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) -------------- Summary -------------- ¶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. -------------- The Ralito Agreement -------------- ¶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. -------------- Indictments on the Way? -------------- ¶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