MEDELLIN MAYOR SALAZAR DENIES RECEIVING DON

C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 004386 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/10/2018 TAGS: PGOV PTER SNAR CO SUBJECT: MEDELLIN MAYOR SALAZAR DENIES RECEIVING DON BERNA'S SUPPORT IN MAYORAL ELECTIONS Classified By: Political Counselor John S. Creamer Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d) Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) Former Medellin crime boss and paramilitary leader Diego Murillo (Don Berna)--as well as his lieutenants--claim that Medellin Mayor Alonso Salazar sought and received Berna's financial support for his mayoral campaign in October ¶2007. Salazar has proclaimed his innocence and asked that the Prosecutor General's Office (Fiscalia) investigate the allegations. The Fiscalia opened a formal investigation on December 9. Salazar told us Berna's subordinates and his opponent in the last elections (Luis Perez) are fabricating the charges in retaliation for his efforts and those of former Mayor Sergio Fajardo to clean up the city. Medellin Colombian National Police Commander (CNP) Dagoberto Garcia told us the CNP is investigating the alleged Perez-Berna connection. End Summary Don Berna Professes Support to Salazar: Fiscalia Initiates Investigation -------------- ¶2. (U) Former United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) commander and narcotrafficker Diego Fernando Murillo (Don Berna) issued a letter through his lawyer on December 5 claiming to have provided financial support through unnamed community leaders to Medellin Mayor Salazar's electoral campaign. The lawyer forwarded the letter to the Fiscalia. The GOC extradited Berna to the United States last May after Berna continued his criminal activities while participating in the Justice and Peace Law process. Berna's letter followed previous allegations by Berna,s lieutenants that they funneled money to Salazar's campaign through the Democratic Corporation (Corporacion Democracia)--an NGO set up by Berna to support the paramilitary demobilization process. ¶3. (U) The Fiscalia announced the opening of a formal investigation into Berna's allegations against Salazar on December 9. Salazar had sent letters to Prosecutor General Mario Iguaran and Inspector General (Procurador) Edgar Maya in early November asking them to investigate claims by Berna's lieutenants that they had financed Salazar' campaign. Salazar publicly denied the charges, calling them malicious and unfounded. He expressed his confidence that the Fiscalia would clarify the situation and determine his innocence. Salazar Sees Political-Criminal 
Plot to Discredit Administration -------------- ¶4. (C) Polcouns met with Salazar and Medellin Government Secretary Jesus Ramirez on December 4 at the Mayor's request. Salazar said the claims by Berna--as well as by his lieutenants William Lopez (alias Memin),Alirio Rendon (alias Cebollero),and Jovani Marin--show the continuing ties between organized crime and local politicians despite his efforts and those of former Mayor Sergio Fajardo to clean up the city. Ramirez tied Memin and Cebollero, both of whom are in jail on numerous criminal charges, to Luis Perez--Salazar's rival in the last elections--and said the three appear to have allied in an attempt to discredit Salazar and possibly force him from office. They also hope to damage Fajardo's presidential aspirations. Salazar claimed Berna and his men supported Perez's campaign, noting that Perez won several Medellin neighborhoods with a strong demobilized presence. ¶5. (C) Salazar said that in addition to the allegations of campaign support, Memin and other witnesses are spreading rumors that he was the intellectual author of the murder of Berna aide Antonio Lopez (alias Job). Memin claims Salazar wanted Job killed to cover up the campaign support he received from Berna. Job managed the Democratic Corporation and was murdered in July. Ramirez added that Cebollero's employees have also filed spurious criminal libel and kidnapping charges against Salazar and his staff. He said the cases are mere nuisances, especially after the removal and arrest of corrupt Medellin Fiscalia head Guillermo Valencia Cossio, but noted that they require Salazar and his team to devote scarce time and money on defense attorneys. ¶6. (C) Ramirez provided Polcouns with a file of press clippings and testimony refuting the allegations against Salazar. Salazar said that in addition to the letters to Iguaran and Maya, he had also briefed national CNP Commander Naranjo and presidential advisor Jose Obdulio Gaviria on his concerns. Salazar voiced confidence in local CNP Commander Garcia, but said he has requested more CNP support from Naranjo. Ramirez said Salazar has also asked for polygraphs of all Fiscalia officials in Medellin, as well as personnel increases for the CNP and the Fiscalia. Gaviria told he believes Salazar will be vindicated by the Fiscalia investigation. Medellin Faces Delicate Economic and Political Situation -------------- -------------- ¶7. (C) Salazar and Ramirez said the political plots and criminal charges come as Medellin confronts a difficult moment. Expected economic problems in Venezuela and Ecuador (which import 70-80 percent of the area's industrial exports) will hit the city hard, and construction is already slowing sharply. The recent increase in murders has slowed (928 as of November 28) and will probably not break the psychologically important 1000 murders barrier, they said. Still, the city needs to reverse this trend, they said. Ramirez noted that Salazar continues to enjoy the support of the city's business class and media (confirmed separately by leading Medellin daily owner Ana Mercedes Gomez and Gallup pollster Jorge Londono),but said the situation remains delicate. Investigations Into Politico-Mafioso Ties -------------- ¶8. (C) Medellin CNP Commander Garcia cautiously acknowledged the historic connections between politicians and organized crime in Medellin and the surrounding suburbs. He said the problem continues, but added that politicians are now more careful about such ties due to the parapolitical scandal. Garcia confirmed the CNP is investigating possible links between Memin and Perez. He conceded that criminal penetration of the CNP remains a problem, noting that he has arrested, fired, or transferred 150 CNP (including 10 members of the loca CNP anti-kidnapping unit and almost 70 detectives) since his arrival six months ago. Bogota-based CNP and intelligence units have been key in helping with this cleanup operation, Garcia noted. NICHOLS