SEPTEMBER COLOMBIA STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT INTIATIVE UPDATE

UNCLAS BOGOTA 003262 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF PTER PHUM EAID SNAR CO SUBJECT: SEPTEMBER COLOMBIA STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT INTIATIVE UPDATE REF: BOGOTA 2904 SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (U) Diego Molano was named the new head of the President's Agency for Social Action and International Cooperation (Accion Social). The GOC has officially changed the name of "Fusion Centers" to "Regional Coordination Centers." Assistant Secretary of Defense Paul Stockton visited the Plan for the Integral Consolidation of the Macarena (PCIM) zone in Meta department. The Colombia Strategic Development Initiative (CSDI) working group is conducting an integrated planning process for the Central Band priority zone. Embassy formed a CSDI Steering Committee to improve decision-making and coordination. CSDI programs in Tumaco, Narino Department, are increasing Afro-Colombian representation in the Colombian National Police (CNP) and enhancing capacity. ONDCP Director Gil Kerlikowske visited CSDI programs in Tumaco. GOC officials identify disappointing progress along border with Venezuela. End Summary. Diego Molano Named Head of Accion Social -------------- ¶2. (U) Diego Molano was sworn in as the Director General of Accion Social on September 17 and filled what had been a political leadership vacuum on the civilian side of the GOC's National Consolidation Plan (PNC). His challenge will be to stimulate lackluster participation from key GOC civilian ministries and the justice sector while securing a concrete commitment of budget allocations to be applied to PNC activities. Molano was the Deputy Chief of Party for USAID's Additional Investment for Sustainable Alternative Development (MIDAS) program since April 2008 and also managed USAID's Ethnic Productive Territories (TEP) program. Before joining USAID, he served as Director of Presidential Programs at Accion Social from 2005 to 2008 and Coordinator for Plan Colombia from 2003 to 2005. Molano studied in the United States, receiving a master's degree in international affairs from Columbia University. Embassy is encouraging Molano to visit Washington at the earliest opportunity to reinforce his civilian leadership role in PNC. GOC Officially Abandons "Fusion Center" Name -------------- ¶3. (U) CCAI officials met with CSDI officers September 9 and told us that the GOC had officially changed the name of "Fusion Centers" to "Regional Coordination Centers" (RCCs) in order to avoid the former name's military connotation and possible association with intelligence Qations. Assistant Secretary of Defense Stockton Visits Consolidation Efforts in La Macarena -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Assistant Secretary of Defense Paul Stockton visited the PCIM zone in Meta department on September 24 with Vice Minister of Defense Sergio Jaramillo. ASD Stockton visited a Joint Task Force (JTF) Omega base in La Macarena, town hall meetings in Pinalito and Vista Hermosa, and the Vista Hermosa RCC. At the JTF base, the Omega commander told ASD Stockton that the USG can best support consolidation by continuing its security assistance in the same form (citing intelligence, airlift and technical assistance) since the zone is still in transition. Jaramillo added that the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) have been unable to threaten community leaders and consolidation programs in the PCIM because they have been cut off from their militia in the towns and are under operational pressure from the JTF. ¶5. (U) In Pinalito, a hamlet of 1,500 beginning the consolidation process, community members were developing an accord between the central government and the community outlining each side's responsibility in transitioning the community from coca to the legal economy. Residents acknowledged "we made a big mistake" in growing coca but insisted they had no alternative because the state was not present. They described the transition as traumatic and requested tertiary roads, schools, agricultural equipment and food assistance. Despite the challenges, citizens expressed gratitude for a safe community and their desire to reach legitimate self-sufficiency. They thanked the USG for its assistance and implored the delegation (both USG and GOC) not to abandon them. Planning Process for Central Band Highlights CSDI Coordination -------------- ¶6. (U) CSDI is developing a plan for coordinated assistance to the Central Band CSDI priority zone -- La Macarena in Meta west through southern Tolima and Valle del Cauca to Buenaventura on the Pacific coast. As a first step, the GOC is identifying key population centers where targeted assistance would deliver the most significant strategic gains and consolidation impact. These will be prioritized by the CSDI working group and interagency teams will travel to key locations to jointly assess current conditions and requirements. The results of the design process will be used to phase and coordinate future assistance from various USG entities. CSDI Forms Steering Committee -------------- ¶7. (U) The CSDI working group formed a steering committee to provide strategic guidance and direction for CSDI activities. The three primary members are the Narcotics Affairs Section (NAS) Director, USAID Mission Director and Military Group Commander with the Political Counselor acting as policy advisor. Police Scholarship Program Boosts Afro-Colombian Representation -------------- ¶8. (U) In September a NAS police scholarship program (see reftel) produced 56 Afro-Colombian police recruit candidates from Tumaco, along with another 50 from other Pacific coast towns, providing a significant boost in Afro-Colombian police recruits from previous years. (Note: There were less than five police recruits from Tumaco in 2008. End note.) The program is designed to increase representation from and police links to underrepresented populations. The new recruits are scheduled to enter CNP academies in April 2010. Enhancing Police Capacity in Tumaco -------------- ¶9. (U) The CNP Antinarcotics Police (DIRAN),with the support of the NAS Jungla program, augmented DIRAN's long-term presence in Tumaco. During September, DIRAN added 25 Junglas (CNP airmobile commandos) and 20 intelligence and judicial officials, effectively doubling DIRAN's presence there. The Junglas destroyed three HCL cocaine labs and 15 coca base labs in the Tumaco operating area in September. ¶10. (U) The NAS Carabineros program delivered six motorcycles and computer equipment to the Tumaco municipal police in September. In addition, $10,000 of communication equipment was procured and scheduled for delivery in October. NAS Maritime supplied Coast Guard units with eye protection equipment and Global Positioning Systems to enhance operational capabilities. The Tumaco Coast Guard station will also receive $6,000 in communications equipment for interceptors. ONDCP Director Visits Tumaco Priority Zone -------------- ¶11. (U) ONDCP Director R. Gil Kerlikowske visited Colombia from September 27-30. Director Kerlikowske met with President Uribe, the Minister of Defense, the Minister of Interior and Justice, and the Director General of the National Police. He emphasized that the Obama Administration's focus on prevention and treatment will not decrease USG support to counternarcotics efforts in Colombia. The Director also traveled to Tumaco in the CSDI Southern priority zone and observed Embassy-supported alternative development and police security assistance programs and a housing project for internally displaced persons (septel). GOC Consolidation Efforts Along Venezuelan Border Lagging -------------- -------------- ¶12. (SBU) Bogota-based GOC officials responsible for the PNC met with local civilian coordinators and military and police commanders at Colombian Army Second Division Headquarters in Cucuta, Norte de Santander Department, on September 23 to discuss consolidation progress in the Arauca department and the Catatumbo region of Norte de Santander department - both areas along the border with Venezuela. The Bogota officials told local coordinators and commanders that these two areas are not progressing against the benchmarks set out for them and that the GOC is considering elevating the importance of Arauca and Catatumbo -- currently "complementary" and "secondary" zones respectively -- due to deteriorating security indicators. Representatives from the departmental governments pleaded for more social investment to accompany substantial security advances saying that there is a great risk of dashing some communities' post-eradication expectations. Various officials noted that the judicial sector was critical yet lagging. NICHOLS