EX-PARAS RETAIN INFLUENCE ON THE NORTH ATLANTIC

C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 009217 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/05/2016 TAGS: KJUS PGOV PINR PREL PTER CO SUBJECT: EX-PARAS RETAIN INFLUENCE ON THE NORTH ATLANTIC COAST: A LOOK AT BOLIVAR DEPARTMENT Classified By: Ambassador William B. Wood. Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d) -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) The security situation has improved in Bolivar Department since the paramilitaries demobilized, but labor, Catholic Church, and local government officials said ex-paramilitary influence remains strong. Allegations of ex-paramilitary and FARC criminality are common. Cartagena was one of the only cities on the Atlantic Coast that lacked a paramilitary presence, but demobilized paramilitaries are increasingly engaged in criminal activities in the city. Still, the GOC is in the process of arresting and prosecuting recidivist paramilitaries and their supporters in the region. This report is the first in a series that focuses on the reinsertion process in what used to be the paramilitary's area of greatest influence, the north Atlantic coast. End summary. -------------- BOLIVAR DEPARTMENT: PROBLEMS STILL PERSIST -------------- ¶2. (C) Department of Bolivar government, labor union, and Church representatives said in early September that since the demobilization of the Heroes de Montes de Maria Bloc in July 2005, the security situation has improved, but some problems persist. Human Rights Ombudsman Arturo Zea said road security is better, kidnappings have decreased, public forces presence has increased, and no massacres have been reported. Secretary of Interior for Bolivar Department Cesar Pion said SIPDIS mayors and displaced communities are returning to their towns, and throughout the department there is an increase in traffic, tourism, livestock and agricultural production. Zea and Pion agreed government presence has improved in the Department, but said much more needs to be done. ¶3. (C) Government and Church representatives said they continue to receive complaints of ex-paramilitary influence in some towns and that there is an increased FARC presence as well. The FARC is trying to control strategic areas previously controlled by the paras. Zea said key narcotrafficking corridors are still being used. Newly-formed criminal groups--some composed of mainly demobilized paramilitaries and others consisting of current and former paramilitaries and common criminals--operate in some areas. Pion said the greatest FARC presence is in the municipalities of Guamo, Maria la Baja, and San Juan Nepomuceno. The military has clashed with the FARC; Pion has received complaints from residents that the military and/or the FARC are preventing the delivery of food. The situation is more complex in Montes de Maria and the southern part of Bolivar department where key corridors are disputed by illegal armed groups (IAGs). In addition to the corridors, the southern part of the department contains more illicit crops, gold mines, and the oil pipeline, which also attract the IAGs. ¶4. (C) Labor union leaders charged that the demobilization of paramilitaries is symbolic; this is especially the case with the demobilization of the Heroes de Montes de Maria Bloc in Maria la Baja municipality led by Edward Cobos (AKA "Diego Vecino"),who turned himself in September and is located at la Ceja. Central Labor Union's (CUT) Secretary General Esteban Barbosa claimed demobilized paramilitaries still engage in illegal activities. The increase of security cooperatives in the Department, in particular in Cartagena, was attributed to ex-paramilitaries. These security cooperatives exercise social and security control in neighborhoods, and their modus operandi is similar to paramilitary structures. The ex-paramilitaries are also engaged in loan sharking. ¶5. (C) Zea said corruption is also a problem in the department, adding that journalists are discouraged from reporting on the phenomenon by local politicians. The only mayors that are reasonably effective are from Maria La Baja and San Juan de Nepomuceno. The rest are linked to former paramilitary leader Jorge 40 or legal gaming chief Enilse Lopez (AKA "La Gata.") Corruption is particularly bad in el Guamo and Simiti. Zea told us that during his trips, local campesinos would tell him they are tired of the corruption of the ex-paramilitaries, FARC, and military. ¶6. (C) The places of greatest security concern are located in the Montes de Maria area, such as Guamo, Carmen de Bolivar, Maria la Baja, San Juan de Nepomuceno, Arjona, Cordoba, and the area near the Canal del Dique. Labor leaders said residents from these areas continue to complain about illegal ex-paramilitary activities. Moreover, the lack of an effective reinsertion program and government security presence is creating security and social problems. Some examples: Guamo Municipality -------------- - Five people were kidnapped for economic reasons early this year, apparently by a group called Aguilas Negras de los Montes de Maria under the command of alias "Yepe." This group is known to operate under the influence of Jorge 40. The FARC also has returned to Guamo, operating in groups of four who manage extortion and intimidation rackets. Carmen de Bolivar Municipality -------------- - The residents of El Salado, Carmen de Bolivar municipality, are starting to return after having been displaced following the murder of over 50 people by paramilitaries between 1998-2000. Still, Zea said the residents are complaining about a continued ex-paramilitary presence despite the establishment of an army base in the area. The residents also complain about a growing FARC presence. Meanwhile, Zea noted the public forces are falsely accusing residents of being FARC or paramilitary sympathizers. Between the public forces and the FARC, the residents complain that controls on movement of goods are preventing food from getting to the people, leaving them consuming primarily carbohydrates, such as rice and potatoes. Labor union leaders said the military and ex-paramilitaries still work together to confront the FARC. Maria la Baja Municipality -------------- - Zea said that of the almost 600 paramilitaries that demobilized in July 2005, the majority are enthusiastic about returning to civilian life. A small group, however, has had a difficult time finding employment and is returning to criminal activities. Residents say a group of 50 demobilized paramilitaries are operating in the area. Residents also complain the public forces are supporting the group. Canal del Dique -------------- - Labor leaders claim ex-paramilitaries are still killing residents and throwing them in to the river. They also allegedly make holes in the victims' bodies so they will not float. -------------- -------------- FORMER PARAS BEHIND CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES IN CARTAGENA -------------- -------------- ¶7. (C) Cartagena is one of the only cities on the Atlantic Coast where the paramilitaries were not present, but labor leaders and Church officials said that is changing due to an influx of demobilized paramilitaries into the city. They said some demobilized paramilitaries are organizing neighborhood networks to try to control local residents and to launder money. Demobilized paramilitaries are charging a fee for their security services and are buying neighborhood food markets, which sell below cost, to launder their money. They said other former paramilitaries are involved in common crime, extortion, and loan sharking. A sizable group owns or works as motorcycle-taxi drivers. ¶8. (C) CUT's Secretary General Esteban Barbosa said the city suffers from "social decomposition." Cartagena has received one of the highest numbers of displaced persons--approximately 150,000. Barbosa said the lack of government regulations has led to an explosion of moto-taxis, which is a response to the lack of employment opportunities for the demobilized paramilitaries and other displaced persons. Even though the motorcycle-taxis are limited to certain areas, there are 36,000 of them in the city, compared to 2,000 traditional taxis. Seventy percent of the city's accidents were attributed to moto-taxis, and at least 77 people have died this year in moto-taxi incidents. These deaths were attributed not only to accidents, but also to score settling among the reinserted. He blamed the rise in the city's homicide rate on score settling. ¶9. (C) All told us insecurity has increased significantly in Cartagena in the recent years. Labor union leaders said in August alone 30 banks were robbed. Pion is concerned about what will happen when the two years of financial assistance to the demobilized end. Common crime is already bad in the department, but could skyrocket after benefits terminate. Labor union leaders warn that ex-paramilitaries are still involved in "social cleansing." They accuse paramilitaries and other illegal armed group members of continuing to target labor union members--IAGs have killed close to 50 labor union members in the last ten years. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶10. (C) The north Atlantic coast area, of which Bolivar Department is an integral part, was the birthplace and historical bastion of the paramilitaries. Their residual influence in the region remains strong. Still, as seen in the revelations in the ongoing Fiscalia investigation of Jorge 40, the recent arrests of four state legislators in Sucre Department for alleged paramilitary links, and the Fiscalia's referral of three Senators from the region to the Supreme Court for investigation of para ties, the GOC is in the process of dismantling their political and economic structures by arresting and prosecuting recidivist paramilitaries and their supporters. ¶11. (C) Reinsertion Commissioner Frank Pearl told us September 26 he doubts claims that crime has risen in the region and that ex-paras are the cause. Pearl said crime rates throughout Colombia, including the Atlantic coast, have fallen sharply in recent years--Ministry of Defense figures show that since 2002 homicides rates have fallen close to 40 percent from 28,837 to 18,111 and robberies have fallen close to 10 percent from 17,786 to 16,360. Pearl adds that recidivist para activity should be considered in this context and vowed GOC efforts to reduce crime would continue. WOOD