MAGDALENA IMPROVING, BUT THREATS FROM EMERGING

C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 003133 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/04/2017 TAGS: KJUS PGOV PINR PREL PTER CO SUBJECT: MAGDALENA IMPROVING, BUT THREATS FROM EMERGING CRIMINAL GROUPS REMAIN REF: 06 BOGOTA 9310 Classified By: Political Counselor John S. Creamer. Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d) -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) Community leaders in Magdalena told poloff the paramilitary demobilization and President Uribe's democratic security strategy have led to improvements in security and the local economy. Still, instances of rearmament of ex-paras are worse in Magdalena than in other north Atlantic coast departments, and local residents are wary of the 2,500 demobilized paramilitaries in their midst. Still, they warned that a small number of former paras now involved in drug trafficking continue to intimidate the population, especially in the middle and southern parts of the department. End summary. ¶2. (U) Poloff visited Santa Marta, capital of Magdalena department, on March 21. Magdalena was under heavy influence of three paramilitary blocs--all deeply involved in the drug trade--from 1999 to March 2006. The paramilitaries' control over politics in Magdalena was extensive: in 2003, mayoral candidates ran unopposed in 14 of the 30 municipalities. The para-politics scandal has left few high-profile political figures untouched: Magdalena's Governor Trino Luna, one senator, and one representative are in jail; one senator, one representative and three former representatives are under investigation; and one representative is on the run. -------------- The Numbers Speak for Themselves -------------- ¶3. (C) During a March 21 visit to Magdalena, Acting Governor of Magdalena Sandra Rubiano explained that prior to the paramilitary peace process, the department was caught in a bloody fight for control over strategic narcotrafficking corridors between the FARC and the AUC. Rubiano attributed significant improvements in the department's security and local economy to the paramilitary demobilization--Sur de Magdalena Bloc (December 2004),Resistencia Tayrona Bloc (February 2006),and North Bloc (March 2006). She also credited Uribe's democratic security strategy. Secretary of Interior Claudio Giovanni told us homicides decreased from 736 in 2001 to 392 in 2006; kidnappings fell from 170 in 2002 to 25 in 2006; and the number of displaced dropped from 14,000 in 2001, to 1,800 in 2006. Magdalena's agricultural production rose 81 percent from 2004 to 2006. -------------- Reintegration Efforts Improving... -------------- ¶4. (C) Since the last Embassy visit in September 2006, Coordinator of the Tracking, Monitoring, and Evaluation System (SAME) Indira Berrocal said the local Center of Reference and Opportunity (CRO) had increased its coverage from 1,547 to 2,078 demobilized paramilitaries, 80 percent of Magdalena's demobilized population (ref. A). A week prior to our visit, the Presidency's Reintegration Office held its first information and documentation session in Magdalena to boost awareness, explain changes to the program, and encourage greater participation. 140 demobilized paras previously not registered with the CRO were identified after the session, including some from neighboring departments. Department mayors were increasingly supportive of reintegration, a positive sign according to SAME and CRO officials. -------------- ...But Rearmament becoming a Greater Option -------------- ¶5. (C) Ombudswoman Lizette Penaranda and Police Commander Col. Freddy de Jesus Pacheco said the reintegration process of 2,500 demobilized paramilitaries had been difficult in Magdalena because the population was wary of the former paras. CRO Director Colonel Gabriel Carrero said a majority of demobilized ex-paras had problems finding jobs or reconnecting to their families. Pacheco said the State's failure to "keep them occupied" was increasing the risk they would return to crime. ¶6. (C) Penaranda said new illegal activities in Magdalena were sponsored by ex-para leaders Vicente Castano and Miguel and Victor Mejia (AKA "Los Mellizos"),with former mid-level paramilitary commanders playing a key role on the ground. In northern Magdalena, mid-level commanders previously tied to Hernan Giraldo and Jorge 40 continued to fight the FARC's 37 Front and the ELN for control of drug routes. Former Jorge 40 commanders "55" and "57"--who led rearmed criminal groups--were recently captured by the Police in Medellin. In the area around Chivolo, Plato, and Tenerife, former paramilitary leader Jose "Chepe" Barrera, who demobilized with the Sur de Magdalena Bloc but was released from La Ceja retention center in October 2006 because of lack of charges against him, was leading a new criminal group. Another former Jorge 40 commander, "AKA Codassi," was operating in Ariguani and San Angel. In southern Magdalena, a coca-producing area and main trafficking corridor, a small number of "Aguilas Negras" operate--mostly ex-paras previously led by former mid-level commanders of "Jorge 40" who never demobilized. The police attributed a rise in homicides to disputes among the various actors for control of this strategic corridor. ¶7. (C) Pacheco said police recently captured 10 members of a criminal group in the south of the department that operated in Guamal, El Banco, and San Sebastian. In Chivolo and Plato, the security situation had improved slightly with the capture of Dario Aladino Escopetta and Saul Sarabia. Based on information from demobilized, the Police had recently captured 19 new criminal group members and found a coca laboratory in northern Magdalena. Pacheco said another good source of information on illegal actors and activities was their network of 300 voluntary collaborators or "red de cooperantes." -------------- Displacement Situation Remains the Same -------------- ¶8. (C) Penaranda said the situation in Chivolo remains the same for 100 displaced families displaced by former paras that wanted to return to their land (ref. A). The ex-paras have refused to return the lands, which are now being used for productive projects. Governor Trino Luna, arrested in March for alleged links to paramilitary groups and illegal contracting, has avoided getting involved in the situation. Penaranda said the conflict could lead to violence. -------------- Para-Politics and Elections -------------- ¶9. (C) Community and Church leaders agreed local elections in October will be better than 2003 elections. In 2003, 25 of 30 Magdalena mayors had links to the paramilitaries. Penaranda noted people were speaking out on political and victims' issues, despite some lingering hesitation. Col. Pacheco and Penaranda said they expected the October regional elections to be relatively free from major irregularities or armed group pressure, but conceded some ex-paras continued to intimidate residents in the middle and southern parts of the department. Drucker