EX-PARAS RETAIN INFLUENCE ON THE NORTH ATLANTIC

C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 009217

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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)

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SUMMARY
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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.

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BOLIVAR DEPARTMENT: PROBLEMS STILL PERSIST
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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

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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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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.

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FORMER PARAS BEHIND CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES IN CARTAGENA
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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.

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COMMENT
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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