COLOMBIA SEEKING THE LEAD ON REGIONAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 000418

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR WHA/AND, S/CT, AND DS/ATA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/03/2017
TAGS: ECIN ECON PGOV PREL PTER SNAR ASEC CO MX PA
BR, TD, CI
SUBJECT: COLOMBIA SEEKING THE LEAD ON REGIONAL
COUNTERTERRORISM/COUNTERNARCOTICS TRAINING

REF: BOGOTA 9065

Classified By: Political Counselor John Creamer -
Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

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SUMMARY
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1. (U) After sharp reductions in kidnapping and homicide
rates in Colombia, the GoC is seeking to position itself as a
leader in counterterrorism (CT) efforts in the region.
Colombia signed a bi-national agreement with Paraguay to
provide training and technical assistance in crime scene and
kidnapping investigations, financial sector analysis and
cyber-investigation, and in combating narcotrafficking and
money laundering. A similar agreement with Chile is in the
works and talks are also underway with both Mexico and
Trinidad and Tobago. Colombia provided training for
Brazilian anti-kidnapping police, and Ecuador is looking to
send officers to the Sibate Anti-kidnapping Training Center
as well. Panama and Costa Rica may also seek closer security
cooperation. USG-led initiatives, including the DS
Anti-Terrorism Assistance Program (ATA) are providing the GoC
with the capacity to become a regional leader in fighting
terrorism. End Summary.

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Pilot Project with Paraguay
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2. (C) During an official visit in March 2005, the
governments of Colombia and Paraguay signed a bilateral
agreement to cooperate in the fight against organized crime,
drug trafficking, and armed groups. Through the formation of
a bi-national working group, Colombian security services
began providing technical and investigative training on
kidnapping and extortion to their Paraguayan counterparts
using their nearly fifty instructors at the Sibate
Anti-Kidnapping Training Center. President Niconor Duarte
Frutos asked Colombia for assistance after a string of high
profile kidnappings by the FARC-supported Leftist Free
Fatherland Party (PPL). Sergio Restrepo of the
Anti-Kidnapping office of the Vice Presidency told us
cooperative efforts are paying off in Paraguay with a
reduction in kidnappings and recent conviction in the
high-profile Cubas murder case. Restrepo said the Colombian
Prosecutor General's office worked behind the scenes with
Paraguayan investigators and prosecutors on the investigation.


3. (U) Vice President Santos, himself a kidnap victim, is
personally committed to assisting Paraguay and expanding the
program regionally by seeking earmarked funds within the GoC
budget. In 2006, Santos twice traveled to Paraguay to lobby
the Paraguayan Congress to adopt a law allowing wire tapping
in CT investigations. Restrepo and Paraguayan Ambassador
Mora said there was concern within the Paraguayan Senate of
possible misuse of wire taps. The GOC is paying for
Paraguayan law enforcement officials to travel to Colombia to
attend courses at the Sibate training center. Restrepo
acknowledged it would be difficult to expand the program
without more money.


4. (U) A similar agreement with Chile is under discussion and
is expected to be signed by both countries soon. The
agreement focuses on anti-terrorism and counternarcotics.

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Talks with Mexico and Trinidad and Tobago
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5. (U) Mexican President Calderon is also looking to Colombia
for assistance in fighting narcotrafficking and organized
crime, given increased ties between criminal groups in both
countries. Mexican Political Counselor Rafael Ortiz told us
Calderon is interested in modeling Mexican laws after those
in Colombia to give law enforcement officials greater power
in combating narcotrafficking. Calderon also wants to make

constitutional changes which would allow officials to seize
the assets of suspected narcotraffickers before conviction
and would allow federal authorities to operate more easily
within Mexican states.


6. (C) Ortiz said Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's meddling
in Mexican and other elections in Latin America, combined
with Rafael Correa's recent win in Ecuador, also prompted
Calderon's interest in closer security ties to Colombia. He
said Mexico's relationship with Colombia has never been more
important. Enhanced security cooperation is a good first step
in deepening ties.


7. (U) Restrepo said Uribe was approached by Trinidad and
Tobago with a request for CT assistance, but added that
details had yet to be finalized.

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Brazil Not Yet Convinced
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8. (U) Colombia has provided limited training to Brazilian
police units but has no plan to work systematically with
Brazil on the national level. Federal police from Sao Paulo
attended anti-kidnapping courses at Sibate, and Governor
Sergio Cabral has also reportedly asked Bogota Mayor Luis
Garzon for assistance in combating Rio's increasing crime
problems. Still, a Brazilian Embassy official told us
President Uribe offered Brazilian President Lula enhanced
security cooperation in March 2006, but said there has been
no action to date. He said Brazil was reluctant to
strengthen bilateral security cooperation, fearing
association with Plan Colombia would inflame regional
sensitivities.

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ECUADOR, PANAMA AND COSTA RICA?
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9. (U) Although no formal agreement is in the works, the
Government of Ecuador requested space for three of its
anti-kidnapping unit officers to attend the anti-kidnapping
facility in Colombia in 2007. It is unclear whether recent
tensions between the two governments following Colombia's
resumption of aerial fumigation along the border will affect
future training cooperation. However Panamanian Vice Minister
of Government and Justice Severino Mejia (responsible for
Panamanian security forces) is scheduled to visit Colombia
January 28-February 2 to explore security, counternarcotics,
and CT training options with Colombian security officials.
Costa Rican security officials--concerned about growing FARC
activity--have also reached out to the GOC to discuss closer
security cooperation and training.

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USG Efforts to Ready Colombia for the Job
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10. (U) The GOC is eager to become a regional hub for
counterterrorism and counternarcotics efforts, particularly
in anti-kidnapping and cyber-investigations. Per reftel,
Colombia wants to expand the USG-sponsored Presidential
Security Program, the Dignitary Protection Initiative, and
the Anti-Kidnapping Initiative regionally. The GOC asked for
additional USG support via the ATA and other programs to
leverage its expertise and increase CT capacity throughout
the region. Still, it is unclear whether the GOC can expand
the Paraguayan model beyond the current pilot project stage
without budgeting Colombian funds for this purpose or
receiving additional U.S. assistance.
WOOD