BACKGROUND ON THE "CONVIVIR" SELF-DEFENSE GROUPS

UNCLAS BOGOTA 002529

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KJUS PGOV PINR PREL PTER CO
SUBJECT: BACKGROUND ON THE "CONVIVIR" SELF-DEFENSE GROUPS

REF: 02 BOGOTA 8317

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Summary
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1. (SBU) The "Convivir" self defense groups were authorized
by President Gaviria 1994 and abolished by President Samper
in 1998. Their original purpose was to enable citizens to
defend themselves from terrorist attacks and to supply
intelligence to the security forces. During their brief
existence, the Convivir were controversial due to their
involvement in numerous human rights abuses. Many human
rights groups charge the Convivir fueled the growth of
paramilitary groups. President Uribe, who was Governor of
Antioquia from 1995-97, strongly supported the Convivir, but
dismantled two such groups due to alleged human rights
abuses. End summary.

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1995, Convivir Created
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2. (SBU) In February 1994, former President Gaviria issued a
decree that created the "Superintendent of Vigilance and
Private Security" under the Ministry of Defense. The
Ministry of Defense was authorized to license private
citizens to use firearms (pistols and revolvers) to protect
themselves in high-risk areas. In April 1995, the Samper
Administration used the Gaviria decree as the legal basis to
issue regulations creating Public Self-Defense Groups called
"Convivirs." The Convivirs were supposed to report
counterinsurgency intelligence to local security forces, but
some of the Convivirs were linked to gross human rights
violations. Many human rights groups charge the Convivirs
quickly degenerated into paramilitary groups.

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1997, Convivir Abolished
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3. (SBU) In October 1997, the Samper Administration issued a
resolution abolishing the "Convivir," but did not take steps
to dismantle them. Also in October, the Constitutional Court
upheld the legality of the Convivir, declaring citizens had
the right to organize themselves in collective self-defense
groups, but ordering the groups to give up all their heavy
weapons, including machine guns and rifles. The original
1994 decree authorized the groups to use only small arms.
Many groups ignored this restriction and acquired substantial
arsenals.


4. (SBU) After the Constitutional Court's decision, the
Samper Administration issued a decree and a resolution
charging these groups with the responsibility to protect
human rights. Still, reports of Convivirs colluding with
paramilitaries continued, and in July 1998, the Samper
Administration began dismantling them. Following his August
1998 inauguration, former President Andres Pastrana completed
this process as a peace gesture aimed at the FARC.

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Uribe's Role in the Convivir
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5. (SBU) As Antioquia department Governor from 1995-97,
Uribe actively supported the Convivir groups operating in
Antioquia and put his Secretary of Government, Pedro Juan
Moreno, in charge of overseeing them. Uribe asked that the
Convivirs be authorized to use heavier arms, but the national
government rejected his request. Uribe has publicly
acknowledged that his request was a mistake in view of the
human rights abuses later committed by some of the Convivirs.
He claims, however, that only two Convivirs in Antioquia
cooperated with the paramilitaries. He immediately
dismantled them. GOC sources report that 70 Convivirs, out
of 400 nationwide, operated in Antioquia.

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2003, "Red de Cooperantes"
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6. (SBU) Uribe admits that some of the Convivir grew out of
control, but he sees citizen cooperation with Colombia's
security forces as key to his democratic security strategy.
In 2003, Uribe supported the creation of a network of
informants, or "red de cooperantes," to provide information
on suspicious activity or persons to the security forces.
Participation in the program is voluntary. Members are
equipped with radios or cellphones, and are strictly
prohibited from carrying arms. The programs are administered
and monitored by the Armed Forces and National Police.
Drucker