Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BOGOTA6106
2007-08-20 23:00:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Bogota
Cable title:
BUDGET INCREASE FOR PROSECUTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE
VZCZCXYZ0011 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHBO #6106 2322300 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 202300Z AUG 07 FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8233 INFO RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 7702 RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 9247 RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ AUG LIMA 5336 RUEHZP/AMEMBASSY PANAMA 0560 RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 5929 RUEHGL/AMCONSUL GUAYAQUIL 4044 RHEHOND/DIRONDCP WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC RUEAWJC/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
UNCLAS BOGOTA 006106
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KJUS PGOV PINR PREL PTER CO
SUBJECT: BUDGET INCREASE FOR PROSECUTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE
RENEWS COMMITTMENT TO JUSTICE AND PEACE LAW
UNCLAS BOGOTA 006106
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KJUS PGOV PINR PREL PTER CO
SUBJECT: BUDGET INCREASE FOR PROSECUTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE
RENEWS COMMITTMENT TO JUSTICE AND PEACE LAW
1. Minister of Interior and Justice Carlos Holguin said in
an August 13 interview in Semana magazine the GOC would
provide an additional 80 billion pesos (40 million USD) to
the Prosecutor General's Office (Fiscalia) in the 2008
budget. This would enable the Fiscalia to add 497 new
personnel to the Justice and Peace Unit, including 199
investigators, 85 prosecutors and 223 staff. Presidential
Legal Adviser Mauricio Gonzalez told us the budget increase
complements the National Development Plan which gives the
President extraordinary power for six months to restructure
the Fiscalia. He added that the GOC is conducting study of
the Fiscalia's need which will be completed by November.
2. The budget increase reflects the GOC's recognition that
the Fiscalia lacks the resources to implement fully the
Justice and Peace Law, investigate past human rights
violations--including priority labor cases, and to prosecute
former legislators linked to the parapolitical scandal.
MAPP/OAS chief Sergio Caramagna said July 25 greater
political support and additional resources were neede to
strengthen the Fiscalia's capacity to manage the Justice and
Peace law. An August 14 editorial in the Colombian daily El
Tiempo echoed these concerns and urged the GOC to inject
renewed investment into the Fiscalia. President Uribe
reiterated his commitment to helping the Fiscalia at an
August 8 meeting with the Charge.
Nichols
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KJUS PGOV PINR PREL PTER CO
SUBJECT: BUDGET INCREASE FOR PROSECUTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE
RENEWS COMMITTMENT TO JUSTICE AND PEACE LAW
1. Minister of Interior and Justice Carlos Holguin said in
an August 13 interview in Semana magazine the GOC would
provide an additional 80 billion pesos (40 million USD) to
the Prosecutor General's Office (Fiscalia) in the 2008
budget. This would enable the Fiscalia to add 497 new
personnel to the Justice and Peace Unit, including 199
investigators, 85 prosecutors and 223 staff. Presidential
Legal Adviser Mauricio Gonzalez told us the budget increase
complements the National Development Plan which gives the
President extraordinary power for six months to restructure
the Fiscalia. He added that the GOC is conducting study of
the Fiscalia's need which will be completed by November.
2. The budget increase reflects the GOC's recognition that
the Fiscalia lacks the resources to implement fully the
Justice and Peace Law, investigate past human rights
violations--including priority labor cases, and to prosecute
former legislators linked to the parapolitical scandal.
MAPP/OAS chief Sergio Caramagna said July 25 greater
political support and additional resources were neede to
strengthen the Fiscalia's capacity to manage the Justice and
Peace law. An August 14 editorial in the Colombian daily El
Tiempo echoed these concerns and urged the GOC to inject
renewed investment into the Fiscalia. President Uribe
reiterated his commitment to helping the Fiscalia at an
August 8 meeting with the Charge.
Nichols