SUCCESSES AND CHALLENGES: HUMANITARIAN DEMINING IN

UNCLAS BOGOTA 008585 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS FOR WHA/AND AND PM/WRA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PARM PHUM PREF CO SUBJECT: SUCCESSES AND CHALLENGES: HUMANITARIAN DEMINING IN COLOMBIA -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (U) A November 12-17 visit by PM/WRA program officer reviewed progress of USG-supported humanitarian mine action (HMA) projects and next steps. The GOC's recent restructuring of its civilian HMA management shows renewed commitment to demining issues, and receives high marks from international donors. Two U.S.-funded emergency humanitarian demining missions by Colombian military platoons are slated for areas formerly controlled by the FARC. Social services and landmine victim assistance are being targeted through GOC and local civil society participation. Still, the continuing conflict and weak coordination among the HMA community continue to pose challenges. For the second year in a row, Colombia has the highest number of mine victims in the world, with Colombian military the primary victims. END SUMMARY. -------------- RESTRUCTURING GOC LEADERSHIP IN DEMINING -------------- ¶2. (U) PM/WRA program officer Edmund Trimakas visited Colombia November 12-17 to monitor progress of USG-funded humanitarian demining and victims' assistance projects, and to explore areas for future assistance. In addition to PM/WRA's demining assistance, SOUTHCOM's HMA is funding training of a demining platoon and a new Mine Action Center (MAC) in the Colombian military (COLMIL's) Engineering School, due to open in February 2008. The MAC will facilitate improved data entry and management, mine risk education and interagency/civil society coordination. USAID's Leahy Fund will also contribute to rehabilitation services, socio-economic training, and capacity building. ¶3. (SBU) Training and implementation of USG-funded emergency response humanitarian demining teams (funded since 2006) have been slow, due in part to the bureaucracy of the Organization of American States (OAS) and safety concerns associated with demining in areas of conflict. Officials from the Presidential Program for Integrated Action against Anti-personnel Mines (PPAICMA) and the Colombian military indicated renewed GOC commitment to address humanitarian demining issues. Formerly called Observatorio de Minas, the PPAICMA is now headed by Andres Davila who transferred from the Ministry of Planning and is highly regarded by civil society. Despite bureaucratic obstacles, Davila told us he is preparing the groundwork to launch new initiatives. ¶4. (U) The Demining Department in the Colombian military's School of Engineers controls the GOC's four demining platoons, each composed of 40 soldiers. PM/WRA funds two platoons for emergency humanitarian demining while the Government of Canada funds two for conventional humanitarian demining units (i.e. Colombian military mines). The funding for both is managed by the OAS. The GOC will create a third emergency humanitarian demining in 2008, for a total of five platoons, and hopes to create three more platoons in 2009. Major Goyenache, head of the Demining Department, said the GOC's goal is to complete its Ottawa convention agreement to remove all Colombian military mines ahead of the 2011 deadline and shift those platoons to emergency humanitarian demining work. -------------- DEMINING FARC AREAS -------------- ¶5. (U) A USG-funded platoon is conducting its first mission to clear over 200 UXOs mines from two fields near San Jose de Guaviare, in response to an indigenous community's request to clear the sites. Sixteen members of one family were injured after bringing home a grenade as part of a scrap metal collection. The reclaimed 23,074 square meters will be turned over to the indigenous community on December 13. ¶6. (SBU) Underscoring the inherent difficulties of implementing HMA during conflict areas, initial plans to deploy a platoon to Ricaurte, Narino were put on hold when the survey team encountered FARC activity in the area. PPAICMA is now shifting its activity to San Francisco in Antioquia department. San Francisco has the third highest number of mine victims in the country; 70 displaced families are expected to return to their homes after the conclusion of the demining mission. Survey teams composed of representatives from PPAICMA, COLMIL, OAS, and International Demining Monitors have proposed additional impact studies in Santa Rosa (Bolivar) and Necocli, Cocorna, Dabeiba, Guadelupe, and Caracoli (Antioquia). PPAICMA will continue to evaluate conditions for demining missions in Narino. ¶7. (SBU) In early November, President Uribe mandated an HMA operation in Montes de Maria, an area where the GOC has scored important successes against the FARC, including killing FARC leader Gustavo Rueda (aka "Martin Caballero"). A second USG-funded platoon recently completed training and will begin its mission in December - a six-month project to clear the town of Bajo Grande and surrounding areas from which the FARC had displaced over 300 people. General Mantilla, commander of the Corozal military base told us the platoon must be airlifted the last five kilometers to the area due to unsafe road conditions. PPAICMA is working with the GOC's Coordination for Integrated Action (CCAI) and Accion Social to provide road repair, school construction, electricity lines, and sanitation services once the mines are cleared. ¶8. (U) Centro Integral de Rehabilitacion de Colombia's (CIREC) Seeds of Hope program will also fund advocacy programs, support groups, and vocational training for landmine victims in the Montes de Maria region through PM/WRA funding. PM/WRA's $300K assistance will fund rehabilitation brigades to rural areas, providing medical assessment, physical therapy and custom-made prosthetics. CIREC director Jeanette Perry de Saravia told us they are working to raise public awareness of the plight of landmine victims and international cooperation on HMA. A full-page article in Colombia's daily El Tiempo on September 8 and a public event that week attended by Vice President Santos were positive steps. -------------- CHALLENGES AHEAD -------------- ¶9. (SBU) Civil society and donor nations expect PPAICMA's new leadership to address the weak coordination among the HMA community. PPAICMA and COLMIL officials expressed concern over the lack of access to the OAS' demining budget and planning, while OAS officials countered that the GOC's priorities do not always reflect an urgent need. A new, full-time OAS HMA Director based in Bogota is expected to facilitate communication between the GOC and OAS. ¶10. (U) For the second year in a row, Colombia has the highest number of mine victims in the world. Colombian military on active duty remain the primary victims of landmines, totaling 60%-80% of all cases. The International Committee for the Red Cross notes, however, that civilian mine incidents are underreported as many civilian victims live in remote rural areas, are poorly educated, and are unsure of reporting procedures. GOC and civil society sources said mine incidents are highest where FARC activity exists. A Human Rights Watch report this year stated the FARC and ELN are responsible for the majority of antipersonnel mines in Colombia. Brownfield