SAN JOSE DE APARTADO VISIT HIGHLIGHTS SECURITY,

C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 005672

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/22/2016
TAGS: PHUM PGOV KJUS CO
SUBJECT: SAN JOSE DE APARTADO VISIT HIGHLIGHTS SECURITY,
HUMAN RIGHTS CONCERNS

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

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SUMMARY
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1. (C) On August 1, Poloffs met with members of the 17th
Brigade, local police, the Peace Community (PC) and the
Human Rights Ombudsman in San Jose de Apartado to highlight
concern over recent violence and press security forces to
respect human rights. The 17th Brigade and the San Jose de
Apartado police recognized the need to provide security for
the entire Apartado area, including the PC, and the police
said they were investigating the recent murder of Dairo
Torres. PC members in San Jose de Apartado reported a
worsening security situation, suggesting "obvious collusion"
between police and newly emerging criminal groups. The
community refuses to deal with the GOC until certain demands
are met, including GOC recognition of humanitarian zones and
a formal apology from President Uribe. The Human Rights
Ombudsman and local MAPP/OAS observers said security on the
whole had improved in the region, with numerous residents
returning to the area. End summary.

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SECURITY CONCERNS FOR THE PEACE COMMUNITY
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2. (C) On August 1, Poloffs met with and Colonel Jorge Arturo
Salgado Restrepo (Deputy Commander) of the 17th Brigade and
Captain Jaime Aguilera (head of the 17th Human Rights office)
to voice concerns about respecting human rights and ensuring
security for the San Jose de Apartado Peace Community's (PC)
and other local residents. Aguilera told us the 17th was not
involved in the Prosecutor General's (Fiscalia) investigation
of the murder of former PC leader Dairo Torres on July 13.
The police had responsibility for secutity on the
ten-kilometer road linking the PC to Apartado. Torres was
taken off a bus traveling on the road and was killed.
Aguilera and Salgado said they were cooperating with the
Fiscalia's investigation of 69 brigade members allegedly
involved in the February 2005 massacre of PC leaders.


3. (C) Poloffs urged local and regional police (including
Major Edisson Puentes and Lieutenant Portela of the Human
Rights Office) to ensure they respect human rights while
maintaining order. The Police said they had lost two officers
in July, apparently killed by FARC snipers. The policeman
killed on July 27 near the PC was part of a pre-security
detail for a visiting GOC delegation (Accion Social) to
distribute aid. In response, the police set up a checkpoint
in front of the PC on July 30 to help investigate the
shooting and to protect the Peace Community. The police told
us they have not entered the community, but do not rule out
the possibility of doing so as part of its investigation.
Major Puentes said there is an ongoing investigation into the
death of Torres, who had left the PC three years ago but had
remained in the San Jose de Apartado area. The police had no
motive, but said family members told them Torres had drug and
alcohol problems.


4. (U) On a visit to La Holandita, community leaders and
representatives of Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR) and
Peace Brigades International (PBI) said the recent increase
in violence was a direct threat to the community and evidence
of "obvious collaboration" between the police and
paramilitary groups. They voiced concern about the police
checkpoint on July 30, but confirmed the checkpoint had been
removed the same day. (Poloff had called the Colombian
National Police (CNP) Headquarters earlier on July 30 to
express concerns about the checkpoint, and they assured us it
would be removed). They said Torres, as well as others who
had left the PC for economic or personal reasons, still
maintained close ties with the community.


5. (U) PC leaders said FOR and PBI volunteers talk to the
police occasionally about general security concerns, but the
community will not communicate directly with the GOC security
forces until: 1) the GOC sets up a commission to investigate
violence against the community; 2) President Uribe publicly
apologizes and acknowledges PC members are not guerrillas, 3)
the GOC publicly recognizes humanitarian zones; and 4) the
GOC removes the local police station in San Jose de Apartado
which is located half a mile from Holandita. The community
expressed concern over repeated statements by various GOC

security forces that they "were all guerrillas, all FARC".

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DEMOBILIZED PARAMILITARY ISSUES
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6. (C) Poloffs reiterated the need to implement the recent
Ministry of Defense (MOD) directive banning demobilized
paramilitaries from the Red de Cooperantes to Colonel Salgado
and Captain Aguilera. Salgado said the 17th's use of Red de
Cooperantes was solely for information, but (with an
additional reminder from Colonel Gomez of the MOD's Human
Rights office) said he would look into better applying the
new directives. He said he was absolutely clear on not
allowing demobilized paramilitary in any combatant role.


7. (C) Local Defensor del Pueblo (Human Rights Ombudsman)
Ruben Dario Diaz and OAS/MAPP representative Eleuterio Cahuec
del Valle said the emerging criminal groups in the area,
Aguilas Negras and Renacer, were composed of rearmed
paramilitaries, who were paid by narcotraffickers to control
land and drug corridors. Both noted the groups had none of
the ideological undertones that drove the AUC and were
motivated purely by profit. Cahuec del Valle stressed the
lack of jobs and expiration of reinsertion stipends may spur
more demobilized to join these bands. He stressed the need to
find alternative solutions to keep former paras out of the
drug trade.

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SECURITY TRENDS AND RETURNEES
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8. (C) The Defensor and the OAS representative said displaced
persons continue to return to their homes due to increased
confidence in the security situation. Recent violence seemed
to be targeted with personal or business motivations, not
part of a larger political statement. The Defensor said some
of the returnees are returning to rural areas, such as San
Jose de Apartado, and will demand a greater security
presence. Fighting over land among the returnees could become
a potential problem. Continued FARC presence remains a
concern, especially in rural areas, with roving bands of 2-3
guerrillas patrolling controlled and contested areas.
Drucker