POLITICIANS NAMED FOR ALLEGED TIES TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 000408

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/18/2016
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PTER CO
SUBJECT: POLITICIANS NAMED FOR ALLEGED TIES TO
PARAMILITARIES; INDICTMENTS EXPECTED

REF: 06 BOGOTA 10976

Classified By: Political Counselor John S. Creamer
Reason: 1.4 (b,d)

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Summary
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1. (C) Colombian media published the July 2001 "Ralito
Agreement" signed by paramilitary leaders and some 30
political figures, some of whom are still in office. The
Agreement is vague and contains no reference to criminal
purposes, but the Prosecutor General's office and the Supreme
Court are investigating. Separately, Lawyer's Club president
Alfonso Clavijo told us the Supreme Court would soon indict
and put in preventive detention the 6 members of Congress it
questioned in December, including Senator Alvaro Araujo,
brother of the Foreign Minister. End summary.

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The Ralito Agreement
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2. (U) On January 18, the Colombian media published the
"Ralito Agreement" signed by paramilitary leaders and
Colombian politicians on July 23, 2001. Senator Miguel de La
Espriella had referred to the Agreement during his November
2006 Supreme Court testimony rejecting accusations he was
associated with paramilitaries, but the text surfaced when
ex-paramilitary leader Salvatore Mancuso produced it during
his Justice and Peace Law version libre statement on January

15. The politician signatories include members of several
parties, some of whom are still in office. At the time they
signed, there were 4 Senators, 7 representatives, 2
governors, 4 mayors, and other elected or appointed local
officials and Atlantic Coast political figures. For the
paramilitaries, Mancuso, Jorge 40, Don Berna, and Diego
Vecino signed. Additional signatories included two ranchers
and a journalist.


3. (U) The Agreement contains 5 brief paragraphs. It
asserts that the signatories undertake to "sign a new social
contract" for a "New Colombia." The signatories agree to
"guarantee" the objectives of the State: defend national
independence, maintain territorial integrity, ensure peaceful
coexistence, and a "just order." The Agreement states the
signatories will form working groups and present findings to
a meeting to have been held in October, 2001. It is not
apparent if such groups were formed or if follow up meetings
occurred. The Agreement contains no reference to criminal
purposes or activities, but the Prosecutor General's Office
and the Supreme Court are investigating.

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Indictments on the Way?
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4. (C) Separately, Lawyer's Club president Alfonso Clavijo
told us on January 17 the Supreme Court will shortly indict
and jail the 6 sitting members of Congress it questioned in
December about paramilitary ties (reftel). The members are 4
Senators (Alvaro Araujo, who is the brother of the Foreign
Minister, Mauricio Pimiento, Dieb Maloof, and Luis Eduardo
Vives) and 2 representatives (Alfonso Campo and Jorge
Caballero). Political consultant Rodrigo Saiz said the
Court's deadline for indicting the members is Thursday,
January 25. Saiz also said another Araujo brother, Sergio,
would be indicted on money laundering charges before
mid-February.
WOOD