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)

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Summary
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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.

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Jorge 40's Legacy in Cesar
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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.

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State of Security Post Jorge 40
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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.

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Reintegration Obstacles for Jorge 40's Men
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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.

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Vulnerable to Para-Politics Scandals
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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.

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High Hopes for Transparent Local Election
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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