he considers him to be one of the most honest, hardworking, and intelligent GOC officials. Still, Caramagna was worried about OAS-Washington's reaction to the episode. Caramanga fears that OAS-Washington does not support him and apparently worries that the current spat will further undermine his position at the OAS. ¶7. (C) Caramagna concluded by noting that the current phase of the peace process is more complicated than the earlier stages. In the past two weeks, the GOC has had to deal with the confinement of paramilitary leaders, allegations that it was making deals with narcotraffickers, lobbying on the Justice and Peace Law implementing decree, the Prosecutor General's Office public questioning of the military's operation in 1985 to regain control of the Palace of Justice from the M-19, and accusations that paramilitary leader Vicente Castano killed his brother Carlos Castano. -------------- MAPP/OAS GROUP OF FRIENDS MEETING OUTCOME -------------- ¶8. (C) Caramagna met with the MAPP/OAS Group of Friends after the meeting with the Ambassador to explain the press statements and reconfirm their support for the Mission. Representatives from Brazil, Mexico, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the U.S. attended. The Mexican and Swedish representatives said Restrepo's reaction was counterproductive to the peace process and could hamper relationships with the international community. Brazil, Norway, and Spain were particularly concerned with the government's decision to include Sierra as a paramilitary member after the GOC had previously denied his petition because of his narcotrafficking history. ¶9. (C) Caramagna told the representatives he did not see Sierra participate in any of the meetings held between the GOC and AUC representatives in Ralito. MAPP/OAS officials had seen him occasionally in the "halls" of Ralito. Sierra had contacted the Mission in February and expressed his desire to demobilize. Caramagna explained that when the Mission receives these types of requests in the field, they forward them to the Peace Commissioner's Office. Restrepo's response in February was that the GOC did not recognize Sierra as a paramilitary member. ¶10. (C) The representatives from Norway and Sweden voiced concern that the GOC demobilized Sierra without warning the Mission or involving other GOC entities. Caramagna noted none of his contacts from other GOC entities that were usually involved in demobilizations were aware of the demobilization of Sierra. Caramagna explained that Restrepo had the authority to demobilize and include any individual on the government's lists for eligibility for processing under Peace and Justice Law without anyone's approval. (On August 16, the GOC turned over a list of 2,695 former paramilitaries that have asked to participate in Justice and Peace Law to the Fiscalia.) ¶11. (C) A MAPP/OAS official said the Peace Commissioner's Office had eight more demobilized paramilitaries on its list than the Mission's database indicated existed. The extra eight include Guillermo Perez Alzate (AKA "Pablo Sevillano"), who turned himself in on August 17 and is currently confined in La Ceja, Antioquia Department. ¶12. (C) Comment. Subsequent conversations with both Caramagna and Restrepo indicate that they are stepping back from public disagreement. WOOD