NOVEMBER COLOMBIA STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT INTIATIVE UPDATE

UNCLAS BOGOTA 003968

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF PTER PHUM EAID SNAR CO
SUBJECT: NOVEMBER COLOMBIA STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT INTIATIVE UPDATE

REF: BOGOTA 3582; BOGOTA 3262; BOGOTA 2904

Summary

--------------

1. (SBU) The Embassy activated the Northern Band (Bajo Cauca in
northern Antioquia) as the fourth Colombia Strategic Development
Initiative (CSDI) priority zone. Montes de Maria will remain a
part of CSDI but requires less coordinated action from USG agencies
due to progress on the ground. General Oscar Naranjo, Director of
the Colombian National Police (CNP),agreed to work with the
Narcotic Affairs Section (NAS) on possible joint initiatives, USG
assistance in CSDI areas and opportunities for additional CNP
nationalization of programs. The Embassy CSDI team is stepping up
coordination both internally and with the GOC in Narino in the
Southern Band. The National Planning Department (DNP) has begun to
engage on consolidation in a welcome step towards
institutionalizing the GOC's National Consolidation Plan (PNC).
End Summary.

CSDI Activates Northern Band Priority Zone
--------------


2. (SBU) The Embassy decided to activate and make the Northern Band
-- Bajo Cauca in Northern Antioquia -- one of the top three CSDI
priority zones. The Northern Band's Nudo del Paramillo sits atop
the GOC's hierarchy of priorities for consolidation: all of
Colombia's foreign terrorist organizations threaten the zone, and
almost a quarter of yearly eradication efforts take place in the
area. The Northern Band is entangled by complex and intractable
problems that demand a focused and coordinated response from the
GOC and all USG agencies. Without complete CSDI support, the GOC
would only achieve marginally better stabilization and
counternarcotics results. The initiative and leadership
demonstrated by the Antioquia governor's office -- the best current
example of local-level ownership of consolidation -- will
facilitate efforts.


3. (SBU) Progress in Montes de Maria, south of Cartagena straddling
the departments of Sucre and Bolivar, allows this shift in
emphasis. The zone is the furthest along the consolidation
sequence of territorial control, stabilization and consolidation,
and no longer requires either intensive interagency coordination or
extensive resource expenditures by NAS or MILGP. USG activities in
Montes de Maria will continue within the rubric of CSDI as AID
continues development activities and the working group promotes and
supports the organized transition of public security
responsibilities from the military to the police.

CSDI and CNP Aligning Strategies

--------------

4. (SBU) NAS Director discussed CSDI with General Oscar Naranjo and
General Rafael Parra, CNP Director and Deputy Director. General
Naranjo expressed interest in identifying means to enhance the
capabilities and interdiction productivity of local police forces
in CSDI zones. He noted that the CNP is particularly focused on
the Antioquia/Bajo Cauca region (CSDI Northern Band) and is
interested in discussing potential NAS assistance in this area.
Naranjo agreed to work closely with NAS to develop priorities for
joint initiatives, and to look for future opportunities for

additional CNP program nationalization. Through close coordination
with CNP leadership and Embassy CSDI counterparts, NAS expects to
refine its CSDI approach into better alignment with the CNP's
strategy in the coming months.

Cooperation and Integration Advancing in Southern Band

-------------- --------------


5. (SBU) A CSDI team of AID and NAS officers traveled to Pasto,
Narino, on November 23-24 and met with departmental police heads
and governorship officials to discuss consolidation efforts in the
Southern Band. The trip was coordinated with Social Action (Accion
Social),the GOC consolidation and development agency. Narino's
leadership identified eight target municipalities (counties) for
CSDI involvement which AID, NAS and MILGP are reviewing. The
Embassy CSDI team and GOC officials discussed possible USG support
options for Narino's local police efforts. Overall, local
officials were receptive and shared their security plan,
operational priorities and major social challenges in the zone.


6. (SBU) Over the last four years, USG and GOC alternative
development programs in the region have made headway in reducing
coca production and increasing governance. AID officers told
Colombians that they have identified funding for short-term food
security and infrastructure activities in Tumaco to take advantage
of these gains and maintain positive momentum over the next 8-10
months until the GOC consolidation strategy and budget for the zone
come fully on-line. CSDI and Colombian officials discussed how the
funding could best achieve joint consolidation goals. The
short-term activities are being designed to reinforce a licit
economy and culture in areas where NAS is working with the CNP on
improving security conditions to align development with security
strategy.


7. (U) The Tumaco municipality -- principal CSDI focus in Narino --
holds notoriety for being the single largest producer of coca and
having the highest murder rate in Colombia. President Uribe
mandated months ago that the CNP and Ministry of Defense assign
special envoys to the area to bring Tumaco back under the control
of the government and security forces. The new security sector
special envoy arrives in Tumaco in December.

Institutionalizing the PNC

--------------


8. (SBU) The Colombian National Planning Department (DNP) designs,
orients and evaluates public policy towards a social, economic and
environmental strategic vision for Colombia in a role similar to
the USG's Office of Management and Budget. The DNP is a key player
in institutionalizing consolidation and transforming it into a
state policy that outlasts the current Uribe administration. In a
positive development, the DNP is now engaging the Coordination
Center for Integrated Action (CCAI) -- GOC coordinating mechanism
for the National Consolidation Plan (PNC) -- three times per week
to work on the resource question. Currently, the PNC expects
civilian ministries to reallocate existing resources towards
consolidation, something they have been reluctant to do. Ideally,
each ministry would have line items in their budgets for
consolidation ensuring continued efforts to support the PNC.


9. (U) Also to promote the sustainability of consolidation, AID is
providing leadership training to PNC staff. The training will

promote institutional memory and promulgate the lessons learned
from individual consolidation implementers throughout the GOC
consolidation bureaucracy.
NICHOLS