Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BOGOTA4677
2007-06-28 01:57:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bogota
Cable title:
NEW DEFENSE MINISTRY DIRECTIVE PROHIBITS USE OF
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C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 004677
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/29/2017
TAGS: KJUS PGOV PINR PREL PTER CO
SUBJECT: NEW DEFENSE MINISTRY DIRECTIVE PROHIBITS USE OF
DEMOBILIZED PARAMILITARIES IN "RED DE COOPERANTES"
INFORMANT NETWORKS
Classified By: Political Counselor John S. Creamer.
Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d)
-------
Summary
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 004677
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/29/2017
TAGS: KJUS PGOV PINR PREL PTER CO
SUBJECT: NEW DEFENSE MINISTRY DIRECTIVE PROHIBITS USE OF
DEMOBILIZED PARAMILITARIES IN "RED DE COOPERANTES"
INFORMANT NETWORKS
Classified By: Political Counselor John S. Creamer.
Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d)
--------------
Summary
--------------
1. (C) Minister of Defense Juan Manuel Santos issued a June
21 directive banning the incorporation of demobilized
individuals into the "red de cooperantes" (voluntary
informant networks) run by the military and police. Charge
Drucker and OAS Observation mission (MAPP/OAS) head Sergio
Caramagna had voiced concern to Santos that the participation
of demobilized paramilitaries in the networks fed the
perception of collusion between the security forces and
paramilitary groups and undermined public confidene in the
military. The directive requires military and police
officials to verify the new requirements are being met, and
also prohibits the carrying of weapons or wearing of uniforms
by network members. End summary.
--------------
Background: "Red de Cooperantes"
--------------
2. (U) The GOC created the "red de cooperantes" program in
2003 to allow citizens to voluntarily contribute information
on illegal activities or armed groups to authorities. A
majority of network members are farmers, ranchers, taxi and
bus drivers, businessmen, and demobilized paramilitaries.
The GOC considers the network a vital intelligence tool.
From 2003 to May 2007, over three million civilians
participated in the network, and the GOC reports it captured
more than 3,000 criminals and armed group members based on
network information.
(Note: Ministry of Defense Directive No. 16 (September 24,
2003) defined the network as, "a system in which a citizen
voluntarily commits to contribute to his/her own security,
through solidarity and cooperation, participation, and
collaboration with authorities in the provision of truthful,
confidential, and timely information." End note.)
SIPDIS
--------------
New Directive Answers to Growing Concerns
--------------
3. (U) Minister of Defense Juan Manuel Santos issued a
directive on June 21 to improve the operation of the
networks. The directive orders that: 1) members of the
network cannot use military or police uniforms or be used as
"guides" for military operations; 2) military and police
officials must verify that network members are unarmed; and
3) military and police officials cannot incorporate
demobilized persons into the networks. The directive names
Vice Minister of Defense Sergio Jaramillo as the GOC official
responsible for the network.
4. (C) The directive was issued in response to concerns
raised by the Charge and MAPP/OAS Director Sergio Caramagna
over the use of ex-paramilitaries in the network. Numerous
community leaders had complained about the participation of
ex-paramilitaries in the networks, with some claiming that
ex-paras were exploiting the networks to continue their
criminal activities. Charge and Caramagna stressed to
Defense Minister Santos that public perception of collusion
between the military, police and ex-paras undermined GOC
efforts to increase confidence in the security forces and the
paramilitary demobilization process.
--------------
Preventing Problems
--------------
5. (C) OAS/MAPP Director Caramagna told us the lack of clear
guidance on how to operate the networks led to different
interpretations by local military and police officials. He
explained that residents in some regions saw participation of
local ex-paras in the network as a threat. For example,
residents in Cordoba told MAPP/OAS Mission officials some
former paras used the networks to continue criminal
activities, set up new criminal groups, or to intimidate
victims. Cordoba Police Commander Col. Jaime Velasco
confirmed the police had arrested a member of an emerging
criminal group, Los Traquetos, who had infiltrated the local
network. Similarly, San Jose de Apartado human rights
ombudsman Ruben Diaz said former paramilitaries had used the
network to set up the new criminal group known as Renacer.
Caramagna told us the new directive clarifies the rules and
will remove an important source of abuse.
Drucker
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/29/2017
TAGS: KJUS PGOV PINR PREL PTER CO
SUBJECT: NEW DEFENSE MINISTRY DIRECTIVE PROHIBITS USE OF
DEMOBILIZED PARAMILITARIES IN "RED DE COOPERANTES"
INFORMANT NETWORKS
Classified By: Political Counselor John S. Creamer.
Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d)
--------------
Summary
--------------
1. (C) Minister of Defense Juan Manuel Santos issued a June
21 directive banning the incorporation of demobilized
individuals into the "red de cooperantes" (voluntary
informant networks) run by the military and police. Charge
Drucker and OAS Observation mission (MAPP/OAS) head Sergio
Caramagna had voiced concern to Santos that the participation
of demobilized paramilitaries in the networks fed the
perception of collusion between the security forces and
paramilitary groups and undermined public confidene in the
military. The directive requires military and police
officials to verify the new requirements are being met, and
also prohibits the carrying of weapons or wearing of uniforms
by network members. End summary.
--------------
Background: "Red de Cooperantes"
--------------
2. (U) The GOC created the "red de cooperantes" program in
2003 to allow citizens to voluntarily contribute information
on illegal activities or armed groups to authorities. A
majority of network members are farmers, ranchers, taxi and
bus drivers, businessmen, and demobilized paramilitaries.
The GOC considers the network a vital intelligence tool.
From 2003 to May 2007, over three million civilians
participated in the network, and the GOC reports it captured
more than 3,000 criminals and armed group members based on
network information.
(Note: Ministry of Defense Directive No. 16 (September 24,
2003) defined the network as, "a system in which a citizen
voluntarily commits to contribute to his/her own security,
through solidarity and cooperation, participation, and
collaboration with authorities in the provision of truthful,
confidential, and timely information." End note.)
SIPDIS
--------------
New Directive Answers to Growing Concerns
--------------
3. (U) Minister of Defense Juan Manuel Santos issued a
directive on June 21 to improve the operation of the
networks. The directive orders that: 1) members of the
network cannot use military or police uniforms or be used as
"guides" for military operations; 2) military and police
officials must verify that network members are unarmed; and
3) military and police officials cannot incorporate
demobilized persons into the networks. The directive names
Vice Minister of Defense Sergio Jaramillo as the GOC official
responsible for the network.
4. (C) The directive was issued in response to concerns
raised by the Charge and MAPP/OAS Director Sergio Caramagna
over the use of ex-paramilitaries in the network. Numerous
community leaders had complained about the participation of
ex-paramilitaries in the networks, with some claiming that
ex-paras were exploiting the networks to continue their
criminal activities. Charge and Caramagna stressed to
Defense Minister Santos that public perception of collusion
between the military, police and ex-paras undermined GOC
efforts to increase confidence in the security forces and the
paramilitary demobilization process.
--------------
Preventing Problems
--------------
5. (C) OAS/MAPP Director Caramagna told us the lack of clear
guidance on how to operate the networks led to different
interpretations by local military and police officials. He
explained that residents in some regions saw participation of
local ex-paras in the network as a threat. For example,
residents in Cordoba told MAPP/OAS Mission officials some
former paras used the networks to continue criminal
activities, set up new criminal groups, or to intimidate
victims. Cordoba Police Commander Col. Jaime Velasco
confirmed the police had arrested a member of an emerging
criminal group, Los Traquetos, who had infiltrated the local
network. Similarly, San Jose de Apartado human rights
ombudsman Ruben Diaz said former paramilitaries had used the
network to set up the new criminal group known as Renacer.
Caramagna told us the new directive clarifies the rules and
will remove an important source of abuse.
Drucker