Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BOGOTA1013
2007-02-12 22:32:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bogota
Cable title:
XXXXXXXXXXXX FOR SLAIN HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST BLAMES
how-toVZCZCXYZ0001 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHBO #1013/01 0432232 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 122232Z FEB 07 FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2657 INFO RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 8674 RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ FEB LIMA 4744 RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 5400 RUEHGL/AMCONSUL GUAYAQUIL 3883
C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 001013
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/10/2017
TAGS: PHUM PGOV CO
SUBJECT: XXXXXXXXXXXX FOR SLAIN HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST BLAMES
MURDER ON LAND DISPUTE
REF: BOGOTA 00923
Classified By: Political Counselor John Creamer.
Reasons 1.4 (b,d).
-------
SUMMARY
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 001013
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/10/2017
TAGS: PHUM PGOV CO
SUBJECT: XXXXXXXXXXXX FOR SLAIN HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST BLAMES
MURDER ON LAND DISPUTE
REF: BOGOTA 00923
Classified By: Political Counselor John Creamer.
Reasons 1.4 (b,d).
--------------
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (C) XXXXXXXXXXXX slain
human rights activist Yolanda Izquierdo, told us February 7
that two persons with paramilitary ties, Diego Sierra and Sor
Teresa Gomez, were responsible for her January 31 killing in
Monteria. XXXXXXXXXXXX doubted human rights groups' claims that
Izquierdo's murder was designed to silence victims prepared
to testify against paramilitary leaders in the Justice and
Peace Law (J&P) process, arguing that Sierra and Gomez
murderedIzquierdo to retain land that they had stolen from
her. XXXXXXXXXXXX is receiving limited police protection, but
fears this is inadequate to ensure his safety. XXXXXXXXXXXX has
requested an armored car and more bodyguards from GOC
agencies that provide individual protection measures. End
Summary.
--------------
LAND GRAB LEADS TO MURDER?
--------------
2. (C) XXXXXXXXXXXX slain
human rights activist Yolanda Izquierdo, told us February 7
that two persons with paramilitary ties, Diego Sierra and Sor
Teresa Gomez, were responsible for her January 31 murder in
Monteria. XXXXXXXXXXXX said Sierra was a front-man for fugitive
paramilitary chief VincenteCastano. Gomez is the
mother-in-law of ex-parahitman and Vicente Castano henchman
"Monoleche," married to a member of the Castano clan, and
director of the Foundation for Peace in Cordoba (FUNPAZCOR),
an organization founded in 1990 by paramilitary leader Fidel
Castano, brother of Vicente and Carlos.Izquierdo was a
leader of the Popular Housing Organization (OPV),a group
that assists Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to reclaim
land seized by paramilitary groups. XXXXXXXXXXXX also
represents 3,000 displaced persons seeking damages against
paramilitaries.
3. (C) XXXXXXXXXXXX claimed Sierra and Gomez ordered the killing
over a land dispute. Izquierdo's family was one of several
hundred to have received parcels on 10,000 hectares of land
owned by Fidel Castano in the early 90s. XXXXXXXXXXXX said
Fidel Castano channeled the land grants through FUNPAZCOR to
gain favor with local families and to create a "buffer zone"
against the FARC. In 1995-1996, however, Gomez and Sierra
ordered the families off the land. XXXXXXXXXXXX said the two
have been exploiting the land ever since, although Izquierdo
and other displaced families retain title. With the start of
the Justice and Peace Law process, Izquierdo and others saw
an opportunity to reclaim their land and demand reparations.
In response, Gomez began to press the families to sell their
titles to her at below-market rates. XXXXXXXXXXXX said
Izquierdo had publicly opposed such a sale and had encouraged
other families to do so as well, leading Gomez and Sierra to
"silence her." Judicial Police head General Naranjo told us
February 6 the police had identified Sor Teresa Gomez as the
intellectual author of Izquierdo's murder and expects to
detain her shortly (Reftel). XXXXXXXXXXXX said the Judicial
Police arrested five persons on February 9 in connection with
the killing.
--------------
LAWYER DISCOUNTS MANCUSO INVOLVEMENT
--------------
5. (C) XXXXXXXXXXXX doubted paramilitary chiefs participating in
the Justice and Peace Law process were responsible for the
killing. Because Izquierdo served as one of two leaders of a
delegation of victims who attended the voluntary confession
(versionlibre) of ex-para chief Salvatore Mancuso, human
rights groups charge Izquierdo's murder is designed to
intimidate victims prepared to testify against paramilitary
leaders in the Justice and Peace Law (J&P) process.
XXXXXXXXXXXX said Mancuso has no connection to the land in
dispute, while Gomez and Sierra are directly implicated.
Izquierdo only attended the Mancuso hearing because she was
considering seeking reparations from Mancuso in the event
that Gomez and Sierra did not pay. As a member of the same
paramilitary block, Mancuso could be held liable. Still,
XXXXXXXXXXXX questioned why Mancuso would risk losing JPL
benefits to avoid potential liability for the relatively
small reparations that would be due Izquierdo. In contrast,
XXXXXXXXXXXX did not rule out the possibility that fugitive para
chiefVincenteCastano was involved. On February 6, Mancuso
released a public statement condemning Izquierdo's murder and
calling on the GOC to provide protection to victims.
--------------
LAWYER NOW RECEIVING PROTECTION
--------------
6. (C) XXXXXXXXXXXX said he had requested protection from the
Colombian National Police (CNP) and had initially received
two police officer escorts. This was subsequently reduced to
one policeman. XXXXXXXXXXXX called this security scheme
insufficient, and said he has requested an armored car and
more bodyguards from GOC agencies that provide individual
protection measures. On February 5, the GOC convened an
interagency meeting with the Director of the MOIJ Protection
Program, the head of the Prosecutor General's Witness
Protection Program, and the head of human rights with the CNP
to discuss the threats against XXXXXXXXXXXX and possible
protection schemes. We will continue to raise concern over
XXXXXXXXXXXX's safety with the GOC.
DRUCKER
=======================CABLE ENDS============================
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/10/2017
TAGS: PHUM PGOV CO
SUBJECT: XXXXXXXXXXXX FOR SLAIN HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST BLAMES
MURDER ON LAND DISPUTE
REF: BOGOTA 00923
Classified By: Political Counselor John Creamer.
Reasons 1.4 (b,d).
--------------
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (C) XXXXXXXXXXXX slain
human rights activist Yolanda Izquierdo, told us February 7
that two persons with paramilitary ties, Diego Sierra and Sor
Teresa Gomez, were responsible for her January 31 killing in
Monteria. XXXXXXXXXXXX doubted human rights groups' claims that
Izquierdo's murder was designed to silence victims prepared
to testify against paramilitary leaders in the Justice and
Peace Law (J&P) process, arguing that Sierra and Gomez
murderedIzquierdo to retain land that they had stolen from
her. XXXXXXXXXXXX is receiving limited police protection, but
fears this is inadequate to ensure his safety. XXXXXXXXXXXX has
requested an armored car and more bodyguards from GOC
agencies that provide individual protection measures. End
Summary.
--------------
LAND GRAB LEADS TO MURDER?
--------------
2. (C) XXXXXXXXXXXX slain
human rights activist Yolanda Izquierdo, told us February 7
that two persons with paramilitary ties, Diego Sierra and Sor
Teresa Gomez, were responsible for her January 31 murder in
Monteria. XXXXXXXXXXXX said Sierra was a front-man for fugitive
paramilitary chief VincenteCastano. Gomez is the
mother-in-law of ex-parahitman and Vicente Castano henchman
"Monoleche," married to a member of the Castano clan, and
director of the Foundation for Peace in Cordoba (FUNPAZCOR),
an organization founded in 1990 by paramilitary leader Fidel
Castano, brother of Vicente and Carlos.Izquierdo was a
leader of the Popular Housing Organization (OPV),a group
that assists Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to reclaim
land seized by paramilitary groups. XXXXXXXXXXXX also
represents 3,000 displaced persons seeking damages against
paramilitaries.
3. (C) XXXXXXXXXXXX claimed Sierra and Gomez ordered the killing
over a land dispute. Izquierdo's family was one of several
hundred to have received parcels on 10,000 hectares of land
owned by Fidel Castano in the early 90s. XXXXXXXXXXXX said
Fidel Castano channeled the land grants through FUNPAZCOR to
gain favor with local families and to create a "buffer zone"
against the FARC. In 1995-1996, however, Gomez and Sierra
ordered the families off the land. XXXXXXXXXXXX said the two
have been exploiting the land ever since, although Izquierdo
and other displaced families retain title. With the start of
the Justice and Peace Law process, Izquierdo and others saw
an opportunity to reclaim their land and demand reparations.
In response, Gomez began to press the families to sell their
titles to her at below-market rates. XXXXXXXXXXXX said
Izquierdo had publicly opposed such a sale and had encouraged
other families to do so as well, leading Gomez and Sierra to
"silence her." Judicial Police head General Naranjo told us
February 6 the police had identified Sor Teresa Gomez as the
intellectual author of Izquierdo's murder and expects to
detain her shortly (Reftel). XXXXXXXXXXXX said the Judicial
Police arrested five persons on February 9 in connection with
the killing.
--------------
LAWYER DISCOUNTS MANCUSO INVOLVEMENT
--------------
5. (C) XXXXXXXXXXXX doubted paramilitary chiefs participating in
the Justice and Peace Law process were responsible for the
killing. Because Izquierdo served as one of two leaders of a
delegation of victims who attended the voluntary confession
(versionlibre) of ex-para chief Salvatore Mancuso, human
rights groups charge Izquierdo's murder is designed to
intimidate victims prepared to testify against paramilitary
leaders in the Justice and Peace Law (J&P) process.
XXXXXXXXXXXX said Mancuso has no connection to the land in
dispute, while Gomez and Sierra are directly implicated.
Izquierdo only attended the Mancuso hearing because she was
considering seeking reparations from Mancuso in the event
that Gomez and Sierra did not pay. As a member of the same
paramilitary block, Mancuso could be held liable. Still,
XXXXXXXXXXXX questioned why Mancuso would risk losing JPL
benefits to avoid potential liability for the relatively
small reparations that would be due Izquierdo. In contrast,
XXXXXXXXXXXX did not rule out the possibility that fugitive para
chiefVincenteCastano was involved. On February 6, Mancuso
released a public statement condemning Izquierdo's murder and
calling on the GOC to provide protection to victims.
--------------
LAWYER NOW RECEIVING PROTECTION
--------------
6. (C) XXXXXXXXXXXX said he had requested protection from the
Colombian National Police (CNP) and had initially received
two police officer escorts. This was subsequently reduced to
one policeman. XXXXXXXXXXXX called this security scheme
insufficient, and said he has requested an armored car and
more bodyguards from GOC agencies that provide individual
protection measures. On February 5, the GOC convened an
interagency meeting with the Director of the MOIJ Protection
Program, the head of the Prosecutor General's Witness
Protection Program, and the head of human rights with the CNP
to discuss the threats against XXXXXXXXXXXX and possible
protection schemes. We will continue to raise concern over
XXXXXXXXXXXX's safety with the GOC.
DRUCKER
=======================CABLE ENDS============================