Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BOGOTA8518
2007-12-13 22:40:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bogota
Cable title:
ELN-GOC PEACE PROCESS REMAINS STALLED
how-toVZCZCXYZ0002 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHBO #8518/01 3472240 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 132240Z DEC 07 FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0492 INFO RUEHSW/AMEMBASSY BERN PRIORITY 1362 RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 7938 RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY 9664 RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ DEC 9121 RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA PRIORITY 5710 RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO PRIORITY 0383 RUEHZP/AMEMBASSY PANAMA PRIORITY 0978 RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO PRIORITY 6408 RUEHGL/AMCONSUL GUAYAQUIL PRIORITY 4215 RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA PRIORITY 0152 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 008518
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/17/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL PTER PREF CU VZ CO
SUBJECT: ELN-GOC PEACE PROCESS REMAINS STALLED
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 008518
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/17/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL PTER PREF CU VZ CO
SUBJECT: ELN-GOC PEACE PROCESS REMAINS STALLED
Classified By: Political Counselor John S. Creamer
Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
--------------
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (C) The GOC is trying to revive FARC-ELN peace talks, but
a December meeting appears doubtful. Numerous contacts told
us ELN leaders remain divided over whether to pursue peace
talks with the GOC, and are looking to close ranks with the
FARC. Former ELN member Leon Valencia told us senior ELN
leader Nicolas Rodriguez admitted that the GOC's democratic
security policy has severely limited the ELN's ability to
operate freely. Adding a new twist, Valencia said the ELN
would demand that the GOC and Colombian Courts provide ELN
members a complete amnesty before the group would agree to
concentrate its forces and demobilize. End Summary
--------------
ROOM FOR MOVEMENT?
--------------
2. (C) Presidential advisor Jose Obdulio Gaviria told us he
is urging President Uribe to show greater flexibility with
the ELN in an effort to revive GOC-ELN peace talks. Agreement
on a ceasefire and the liberation of ELN kidnap victims would
strengthen the GOC's political position on the paramilitary
process and vis-a-vis the FARC. Norwegian Charge Dag
Nylander said the GOC passed a new offer to the ELN in early
December that backtracks from its previous insistence that
ELN members must concentrate as part of any ceasefire accord.
The new GOC proposal calls for the ELN to identify only the
locations of ELN negotiators and some Central Command (COCE)
members.
3. (C) Still, Nylander doubted the proposal would be enough
for ELN-GOC talks planned for the second half of December to
proceed. The GOC and ELN agreed on these dates prior to the
GOC's suspension of President Chavez' mediation efforts with
the ELN and FARC. On December 10, the ELN issued a
communique criticizing Uribe for removing Chavez from the
process and attributing this to pressure from President Bush.
The ELN also attacked the USG for soliciting the extradition
of ELN members, but reiterated its commitment to seeking a
political solution to Colombia's conflict. Catholic priest
Dario Echeverri also voiced skepticism that GOC-FARC talks
would resume soon, noting that Chavez would "cast a shadow"
over any meeting and that the Cubans remain unhappy with the
GOC's sudden shift of the process from Havana to Caracas last
August.
--------------
ELN LEADERSHIP MEETS: PEACE CAMP LOSES
--------------
4. (C) ELN peace process "guarantor" Moritz Akerman told us
the COCE remains divided over whether to proceed with genuine
peace talks with the GOC. After long internal discussion, he
claimed the COCE decided in November to pursue a "double
agenda" in future peace talks with the GOC: advancing a
"bolvarian agenda" in the peace process to gain Chavez'
support and gain political legitimacy, while also
coordinating their negotiating position with the FARC.
5. (C) Former ELN member and peace advocate Leon Valencia
acknowledged internal ELN divisions, but claimed senior ELN
cadre Nicolas Rodriguez (Gabino) supports a ceasefire and
eventual peace process. Rodriguez admitted that Uribe's
democratic security policy has been effective, and said the
ELN has little space in which to operate. His chief concern
is to obtain a complete amnesty--with full juridical
guarantees--for ELN members. Rodriguez told Valencia the ELN
would not accept the treatment given to paramilitary leaders
who thought they would receive no real jail time--only to
find themselves in prison after the Constitutional Court
changed the terms of the deal.
6. (C) Guarantor Daniel Garcia Pena (also secretary general
of the Polo Democratico Party) confirmed that the guarantors
had recommended that any ELN-GOC meeting be delayed until
January so the participants could see how the Uribe-Chavez
dispute plays out. Garcia Pena met with ELN spokesman
Francisco Galan in early December and urged him to push the
COCE to release unilaterally its kidnapping victims to give
an impetus to the otherwise moribund process. Galan said he
agreed, but added that the COCE would not take such a step
because: 1) they do not want to offend Chavez and believe a
unilateral release immediately after the Uribe-Chavez dispute
would embarrass him; and 2) COCE members remain committed to
pursuing a relationship with the FARC.
Brownfield
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/17/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL PTER PREF CU VZ CO
SUBJECT: ELN-GOC PEACE PROCESS REMAINS STALLED
Classified By: Political Counselor John S. Creamer
Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
--------------
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (C) The GOC is trying to revive FARC-ELN peace talks, but
a December meeting appears doubtful. Numerous contacts told
us ELN leaders remain divided over whether to pursue peace
talks with the GOC, and are looking to close ranks with the
FARC. Former ELN member Leon Valencia told us senior ELN
leader Nicolas Rodriguez admitted that the GOC's democratic
security policy has severely limited the ELN's ability to
operate freely. Adding a new twist, Valencia said the ELN
would demand that the GOC and Colombian Courts provide ELN
members a complete amnesty before the group would agree to
concentrate its forces and demobilize. End Summary
--------------
ROOM FOR MOVEMENT?
--------------
2. (C) Presidential advisor Jose Obdulio Gaviria told us he
is urging President Uribe to show greater flexibility with
the ELN in an effort to revive GOC-ELN peace talks. Agreement
on a ceasefire and the liberation of ELN kidnap victims would
strengthen the GOC's political position on the paramilitary
process and vis-a-vis the FARC. Norwegian Charge Dag
Nylander said the GOC passed a new offer to the ELN in early
December that backtracks from its previous insistence that
ELN members must concentrate as part of any ceasefire accord.
The new GOC proposal calls for the ELN to identify only the
locations of ELN negotiators and some Central Command (COCE)
members.
3. (C) Still, Nylander doubted the proposal would be enough
for ELN-GOC talks planned for the second half of December to
proceed. The GOC and ELN agreed on these dates prior to the
GOC's suspension of President Chavez' mediation efforts with
the ELN and FARC. On December 10, the ELN issued a
communique criticizing Uribe for removing Chavez from the
process and attributing this to pressure from President Bush.
The ELN also attacked the USG for soliciting the extradition
of ELN members, but reiterated its commitment to seeking a
political solution to Colombia's conflict. Catholic priest
Dario Echeverri also voiced skepticism that GOC-FARC talks
would resume soon, noting that Chavez would "cast a shadow"
over any meeting and that the Cubans remain unhappy with the
GOC's sudden shift of the process from Havana to Caracas last
August.
--------------
ELN LEADERSHIP MEETS: PEACE CAMP LOSES
--------------
4. (C) ELN peace process "guarantor" Moritz Akerman told us
the COCE remains divided over whether to proceed with genuine
peace talks with the GOC. After long internal discussion, he
claimed the COCE decided in November to pursue a "double
agenda" in future peace talks with the GOC: advancing a
"bolvarian agenda" in the peace process to gain Chavez'
support and gain political legitimacy, while also
coordinating their negotiating position with the FARC.
5. (C) Former ELN member and peace advocate Leon Valencia
acknowledged internal ELN divisions, but claimed senior ELN
cadre Nicolas Rodriguez (Gabino) supports a ceasefire and
eventual peace process. Rodriguez admitted that Uribe's
democratic security policy has been effective, and said the
ELN has little space in which to operate. His chief concern
is to obtain a complete amnesty--with full juridical
guarantees--for ELN members. Rodriguez told Valencia the ELN
would not accept the treatment given to paramilitary leaders
who thought they would receive no real jail time--only to
find themselves in prison after the Constitutional Court
changed the terms of the deal.
6. (C) Guarantor Daniel Garcia Pena (also secretary general
of the Polo Democratico Party) confirmed that the guarantors
had recommended that any ELN-GOC meeting be delayed until
January so the participants could see how the Uribe-Chavez
dispute plays out. Garcia Pena met with ELN spokesman
Francisco Galan in early December and urged him to push the
COCE to release unilaterally its kidnapping victims to give
an impetus to the otherwise moribund process. Galan said he
agreed, but added that the COCE would not take such a step
because: 1) they do not want to offend Chavez and believe a
unilateral release immediately after the Uribe-Chavez dispute
would embarrass him; and 2) COCE members remain committed to
pursuing a relationship with the FARC.
Brownfield