WITNESSES KILLED, INVESTIGATORS QUESTIONED IN FALSE POSITIVE

S E C R E T BOGOTA 000315 SIPDIS NOFORN E.O. 12958: DECL: 2035/02/19 TAGS: PHUM PGOV PTER KJUS CO SUBJECT: WITNESSES KILLED, INVESTIGATORS QUESTIONED IN FALSE POSITIVE CASES REF: 09 BOGOTA 1826; 09 BOGOTA 2015; 09 BOGOTA 3375 CLASSIFIED BY: Mark A. Wells, Political Counselor; REASON: 1.4(B), (D) SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (S/NF) Two military witnesses in "false positive" -- military murders fraudulently presented as combat kills -- cases have been killed and another was attacked. Ministry of Defense (MOD) Legal Advisor and Suarez Commission member Monica Cifuentes (strictly protect) told us Armed Forces Inspector General Major General Carlos Suarez had been called to testify in the criminal trial of two "false positive" killings. She expressed concern that the defense might begin counter-suits against commission members who had shared information with criminal investigators. Cifuentes, whose salary is paid by the Narcotics Affairs Section (NAS), receives protection from the Colombian Navy, but NAS is considering additional security measures. End Summary. MILITARY FALSE POSITIVE WITNESSES TARGETED -------------- ¶2. (S/NF) MOD Legal Advisor Monica Cifuentes (strictly protect), whose salary is paid by NAS, told us on February 18 that two military witnesses in "false positive" cases had been killed and another had survived an attack. While civilian witnesses in "false positive" cases have been threatened and killed (Refs A and B), these cases represent the first examples of targeting military witnesses. SUAREZ CALLED TO TESTIFY ON FALSE POSITIVE INVESTIGATIONS -------------- -------------- ¶3. (S/NF) Cifuentes reported that defense attorneys for military personnel in the trial of two "false positive" killings in Cimitarra, Santander, had called Armed Forces Inspector General Major General Carlos Suarez to testify on February 18 in his capacity as the head of the five-person special commission that investigated the Soacha murders and other "false positive" cases. The Suarez Commission had an administrative role, explained Cifuentes, and had been tasked with examining the operations suspected of covering up "false positive" murders. When the MOD shared the report with the Prosecutor General's office (Fiscalia), it had been with the understanding that commission members would not be called to testify. WILL DEFENSE ACCUSE THE ACCUSER? -------------- ¶4. (S/NF) Cifuentes expected all members of the Suarez Commission, including two colonels, a major, and herself, to be called to testify. Cifuentes expressed concern that the defense might repeat a similar tactic used by accused drug trafficker Admiral Arango Bacci (Ref C) and sue those who had turned information over to criminal investigators. As the only civilian on the Suarez commission, Cifuentes considered herself to be particularly vulnerable and asserted she would refuse to testify. ¶5. (S/NF) Cifuentes told us Colombian National Police Commander General Oscar Naranjo had offered to provide her permanent police protection, though Cifuentes confirmed she was satisfied with her current Naval protective scheme. Still, NAS which has provided Cifuentes with an armored car in the past, is considering what protective measures might be appropriate at this time. BROWNFIELD