OAS AND U.S. ELECTORAL OBSERVATION EFFORTS IN

UNCLAS BOGOTA 007582 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR WHA/AND AND US/OAS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINR PREF PREL PTER CO SUBJECT: OAS AND U.S. ELECTORAL OBSERVATION EFFORTS IN SUPPORT OF GOC UNDERWAY REF: BOGOTA 5431 AND PREVIOUS -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. The OAS Electoral Observation Mission (EOM) has a presence on the ground and will support extensive GOC actions to promote free and fair elections (reftel). The Embassy has developed an election observation plan, and will deploy 30 officers across key Departments under OAS accreditation. Other Embassies, including Brazil, Canada, Norway, and Sweden will also contribute observers to the OAS mission. END SUMMARY. -------------- OAS ACTIVITIES -------------- ¶2. The OAS EOM Core Group and the first round of Departmental Coordinators arrived in-country the week of October 2, and set up offices in Bogota, Cali, Medellin, Pasto, and Santa Marta. The Core Group consists of a dozen specialists in political analysis, campaign finance, electoral systems and law, election administration, technology, and communications, as well as administrative officers. ¶3. In addition, Chief of Mission Dante Caputo was in Bogota where he met with President Uribe, National Registrar Juan Carlos Galindo, officials from the National Electoral Council, and Bogota mayoral candidates Enrique Penalosa (independent) and Samuel Moreno (Polo Democratico). He also attended a dinner with Colombian opinion leaders, hosted by former foreign minister Maria Emma Mejia and former president and OAS Secretary General Cesar Gaviria, who currently leads the Liberal Party. ¶4. Caputo told the media he is "seriously worried" about illegal armed groups' attacks on candidates. He urged local and national authorities to investigate the crimes committed and submit findings to the EOM. ¶5. Additional Department Coordinators arrived October 15 to set up offices in Monteria, Valledupar, and Villavicencio. Core Group members also deployed in "mobile units" to high-risk areas identified by the GOC in Arauca, Bucaramanga, and Buenaventura. The coordinators will meet with mayors, governors, candidates, registrars, electoral tribunal officials, police officials, army commanders, and journalists. ¶6. Forty-eight short-term observers will arrive in Colombia on October 24, bringing the final number of EOM observers to 85 on election day, not counting volunteers from the Embassy or other foreign missions. EOM Department Coordinators will remain on the ground until November 5 to observe the transfer of votes from local tables to departmental counting centers. The official count will begin on October 30. -------------- EMBASSY ENGAGEMENT -------------- ¶7. In September, Embassy officers traveled to areas identified by the GOC and others as high-risk for fraud and violence from illegal armed groups to develop contacts and assess the local political environment. These areas included Antioquia (San Jose de Apartado),Cesar (Valledupar),Cordoba (Monteria),Meta (Villavicencio),Norte de Santander (Cucuta),Sucre (Sincilejo),and Valle del Cauca (Cali). These officers will return to those regions to observe the elections under OAS accreditation. We will also include additional officers to cover other areas and Bogota, bringing the total number of Embassy observers to 25-30. We are working closely with the OAS to maximize coverage and coordinating logistics and security with the OAS and GOC. Brownfield