GOC PROCEEDS WITH PRIVATIZATION OF PROTECTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 001120 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/30/2019 TAGS: ELAB KJUS PHUM PREL PGOV CO SUBJECT: GOC PROCEEDS WITH PRIVATIZATION OF PROTECTION PROGRAM DESPITE SOME UNION RESISTANCE REF: 07 BOGOTA 1390 Classified By: Political Counselor John S. Creamer Reasons 1.4 (b and d) SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) The Ministry of Interior and Justice (MOIJ) is privatizing its protection program, which covers nearly 11,000 at risk human rights defenders, unionists, journalists and other threatened individuals. Program Director Rafael Bustamante told us a well-established security company has been contracted, and is expected to offer more efficient and flexible protection. The GOC has already transferred 180 protection schemes to the firm. Reassignment is voluntary, but will become mandatory after December 31. The MOIJ will reach out to human rights defenders and unionists to explain the transition process and the program's advantages. Bustamante confirms the GOC will not relinquish control, and will make all key decisions related to the protection of at-risk individuals. Still, some unions told us they would prefer to withdraw from the program rather than accept privatization. End Summary. -------------- PROTECTION PROGRAM BACKGROUND -------------- ¶2. (C) MOIJ protection program director Rafael Bustamante told us the program, which began in 1997, has expanded to include over 10,718 people including human and labor rights activists, opposition members, journalists, ethnic leaders, and other vulnerable individuals. About 18 percent of the participants are unionists, though they account for 27 percent of the program's budget because they receive the most expensive protective measures. 211 of the program's 544 armored vehicles are for unionists. The program's hard protection schemes include bodyguards, weapons, bullet-proof jackets, armored doors/buildings/vehicles, rental vehicles, and relocation funds. Soft protection schemes include communications equipment and financial aid for temporary relocation. The program's 2009 budget is roughly 90 billion pesos (about $45 million),up from about 4 billion pesos (about $2 million) in 2000. ¶3. (C) The Department of Administrative Security (DAS),and to a much lesser extent the Colombia National Police (CNP), Qanage the cur rent program, conducting risk analysis, assigning protection schemes, and hiring bodyguards for protected individuals. Bustamante said the DAS did not use direct hires as bodyguards, only individual contractors. The bodyguards had no access to DAS or other GOC intelligence, nor arrest authority. In 2006, after a scandal involving former DAS chief Jorge Noguera (reftel),a blue-ribbon panel recommended that the GOC reform DAS functions and eliminate its role in the protection program. The GOC has proceeded with its plan to privatize the protection program despite calls by some participants that protection should remain a purely state responsibility. -------------- EVIDENCE OF A TRANSPARENT BIDDING PROCESS -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Bustamante told us the three companies that bid on the contract to provide protection services were all qualified. The MOIJ chose an established, decades-old security company called VISE for the contract. VISE maintains national contracts with some of Colombia's largest companies, and has ten branQ offices across the country. The company won a 15-month contract that extends through February, 2010, with a 7-month extension option subject to MOIJ discretion. -------------- VOLUNTARY NOW BUT NOT FOR LONG -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Bustamante confirmed that MOIJ has already shifted responsibility for 180 protection schemes to VISE, and plans to transfer 30 more in the near-term. Prior to March, 2009, MOIJ reassigned to VISE only those participants who gave consent. After December 31, 2009, reassignment will become mandatory, and any participants who refuse to accept transfer to VISE will effectively be opting out of the protection program. He said many participants have requested transfer to VISE because they recognize that it offers more effective service. ¶6. (C) Bustamante said the MOIJ plans to meet with representatives of the large labor confederations soon to explain the new program. Still, in a separate meeting United Workers Confederation (CUT) President Tarsicio Mora told us that his confederation and the Confederation of Colombian Workers (CTC) would opt out of the protection program rather than accept reassignment to VISE. Mora said protection should remain a state responsibility, and raised concerns that VISE woulQsacrifice service for profits. He conceded that VISE appears to be providing better services, but complained that VISE would prove incapable of protecting sensitive information about participants. Still, Mora said other unions, such as the Petroleum Workers Union (USO), would participate. -------------- ADVANTAGES OF CONTRACTING -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Bustamante outlined several advantages to the planned contracted protection program: --Contracting with VISE will eliminate unionists' concerns that bodyguards contracted by DAS had access to sensitive intelligence information and/or were used to spy on them. --Contracted bodyguards will receive a salary of three times the minimum wage (more than they earned under DAS),in addition to a daily food allowance. New continuing education requirements will make them more effective and professional. --Program participants will be allowed to retain bodyguards they have an established relationship with. VISE has already hired 50% of the 900 bodyguards pQviously contracted by DAS. --DAS' administration was slow to repair/replace damaged or missing equipment (averaging more than a week to replace armored vehicles, for example) whereas VISE is more flexible and subject to a 24-hour deadline. --All vehicles used in the program are required to be new (not older than 2009 model year). --The contractor will provide a technical supervisor for each component of the protection scheme, and one operational coordinator for every 20 schemes (180 schemes equals 9 coordinators as of March). Bustamante said the GOC has had trouble keeping up with the program's rapid expansion rate, and would have had difficulty sustaining a similar ratio. ¶8. (SBU) Bustamante confirmed that the MOIJ will continue to manage the program. VISE is only an intermediary, and the GOC will not relinquish policy control. The GOC will determine who gets protection and what measures are necessary to safeguard protection program participants. He said the MOIJ will also reach out to human rights groups and unionists to explain the transition and the new program's advantages. BROWNFIELD