CESAR ATTEMPTING TO SHAKE-OFF PARAMILITARY LEGACY

C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 003093 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/04/2017 TAGS: KJUS PGOV PINR PREL PTER CO SUBJECT: CESAR ATTEMPTING TO SHAKE-OFF PARAMILITARY LEGACY Classified By: Political Counselor John S. Creamer. Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d) -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) During two trips to former paramilitary-dominated Cesar department in March and April, community leaders said local sympathy for the paramilitaries has turned into resentment. The demobilization of 5,000 paramilitaries led by Cesar strongman Rodrigo Tovar Pupo, AKA "Jorge 40," reduced violence, but the department remains threatened by the FARC, ELN, and emergent criminal groups. Rearmament pressures, selective killings, lack of job opportunities, and stigmatization are hampering reintegration of ex-paras into society. Revelations of para-political connections have damaged Cesar's national image, but created an opportunity for positive change in the long-term. Community leaders expect far less pressure from armed groups in the October local elections. End summary. ¶2. (U) Poloffs visited Valledupar, capital of Cesar department, on March 23-24 and April 27-28. Cesar has a cattle ranching and agricultural-based economy that was dominated by Jorge 40 and the AUC's Northern Bloc from 2000 to March 2006. The small and traditional political class in Cesar--shaken by the arrests of the department's high-profile political figures--is worried that the para-politics scandal will worsen with more locals implicated. Cesar's governor Hernando Molina and two representatives are under investigation of alleged paramilitary ties, while two Senators have been accused and arrested. -------------- Jorge 40's Legacy in Cesar -------------- ¶3. (C) Valledupar Mayor Ciro Pupo, cousin of jailed paramilitary leader Rodrigo Tovar Pupo, AKA "Jorge 40," told poloff his cousin's legacy had ruined his family name, as well as the image of Cesar's political class. Pupo said his relationship with his cousin was strong when they were young, and his family once respected and viewed Jorge 40 as a leader. Everything changed when Jorge 40 "transformed into something unrecognizable and uncontrollable." Pupo explained the paramilitary movement arose in response to demand for greater security in the region--several of his family members were kidnapped by the FARC, including himself--but later morphed into a monster that contaminated all aspects of local society. The local populations' initial sympathy toward the paras has now turned into resentment, he said. ¶4. (C) Pupo said his rejection of Jorge 40 in recent years led to the killing of his campaign manager and his wife's stepfather by paramilitaries in 2003. He never expected to win the mayoral seat, since he was competing with Jorge 40's selected candidate, Jose Calixto Garcia. Pupo attributed his triumph to his open criticism of Jorge 40 and the public's disgust with paramilitary rule. Still, he is counting the days until his term ends in December. Pupo said he is tired of battling Cesar's traditional political and economic class and fears for his life and that of his family. -------------- State of Security Post Jorge 40 -------------- ¶5. (C) The paramilitary demobilization of Jorge 40's 5,000 men in 2005-6 led to a drop in violence, but local military commanders told us Cesar remains threatened by the FARC, ELN, and emerging criminal groups. MAPP/OAS regional analysts said after the killing of Jorge 40's Northern Bloc right-hand man AKA "Omega" in November 2006, former Central Bolivar Bloc (BCB) mid-level commanders have tried to take control of southern Bolivar department which serves as strategic drug trafficking corridor into Venezuela. The rise in selective killings of demobilized paramilitaries in the south of Cesar is attributed to the dispute between ex-paras over drugs. ¶6. (C) The military said a criminal group--composed mainly of almost 100 former-paras from the Northern Bloc--continues to operate in the center of the department, but claimed GoC security operations have weakened the group and destroyed its drug laboratories. In the north, a group of former Northern Bloc paras led by AKA "101" remains involved in crime and extortion. Security forces recently captured two of its main leaders. MAPP/OAS regional analysts said all of these groups call themselves "Black Eagles," but they operate independently. ¶7. (C) The security situation is further complicated by the presence of the FARC's 41 Front and the ELN's Nilson Albin Teheran, Camilo Torres Restrepo, and Jose Manuel Martinez Quiroz Fronts. The FARC and ELN fronts operate throughout the department, but usually stay close to the Venezuela border near the Sierra de Pirija. Battalion Popa Colonel Freddy Velandia told us captured ELN members admitted the ELN's central command has ordered all fronts to continue operating despite the fact that some "fronts" number only a few fighters. MAPP/OAS regional analysts said some residents in rural Cesar claim public forces cooperate with ex-paras against the FARC/ELN, but the MAPP/OAS has not been able to confirm these claims. -------------- Reintegration Obstacles for Jorge 40's Men -------------- ¶8. (C) Local Center for Reference and Opportunities Chief Colonel Giraldo and Tracking Monitoring and Evaluation System (SAME) Coordinators Alexandra Ayala and Leila Ureche noted the rise of demobilized paras complaints of pressures to rearm--Cesar's CRO has over 3,000 registered demobilized paramilitaries, of which 95 percent belonged to the Northern Bloc. They said several killings in the area resulted from ex-paras going after former colleagues who were assisting the public forces or involved in reintegration community projects. Giraldo said demobilized paras in Cesar have limited job prospects and are stigmatized by the general population and police. He said some police and military units use demobilized paras for intelligence duties, making it harder for them to reintegrate as civilians. -------------- Vulnerable to Para-Politics Scandals -------------- ¶9. (C) The small and traditional political class in Cesar--shaken by the arrests of many of Cesar's national figures--worries the scandal will worsen with more locals implicated--possibly including the President of the Colombian House of Representatives, Alfredo "Ape" Cuello Baute. Pupo said the para-politics revelations have damaged Cesar's national image, but could be positive for the department's longterm health. Cesar residents are anxious for the Supreme Court to rule in the cases against Cesar's Governor Hernando Molina, two senators, and two representatives accused of ties to the paramilitaries. Most expect them to be convicted; their para ties were an "open secret" in Valledupar--a small town where Jorge 40, the FARC's "Simon Trinidad" and elected officials all partied together at the country club. -------------- High Hopes for Transparent Local Election -------------- ¶10. (C) Local contacts are optimistic about prospects for free and fair local elections in October. Cesar's Vanguardia Liberal Newspaper Journalist Mildreth Zapata told us she expects far less pressure from armed groups than in previous elections, but added that those pressures would not disappear. Pupo said the October elections will feature more candidates, and predicted the electorate would public would demand higher standards. Still, he cautioned that most candidates are part of the traditional power structure in Valledupar that has run Cesar for decades. Drucker