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AA AADP AALC ABDALLAH FETHI ABDULHADI ABDULRAHMEN ABER ABLD ABLDG ABLG ABMC ABT ABUD AC ACABQ ACAO ACBAQ ACCELERATED ACCOUNT ACDA ACEC ACKM ACOA ACOTA ACS ACTION ADANA ADB ADCO ADCP ADEL ADEP ADIP ADM ADMIRAL ADPM ADRC AE AEC AECL AEGR AEIR AEM AEMED AEMR AER AESC AF AFAF AL HOURANI AFARI AFDB AFDIN AFFAIRS AFGHAN AFGHANISTAN AFIN AFL AFLU AFOR AFR AFSA AFSI AFSN AFU AFZAL AG AGAO AGENCIES AGENDA AGENGA AGIT AGMT AGOA AGR AGRI AGRIC AGRICULTURE AGS AGUILAR AGUIRRE AHMED AI AIAG AID AIDAC AIDS AIEA AIHRC AIN AINF AINFCY AINR AINT AISG AIT AJ AK AL ALAB ALAMI ALANAZI ALBE ALEXANDER ALI ALIREZA ALJAZEERA ALL ALNEA ALOUNI ALOW ALOWAR ALVAREZ AM AMAT AMB AMBASSADOR AMCHAM AMCHAMS AMCT AME AMED AMEDI AMEMR AMER AMERICAS AMEX AMG AMGE AMGMT AMGT AMIA AMLB AMPR AMT AMTC AMTG AN ANARCHISTS ANC AND ANDREW LEE WATKINS ANET ANTITERRORISM ANTOINE GHONDA ANTONIO ANTXON AO AOCR AODE AOIC AOMS AOPR AORC AORD AOREC AORG AORL AOWC AP APCS APDC APEC APECO APER APR APRC APRM AQ AR ARAB ARABBL ARABL ARABLEAGUE ARAS ARC ARCH ARENA AREP ARF ARG ARM ARMITAGE ARMS ARNOLD FREDERICK MORRIS AROC ARR ARRMZY ARSO AS ASA ASAC ASC ASCC ASCE ASCEC ASCH ASE ASEAN ASEC ASECARP ASECE ASECM ASECSI ASECVE ASED ASEDC ASEG ASEK ASES ASEX ASFC ASIC ASIG ASIR ASJA ASO ASOC ASPA ASR ASSEMBLY ASSK ASSSEMBLY ASUP AT ATFN ATPDEA ATRA ATRD ATRN AU AU-1 AUC AUNR AUSGR AUSTRALIAGROUP AV AVERY AVIAN AVIANFLU AVIATION AW AX AY AZ AZE B. BA BAGHDAD BAIO BAKOYANNIS BALKANS BAPOL BARACK BASHAR BATA BAYS BB BBG BBSR BC BCW BCXP BD BE BEAN BELLVIEW BEN BERARDUCCI BESP BEXB BEXP BEXPC BEXPPLM BEXT BF BFIF BFIN BFIO BG BGD BGMT BH BHUM BI BIC BIDOON BIH BILAT BIMSTEC BINR BIO BIOS BIOTECH BIOTECHNOLOGY BIT BITO BK BL BLR BLUE BLUNT BM BMENA BMGT BMOT BN BNUC BO BOIKO BOL BOND BOQ BORDER BOSNIA BOU BOUCHAIB KAKA BOUTERSE BP BPIS BPTS BR BRIAN BRITNEY BRITNY BRPA BRUSSELS BS BSSR BT BTA BTC BTIO BTIU BTRA BTT BU BUD BULGARIA BURMA BURNS BUSH BUY AMERICA BV BW BWC BX BXEP BY BZ CA CAC CACM CACS CAFTA CAIO CAJC CAMBODIA CAN CAPC CARC CARE CARIB CARICOM CARSON CAS CASA CASC CASCC CASCR CASE CASTILLO CAVO CB CBC CBD CBE CBG CBIS CBM CBSA CBTH CBW CCSR CCY CD CDB CDC CDCC CDCE CDG CDI CE CEA CEC CEDAW CEN CENSUS CENTCOM CENTRIC CEUDA CF CFE CFED CFG CFIS CFSP CG CGEN CGOPRC CH CHAD CHALLENGE CHAO CHAVEZ CHELIDZE CHENEY CHERTOFF CHG CHIEF CHN CHR CHR-1 CHRISTIAN CHRISTOF CHRISTOPHER CI CIA CIAT CIC CICTE CIDA CIO CIP CIS CITEL CITES CITIBANK CITT CIVAIR CIVS CJ CJAN CJUS CK CKGR CKOR CL CLEARANCE CLINTON CLMT CLO CLOK CM CMAE CMFT CMGT CMP CMT CN CNAR CNARC CNC CNO CO CODEL COE COL COLIN COLLECTIVE COLOMBO COM COMESA COMMERCE CON CONAWAY CONDOLEEZZA CONDOLEEZZA RICE CONEAZ CONG CONGO CONGRINT CONS CONSULAR CONTROL CONTROLS CORRUPTION COSI COUNTER COUNTER TERRORISM COUNTERTERRORISM COUNTRY COUNTRYCLEARANCE CP CPA CPAS CPC CPCTC CPPT CPUOS CQ CR CRIM CRIME CRIMES CRISTINA CRM CROATIA CROS CRS CRUZ CS CSCE CSEP CSIS CSW CT CTBT CTER CTERR CTM CTR CTRYCLR CU CUCO CUIS CUL CUSTODIO CV CVIA CVIC CVIS CVISU CVPR CVR CW CWC CWCM CWG CX CY CYNTHIA CYP CYPRUSARMS CZ DA DAC DAFR DAN DANFUNG DANIEL DAO DARFR DARFUR DAVID DAVID LEE HOWES DAVID WELCH DAVID WILLIAM RAY DB DC DCDG DCG DCHA DCI DCM DCOM DCRM DE DEA DEAX DEFENSE DEFENSEREFORM DELTAVIOLENCE DEM DEMARCHE DEMARCHES DEMETRIOS DEMOCRATIC DENNIS DEOC DEPORTATION DEPT DEPT FOR DS COMMAND CENTER DESI DHA DHLAKAMA DHLS DHRF DHS DHSX DIEZ DIPLOMACY DISENGAGEMENT DJ DK DKEM DMIN DMINE DO DOC DOD DOE DOJ DOMC DOMESTIC DOMESTICPOLITICS DONALD RUMSFELD DOT DPAO DPKO DPM DPOL DPRK DR DRC DRIP DRL DS DSR DSS DTFN DTRA DTRO DU DUNCAN CAMERON DVC DY EAC EAD EADI EADM EAG EAGER EAGR EAI EAIC EAID EAIDB EAIDCIN EAIDEGZ EAIDMG EAIDNI EAIF EAIG EAIO EAIR EAIS EAIT EAOD EAP EAPC EAR EARI EASS EATO EAUD EAVI EB EBEXP EBRD EBUD EC ECA ECCP ECCT ECE ECHEVARRIA ECIN ECIP ECLAC ECN ECOIN ECOM ECON ECONCS ECONEGE ECONOMIC ECONOMICS ECONOMY ECONOMY AND FINANCE ECOR ECOS ECOSOC ECOWAS ECPC ECPN ECPO ECPS ECPSN ECRM ECTRD ECUN ED EDA EDEV EDRC EDU EDUARDO EDUC EE EEB EEC EENG EENV EEOC EET EETC EFI EFIC EFIM EFIN EFIS EFLU EFN EFND EFNI EFQ EFTA EG EGAD EGAR EGEN EGHG EGOV EGOVSY EH EI EIAD EIAID EIAR EIB EICN EID EIDE EIDN EIFN EIN EIND EINDIR EINF EING EINN EINO EINR EINT EINV EINZ EIPR EIQ EISL EISNLN EITC EITI EIVN EK EL ELA ELAB ELAD ELAINE ELAM ELAN ELAP ELB ELBA ELBR ELEC ELECTIONS ELF ELIN ELN ELND ELNT ELTD ELTM ELTN ELTRN EMAIL EMED EMI EMIN EMN EMS EMW EN END ENDURING ENEG ENER ENERG ENERGY ENFR ENG ENGR ENGRD ENGRG ENGY ENIV ENLT ENNP ENR ENRC ENRG ENRL ENTG ENV ENVI ENVIRONMENT ENVR ENVT EON EOXC EP EPA EPAT EPCS EPE EPEC EPECO EPET EPIN EPIT EPPD EPRT EPSC EPTE EPTED EPWR EQ EQRD ER ERA ERD EREL ERGR ERICKSON ERIN ERTD ES ESA ESCAP ESCI ESDP ESENV ESF ESLCO ESOC ESOCI ESPS ESS ESSO ESTH ESTN ESTRADA ET ETA ETAD ETC ETCC ETD ETDR ETEL ETER ETEX ETFN ETIC ETIO ETLN ETMIN ETR ETRA ETRAD ETRB ETRC ETRD ETRDECD ETRG ETRK ETRN ETRO ETRP ETT ETTC ETTD ETTF ETTN ETTR ETTRD ETTW ETZ EU EUC EUCOM EUE EUEAID EUFOR EUM EUMEM EUN EUR EUREM EURM EURN EV EVENTS EVN EWRG EWT EWTR EWWT EX EXBS EXEC EXIM EXO EXPORT EXTERNAL EZ FA FAA FAC FAGR FAO FARC FARM FAS FATAH FBI FCC FCS FCSC FCSCEG FCUL FDA FDIC FEDULOV FEMA FERNANDO FGM FI FIGUEROA FIN FINANCE FINE FINR FINREF FINV FIR FISO FJ FK FKFLO FKLU FLU FM FMC FMGT FMLN FMS FO FOI FOOKS FOR FORCE FORCES FOREIGN FORWHA FP FPC FR FRA FRANCIS FRANCISCO RODENAS RUIZ FRANCISCO VILLA URBALEJO FRAZER FRB FREDOM FREEDOM FRELIMO FRIED FRN FRU FSC FSI FT FTA FTAA FWS GA GAERC GAMES GANGS GAO GARCIA GASPAR GATES GATT GAZA GAZPROM GB GBSLE GC GCC GCCC GE GEF GEORGE GERARD GESKE GF GG GH GI GIPNC GIWI GJ GKGIC GL GLOBAL GM GN GO GOG GOI GOMEZ GON GOVPOI GPGOV GPI GPOI GPOV GR GREGG RENE WALTER GRQ GS GT GTIP GTMO GTREFTEL GU GUAM GUANTANAMO GUIDANCE GUILLERMO GUTIERREZ GV GWI GY GZ GZIS HA HAMID KARZAI HARRIET HARRY HAWZ HCOPIL HDP HE HEAVEN HEBRON HECTOR HELGERSON HERCEGOVINA HG HHS HI HIGHLIGHTS HIJAZI HILARY HILLARY HILLEN HIPC HIV HIZ HK HKSX HL HLSX HN HNCHR HO HOA HOSTAGES HPKO HR HRC HRCS HRICTY HRIGHTS HRKSTC HSI HSTC HSWG HT HTCG HTSC HU HUD HUM HUMAN HUMANITARIAN HUMANR HUMANRIGHTS HUMOR HUMRIT HUNRC HURI HURRICANE HYDE HYLAND HYMPSK HZ IA IACHR IACI IACO IACW IADB IAEA IAES IAHRC IAIE IAII IASA IATTC IAZ IBB IBD IBET IBPCA IBRB IBRD IC ICAC ICAO ICC ICCAT ICCROM ICES ICJ ICRC ICRS ICSCA ICTR ICTY ID IDA IDB IDLI IDLO IDP IDR IE IEA IEAB IEF IF IFAD IFC IFIN IFM IFO IFR IFRC IG IGAD IGF IHO IICA IINS IIP IK IL ILAB ILC ILEA ILO IMC IMET IMF IMMIGRATION IMO IMSO IMTS IN INAUGURATION INCB IND INDO INF INFLUENZA INL INMARSAT INNP INPFC INR INRA INRB INRD INRO INRPAZ INS INSC INT INTEL INTELLECTUAL INTELSAT INTERNAL INTERPOL INV INVI IO IOC IOM IP IPET IPGRI IPK IPPC IPR IPROP IQ IQNV IR IRAN IRAQ IRAQI IRAQI FREEDOM IRC IRCE IRDB IRE IRL IRLE IRM IRMO IRNB IRPE IRQEGION IRS IS ISA ISAAC ISAF ISCA ISCON ISLAMISTS ISLE ISN ISNV ISO ISPA ISPL ISRAEL ISRAEL RELATIONS ISRAELI ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS ISSUES ISTC IT ITA ITALIAN ITALY ITECIP ITEIND ITELTN ITER ITF ITIA ITRA ITRD ITU IUCN IV IVIANNA IWC IWI IX IZ IZAORC JA JABER JAM JAMES JAPAN JAT JAWAD JCIC JE JEAN-PIERRE BEMBA JEFFERY JEFFREY JENDAYI JHR JI JIMENEZ JIMENEZ CHILDREN JK JKUS JM JN JO JOHANNS JOHN JOHN BOEHNER JOHNNIE JONATHAN CHAMAN JOSE ANGEL ALZUGUREN PERURENA JOSE NEY MILA ESPINOSA JOSE RAMOS HORTA JOSEPH BIDEN JP JS JSRP JUAN JULIAN RENE KIRCHOFF JUS JY KA KACP KACT KACW KADM KAID KALM KALR KANSOU KAPO KARIM WADE KATRINA KAUST KAWC KAWK KAWL KAWS KAWX KAYLA KBCT KBDS KBEM KBIO KBNC KBTC KBTR KBTS KBWG KCCP KCEM KCERS KCFC KCFE KCGC KCHG KCIP KCIS KCM KCMA KCMR KCOG KCOM KCOR KCPS KCRCM KCRI KCRIM KCRM KCRN KCRO KCROM KCROR KCRP KCRS KCRT KCSA KCSI KCSY KCUL KCUM KCVM KCWI KDCM KDDEM KDDG KDE KDEM KDEN KDET KDEV KDGOV KDGR KDHS KDM KDMR KDP KDRG KDRL KDTB KDUM KE KEAI KEANE KEBG KECF KEDEM KEDM KEDU KEIM KEM KEMPI KEMR KEMS KEN KENV KERF KERG KESO KESP KESS KEVIN KFAM KFCE KFE KFEM KFGM KFIN KFIU KFLD KFLO KFLU KFOR KFPC KFRD KFRP KFSC KFTFN KFTN KG KGCC KGCN KGHA KGHG KGIC KGICKS KGIT KGIV KGKG KGLB KGOR KGOV KH KHDP KHGH KHIB KHIV KHJUS KHLS KHMN KHOURY KHPD KHSA KHSL KHUM KI KIBL KICA KICC KICCPUR KICR KICT KID KIDE KIF KIFR KIIC KIIP KIL KILS KIMMITT KIMT KIND KINF KINL KINP KINR KINT KIPR KIPT KIRC KIRD KIRF KIRL KIRP KIS KISC KISK KISL KISM KISR KITA KIVP KIVR KJAN KJRE KJU KJUS KJUST KJWC KK KKIV KKNP KKOR KKPO KLAB KLAP KLBO KLEG KLFLO KLFU KLHS KLIG KLIP KLPM KLSO KLTN KM KMAC KMAR KMCA KMCC KMCR KMDR KMEPI KMFO KMGT KMIG KMNP KMOC KMPF KMPI KMPIO KMPL KMPP KMPT KMRD KMRS KMSG KMVP KMWN KN KNAO KNAP KNAR KNDP KNEI KNEP KNET KNMP KNN KNNA KNNB KNNC KNNF KNNO KNNP KNNR KNOP KNP KNPP KNPPIS KNPR KNPT KNRG KNRV KNSD KNUC KNUP KO KOC KOCI KOCM KOEM KOGL KOLY KOM KOMC KOMCCO KOMCSG KOMH KOMO KOMS KOR KOSOVO KOUYATE KPA KPAD KPAI KPAK KPAL KPALAOIS KPAM KPAO KPAS KPBT KPDD KPEM KPEO KPER KPET KPIN KPIR KPKO KPKP KPLS KPMI KPMO KPO KPOA KPOKO KPOL KPOP KPOV KPOW KPPAO KPPD KPRD KPRM KPRO KPROG KPRP KPRV KPSC KPTD KPTS KPWG KPWR KQ KQM KQRDQ KR KRAD KRAL KRCIM KRCM KRCS KRD KRDP KREC KREF KREISLER KREL KRF KRFD KRFR KRG KRGY KRIC KRIF KRIM KRKO KRM KRMS KRV KRVC KS KSA KSAC KSAF KSCA KSCI KSCS KSCT KSEAO KSEC KSEI KSEO KSEP KSI KSIA KSKN KSLG KSMT KSOC KSOCI KSPA KSPR KSRE KSTC KSTCC KSTCPL KSTH KSTS KSTT KSUM KSUP KT KTAO KTBD KTBT KTCRE KTDB KTDD KTDM KTER KTEX KTFIN KTFM KTFN KTFR KTFS KTIA KTIP KTLA KTNBT KTNF KTPN KTRD KTRF KTSC KTSD KTTB KTTC KTTP KU KUAE KUIR KUM KUNA KUNC KUNH KUNP KUNR KUS KUWAIT KV KVBL KVIP KVIR KVIS KVPR KVRC KVRP KW KWAC KWAK KWAWC KWBC KWBG KWBW KWCI KWCR KWGB KWHG KWIC KWIM KWIR KWKN KWM KWMJN KWMM KWMN KWN KWNM KWNN KWOMN KWPA KWPB KWPG KWPR KWRC KWRF KWRG KWUN KWWT KWWW KX KY KZ LA LAB LABOR LANSANA LANTERN LARREA LARS LAS LAURA LAVIN LAW LB LBAR LBY LE LEAGUE LEB LEBIK LEGAT LEGATT LEIS LEON LEVINE LEW LG LGAT LH LI LIB LICC LIMA LINE LK LMS LN LO LOG LOPEZ LORAN LOTT LOVE LR LS LT LTG LTTE LU LV LVPR LY LZ MA MAAR MACEDONIA MACP MANUEL MANUEL SERGIO GONZALEZ MAP MAPP MAPS MAR MARAD MARANTIS MARIA MARIE MARINO MARITIME MARK MARQUEZ MARR MARS MARTIN MARV MAS MASC MASS MATT MAYA MB MBM MC MCA MCAP MCAPARR MCAPN MCAPP MCAPS MCAT MCC MCCAIN MCCONNELL MCCP MCGRAW MCRM MCTRE MD MDA MDC MDO ME MEA MED MEDIA MEETINGS MENDIETA MEP MEPI MEPN MEPP MERCOSUR MESUR MEX MF MFA MFO MG MGL MGMT MGOV MGT MGTA MH MHUC MI MIAH MIC MICHAEL MICHEL MIGUEL FELIPE CANAHUATI YACAMAN MIGUEL VARGAS MALDONADO MIK MIKE MIL MILI MILITANTS MILITARY MILLENNIUM MINURSO MINUSTAH MITCHELL MJ MK ML MLS MMAR MMED MN MNLF MNNC MNNUC MNU MNUC MNUCH MNUCWA MNUM MNUN MNUR MNUS MNVC MO MOHAMAD MOHAMED HESHAM ELDIN YOUSSEF MOHAMMAD MOLINA MONTENEGRO MONUC MONY MOOPS MOP MOPP MOPPS MOPS MORALES MORG MOROCCO MORS MOS MOTO MOTT MP MPOL MPOS MPP MPS MQADHAFI MR MRCRE MRRR MRS MRSEC MS MSG MSIG MT MTAA MTAG MTCAE MTCR MTCRA MTCRE MTRCE MTRE MTRRE MTS MU MUC MUCN MUKASEY MULLEN MUNC MURAD MURRAY MV MW MX MY MZ NA NAC NACB NADIA NAFTA NAM NAMSA NANCY NAR NARC NARCOTICS NARR NAS NASA NAT NATEU NATGAS NATIONAL NATO NATOAFGHAN NATOBALKANS NATOIRAQ NATOOPS NATOPOLICY NATSIOS NAVO NB NBTS NBU NC NCCC NCD NCT NCTC NDI NDP NE NEA NEC NEGROPONTE NEI NELSON NEPAD NERG NET NEW NFATC NFMS NFSO NG NGO NGUYEN NH NI NICHOLAS NICOLE NIH NIPP NK NKWG NL NLD NLIAEA NLO NMFS NMNUC NMUC NNPT NO NOAA NOI NOK NON NONE NORAD NOTAG NOVO NP NPA NPG NPT NR NRC NRG NRR NRRC NS NSC NSF NSFO NSG NSSP NT NTDB NTSB NTTC NU NUC NUIN NV NW NZ NZUS OA OAO OARC OAS OASC OASCC OASS OAU OBAMA OBS OBSP OCBD OCEA OCED OCHA OCII OCRA OCS OCSE ODAG ODC ODIP ODPC OECD OECS OECV OES OESC OEXC OEXP OF OFDA OFDC OFDP OFDPQIS OFFICIALS OFPD OFSO OGAC OGIV OHCHR OHI OHIP OI OIC OICCO OIE OIF OIG OIIP OIL OIM OLY OLYAIR OLYMPICS OM OMAR OMB OMIG OMS ON ONA OPAD OPBAT OPC OPCD OPCR OPCW OPDAT OPDC OPDP OPEC OPET OPIC OPID OPOC OPPC OPRC OPREC OPREP OPS OPSC OPVIP ORA ORC ORCA ORECD ORED OREG OREP ORGANIZED ORP ORTA ORUE OSAC OSCE OSCI OSD OSEC OSHA OSIC OSTA OSTRA OTA OTAR OTHER OTHERSASNEEDED OTP OTR OTRA OTRABL OTRAO OTRAZ OTRC OTRD OUALI OVIP OVP OXEC OXEM OZ PA PAARM PAC PACE PAGE PAGR PAHO PAIGH PAK PAL PALESTINIAN PAMQ PAN PANAM PAO PAR PARALYMPIC PARCA PAREL PARK PARLIAMENT PARM PARMS PARN PARP PARR PARTIES PARTM PARTY PAS PASS PATRICK WARREN MAHURIN PATTY PAUL PAUM PB PBGT PBIO PBK PBOV PBPTS PBS PBST PBT PBTS PCI PCON PCOR PCRM PCUL PD PDA PDD PDEM PDIP PDOV PDRG PE PEACE PEACEKEEPINGFORCES PEDRO PEL PELOSI PEMEX PENA PENV PEPFAR PEPR PER PEREZ PERL PERM PERSONS PET PETER PETERS PETR PETRAEUS PETROL PF PFIN PFLP PFOR PFOV PG PGGOC PGIC PGIV PGKV PGO PGOC PGOF PGOG PGON PGOR PGOT PGOV PGOVE PGOVQL PGPV PGREL PGREV PGV PH PHALANAGE PHARM PHAS PHEM PHIM PHM PHSA PHU PHUH PHUM PHUMHUPPS PHUN PHUS PHYTRP PI PIA PICES PIF PIN PINB PIND PINER PINF PING PINL PINO PINOCHET PINR PINS PINT PINV PIR PIRF PIRN PJUS PK PKAO PKBL PKFK PKISL PKK PKMN PKNP PKO PKPA PKPAL PKPO PKPRP PKST PL PLAB PLAN PLEC PLN PLO PLUM PM PMAR PMAT PMDL PMIG PMIL PMIN PMR PMUC PN PNAT PNET PNG PNIR PNNL PNR PNRG PNS PNUC PNUK PNUM PO PODC POG POGV POINS POL POLG POLI POLICY POLINT POLITICAL POLITICS POLM POLMIL POLS POLUN POREL PORG POSTS POTUS POUS POV POWELL PP PPA PPAO PPD PPEF PPEL PPKO PPOL PQL PQM PRC PRE PREC PRED PREF PREG PREJ PREK PREL PRELEVU PRELM PRELPLS PRELTBIOBA PREM PREO PREP PRER PRES PRESIDENT PRESL PREV PREZ PRF PRFE PRFL PRGO PRGOV PRIL PRIVATIZATION PRL PRLE PRM PRO PROB PROCESS PROG PROL PROLIFERATION PROP PROPERTY PROTECTION PROTESTS PROV PROVE PRT PRTER PRWL PS PSA PSCE PSEC PSEPC PSHA PSI PSNR PSO PSOC PSOCI PSOE PT PTBS PTE PTEL PTEP PTER PTGOV PTIA PTR PTRD PU PUAS PUBLIC PUNE PUNR PUOS PV PVIP PVOV PVPR PVTS PWBG PWMN PY QA QADRI QEL QI QIZ QM QT QU QUAN QUOC RA RAED RAFAEL RAID RAMON RAMONTEIJELO RAS RATIFICATION RAY GUEVARA MILTON RBI RCA RCMP RE REA REACTION REALTIONS RECIN REF REFORM REFPAN REFUGEE REFUGEES REGION REGIONAL REID REIN REINEMEYER REL RELAM RELATIONS RELFREE RELIGIOUS REMON RENAMO RENE PREVAL REO REPORT REUBEN RF RFE RFIN RFREEDOM RGOV RGY RHUM RI RICE RICHARD RIGHTS RIGHTSPOLMIL RIMC RIVERA RL RLA RM RMA RO ROBERT ROBERT JOSEPH RODHAM RODRIGUEZ ROK ROME ROOD ROSS ROW ROY RP RPEL RPTS RQ RR RRB RREL RS RSO RSOX RSP RSZ RTT RU RUEHZO RV RW RWANDA SA SAAD SAARC SABAH SACU SADC SAFE SAIR SAIS SALOPEK SAMA SAN SANC SANR SAO SARB SARGSIAN SARS SASC SASEC SASIAIN SB SBA SC SCA SCCC SCE SCENESETTER SCHUL SCI SCIENCE SCNV SCOI SCOL SCOM SCPR SCRM SCRS SCRSERD SCUL SCVL SD SE SEC SECDEF SECI SECRET SECRETARY SECSTATE SECTOR SECURITY SEMAAN GABY EID SEN SENC SENG SENS SENU SENV SENVQGR SENVSPL SENVSXE SEP SERBIA SERZH SETTLEMENTS SEVN SEXP SF SFNV SG SGNV SGWI SH SHANNON SHI SHUM SI SILVASANDE SIMS SIPDI SIPDIS SIPR SIPRNET SIPRS SIUK SK SKCA SKEP SKI SKSAF SL SLM SLOVAK SM SMAR SMI SMIG SMIL SMIT SMITH SMRT SN SNA SNAP SNAR SNUC SO SOC SOCI SOCIA SOCIETY SOCIO SOCIS SOCISZX SOCR SOCY SOE SOFA SOI SOIC SOLI SOLIC SOM SOMALIA SOPN SORT SOSI SOVIET SOWGC SP SPAS SPC SPCE SPCVIS SPECI SPECIALIST SPILL SPP SPSTATE SR SREF SRIT SRS SRYI SSA SSH ST STAG START STATE STC STEINBERG STEPHEN HADLEY STET STP STR STUDENT SU SUCCESSION SUFFRAGE SULLIVAN SUMMIT SUR SUSAN SV SW SWHO SWMN SX SXG SY SYAI SYMBOL SYR SYRIA SYSI SYTH SZ TA TAGS TALAL TAUSCHER TAX TB TBI TBID TBIO TBIOZK TBKIO TBO TC TCOR TCSENV TD TDA TE TECH TECHNOLOGY TER TERAA TERFIN TERR TERROR TERRORISM TF TFIN TG TGRY TH THANH THE THERESE THIRDTERM THKSJA THOMAS THOMAS THOMMA THPY TI TIA TIBO TIFA TINT TIO TIP TITI TIUZ TJ TK TL TM TN TNDG TNGD TO TOPEC TORRIJOS TOURISM TP TPHY TPKO TPP TPSA TPSL TR TRAD TRADE TRAFFICKING TRBIO TRBY TRD TREAS TREASURY TREATY TREL TRG TRGV TRGY TRIO TRSY TRT TRV TRY TRYG TRYS TS TSA TSLP TSPA TSPL TSRL TSRY TSY TT TTFN TU TURKEY TV TVBIO TW TWRO TX TY TZ TZBY UA UAE UAID UAM UB UDEM UE UEU UG UGA UK UKR UKRAINE UM UMIK UN UNA UNAF UNAIDS UNAMA UNAMSIL UNAORC UNAUS UNBRO UNC UNCC UNCDF UNCDN UNCHC UNCHR UNCHS UNCITRAL UNCND UNCOPUOS UNCRED UNCRIME UNCSD UNCSW UNCTAD UNDC UNDEF UNDOF UNDP UNECE UNEF UNEP UNESCO UNFA UNFC UNFCYP UNFF UNFICYP UNFIYCP UNFPA UNGA UNGAPL UNGO UNHCR UNHRC UNICEF UNIDCP UNIDO UNIDROIT UNIFEM UNIFIL UNION UNKIK UNM UNMEE UNMIC UNMIK UNMIKI UNMIKV UNMIL UNMIN UNMOVIC UNO UNODC UNOMIG UNOPS UNP UNPAR UNPUOS UNRCCA UNRCR UNREST UNRWA UNSC UNSCAPU UNSCD UNSCE UNSCER UNSCR UNSCS UNSD UNSE UNTAC UNTERR UNTZ UNUS UNVIE UNYI UP UPU UPUO UR US USAID USAU USCC USCG USDA USDELFESTTWO USEU USG USGS USMS USNC USOAS USOP USPS USPTO USSC USTA USTDA USTR USTRD USTRIT USTRPS USTRUWR USUN UUNR UV UX UY UZ VA VANESSA VANG VAT VC VE VELS VEN VENZ VETTING VI VINICIO VIP VIS VISAS VISIT VM VN VO VOA VT VTEG VTFR VTIS VTPREL VTTBIO VTWCAR VXY VY VZ WA WAEMU WAKI WAR WARD WB WBEG WBG WCAR WCI WCL WCO WE WEBG WEBZ WEET WEF WEOG WET WEU WFA WFP WFPAORC WFPO WGC WGG WHA WHITMER WHO WHTI WI WILCOX WILLIAM WIPO WIR WITH WJRO WM WMD WMDT WMN WMO WOMEN WPO WRTO WS WSIS WTO WTRD WTRO WTRQ WW WWARD WWBG WWT WZ XA XAAF XB XC XD XE XF XFNEA XG XH XI XJ XK XL XLUM XM XO XP XQ XR XS XT XTAG XU XV XW XX XXX XY XZ YE YEH YI YL YM YMCS YS YU YURIY ZA ZANU ZB ZC ZCTU ZEALAND ZF ZFR ZH ZI ZIM ZJ ZK ZKGM ZL ZM ZN ZO ZOELLICK ZP ZR ZS ZT ZU ZW ZXA
AA AADP AALC ABDALLAH FETHI ABDULHADI ABDULRAHMEN ABER ABLD ABLDG ABLG ABMC ABT ABUD AC ACABQ ACAO ACBAQ ACCELERATED ACCOUNT ACDA ACEC ACKM ACOA ACOTA ACS ACTION ADANA ADB ADCO ADCP ADEL ADEP ADIP ADM ADMIRAL ADPM ADRC AE AEC AECL AEGR AEIR AEM AEMED AEMR AER AESC AF AFAF AL HOURANI AFARI AFDB AFDIN AFFAIRS AFGHAN AFGHANISTAN AFIN AFL AFLU AFOR AFR AFSA AFSI AFSN AFU AFZAL AG AGAO AGENCIES AGENDA AGENGA AGIT AGMT AGOA AGR AGRI AGRIC AGRICULTURE AGS AGUILAR AGUIRRE AHMED AI AIAG AID AIDAC AIDS AIEA AIHRC AIN AINF AINFCY AINR AINT AISG AIT AJ AK AL ALAB ALAMI ALANAZI ALBE ALEXANDER ALI ALIREZA ALJAZEERA ALL ALNEA ALOUNI ALOW ALOWAR ALVAREZ AM AMAT AMB AMBASSADOR AMCHAM AMCHAMS AMCT AME AMED AMEDI AMEMR AMER AMERICAS AMEX AMG AMGE AMGMT AMGT AMIA AMLB AMPR AMT AMTC AMTG AN ANARCHISTS ANC AND ANDREW LEE WATKINS ANET ANTITERRORISM ANTOINE GHONDA ANTONIO ANTXON AO AOCR AODE AOIC AOMS AOPR AORC AORD AOREC AORG AORL AOWC AP APCS APDC APEC APECO APER APR APRC APRM AQ AR ARAB ARABBL ARABL ARABLEAGUE ARAS ARC ARCH ARENA AREP ARF ARG ARM ARMITAGE ARMS ARNOLD FREDERICK MORRIS AROC ARR ARRMZY ARSO AS ASA ASAC ASC ASCC ASCE ASCEC ASCH ASE ASEAN ASEC ASECARP ASECE ASECM ASECSI ASECVE ASED ASEDC ASEG ASEK ASES ASEX ASFC ASIC ASIG ASIR ASJA ASO ASOC ASPA ASR ASSEMBLY ASSK ASSSEMBLY ASUP AT ATFN ATPDEA ATRA ATRD ATRN AU AU-1 AUC AUNR AUSGR AUSTRALIAGROUP AV AVERY AVIAN AVIANFLU AVIATION AW AX AY AZ AZE B. BA BAGHDAD BAIO BAKOYANNIS BALKANS BAPOL BARACK BASHAR BATA BAYS BB BBG BBSR BC BCW BCXP BD BE BEAN BELLVIEW BEN BERARDUCCI BESP BEXB BEXP BEXPC BEXPPLM BEXT BF BFIF BFIN BFIO BG BGD BGMT BH BHUM BI BIC BIDOON BIH BILAT BIMSTEC BINR BIO BIOS BIOTECH BIOTECHNOLOGY BIT BITO BK BL BLR BLUE BLUNT BM BMENA BMGT BMOT BN BNUC BO BOIKO BOL BOND BOQ BORDER BOSNIA BOU BOUCHAIB KAKA BOUTERSE BP BPIS BPTS BR BRIAN BRITNEY BRITNY BRPA BRUSSELS BS BSSR BT BTA BTC BTIO BTIU BTRA BTT BU BUD BULGARIA BURMA BURNS BUSH BUY AMERICA BV BW BWC BX BXEP BY BZ CA CAC CACM CACS CAFTA CAIO CAJC CAMBODIA CAN CAPC CARC CARE CARIB CARICOM CARSON CAS CASA CASC CASCC CASCR CASE CASTILLO CAVO CB CBC CBD CBE CBG CBIS CBM CBSA CBTH CBW CCSR CCY CD CDB CDC CDCC CDCE CDG CDI CE CEA CEC CEDAW CEN CENSUS CENTCOM CENTRIC CEUDA CF CFE CFED CFG CFIS CFSP CG CGEN CGOPRC CH CHAD CHALLENGE CHAO CHAVEZ CHELIDZE CHENEY CHERTOFF CHG CHIEF CHN CHR CHR-1 CHRISTIAN CHRISTOF CHRISTOPHER CI CIA CIAT CIC CICTE CIDA CIO CIP CIS CITEL CITES CITIBANK CITT CIVAIR CIVS CJ CJAN CJUS CK CKGR CKOR CL CLEARANCE CLINTON CLMT CLO CLOK CM CMAE CMFT CMGT CMP CMT CN CNAR CNARC CNC CNO CO CODEL COE COL COLIN COLLECTIVE COLOMBO COM COMESA COMMERCE CON CONAWAY CONDOLEEZZA CONDOLEEZZA RICE CONEAZ CONG CONGO CONGRINT CONS CONSULAR CONTROL CONTROLS CORRUPTION COSI COUNTER COUNTER TERRORISM COUNTERTERRORISM COUNTRY COUNTRYCLEARANCE CP CPA CPAS CPC CPCTC CPPT CPUOS CQ CR CRIM CRIME CRIMES CRISTINA CRM CROATIA CROS CRS CRUZ CS CSCE CSEP CSIS CSW CT CTBT CTER CTERR CTM CTR CTRYCLR CU CUCO CUIS CUL CUSTODIO CV CVIA CVIC CVIS CVISU CVPR CVR CW CWC CWCM CWG CX CY CYNTHIA CYP CYPRUSARMS CZ DA DAC DAFR DAN DANFUNG DANIEL DAO DARFR DARFUR DAVID DAVID LEE HOWES DAVID WELCH DAVID WILLIAM RAY DB DC DCDG DCG DCHA DCI DCM DCOM DCRM DE DEA DEAX DEFENSE DEFENSEREFORM DELTAVIOLENCE DEM DEMARCHE DEMARCHES DEMETRIOS DEMOCRATIC DENNIS DEOC DEPORTATION DEPT DEPT FOR DS COMMAND CENTER DESI DHA DHLAKAMA DHLS DHRF DHS DHSX DIEZ DIPLOMACY DISENGAGEMENT DJ DK DKEM DMIN DMINE DO DOC DOD DOE DOJ DOMC DOMESTIC DOMESTICPOLITICS DONALD RUMSFELD DOT DPAO DPKO DPM DPOL DPRK DR DRC DRIP DRL DS DSR DSS DTFN DTRA DTRO DU DUNCAN CAMERON DVC DY EAC EAD EADI EADM EAG EAGER EAGR EAI EAIC EAID EAIDB EAIDCIN EAIDEGZ EAIDMG EAIDNI EAIF EAIG EAIO EAIR EAIS EAIT EAOD EAP EAPC EAR EARI EASS EATO EAUD EAVI EB EBEXP EBRD EBUD EC ECA ECCP ECCT ECE ECHEVARRIA ECIN ECIP ECLAC ECN ECOIN ECOM ECON ECONCS ECONEGE ECONOMIC ECONOMICS ECONOMY ECONOMY AND FINANCE ECOR ECOS ECOSOC ECOWAS ECPC ECPN ECPO ECPS ECPSN ECRM ECTRD ECUN ED EDA EDEV EDRC EDU EDUARDO EDUC EE EEB EEC EENG EENV EEOC EET EETC EFI EFIC EFIM EFIN EFIS EFLU EFN EFND EFNI EFQ EFTA EG EGAD EGAR EGEN EGHG EGOV EGOVSY EH EI EIAD EIAID EIAR EIB EICN EID EIDE EIDN EIFN EIN EIND EINDIR EINF EING EINN EINO EINR EINT EINV EINZ EIPR EIQ EISL EISNLN EITC EITI EIVN EK EL ELA ELAB ELAD ELAINE ELAM ELAN ELAP ELB ELBA ELBR ELEC ELECTIONS ELF ELIN ELN ELND ELNT ELTD ELTM ELTN ELTRN EMAIL EMED EMI EMIN EMN EMS EMW EN END ENDURING ENEG ENER ENERG ENERGY ENFR ENG ENGR ENGRD ENGRG ENGY ENIV ENLT ENNP ENR ENRC ENRG ENRL ENTG ENV ENVI ENVIRONMENT ENVR ENVT EON EOXC EP EPA EPAT EPCS EPE EPEC EPECO EPET EPIN EPIT EPPD EPRT EPSC EPTE EPTED EPWR EQ EQRD ER ERA ERD EREL ERGR ERICKSON ERIN ERTD ES ESA ESCAP ESCI ESDP ESENV ESF ESLCO ESOC ESOCI ESPS ESS ESSO ESTH ESTN ESTRADA ET ETA ETAD ETC ETCC ETD ETDR ETEL ETER ETEX ETFN ETIC ETIO ETLN ETMIN ETR ETRA ETRAD ETRB ETRC ETRD ETRDECD ETRG ETRK ETRN ETRO ETRP ETT ETTC ETTD ETTF ETTN ETTR ETTRD ETTW ETZ EU EUC EUCOM EUE EUEAID EUFOR EUM EUMEM EUN EUR EUREM EURM EURN EV EVENTS EVN EWRG EWT EWTR EWWT EX EXBS EXEC EXIM EXO EXPORT EXTERNAL EZ FA FAA FAC FAGR FAO FARC FARM FAS FATAH FBI FCC FCS FCSC FCSCEG FCUL FDA FDIC FEDULOV FEMA FERNANDO FGM FI FIGUEROA FIN FINANCE FINE FINR FINREF FINV FIR FISO FJ FK FKFLO FKLU FLU FM FMC FMGT FMLN FMS FO FOI FOOKS FOR FORCE FORCES FOREIGN FORWHA FP FPC FR FRA FRANCIS FRANCISCO RODENAS RUIZ FRANCISCO VILLA URBALEJO FRAZER FRB FREDOM FREEDOM FRELIMO FRIED FRN FRU FSC FSI FT FTA FTAA FWS GA GAERC GAMES GANGS GAO GARCIA GASPAR GATES GATT GAZA GAZPROM GB GBSLE GC GCC GCCC GE GEF GEORGE GERARD GESKE GF GG GH GI GIPNC GIWI GJ GKGIC GL GLOBAL GM GN GO GOG GOI GOMEZ GON GOVPOI GPGOV GPI GPOI GPOV GR GREGG RENE WALTER GRQ GS GT GTIP GTMO GTREFTEL GU GUAM GUANTANAMO GUIDANCE GUILLERMO GUTIERREZ GV GWI GY GZ GZIS HA HAMID KARZAI HARRIET HARRY HAWZ HCOPIL HDP HE HEAVEN HEBRON HECTOR HELGERSON HERCEGOVINA HG HHS HI HIGHLIGHTS HIJAZI HILARY HILLARY HILLEN HIPC HIV HIZ HK HKSX HL HLSX HN HNCHR HO HOA HOSTAGES HPKO HR HRC HRCS HRICTY HRIGHTS HRKSTC HSI HSTC HSWG HT HTCG HTSC HU HUD HUM HUMAN HUMANITARIAN HUMANR HUMANRIGHTS HUMOR HUMRIT HUNRC HURI HURRICANE HYDE HYLAND HYMPSK HZ IA IACHR IACI IACO IACW IADB IAEA IAES IAHRC IAIE IAII IASA IATTC IAZ IBB IBD IBET IBPCA IBRB IBRD IC ICAC ICAO ICC ICCAT ICCROM ICES ICJ ICRC ICRS ICSCA ICTR ICTY ID IDA IDB IDLI IDLO IDP IDR IE IEA IEAB IEF IF IFAD IFC IFIN IFM IFO IFR IFRC IG IGAD IGF IHO IICA IINS IIP IK IL ILAB ILC ILEA ILO IMC IMET IMF IMMIGRATION IMO IMSO IMTS IN INAUGURATION INCB IND INDO INF INFLUENZA INL INMARSAT INNP INPFC INR INRA INRB INRD INRO INRPAZ INS INSC INT INTEL INTELLECTUAL INTELSAT INTERNAL INTERPOL INV INVI IO IOC IOM IP IPET IPGRI IPK IPPC IPR IPROP IQ IQNV IR IRAN IRAQ IRAQI IRAQI FREEDOM IRC IRCE IRDB IRE IRL IRLE IRM IRMO IRNB IRPE IRQEGION IRS IS ISA ISAAC ISAF ISCA ISCON ISLAMISTS ISLE ISN ISNV ISO ISPA ISPL ISRAEL ISRAEL RELATIONS ISRAELI ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS ISSUES ISTC IT ITA ITALIAN ITALY ITECIP ITEIND ITELTN ITER ITF ITIA ITRA ITRD ITU IUCN IV IVIANNA IWC IWI IX IZ IZAORC JA JABER JAM JAMES JAPAN JAT JAWAD JCIC JE JEAN-PIERRE BEMBA JEFFERY JEFFREY JENDAYI JHR JI JIMENEZ JIMENEZ CHILDREN JK JKUS JM JN JO JOHANNS JOHN JOHN BOEHNER JOHNNIE JONATHAN CHAMAN JOSE ANGEL ALZUGUREN PERURENA JOSE NEY MILA ESPINOSA JOSE RAMOS HORTA JOSEPH BIDEN JP JS JSRP JUAN JULIAN RENE KIRCHOFF JUS JY KA KACP KACT KACW KADM KAID KALM KALR KANSOU KAPO KARIM WADE KATRINA KAUST KAWC KAWK KAWL KAWS KAWX KAYLA KBCT KBDS KBEM KBIO KBNC KBTC KBTR KBTS KBWG KCCP KCEM KCERS KCFC KCFE KCGC KCHG KCIP KCIS KCM KCMA KCMR KCOG KCOM KCOR KCPS KCRCM KCRI KCRIM KCRM KCRN KCRO KCROM KCROR KCRP KCRS KCRT KCSA KCSI KCSY KCUL KCUM KCVM KCWI KDCM KDDEM KDDG KDE KDEM KDEN KDET KDEV KDGOV KDGR KDHS KDM KDMR KDP KDRG KDRL KDTB KDUM KE KEAI KEANE KEBG KECF KEDEM KEDM KEDU KEIM KEM KEMPI KEMR KEMS KEN KENV KERF KERG KESO KESP KESS KEVIN KFAM KFCE KFE KFEM KFGM KFIN KFIU KFLD KFLO KFLU KFOR KFPC KFRD KFRP KFSC KFTFN KFTN KG KGCC KGCN KGHA KGHG KGIC KGICKS KGIT KGIV KGKG KGLB KGOR KGOV KH KHDP KHGH KHIB KHIV KHJUS KHLS KHMN KHOURY KHPD KHSA KHSL KHUM KI KIBL KICA KICC KICCPUR KICR KICT KID KIDE KIF KIFR KIIC KIIP KIL KILS KIMMITT KIMT KIND KINF KINL KINP KINR KINT KIPR KIPT KIRC KIRD KIRF KIRL KIRP KIS KISC KISK KISL KISM KISR KITA KIVP KIVR KJAN KJRE KJU KJUS KJUST KJWC KK KKIV KKNP KKOR KKPO KLAB KLAP KLBO KLEG KLFLO KLFU KLHS KLIG KLIP KLPM KLSO KLTN KM KMAC KMAR KMCA KMCC KMCR KMDR KMEPI KMFO KMGT KMIG KMNP KMOC KMPF KMPI KMPIO KMPL KMPP KMPT KMRD KMRS KMSG KMVP KMWN KN KNAO KNAP KNAR KNDP KNEI KNEP KNET KNMP KNN KNNA KNNB KNNC KNNF KNNO KNNP KNNR KNOP KNP KNPP KNPPIS KNPR KNPT KNRG KNRV KNSD KNUC KNUP KO KOC KOCI KOCM KOEM KOGL KOLY KOM KOMC KOMCCO KOMCSG KOMH KOMO KOMS KOR KOSOVO KOUYATE KPA KPAD KPAI KPAK KPAL KPALAOIS KPAM KPAO KPAS KPBT KPDD KPEM KPEO KPER KPET KPIN KPIR KPKO KPKP KPLS KPMI KPMO KPO KPOA KPOKO KPOL KPOP KPOV KPOW KPPAO KPPD KPRD KPRM KPRO KPROG KPRP KPRV KPSC KPTD KPTS KPWG KPWR KQ KQM KQRDQ KR KRAD KRAL KRCIM KRCM KRCS KRD KRDP KREC KREF KREISLER KREL KRF KRFD KRFR KRG KRGY KRIC KRIF KRIM KRKO KRM KRMS KRV KRVC KS KSA KSAC KSAF KSCA KSCI KSCS KSCT KSEAO KSEC KSEI KSEO KSEP KSI KSIA KSKN KSLG KSMT KSOC KSOCI KSPA KSPR KSRE KSTC KSTCC KSTCPL KSTH KSTS KSTT KSUM KSUP KT KTAO KTBD KTBT KTCRE KTDB KTDD KTDM KTER KTEX KTFIN KTFM KTFN KTFR KTFS KTIA KTIP KTLA KTNBT KTNF KTPN KTRD KTRF KTSC KTSD KTTB KTTC KTTP KU KUAE KUIR KUM KUNA KUNC KUNH KUNP KUNR KUS KUWAIT KV KVBL KVIP KVIR KVIS KVPR KVRC KVRP KW KWAC KWAK KWAWC KWBC KWBG KWBW KWCI KWCR KWGB KWHG KWIC KWIM KWIR KWKN KWM KWMJN KWMM KWMN KWN KWNM KWNN KWOMN KWPA KWPB KWPG KWPR KWRC KWRF KWRG KWUN KWWT KWWW KX KY KZ LA LAB LABOR LANSANA LANTERN LARREA LARS LAS LAURA LAVIN LAW LB LBAR LBY LE LEAGUE LEB LEBIK LEGAT LEGATT LEIS LEON LEVINE LEW LG LGAT LH LI LIB LICC LIMA LINE LK LMS LN LO LOG LOPEZ LORAN LOTT LOVE LR LS LT LTG LTTE LU LV LVPR LY LZ MA MAAR MACEDONIA MACP MANUEL MANUEL SERGIO GONZALEZ MAP MAPP MAPS MAR MARAD MARANTIS MARIA MARIE MARINO MARITIME MARK MARQUEZ MARR MARS MARTIN MARV MAS MASC MASS MATT MAYA MB MBM MC MCA MCAP MCAPARR MCAPN MCAPP MCAPS MCAT MCC MCCAIN MCCONNELL MCCP MCGRAW MCRM MCTRE MD MDA MDC MDO ME MEA MED MEDIA MEETINGS MENDIETA MEP MEPI MEPN MEPP MERCOSUR MESUR MEX MF MFA MFO MG MGL MGMT MGOV MGT MGTA MH MHUC MI MIAH MIC MICHAEL MICHEL MIGUEL FELIPE CANAHUATI YACAMAN MIGUEL VARGAS MALDONADO MIK MIKE MIL MILI MILITANTS MILITARY MILLENNIUM MINURSO MINUSTAH MITCHELL MJ MK ML MLS MMAR MMED MN MNLF MNNC MNNUC MNU MNUC MNUCH MNUCWA MNUM MNUN MNUR MNUS MNVC MO MOHAMAD MOHAMED HESHAM ELDIN YOUSSEF MOHAMMAD MOLINA MONTENEGRO MONUC MONY MOOPS MOP MOPP MOPPS MOPS MORALES MORG MOROCCO MORS MOS MOTO MOTT MP MPOL MPOS MPP MPS MQADHAFI MR MRCRE MRRR MRS MRSEC MS MSG MSIG MT MTAA MTAG MTCAE MTCR MTCRA MTCRE MTRCE MTRE MTRRE MTS MU MUC MUCN MUKASEY MULLEN MUNC MURAD MURRAY MV MW MX MY MZ NA NAC NACB NADIA NAFTA NAM NAMSA NANCY NAR NARC NARCOTICS NARR NAS NASA NAT NATEU NATGAS NATIONAL NATO NATOAFGHAN NATOBALKANS NATOIRAQ NATOOPS NATOPOLICY NATSIOS NAVO NB NBTS NBU NC NCCC NCD NCT NCTC NDI NDP NE NEA NEC NEGROPONTE NEI NELSON NEPAD NERG NET NEW NFATC NFMS NFSO NG NGO NGUYEN NH NI NICHOLAS NICOLE NIH NIPP NK NKWG NL NLD NLIAEA NLO NMFS NMNUC NMUC NNPT NO NOAA NOI NOK NON NONE NORAD NOTAG NOVO NP NPA NPG NPT NR NRC NRG NRR NRRC NS NSC NSF NSFO NSG NSSP NT NTDB NTSB NTTC NU NUC NUIN NV NW NZ NZUS OA OAO OARC OAS OASC OASCC OASS OAU OBAMA OBS OBSP OCBD OCEA OCED OCHA OCII OCRA OCS OCSE ODAG ODC ODIP ODPC OECD OECS OECV OES OESC OEXC OEXP OF OFDA OFDC OFDP OFDPQIS OFFICIALS OFPD OFSO OGAC OGIV OHCHR OHI OHIP OI OIC OICCO OIE OIF OIG OIIP OIL OIM OLY OLYAIR OLYMPICS OM OMAR OMB OMIG OMS ON ONA OPAD OPBAT OPC OPCD OPCR OPCW OPDAT OPDC OPDP OPEC OPET OPIC OPID OPOC OPPC OPRC OPREC OPREP OPS OPSC OPVIP ORA ORC ORCA ORECD ORED OREG OREP ORGANIZED ORP ORTA ORUE OSAC OSCE OSCI OSD OSEC OSHA OSIC OSTA OSTRA OTA OTAR OTHER OTHERSASNEEDED OTP OTR OTRA OTRABL OTRAO OTRAZ OTRC OTRD OUALI OVIP OVP OXEC OXEM OZ PA PAARM PAC PACE PAGE PAGR PAHO PAIGH PAK PAL PALESTINIAN PAMQ PAN PANAM PAO PAR PARALYMPIC PARCA PAREL PARK PARLIAMENT PARM PARMS PARN PARP PARR PARTIES PARTM PARTY PAS PASS PATRICK WARREN MAHURIN PATTY PAUL PAUM PB PBGT PBIO PBK PBOV PBPTS PBS PBST PBT PBTS PCI PCON PCOR PCRM PCUL PD PDA PDD PDEM PDIP PDOV PDRG PE PEACE PEACEKEEPINGFORCES PEDRO PEL PELOSI PEMEX PENA PENV PEPFAR PEPR PER PEREZ PERL PERM PERSONS PET PETER PETERS PETR PETRAEUS PETROL PF PFIN PFLP PFOR PFOV PG PGGOC PGIC PGIV PGKV PGO PGOC PGOF PGOG PGON PGOR PGOT PGOV PGOVE PGOVQL PGPV PGREL PGREV PGV PH PHALANAGE PHARM PHAS PHEM PHIM PHM PHSA PHU PHUH PHUM PHUMHUPPS PHUN PHUS PHYTRP PI PIA PICES PIF PIN PINB PIND PINER PINF PING PINL PINO PINOCHET PINR PINS PINT PINV PIR PIRF PIRN PJUS PK PKAO PKBL PKFK PKISL PKK PKMN PKNP PKO PKPA PKPAL PKPO PKPRP PKST PL PLAB PLAN PLEC PLN PLO PLUM PM PMAR PMAT PMDL PMIG PMIL PMIN PMR PMUC PN PNAT PNET PNG PNIR PNNL PNR PNRG PNS PNUC PNUK PNUM PO PODC POG POGV POINS POL POLG POLI POLICY POLINT POLITICAL POLITICS POLM POLMIL POLS POLUN POREL PORG POSTS POTUS POUS POV POWELL PP PPA PPAO PPD PPEF PPEL PPKO PPOL PQL PQM PRC PRE PREC PRED PREF PREG PREJ PREK PREL PRELEVU PRELM PRELPLS PRELTBIOBA PREM PREO PREP PRER PRES PRESIDENT PRESL PREV PREZ PRF PRFE PRFL PRGO PRGOV PRIL PRIVATIZATION PRL PRLE PRM PRO PROB PROCESS PROG PROL PROLIFERATION PROP PROPERTY PROTECTION PROTESTS PROV PROVE PRT PRTER PRWL PS PSA PSCE PSEC PSEPC PSHA PSI PSNR PSO PSOC PSOCI PSOE PT PTBS PTE PTEL PTEP PTER PTGOV PTIA PTR PTRD PU PUAS PUBLIC PUNE PUNR PUOS PV PVIP PVOV PVPR PVTS PWBG PWMN PY QA QADRI QEL QI QIZ QM QT QU QUAN QUOC RA RAED RAFAEL RAID RAMON RAMONTEIJELO RAS RATIFICATION RAY GUEVARA MILTON RBI RCA RCMP RE REA REACTION REALTIONS RECIN REF REFORM REFPAN REFUGEE REFUGEES REGION REGIONAL REID REIN REINEMEYER REL RELAM RELATIONS RELFREE RELIGIOUS REMON RENAMO RENE PREVAL REO REPORT REUBEN RF RFE RFIN RFREEDOM RGOV RGY RHUM RI RICE RICHARD RIGHTS RIGHTSPOLMIL RIMC RIVERA RL RLA RM RMA RO ROBERT ROBERT JOSEPH RODHAM RODRIGUEZ ROK ROME ROOD ROSS ROW ROY RP RPEL RPTS RQ RR RRB RREL RS RSO RSOX RSP RSZ RTT RU RUEHZO RV RW RWANDA SA SAAD SAARC SABAH SACU SADC SAFE SAIR SAIS SALOPEK SAMA SAN SANC SANR SAO SARB SARGSIAN SARS SASC SASEC SASIAIN SB SBA SC SCA SCCC SCE SCENESETTER SCHUL SCI SCIENCE SCNV SCOI SCOL SCOM SCPR SCRM SCRS SCRSERD SCUL SCVL SD SE SEC SECDEF SECI SECRET SECRETARY 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TNDG TNGD TO TOPEC TORRIJOS TOURISM TP TPHY TPKO TPP TPSA TPSL TR TRAD TRADE TRAFFICKING TRBIO TRBY TRD TREAS TREASURY TREATY TREL TRG TRGV TRGY TRIO TRSY TRT TRV TRY TRYG TRYS TS TSA TSLP TSPA TSPL TSRL TSRY TSY TT TTFN TU TURKEY TV TVBIO TW TWRO TX TY TZ TZBY UA UAE UAID UAM UB UDEM UE UEU UG UGA UK UKR UKRAINE UM UMIK UN UNA UNAF UNAIDS UNAMA UNAMSIL UNAORC UNAUS UNBRO UNC UNCC UNCDF UNCDN UNCHC UNCHR UNCHS UNCITRAL UNCND UNCOPUOS UNCRED UNCRIME UNCSD UNCSW UNCTAD UNDC UNDEF UNDOF UNDP UNECE UNEF UNEP UNESCO UNFA UNFC UNFCYP UNFF UNFICYP UNFIYCP UNFPA UNGA UNGAPL UNGO UNHCR UNHRC UNICEF UNIDCP UNIDO UNIDROIT UNIFEM UNIFIL UNION UNKIK UNM UNMEE UNMIC UNMIK UNMIKI UNMIKV UNMIL UNMIN UNMOVIC UNO UNODC UNOMIG UNOPS UNP UNPAR UNPUOS UNRCCA UNRCR UNREST UNRWA UNSC UNSCAPU UNSCD UNSCE UNSCER UNSCR UNSCS UNSD UNSE UNTAC UNTERR UNTZ UNUS UNVIE UNYI UP UPU UPUO UR US USAID USAU USCC USCG USDA USDELFESTTWO USEU USG USGS USMS USNC USOAS USOP USPS USPTO USSC USTA USTDA USTR USTRD USTRIT USTRPS 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Identifier | Subject | Date | Office | Classification | Tags |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
07BOGOTA1013 | XXXXXXXXXXXX FOR SLAIN HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST BLAMES [...] (C) XXXXXXXXXXXX slain human rights activist Yolanda Izquierdo, told us February 7 that two persons with paramilitary ties, Diego Sierra and Sor Teresa Gomez, were responsible for her January 31 killing in Monteria. XXXXXXXXXXXX doubted human rights groups' claims that Izquierdo's murder was d [...] | 2007-02-12 22:32:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV CO |
07BOGOTA1033 | NEW CRIMINAL GROUPS ARE LAW ENFORCEMENT THREAT, [...] (C) The GOC and OAS say the new criminal groups that have appeared in certain regions lack the organization, reach, and military capacity of the former AUC. Rather, they are primarily decentralized criminal operations that have used some demobilized paramilitaries, as well the former AUC's i [...] | 2007-02-13 17:19:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KJUS PGOV PINR PREL PTER CO SNAR PREF |
07BOGOTA1076 | TRAGEDY STRIKES ARTESENAL COAL MINES IN COLOMBIA [...] No summary [...] | 2007-02-14 15:01:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ENRG ELAB CO |
07BOGOTA1088 | SCENESETTER FOR CODEL BAYH [...] (SBU) Post welcomes CODEL Bayh to Colombia. President Alvaro Uribe was re-elected in May, 2006; he is the first president to be re-elected to a second, consecutive term in over 100 years. We expect close bilateral relations between the United States and Colombia to continue in his second ter [...] | 2007-02-14 19:06:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOC ECON CO |
07BOGOTA1109 | ELN NARCO ACTIVITIES INCREASINGLY APPARENT [...] (S) There is growing evidence of ELN fronts' narcotics trafficking activities, and credible indications the ELN's Central Command (COCE) permits and benefits financially from the drug trade. Testimony from demobilized ELN fighters says some ELN fronts adre deeply involved in narco activities. [...] | 2007-02-15 15:08:00 | Embassy Bogota | SECRET | PTER SNAR KCRM PHUM PGOV CO |
07BOGOTA1139 | GUARDED OPTIMISM ABOUT POSSIBILITY OF GOC-ELN [...] (C) Presidential Counselor Jose Obdulio Gaviria and GOC-ELN guarantor Alvaro Jimenez separately expressed to us guarded optimism about the possibility of a GOC-ELN ceasefire being announced in the near future. Jimenez said the two sides hoped to present a ceasefire agreement at the end of th [...] | 2007-02-16 13:21:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PHUM PGOV PREL CO |
07BOGOTA1141 | URIBE ORDERS SEIZURE OF PARAMILITARY ASSETS [...] (SBU) On February 1, President Uribe instructed GOC agencies to seize assets belonging to former paramilitaries. Two-days later, the GOC took possession of 10 properties belonging to former paramilitary leader Salvatore Mancuso. National Judicial and Police Intelligence Director, General Osca [...] | 2007-02-16 14:04:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | KJUS PGOV PINR PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA1142 | URIBE ORDERS SEIZURE OF PARAMILITARY ASSETS [...] (SBU) On February 1, President Uribe instructed GOC agencies to seize assets belonging to former paramilitaries. Two-days later, the GOC took possession of 10 properties belonging to former paramilitary leader Salvatore Mancuso. National Judicial and Police Intelligence Director, General Osca [...] | 2007-02-16 14:09:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | KJUS PGOV PINR PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA1158 | RIVER WARS IN THE FARC'S HEARTLAND [...] (C) To cut guerrilla supply lines and interdict narcotraffic, riverine battalions of Colombian Marines (COLMAR) are fighting to take control of nearly 8,000 miles of inland waterways. The tough river environment gives inherent tactical advantages to the FARC, but the COLMAR is building more [...] | 2007-02-16 16:23:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER MARR CO |
07BOGOTA1165 | COLOMBIA REQUESTS SUPPORT FOR CANDIDATE FOR [...] This is an action request (see paragraphs 2 and 4). 2. We received a request from the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for support for their candidate for the Interamerican Judicial Committee of the Organization of American States, Guillermo Fernandez de Soto. A copy of the request [...] | 2007-02-16 19:02:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV CO |
07BOGOTA1169 | SIX COLOMBIAN CONGRESSMEN--INCLUDING FM ARAUJO'S [...] (C) Summary. On February 15, six additional Congressmen--including FM Araujo's brother, Senator Alvaro Araujo--were ordered jailed by the Supreme Court for alleged ties to paramilitary groups and other crimes. Senator Araujo is also accused of aggravated kidnapping. A total of nine members [...] | 2007-02-16 21:02:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PREF PTER CO |
07BOGOTA1218 | PRESIDENT URIBE APPOINTS FORMER FARC HOSTAGE AS [...] On February 19, President Alvaro Uribe appointed Fernando Araujo Perdomo to replace Maria Consuelo Araujo (no relation) as Colombia's Foreign Minister. Fernando Araujo escaped from 6 years of FARC custody on December 31, 2006. Uribe said he appointed Araujo because he was a symbol of Colombi [...] | 2007-02-20 22:40:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PTER PHUM PINR CO |
07BOGOTA1221 | FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS AERIAL ERADICATION CONTINUES [...] (C) Foreign Minister Maria Consuelo Araujo told the Ambassador on December 15 the GOC would continue its aerial eradication efforts near the border with Ecuador despite GOE protests. President Uribe was annoyed that the GOC's moratorium on spraying near the border had resulted in an additio [...] | 2007-02-21 14:32:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL SENV PHUM SNAR CO |
07BOGOTA1224 | FERNANDO ARAUJO: LIFE AS A FARC HOSTAGE [...] (C) Former GOC Development Minister Fernando Araujo was kidnapped by the FARC in December 2000 and held hostage until his dramatic escape during a COLMIL assault last New Year's Eve (reftel A). In five hours of de-brief interviews with Embassy officers, Dr. Araujo described the guerrillas' t [...] | 2007-02-21 18:43:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MARR PTER CO |
07BOGOTA1232 | A/S SHANNON MEETS WITH DEFENSE MINISTER SANTOS ON [...] (C) Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos told WHA A/S Thomas Shannon and INL A/S Anne Patterson the U.S. and Colombia should develop a coordinated message on Plan Colombia's successes, a message he would take with him to Washington when he met with Secretary of Defense Gates. Santos urged the U [...] | 2007-02-21 23:31:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER MARR CO |
07BOGOTA1246 | COLMIL REFORMS (1) -- EDUCATION ROADMAP [...] Planners have drafted a "strategic roadmap" for overhauling military and police education and doctrine, the first of five reform areas announced last fall by the Defense Minister to strengthen the credibility and efficiency of the armed forces. Educational initiatives will focus on leadership [...] | 2007-02-22 18:08:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL PTER MARR CO |
07BOGOTA1302 | GOC 'WEALTH TAX' BOOSTS DEFENSE BUDGET [...] (C) In December 2006, the GOC approved a four-year "wealth tax" on liquid assets of Colombia's richest citizens and businesses to boost military spending. Of the estimated $3.7 billion in new revenue over 2007-10, the major portion (about 70 percent) is expected to fund the domestic war effo [...] | 2007-02-23 22:39:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA1322 | CHARGE RAISED HUMAN RIGHTS CONCERNS WITH ARMY [...] (C) In the first of a series of periodic human rights meetings with COLAR Commander General Montoya, the Charge d'Affaires said we share concerns raised in the forthcoming UNHCHR annual human rights report that extra-judicial killings committed by COLAR personnel may be the unintended result [...] | 2007-02-26 17:25:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MARR PTER CO |
07BOGOTA1339 | NOISE ON HUMANITARIAN ACCORD MASKS LACK OF PROGRESS [...] President Uribe authorized representatives of families of FARC hostages to seek direct meetings with the terrorist group and work towards an exchange of FARC hostages for imprisoned terrorists. Representatives of the families, including the mother of Ingrid Betancourt, blamed the FARC for th [...] | 2007-02-26 21:03:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PTER PGOV PHUM CO |
07BOGOTA1390 | PARA-POLITICAL SCANDAL FUELS URIBE DRIVE FOR [...] (C) Summary. The Supreme Court ordered the detention of nine Congressmen for alleged ties to ex-paramilitaries; that number is expected to grow. One group claims more than 80 legislators could eventually be implicated. The scandal has sparked calls for political and electoral reform; on Feb [...] | 2007-02-28 20:28:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PREF PGOV CO |
07BOGOTA1400 | SCENESETTER FOR CODEL MCGOVERN [...] (SBU) Post welcomes CODEL McGovern to Colombia. With U.S. help, President Uribe has made great strides in fighting drug trafficking and terrorism. In January, the GOC presented a Plan Colombia consolidation phase strategy, with a heightened emphasis on social development. USAID programs aim [...] | 2007-02-28 21:12:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOC ECON CO |
07BOGOTA1401 | COLOMBIAN MILITARY CIVIL AFFAIRS UNIT PLANS CHANGES [...] The Colombian military's civil affairs unit works to win the hearts and minds of civilian populations. A new commander hopes to increase its effectiveness with fresh ideas and additional resources. End Summary. ------------------------ Winning Hearts and Minds ------------------------ [...] | 2007-02-28 21:29:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PTER PGOV PREL MARR EAID PROP CO |
07BOGOTA1407 | COLOMBIA AND PANAMA: DIFFERING PERSPECTIVES ON [...] (C) Tensions increased between Colombia and Panama after President Uribe announced he would place greater customs restrictions on goods originating from Panama's Colon Free Trade Zone. Panama claims these restrictions would violate a customs agreement signed by the two countries in October 20 [...] | 2007-03-01 11:41:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | ASEC ECIN ECON PGOV PREL PTER SNAR CO PA VENZ |
07BOGOTA1455 | PROSECUTOR GENERAL TO INTERROGATE 69 SOLDIERS OVER [...] (SBU) On February 22, the Prosecutor General's Office (Fiscalia) summoned 69 soldiers - an entire company from the 17th Brigade - to a formal interrogation hearing into the February 21 2005 massacre of eight members of San Jose de Apartado peace community. The summons to a formal hearing do [...] | 2007-03-02 20:56:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KJUS CO |
07BOGOTA1457 | COLOMBIA'S SEVENTH ANNUAL ANTI-TRAFFICKING IN [...] (U) Embassy point of contact on trafficking in persons is human rights officer Scott Fagan, phone number (57-1) 383-2122, fax number (57-1) 315-2163. Officer spent 52 hours preparing report. 2. (U) Responses below are to questions in paragraphs 27-30 of reftel. ------- SUMMARY ------- [...] | 2007-03-02 22:46:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM KCRM KWMN SMIG KFRD ASEC PREF ELAB CO |
07BOGOTA1472 | SCENESETTER CHECKLIST FOR VISIT OF PRESIDENT BUSH [...] (C) Your visit highlights the strength of our bilateral ties, and comes at a critical time for President Uribe. Seven months into his second term, Uribe is looking for a firm U.S. commitment to sustain high aid levels--as well as U.S. congressional approval of our bilateral Free Trade Agreeme [...] | 2007-03-05 22:12:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER SNAR ECON ETRD PHUM KCRM CO |
07BOGOTA1516 | SCENESETTER FOR VISIT OF DEPUTY U.S. TRADE [...] (SBU) Post welcomes DUSTR Veroneau to Colombia. With U.S. help, President Uribe has made great strides in fighting drug trafficking and terrorism. The economy is growing, the investment climate is strong, and there is both anticipation and nervousness over the fate of the U.S.-Colombia Trade [...] | 2007-03-07 15:24:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD ECON PREL CO |
07BOGOTA1558 | PEACE COMMISSIONER RESTREPO ON PARAMILITARIES, ELN [...] (C) Summary: Peace Commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo said he is talking to the former paramilitary leaders in Itagui prison to encourage them not to disrupt the Justice and Peace Law process. President Uribe is concerned by his security forces, failure to capture Vicente Castano and other re [...] | 2007-03-08 16:40:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KJUS PGOV PINR PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA1629 | CHARGE RAISES JUSTICE AND PEACE LAW, HUMAN RIGHTS [...] (C) Charge Milton Drucker met March 8 with National Prosecutor General (Fiscal) Mario Iguaran to offer U.S. assistance in developing a database to manage and access victims, testimony in the Justice and Peace Law process, and to stress the need for results in key human rights cases. Drucker pr [...] | 2007-03-09 22:07:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KJUS PGOV PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA1797 | POSITIVE GOC RESPONSE TO UNHCHR REPORT; [...] (C) The UNHCHR office in Colombia released a balanced annual human rights report on March 13, citing numerous examples of significant progress over the past year. The report praised substantial reductions in homicides, kidnappings, torture allegations, and forced displacement, and said inves [...] | 2007-03-20 15:50:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KCRM CO |
07BOGOTA1809 | REPRESENTATIVE MCGOVERN MEETS WITH PRESIDENT URIBE [...] (SBU) In a March 2nd meeting with Representative James McGovern, President Uribe reviewed progress in the investigation into the high-profile killing of a victims representative in January. Uribe highlighted the importance of a transparent Justice and Peace Law Process, explaining it was cruc [...] | 2007-03-20 19:52:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM ELAM PTER PREL CO |
07BOGOTA1810 | REPRESENTATIVE MCGOVERN MEETS WITH DEFENSE [...] (SBU) Minister of Defense Juan Manuel Santos told Representative James McGovern (D-MA) on March 4 that the Justice and Peace Law was an example of security advances under Uribe, but voiced concerns that revelations of para-political ties would be viewed negatively by the U.S. Congress. Santos [...] | 2007-03-20 19:59:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV KJUS PMIL PHUM PTER PREL ELAB VE CO |
07BOGOTA1836 | BUENAVENTURA'S SECURITY AND SOCIAL CRISIS [...] (C) Multiple illegal groups including the FARC, renegade ex-AUC, and narco-gangs are battling for control of the coca business in the port city of Buenaventura. Marines and Police quadrupled force strength, captured a host of gang bosses, and may have begun to turn the tide on crime. The GO [...] | 2007-03-21 19:57:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER MARR CO |
07BOGOTA1903 | VISAS VIPER MONTHLY REPORT: FEBRUARY 2007 [...] (U) Post's Visa Viper Committee met on March 7, 2007, and the meeting was chaired by the CDA, Milton Drucker. Post's Viper Coordinator is Fraud Prevention Unit officer Jenny Cordell. 2. (C) Post's Visas Viper Committee submits Horacio Duque Giraldo, former advisor to then-Minister of Inter [...] | 2007-03-23 18:32:00 | Embassy Bogota | SECRET//NOFORN | ASEC CMGT CVIS KVPR PINR PTER CO |
07BOGOTA1925 | NEW CRIMINAL GROUPS REMAIN DECENTRALIZED, BUT GOC [...] (C) The size and scope of the new criminal groups remained relatively constant in recent months, with some 22 groups comprising about 3,000 people. The groups remain largely decentralized, and former AUC leaders in Itagui maximum security prison--with the exception of Macaco and Don Berna-- [...] | 2007-03-23 21:36:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER KCRM PGOV PHUM CO |
07BOGOTA199 | CONDOLENCE MESSAGE [...] We received a condolence letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs addressed to the Secretary regarding the death of former President Gerald Ford. Original will be sent by pouch to WHA/AND. 2. Begin informal Embassy translation of condolence letter: To Her Excellency Condoleezza Ri [...] | 2007-01-11 15:20:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV CO |
07BOGOTA2102 | ROBUST OBSERVATION MISSION REQUIRED FOR OCTOBER [...] (C) On March 20, Foreign Minister Fernando Araujo formally requested an OAS electoral mission to observe the October local elections. The request reflects concerns--heightened by recent revelations of paramilitary interference in the 2002 and 2006 legislative elections--that former paramilit [...] | 2007-03-29 18:45:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | AADP PGOV PREF PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA2103 | GOC-ELN TALKS APPEAR STALLED, ELN POLITICAL [...] (C) GOC-ELN talks appear stalled, largely because the ELN calculates the GOC will weaken as a result of the "parapolitical" scandal and offer more generous terms. The ELN's miscalculation is not surprising. The terrorist group has a long history of misreading the country's political situat [...] | 2007-03-29 19:04:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PHUM MARR CO |
07BOGOTA2117 | INTEL LEAK TO L.A. TIMES: LOCAL FALLOUT IN BOGOTA [...] (S) GOC and COLMIL reaction to publication of the leaked intelligence report in the L.A. Times has been generally measured, with no indication that U.S. contributions to COLMIL operational activities will be affected. Generals Montoya and Padilla, named in the report as being likely paramilit [...] | 2007-03-30 17:05:00 | Embassy Bogota | SECRET | PGOV PREL ASEC PTER MARR CO |
07BOGOTA2146 | URIBE CONTINUES DRIVE FOR POLITICAL REFORM [...] (C) On March 28, President Alvaro Uribe hosted eleven political party leaders from his Congressional coalition to sign a "transparency pact" promising maximum efforts to guarantee free and fair local elections in October--opposition parties did not participate. Party leaders from the U Party, [...] | 2007-03-30 21:47:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PINR PTER CO |
07BOGOTA2244 | FACILITATORS REPORT SMALL ADVANCES ON HUMANITARIAN \ [...] (C) XXXXXXXXXXXX told us French and Swiss facilitators had met with FARC spokesperson \ Raul Reyes and appeared optimistic they could persuade the \ FARC to agree to a "zona de encuentro" to begin talks on a \ humanitarian exchange. The GOC was working well with the \ facilitators but saw no FARC [...] | 2007-04-04 19:07:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PGOV PREL MARR PHUM CO |
07BOGOTA2252 | DELIVERY OF DESIGNATION FOR IRAN'S DIO [...] No summary [...] | 2007-04-04 19:46:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL KNNP PARM KNEP IR CO |
07BOGOTA2256 | GOC CAPTURES KEY FUGITIVE EX-PARAMILITARY LEADER [...] GOC security forces arrested fugitive ex-paramilitary leader Ever Veloza-Garcia (AKA "HH") on April 3 in Antioquia department. Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos confirmed Veloza did not qualify for Justice and Peace Law benefits and was subject to extradition. Veloza was an instrumental f [...] | 2007-04-04 20:01:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KJUS PGOV PINR PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA2274 | PALM OIL CREATES OPPORTUNITIES AND RISKS FOR [...] Colombia is increasing production and export of African palm oil as a sustainable alternative to coca. There are a small number of high-profile accusations that palm oil producers, possibly in concert with paramilitaries, illegally seized land from Afro-Colombian communities for palm cultiva [...] | 2007-04-04 22:04:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON EAGR PGOV PTER SOCI CO |
07BOGOTA2283 | PRESSURE INCREASES ON ELN TO REACH PEACE DEAL WITH [...] (C) The GOC, Catholic Church, guarantors, and international community are pressing the ELN to agree to a ceasefire and release its kidnap victims when the next round of talks resumes in Cuba on April 12. Peace Commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo said publicly on April 8 the ELN's failure to re [...] | 2007-04-09 18:35:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PGOV PHUM KCRM CO |
07BOGOTA2290 | MILGROUP BOGOTA (1) -- HELPING SOLDIERS SAVE LIVES [...] (U) The Combat Life Saver (CLS) course is one of a broad range of hands-on training programs provided by the U.S. military to the Colombian Army (COLAR). CLS gives medics and field soldiers essential skills to stabilize wounded soldiers on the battlefield until they can be evacuated. Several [...] | 2007-04-09 19:54:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PGOV PTER MARR CO |
07BOGOTA2392 | GOC PROTECTS LAND RIGHTS ACTIVIST [...] (C) Cordoba department land activist Eloina Gaspar told us on March 25 she was being threatened by people who had identified her as the replacement for Popular Housing Organization founder Yolanda Izquierdo, murdered in late January (ref A). On April 1, the Prosecutor General's Office moved [...] | 2007-04-11 17:47:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KJUS PGOV PINR PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA2437 | CHARGE URGES GOC TO STRENGTHEN PROTECTION PROGRAMS [...] (C) The Charge reiterated to Vice President Francisco Santos and Justice and Interior Minister Carlos Holguin the importance of strengthening GOC protection programs for victims participating in the Justice and Peace Law process. Santos and Holguin said the GOC shared our concerns and was tak [...] | 2007-04-12 20:12:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KCRM CO |
07BOGOTA2464 | SUCRE, NEW SPACES OPENING POST PARAMILITARY [...] (C) Our March 26-27 visit to Sucre showed a department starting to recover from years of paramilitary domination and economic decline. The paramilitary demobilization--and increased GOC security presence--has provided a growing sense of security, allowing displaced people to return to their [...] | 2007-04-13 21:51:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KJUS PGOV PINR PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA2528 | SOME PROGRESS IN CORDOBA POST PARAMILITARY [...] (C) Our March 25-26 trip to the former paramilitary heartland Cordoba showed some positive changes following paramilitary demobilization: violence had decreased, security improved, and new spaces for civil society activity had opened. The demobilization and para-political scandal had delegit [...] | 2007-04-17 17:39:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KJUS PGOV PINR PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA2529 | BACKGROUND ON THE "CONVIVIR" SELF-DEFENSE GROUPS [...] (SBU) The "Convivir" self defense groups were authorized by President Gaviria 1994 and abolished by President Samper in 1998. Their original purpose was to enable citizens to defend themselves from terrorist attacks and to supply intelligence to the security forces. During their brief exist [...] | 2007-04-17 17:54:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | KJUS PGOV PINR PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA2533 | AFRO-COLOMBIANS STRUGGLE FOR POLITICAL IDENTITY [...] A century-and-a-half of state neglect has marginalized the majority of Afro-Colombians and created substantial deficits in income, health and education. Sometimes called an "invisible minority," only in recent years has the government acknowledged Afro-Colombians as a distinct ethnic group e [...] | 2007-04-17 19:23:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | SOCI PGOV ECON CO |
07BOGOTA2575 | BOLIVAR'S SECURITY SITUATION STILL A CONCERN POST [...] (C) On March 20, Poloff visited the former conflict-ridden Bolivar department where the overall security, political, and economic situation has improved sharply since 2002. Still, an increase in common crime and other security-related problems remain a challenge. The security and social sit [...] | 2007-04-19 17:28:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KJUS PGOV PINR PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA2593 | URIBE CALLS PETRO'S PARA-POLITICS DEBATE ON [...] (SBU) President Uribe called leading opposition Polo Democratico Senator Gustavo Petro's accusations during the para-politics debate in congress on Antioquia department a personal slander. The nine-hour debate on April 17--in which Petro spoke for over two-hours--focused primarily on allegat [...] | 2007-04-19 20:12:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | KJUS PGOV PINR PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA2633 | URIBE RESPONDS TO PARAMILITARY ACCUSATIONS AND [...] (C) President Uribe used an hour and forty-five minute live press conference on April 19 to address Senator Petro's allegations against Uribe, his family and his administration. Uribe's press conference was prompted by his concern that Petro's claims were damaging Colombia's image abroad, as [...] | 2007-04-20 21:07:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KJUS PGOV PINR PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA269 | FISCALIAS PREPARES TO RESUME SALVATORE MANCUSO'S [...] (C) The Prosecutor General's (Fiscalia) Justice and Peace Unit Chief Luis Gonzalez told us on January 12 his office is preparing the second round of questions for ex-paramilitary leader Salvatore Mancuso once his &version libre" or voluntary confession resumes on January 15. Gonzalez said th [...] | 2007-01-12 22:36:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KJUS PGOV PINR PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA2835 | FOREIGN MINISTER ARAUJO MEETING WITH WHA PDAS [...] (C) Foreign Minister Fernando Araujo told WHA PDAS Charles Shapiro the GOC considered the bilateral Free Trade Agreement to be the "economic arm of Plan Colombia," whose ratification was key for Colombia to continue its success in fighting terrorism, reducing violence, and addressing social p [...] | 2007-04-27 20:19:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ETRD PHUM PTER CO |
07BOGOTA2837 | PETRO DENOUNCES ATTEMPTED OFFICE SEARCH AND [...] (C) At a Senate hearing on April 24, leading opposition Polo Democratico Senator Gustavo Petro denounced an April 23 attempt by police to search his office for documents linked to an old espionage case involving a military officer. Prosecutor General Mario Iguaran conceded a low-level prosecu [...] | 2007-04-27 21:12:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KJUS PGOV PINR PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA2839 | NARINO COMMUNITIES SUFFER VIOLENCE, INTIMIDATION [...] (C) The southwest department of Narino has deteriorated from a peaceful backwater to a conflict hotspot. The rural civilian population suffers violent intimidation and forced coca cultivation at the hands of the FARC, ELN, former AUC, and narco-traffickers. As rival groups compete for contro [...] | 2007-04-27 21:35:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER MARR CO |
07BOGOTA2923 | PDAS SHAPIRO MEETS WITH MOD SANTOS [...] (C) Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos told WHA PDAS Charles Shapiro that Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa was seeking to provoke a confrontation with Colombia to strengthen his domestic political position. Colombia was working with Peru, Mexico and Chile to deepen economic integration an [...] | 2007-04-30 22:54:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL CO |
07BOGOTA2929 | SCENESETTER CHECKLIST FOR VISIT OF DEPUTY [...] (C) Your visit follows President Uribe's May 2-4 visit to Washington. Uribe fears unsubstantiated claims in the Colombian Congress that he and his family are tied to the paramilitaries are undermining prospects in the U.S. Congress for continued high aid levels and ratification of the bilate [...] | 2007-05-02 12:49:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PHUM SNAR MARR PTER ECON ETRD KCRM |
07BOGOTA297 | COLOMBIA CONFLICT UPDATE - Q4'06 [...] (S) Greater COLMIL assertiveness kept the FARC on a broadly defensive footing. Still, the FARC opportunistically struck vulnerable COLMIL units in Meta and Catatumbo and attacked police in strategic coca growing areas previously dominated by paramilitaries. The ELN continued to decline, mak [...] | 2007-01-16 19:59:00 | Embassy Bogota | SECRET | PREL PGOV PTER MARR CO |
07BOGOTA2995 | SPILT MILK: FARC ATTACKS AGAINST NESTLE [...] (C) FARC attacks on Swiss multinational Nestle's dairy operations in Caqueta threaten the livelihoods of thousands of families. In January-February 2007, the FARC bombed Nestle plants and trucks in Caqueta, disrupting the most important legal sector in the department's economy. Nestle turned d [...] | 2007-05-02 22:09:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV PTER SOCI CO |
07BOGOTA3089 | SOUTHCOM COMMANDER ADMIRAL STAVRIDIS VISITS [...] (C) Commander of U.S. Southern Command Admiral James Stavridis visited Colombia on April 26-27. He was briefed first by JTF-O Commander GEN Navas, who thanked him for U.S. contributions of mobility assets and psyops support, as well as for U.S. help to COLMIL/GOC civil affairs efforts. BRACN [...] | 2007-05-04 13:00:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER MARR CO |
07BOGOTA3093 | CESAR ATTEMPTING TO SHAKE-OFF PARAMILITARY LEGACY [...] (C) During two trips to former paramilitary-dominated Cesar department in March and April, community leaders said local sympathy for the paramilitaries has turned into resentment. The demobilization of 5,000 paramilitaries led by Cesar strongman Rodrigo Tovar Pupo, AKA "Jorge 40," reduced vi [...] | 2007-05-04 14:10:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KJUS PGOV PINR PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA3096 | COLOMBIA CONFLICT UPDATE - Q1'07 [...] (C) The most prominent FARC attacks in the first quarter were urban bombings in Valle, Cauca, and Huila departments, with the group mostly on the defensive or quiet elsewhere. While ELN leadership continued talks with the GOC in Havana, the group conducted few attacks and sustained heavy losse [...] | 2007-05-04 16:39:00 | Embassy Bogota | SECRET | PREL PGOV PTER MARR CO |
07BOGOTA311 | COLOMBIAN HOSTAGE ESCAPES FARC CAPTORS DURING [...] (S) Former GOC Minister and six-year hostage Fernando Araujo escaped from his FARC guards during a COLMIL assault to rescue him and take down a FARC leader. The December 31 operation coincided with partying among the guerrillas, who failed to hear approaching helicopters. Araujo supplied val [...] | 2007-01-17 13:29:00 | Embassy Bogota | SECRET | PREL PGOV MARR PTER CO |
07BOGOTA3133 | MAGDALENA IMPROVING, BUT THREATS FROM EMERGING [...] (C) Community leaders in Magdalena told poloff the paramilitary demobilization and President Uribe's democratic security strategy have led to improvements in security and the local economy. Still, instances of rearmament of ex-paras are worse in Magdalena than in other north Atlantic coast d [...] | 2007-05-04 22:58:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KJUS PGOV PINR PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA3139 | UNION PENEYA: POTENTIAL POSTER CHILD FOR URIBE'S [...] The voluntary return of 1,200 displaced residents to the small town of Union Peneya is a sign that President Uribe's "Democratic Security" policy is working. The COLAR thwarted a series of FARC attacks on the town and residents say they feel safe. GOC agencies are providing short-term relief [...] | 2007-05-07 14:16:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PTER PREF MARR SOCI CO |
07BOGOTA3189 | DISPLACED FAMILIES PLAN RETURN TO SAN JOSE DE [...] (C) Over 1,300 displaced families plan to return to San Jose de Apartado in light of improved security. Local authorities and community leaders told Poloff the families have growing faith in the GOC's ability to provide security and basic government services. Remaining challenges include re [...] | 2007-05-08 12:48:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KJUS CO |
07BOGOTA32 | STRUGGLE OVER LAND CONTINUES TO FUEL COLOMBIAN [...] (U) Rural land development is a source of conflict in Colombia; repeated land reform efforts have been unsuccessful. A proposed new law aimed at facilitating rural development and promoting land distribution has led to complaints by human rights groups that it could legalize illegal land se [...] | 2007-01-04 18:47:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PGOV PREL ECON CO |
07BOGOTA3237 | DEPUTY SECRETARY NEGROPONTE'S MEETING WITH HUMAN [...] (U) May 8, 2007, 0800, residence of Charge d'affaires, a.i. 2. (U) Participants: United States The Deputy Secretary WHA A/S Thomas P. Shannon CDA Milton K. Drucker D staff assistant Mary Sue Conaway Political Counselor John S. Creamer D/polcouns Scott I. Hamilton (notetaker) Co [...] | 2007-05-09 20:00:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PGOV KJUS PTER CO |
07BOGOTA3259 | FORMER PRESIDENT CESAR GAVIRIA REJECTS ALLEGATIONS [...] (U) On May 5, El Tiempo newspaper published an interview with Cesar Gaviria, in which the Liberal Party chief and former president rejected allegations that President Alvaro Uribe was connected to former paramilitaries. When asked about attacks against the president, Gaviria said, "I do not [...] | 2007-05-09 21:59:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA3276 | DEPUTY SECRETARY NEGROPONTE'S MAY 8 MEETING WITH [...] No summary [...] | 2007-05-10 15:57:00 | Embassy Bogota | SECRET | PARM PGOV PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA3282 | DEPUTY SECRETARY NEGROPONTE'S MAY 8 MEETING WITH [...] No summary [...] | 2007-05-10 15:58:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PARM CO |
07BOGOTA3288 | GOC REJECTS EFFORT BY SENATOR PETRO'S FAMILY TO [...] (C) Justice and Interior Minister Carlos Holguin rejected May 9 the effort by some family members of Senator Gustavo Petro to decline GOC protection measures, saying the GOC's obligation to protect the family was "irrevocable." Petro's parents and brothers made the request after police detaine [...] | 2007-05-10 17:24:00 | Embassy Bogota | SECRET | PGOV CO |
07BOGOTA3307 | GUAJIRA'S UNIQUE SOCIAL PROBLEMS CONTINUE POST [...] (C) Community leaders and local officials said security had improved in Guajira since the paramilitary demobilization, but some ex-paramilitaries continued their criminal activities. Several said most of the department's problems were not security related, but reflected entrenched social pro [...] | 2007-05-10 21:44:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KJUS PGOV PINR PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA3394 | URIBE OFFERS "MASSIVE" RELEASE OF FARC PRISONERS [...] (C) Peace Commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo said May 11 he would begin immediate consultations with legal and other GOC authorities to establish a mechanism by which the GOC could unilaterally release hundreds of FARC prisoners. President Uribe had made the offer earlier on May 11, saying his [...] | 2007-05-14 19:50:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PTER CO |
07BOGOTA3448 | CARAMAGNA SAYS "DE-PARAMILITARIZATION" OF REGIONS [...] (C) OAS Mission to Support the Peace Process in Colombia (MAPP/OAS) Director Sergio Caramagna told PolCouns the mission's ninth quarterly report would characterize the demobilization process as positive, with the potential to lead to the "de-paramilitarization" of former paramilitary strongho [...] | 2007-05-16 13:02:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KJUS PGOV PINR PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA3454 | PRESIDENT URIBE FIRES TWO POLICE GENERALS AFTER [...] (C) On May 14, President Alvaro Uribe dismissed national police chief (CNP) General Jorge Daniel Castro and CNP intelligence chief (DIPOL) Guillermo Chavez after learning of illegal DIPOL wiretaps. Vice Defense Minister Juan Carlos Pinzon confirmed to Judatt that Castro and Chavez admitted to [...] | 2007-05-16 15:44:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV SNAR CO |
07BOGOTA3581 | TELLING COLOMBIA'S STORY [...] President Uribe's democratic security policy -- and the paramilitary demobilization -- has saved the lives of over 40,000 Colombians, strengthened Colombia's democratic institutions, and led to substantial improvements in human rights protection. The establishment of GOC territorial control [...] | 2007-05-18 13:13:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PGOV PTER KJUS MARR CO |
07BOGOTA3618 | MANCUSO ALLEGES PARAMILITARY TIES TO POLITICIANS, [...] (U) Former paramilitary leader Salvatore Mancuso claimed in his May 15-16 voluntary testimony that retired generals, top government officials (including the vice-president and defense minister),members of congress, local government representatives, and companies had collaborated with paramili [...] | 2007-05-18 20:45:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | KJUS PGOV PINR PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA3620 | JUSTICE AND PEACE LAW PROCESS BEGINS TO SHOW [...] (SBU) The Prosecutor General's (Fiscalia) Justice and Peace Unit Chief Luis Gonzalez told poloff on May 16 voluntary testimonies of ex-paramilitary leaders have so far helped to identify the perpetrators of over 200 murders and have been instrumental in helping the GOC create new mechanisms t [...] | 2007-05-18 20:53:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | KJUS PGOV PINR PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA3622 | COLOMBIA AND CUBA: NSC-DIRECTED COUNTRY BY [...] (C) Colombia has a minimal trading relationship with Cuba. Total Colombian exports to Cuba in 2006 dropped by 23.7 percent to approximately USD 49 million. Cuba's total exports to Colombia decreased by 26.2 percent to USD 4 million. Under its ALADI commitments, Colombia grants preferential [...] | 2007-05-18 21:13:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD ETTC PREL CO |
07BOGOTA3624 | COLOMBIA TO ACCEDE TO WHALING CONVENTION [...] (SBU) The GOC intends to accede to the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (ICRW). Ana Maria Hernandez, Director of International Affairs for the Environment Ministry, told EconCouns that the decision was made at a May 16 interagency meeting. Hernandez stated that the proc [...] | 2007-05-18 21:17:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SENV ETRD CO |
07BOGOTA3635 | COLOMBIA'S STRENGTHENING PESO -- THE PRICE OF [...] (C) Summary. The Colombian Peso has been among the fastest appreciating currencies in the world thanks to strong economic prospects and improved security conditions. Political pressure from the export sector led the Central Bank to intervene heavily on the foreign exchange market during the f [...] | 2007-05-18 22:33:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN CO |
07BOGOTA3651 | U.S. HOSTAGES: POSSIBLE 'PROOF OF LIFE' [...] (C) Former hostage Jhon Pinchao escaped on April 28 from a FARC camp deep in the jungle of southeast Colombia. Pinchao said he was held with 13 other captives, including three U.S. citizens captured in 2003. He gave accurate descriptions and specific anecdotal details of the three Americans; [...] | 2007-05-22 22:31:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MARR PTER CO |
07BOGOTA3778 | PRESIDENT URIBE TO RELEASE FARC PRISONERS, SEEKS [...] (C) President Alvaro Uribe announced two significant proposals designed to further peace processes in Colombia. On May 25, he said he would release FARC prisoners before June 7 for "reasons of State." On May 22, Uribe outlined a truth-for-freedom proposal that would allow those accused of cr [...] | 2007-05-25 21:22:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER KJUS CO |
07BOGOTA3787 | COLOMBIAN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CALLS FOR [...] (U) On May 23, the House of Representatives approved a non-binding resolution calling on the GOC to ask the OAS to remove Sergio Caramagna, chief of OAS Mission for Support of the Peace Process (OAS/MAPP),for alleged incompetence in monitoring the Tierralta accord with the paramilitaries. ( [...] | 2007-05-25 23:40:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PTER PGOV MARR PHUM CO |
07BOGOTA3855 | CURVARADO AND JIGUAMIANDO: A TALE OF TWO [...] (C) Conflict between paramilitary and FARC forces displaced the Afro-Colombian communities of Curvarado and Jiguamiando in 1997. Between 2001-2002, after the GOC designated 100,000 hectares in the area as Afro-Colombian "communal territories," community members returned. They found their l [...] | 2007-05-30 22:32:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PGOV PREL ECON CO |
07BOGOTA3872 | COLOMBIA: HOMICIDES PLUMMET, ESPECIALLY CIVILIAN [...] Data from the Colombian Commission of Jurists (CCJ),a prominent human rights group, show "political" homicides involving civilians fell by almost 70 percent during Uribe's first term. Overall, Colombia's homicides dropped by 40 percent in the last four years, reaching their lowest level in [...] | 2007-05-31 15:25:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PTER PGOV MARR CO |
07BOGOTA3879 | FARC PRISONER RELEASE EXPECTED [...] (C) The Presidency's Legal Advisor Mauricio Gonzalez told polcouns May 26 the GOC was preparing a decree to regulate the transfer and release of a significant number of FARC prisoners. Gonzalez linked the initiative to President Uribe's conversation with newly-elected French President Nichol [...] | 2007-05-31 17:48:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KJUS MARR PGOV PHUM PINR PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA3891 | DEFENSE MINISTER SANTOS DEFENDS RECORD IN CONGRESS [...] Defense Juan Manuel Santos faces a June 6 vote on a congressional censure motion against him. If a majority of both houses of Congress votes in favor of the motion, Santos would be removed from office. Pro-Uribe supporters have the votes to defeat the motion, and the president publicly backe [...] | 2007-05-31 20:06:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | KJUS PGOV PINR PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA3903 | HUMAN RIGHTS LEADERS DISCUSS LAND, AFRO-COLOMBIAN [...] Human rights groups, including representatives of indigenous and Afro-Colombian groups, addressed human rights, Afro-Colombian, and indigenous rights issues at a May 25 lunch hosted by Polcouns. Justicia y Paz urged higher-level GOC involvement in talks with human rights groups, and respect [...] | 2007-05-31 21:59:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PGOV KJUS CO |
07BOGOTA4029 | PRESIDENT URIBE EXPLAINS UNILATERAL RELEASE OF \ [...] (C) President Uribe explained in a radio and television \ news conference on June 4 that his unilateral FARC prisoner \ release was a goodwill gesture to gain the freedom of 56 \ political hostages held by the FARC, including the three U.S. \ hostages. XXXXXXXXXXXX told Polcouns \ President Uribe [...] | 2007-06-05 18:03:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KJUS PGOV PINR PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA408 | POLITICIANS NAMED FOR ALLEGED TIES TO [...] (C) Colombian media published the July 2001 "Ralito Agreement" signed by paramilitary leaders and some 30 political figures, some of whom are still in office. The Agreement is vague and contains no reference to criminal purposes, but the Prosecutor General's office and the Supreme Court are [...] | 2007-01-19 15:42:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PTER CO |
07BOGOTA413 | CATHOLIC PRIEST ON HUMANITARIAN ACCORD, ELN-FARC [...] (C) Secretary General of the Commission on National Reconciliation Father Dario Echeverri told us on January 17 he is trying to reach senior FARC leaders to discuss a possible humanitarian accord based on the December 2005 European proposal, but he has not received a response. Echeverri said [...] | 2007-01-19 16:51:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KJUS PGOV PINR PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA4157 | CENTRIST GAVIRIA CONSOLIDATES CONTROL OF LIBERALS [...] (C) Summary: Former President and Liberal Party chief Cesar Gaviria marginalized leftist elements and strengthened his hold of the opposition party in a recent Liberal congress, preparing the party to fight October local and 2010 national elections on a centrist platform. The change is goo [...] | 2007-06-07 22:22:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL PTER PREF CO |
07BOGOTA416 | CATHOLIC PRIEST ON HUMANITARIAN ACCORD, ELN-FARC [...] (C) Secretary General of the Commission on National Reconciliation Father Dario Echeverri told us on January 17 he is trying to reach senior FARC leaders to discuss a possible humanitarian accord based on the December 2005 European proposal, but he has not received a response. Echeverri said [...] | 2007-01-19 19:23:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KJUS PGOV PINR PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA4171 | FRANCE OR CUBA POSSIBLE DESTINATIONS FOR GRANDA, [...] Peace Commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo met with released FARC terrorist and informal "foreign minister" Rodrigo Granda June 7. The press reports the two discussed Granda's relocation, with France and Cuba mentioned as the most likely candidates. French DCM Alain Fort told polcouns June 7 F [...] | 2007-06-08 17:27:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PTER PGOV PREL CO |
07BOGOTA418 | COLOMBIA SEEKING THE LEAD ON REGIONAL [...] (U) After sharp reductions in kidnapping and homicide rates in Colombia, the GoC is seeking to position itself as a leader in counterterrorism (CT) efforts in the region. Colombia signed a bi-national agreement with Paraguay to provide training and technical assistance in crime scene and kidna [...] | 2007-01-19 20:05:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | ECIN ECON PGOV PREL PTER SNAR ASEC CO MX PA |
07BOGOTA4324 | FARC OFFICIAL RODRIGO GRANDA LIKELY TO END UP IN [...] (C) Summary: Catholic priest Dario Echeverri said the GOC's release of unofficial FARC "Foreign Minister" Rodrigo Granda will not lead to any advances on a humanitarian exchange in the short-term, but could be helpful in the long-term. He said the GOC is working to arrange Granda's travel to [...] | 2007-06-15 18:13:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PTER CO |
07BOGOTA4329 | GOC EFFORTS TO WORK WITH JUSTICE AND PEACE VICTIMS [...] The Prosecutor General's Office (Fiscalia),Inspector General's Office (Procuraduria),Ombudsman (Defensoria),and National Reconciliation and Reparations Commission have to date helped over 80,000 victims of violence to come forward with information on crimes allegedly committed by former pa [...] | 2007-06-15 22:05:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | KJUS PGOV PINR PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA4340 | COLOMBIA: ADDRESSING COLMIL EXTRAJUDICIAL KILLINGS [...] (C) Defense Minister Santos set up a high-level commission chaired by Vice Minister Jaramillo to address the apparent increase in extrajudicial killings by the Colombian military. He also ordered Armed Forces Commander Padilla to incorporate international humanitarian law into all operationa [...] | 2007-06-18 14:16:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER MARR CO |
07BOGOTA436 | RECENT LABOR DEVELOPMENTS [...] The GOC announced a 6.29 minimum wage increase on December 27, from 192 USD (408,000 pesos) to 205 USD (433,700 pesos). On the same day, President Uribe issued a decree aimed at limiting the use of workers' cooperatives as a form of labor contracting and vowed to combat those temporary contract [...] | 2007-01-22 17:12:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ELAB ETRD PGOV CO |
07BOGOTA437 | IS INTERNAL DISPLACEMENT DECREASING IN COLOMBIA? [...] (U) Summary. The Government of Colombia and a respected Colombian NGO, the Consultancy for Human Rights and Displacement (CODHES),are reporting marked decreases (16-30 percent) in the number of new internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the first 9 months of 2006. However, the International [...] | 2007-01-22 20:27:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | EAID PGOV PHUM PREF SNAR SOCI CO |
07BOGOTA440 | MEETING WITH AFRO-COLOMBIAN HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP [...] (SBU) On January 17, Polcouns and Poloff visited the Bogota offices of the Association for Internally Displaced Afro-Colombians (AFRODES) to discuss specific threats against AFRODES' office in Cartagena, as well as land, displacement, and general security issues facing Afro-Colombians. AFRODES [...] | 2007-01-22 21:24:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PGOV CO |
07BOGOTA4471 | PARA-POLITICAL LEGAL FRAMEWORK NOT ON LEGISLATIVE [...] (C) Presidential Legal Advisor Mauricio Gonzalez told polcouns June 15 the GOC proposal to provide for reduced, alternative sentences for politicians, front men (testaferros),ranchers, and others who were linked to the paramilitaries but were not United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) [...] | 2007-06-20 23:20:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KJUS PGOV PINR PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA449 | SALVATORE MANCUSO BEGINS TO REVEAL CRIMES; VERSION [...] (U) Ex-AUC leader Salvatore Mancuso admitted to committing or ordering 336 murders from the early 1990s to 2003 in his January 15-16 voluntary confession, or version libre, in Medellin. He discussed paramilitary infiltration of government institutions and paramilitary interference in local a [...] | 2007-01-23 13:48:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | KJUS PGOV PINR PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA4614 | HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REINTEGRATION FRANK PEARL [...] (SBU) The High Commissioner for Reintegration's Office (HCR)--which replaced the Reinsertion Program managed by the Minister of Interior and Justice last September--has changed the process to improve its effectiveness. The changes extend the program's educational and employment services--as w [...] | 2007-06-26 17:28:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | KJUS PGOV PINR PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA4615 | CODEL MEEKS MEETS WITH OPPOSITION LEADERS [...] (U) June 4, 2007; 300PM, U.S. Embassy 2. (U) Participants: U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY) Rep. Mike Honda (D-CA) Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-OH) Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA) Polcouns John Creamer Pol officer (notetaker) COLOMBIA Former President and Liberal Party leader Cesar Gaviria [...] | 2007-06-26 17:35:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | KJUS PGOV PINR PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA4653 | CODEL MEEKS MEETS WITH PROSECUTOR GENERAL IGUARAN [...] (U) June 4, 2007; 200PM, U.S. Embassy 2. (U) Participants: U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY) Rep. Mike Honda (D-CA) Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-OH) Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA) CDA Milton Drucker Pol officer (notetaker) COLOMBIA Prosecutor General Mario Iguaran Human Rights Unit Director [...] | 2007-06-26 20:54:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | KJUS PGOV PINR PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA4677 | NEW DEFENSE MINISTRY DIRECTIVE PROHIBITS USE OF [...] (C) Minister of Defense Juan Manuel Santos issued a June 21 directive banning the incorporation of demobilized individuals into the "red de cooperantes" (voluntary informant networks) run by the military and police. Charge Drucker and OAS Observation mission (MAPP/OAS) head Sergio Caramagna [...] | 2007-06-28 01:57:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KJUS PGOV PINR PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA4716 | FARC ASSASSINATES ELEVEN COLOMBIAN HOSTAGES [...] Summary. The FARC assassinated eleven Colombian state assemblymen on June 18, according to a FARC communique issued June 28. The FARC claimed the hostages were killed in a crossfire during a military attack. President Uribe condemned the FARC for the murders, and he confirmed that GOC did [...] | 2007-06-28 23:19:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PINR PREF PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA4722 | SOUTHCOM DEPUTY COMMANDER SPEARS VISITS COLMIL [...] (C) On a June 25-27 visit, U.S. Southern Command Deputy Commander General Spears met Vice Minister of Defense Pinzon and Colombian Armed Forces Commander General Padilla. Pinzon said the GOC wanted to review counterdrug programs, with a possible shift from spraying to manual eradication and c [...] | 2007-06-29 13:42:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER MARR CO |
07BOGOTA4730 | CORRECTED COPY: FARC ASSASSINATES ELEVEN COLOMBIAN [...] Summary. The FARC assassinated eleven Colombian state assemblymen on June 18, according to a FARC communique issued June 28. The FARC claimed the hostages were killed in a crossfire during a military attack. President Uribe condemned the FARC for the murders, and he confirmed that GOC did [...] | 2007-06-29 16:00:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PINR PREF PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA4741 | AS COLOMBIA MOURNS, FARC OFFERS TO RETURN HOSTAGE [...] On June 29, Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) spokesman Raul Reyes issued a communique addressed to Fabiola Perdomo, widow of one of the murdered legislators, and to Alvaro Leyva, a long-term advocate of a humanitarian exchange, confirming the June 18 deaths of the eleven state as [...] | 2007-06-29 21:47:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PINR PREF PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA4742 | SCENESETTER FOR VISIT OF SECRETARY OF DEFENSE GATES [...] (C) Your visit follows President Uribe's May and June visits to Washington. Uribe fears unsubstantiated claims that he and his family were tied to the paramilitaries are undermining prospects in the U.S. Congress for continued high aid levels and ratification of the bilateral Free Trade Agre [...] | 2007-06-29 22:18:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PHUM SNAR MARR PTER ECON ETRD KCRM |
07BOGOTA4743 | MILGROUP BOGOTA (2) -- CLOSING THE COLAR'S [...] Personnel shortages in officer and NCO positions are a handicap to expansion of the Colombian Army's fight against the FARC. With guidance from the U.S. Army Mission, the Colombians are piloting new faster-track training courses, drawing officer candidates from civilian college graduates and [...] | 2007-06-29 22:22:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PGOV MARR PTER CO |
07BOGOTA4746 | BUENAVENTURA: MILITARY AND CIVILIAN EFFORTS TO [...] (C) Marine and Police reinforcements in Buenaventura have cut homicides from last year's peaks, but violence has rebounded as FARC militias and criminal gangs launched a wave of bombings in response to the security crackdown. In addition, drug traffic has shifted inland, and gangs have recru [...] | 2007-06-30 20:03:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MARR PTER CO |
07BOGOTA4786 | CONGRESS DELIVERS RESULTS DESPITE PARA-POLITICAL [...] Summary. The Colombian Congress passed the GOC's top legislative priorities during its February-June session, despite the distraction of the para-political scandal. President Uribe's governing coalition lacks discipline and programmatic coherence, but was able to unite on votes that mattered, [...] | 2007-07-05 17:06:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV ECON PREF PREL PTER PINR CO |
07BOGOTA4798 | HOW EX-PARAMILITARIES FINANCED THEMSELVES THROUGH [...] (C) Colombia's decentralization in the 1990s made local governments a tempting target for paramilitary infiltration. The paramilitary demobilization, confessions through the Justice and Peace process, and a renewed GOC security presence in former-para regions have exposed numerous cases of p [...] | 2007-07-05 20:40:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PGOV PREL ECON CO |
07BOGOTA4825 | PDAS FARRAR MEETS COLOMBIAN LAND OFFICIALS [...] (C) DRL PDAS Jonathan Farrar met with officials of Colombia's rural land development agency (INCODER) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MinAg) in a June 24-29 visit. INCODER and MinAg officials described provisions in the new rural development law that protect the right [...] | 2007-07-06 13:22:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PGOV PREL ECON CO |
07BOGOTA494 | PRESIDENT URIBE AND CONGRESS: A MIXED RECORD IN [...] (C) Summary: Despite the U Party and coalition difficulties (ref A),a flurry of end of year Congressional activity resulted in the adoption of five significant reform measures supported by President Uribe: bankruptcy reform, new health care subsidies for the poor, partial privatization of E [...] | 2007-01-24 11:41:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN ETRD PREF PREL PINR CO |
07BOGOTA4995 | COLOMBIA CONFLICT UPDATE - Q2'07 [...] (C) GOC efforts in the second quarter continued to erode FARC and ELN fighting strength, while new strategies effectively targeted other illegal armed groups. FARC attacks centered on vital drug trafficking areas in Tolima Department, Cali, and Buenaventura, where the group conducted a serie [...] | 2007-07-12 12:21:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER MARR CO |
07BOGOTA5002 | COLOMBIA CONFLICT UPDATE - Q2'07 [...] (C) GOC efforts in the second quarter continued to erode FARC and ELN fighting strength, while new strategies effectively targeted other illegal armed groups. FARC attacks centered on vital drug trafficking areas in Tolima Department, Cali, and Buenaventura, where the group conducted a serie [...] | 2007-07-12 12:22:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER MARR CO |
07BOGOTA5035 | FARC SEEKS ICRC HELP TO RETURN MURDERED HOSTAGES' [...] On July 9, the FARC posted an open letter on its web portal Anncol from Secretariat member Raul Reyes requesting the "good offices" of international intermediaries -- mainly the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) -- to facilitate handover of the remains of 11 Valle assemblymen mu [...] | 2007-07-12 15:48:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PGOV PTER PHUM MARR CO |
07BOGOTA509 | GOC AND ELN WORK ON CEASEFIRE AGREEMENT; SENIOR [...] (C) GOC and ELN representatives meet in Venezuela on January 24 to discuss a ceasefire agreement. Peace Commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo told us in December the GOC would insist the ELN implement a ceasefire in February and would link political space for the ELN to release of its kidnap vic [...] | 2007-01-24 20:10:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PGOV PREL PHUM CO |
07BOGOTA5116 | NEW FARC ATROCITIES DRAW INTERNATIONAL CRITICISM. [...] On Friday July 6, members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) executed Blanca Ines Marin Osorio, the mayor of San Jose del Palmar, on the road connecting Valle de Cauca and Choco, near the Pacific coast. Marin was a vocal supporter of the Uribe administration, and had won nu [...] | 2007-07-13 22:09:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PTER PHUM PREL KJUS CO |
07BOGOTA5118 | ON-AGAIN, OFF-AGAIN PEACE TALKS WITH ELN SET TO [...] (C) Summary. The on-again, off-again peace talks between the GOC and ELN are set to resume July 14. ELN negotiator Palbo Beltran said in an interview the ELN was willing to agree to a cessation of hostilities and a release of hostages, but admitted that serious differences with the GOC on v [...] | 2007-07-13 23:13:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PREF PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA5256 | PRESIDENT URIBE MEETS WITH CODEL REYES [...] On July 8, at 1730, at CATAM airfield in Bogota. 2. Participants: United States Chairman Silvestre Reyes (D-TX) CDA Milton Drucker C/ORA David Fitzgerald Michael Delaney George Pappas Notetaker Colombia President Uribe FM Fernando Araujo DAS Director Andres Penate ------ [...] | 2007-07-19 21:02:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PINR ETRD PGOV PHUM PREL PTER MARR ELAB CO |
07BOGOTA5258 | JHON PINCHAO'S ESCAPE FROM FARC CAPTIVITY [...] (C) Police subintendente Jhon Frank Pinchao successfully fled eight and a half years of FARC captivity in late April 2007 (ref A),four months after Fernando Araujo escaped from a separate rebel front (ref B, C). Unlike Araujo, who escaped during a military operation, Pinchao relied on long- [...] | 2007-07-19 21:13:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MARR PTER PHUM CO |
07BOGOTA5299 | BOGOTA FY08 "1206" PROJECT PROPOSALS [...] (SBU) Embassay Bogota concurs with the following eight project proposals for Section 1206 funding in FY 2008. Listed in priority order, all will strengthen Colombia's capacity to conduct counterterrorism operations against the FARC and ELN (designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations) and other [...] | 2007-07-23 13:35:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PTER MARR CO |
07BOGOTA5392 | COLOMBIA REQUESTS SUPPORT FOR CANDIDATE FOR THE [...] This is an action request (see paragraphs 2). 2. We received a request from the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for support for their candidate for the United Nations Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Pastor Elias Murillo Martinez. Pastor Murillo is well-known [...] | 2007-07-25 14:51:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PHUM UN UNHRC AORC CO |
07BOGOTA5424 | MILGROUP BOGOTA (3) -- MODERNIZING PERSONNEL [...] Colombian military personnel do not have military occupational specialties (MOS) and hence cannot be categorized according to training, experience, or expertise. The military also does not have a computerized system to track personnel, which causes inefficiencies and gaps in deployments for k [...] | 2007-07-25 23:54:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PGOV PTER MARR CO |
07BOGOTA5431 | COLOMBIA PREPARES FOR LOCAL ELECTIONS FREE FROM [...] (C) Summary. The GOC and political parties are working to prevent the interference of illegal armed groups (FARC, ELN, new criminal groups) in the October elections for governors, mayors, and other local officials. A recent independent study concluded that 328 of Colombia's 1099 municipali [...] | 2007-07-26 17:46:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL PTER PREF CO |
07BOGOTA5444 | CONGRESS PASSES RURAL DEVELOPMENT LAW WITH [...] (C) On June 15, Colombia's congress passed a rural development law to increase rural productivity, harmonize existing laws, and reform INCODER, Colombia's rural land development agency. Concerns of human rights, Afro-Colombian and indigenous groups were addressed in the bill, and INCODER wi [...] | 2007-07-26 21:22:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ECON PHUM SOCI CO |
07BOGOTA5449 | FARC REPORTEDLY WANTS TO MEET U.S. OFFICIALS TO [...] (S) Newly promoted director of the Office of Police Intelligence (DIPOL) Colonel Ramirez Calle met with Embassy Legat on July 24. Ramirez told Legat that DIPOL had intercepted FARC communications indicating that the FARC would like a face-to-face meeting between one of their spokespersons, [...] | 2007-07-27 11:40:00 | Embassy Bogota | SECRET | MARR PGOV PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA5488 | HOW COLOMBIA'S ILLEGAL ARMED GROUPS FINANCED [...] (C) The FARC, ELN and former AUC partially financed their criminal activities through "vacunas," extortion payments levied on businesses and households. Some large companies paid millions of dollars for "protection," while individual households might pay USD two to five per month. Armed gro [...] | 2007-07-27 21:39:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PGOV PREL ECON SOCI CO |
07BOGOTA5489 | COLOMBIA DISPUTES AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL REPORT ON [...] Summary: Amnesty International (AI) released a report on July 3 criticizing the GOC's record on combating violence against trade unions. The report accused the Colombian military of maintaining links with former paramilitary groups that used terror tactics against unionists. It also critic [...] | 2007-07-27 23:24:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ELAB PGOV PHUM CO |
07BOGOTA5530 | COLOMBIAN SUPREME COURT RULING THREATENS LEGAL [...] Summary: On July 25, President Uribe announced the GOC would introduce a bill in Congress to reverse a July 11 Supreme Court (SC) decision that removes the legal basis for pardoning 18,000 demobilized paramilitaries for their membership in the United Self-defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) and [...] | 2007-07-30 23:37:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | KJUS PGOV PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA5651 | SCENESETTER FOR VISIT OF DEPUTY USTR JOHN [...] (SBU) Post welcomes Deputy USTR John Veroneau to Colombia. With U.S. help, President Uribe has made great strides in fighting drug trafficking and terrorism. The economy is growing, the investment climate is strong, and there is both anticipation and nervousness over the fate of the U.S.-Col [...] | 2007-08-02 20:10:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ETRD CO |
07BOGOTA5665 | OCTOBER LOCAL ELECTIONS: A QUICK LOOK AT KEY [...] (U) October elections will determine 32 governors, 1,099 mayors, and thousands of state assembly and city council members across Colombia. Control of those seats is crucial to strengthening grass roots party infrastructure heading into the 2010 presidential elections, so parties take every [...] | 2007-08-02 22:38:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PREF PTER PHUM CO |
07BOGOTA5672 | SAN JOSE DE APARTADO VISIT HIGHLIGHTS SECURITY, [...] (C) On August 1, Poloffs met with members of the 17th Brigade, local police, the Peace Community (PC) and the Human Rights Ombudsman in San Jose de Apartado to highlight concern over recent violence and press security forces to respect human rights. The 17th Brigade and the San Jose de Apart [...] | 2007-08-03 15:00:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KJUS CO |
07BOGOTA5683 | URIBE PROPOSAL TO FARC ON HOSTAGES [...] (U) On August 2, President Alvaro Uribe said he would release Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) prisoners and create an "encounter zone" for peace talks with the FARC for 90 days if the FARC first released all its hostages. The offer came in a public, sometime tense, debate on Bo [...] | 2007-08-03 17:37:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL PTER PREF CO |
07BOGOTA5742 | PROSECUTOR GENERAL MOVES TO INSULATE PARAPOLITICAL [...] (U) On August 6, the Supreme Court's Criminal Chamber of Appeals announced it will select a judge in Bogota to try former Sucre Department Senator Jairo Merlano who is accused of collaborating with paramilitary groups. This follows the November 28, 2006 decision by the Supreme Court--at the r [...] | 2007-08-06 23:13:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KJUS PGOV PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA5789 | ELN PEACE TALKS STUCK OVER VERIFICATION AND ELN [...] (C) Summary. GOC-ELN peace talks are stuck over the ELN's refusal to accept the GOC terms for cease-fire monitoring and hostage release verification mechanisms. The ELN is looking for a new strategy to move the talks forward. Peace process "guarantor" Akerman is trying to convince ELN leader [...] | 2007-08-08 22:39:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PTER PREL PREF PHUM CO |
07BOGOTA581 | MEDELLIN SETS THE PACE ON SUCCESSFUL [...] (C) Secretary of Government for Medellin Gustavo Villegas said on January 16 security in the city had improved dramatically over the last three years. Even regular criminal group members want to "demobilize." Still, Medellin faced security challenges associated with ex-paramilitary power st [...] | 2007-01-26 20:06:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KJUS PGOV PINR PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA5871 | ARRESTS MADE IN NARCO/FARC INFILTRATION OF MILITARY [...] The Colombian Prosecutor General (Fiscalia) and Colombian Army counterintelligence worked closely for over a year to uncover a small network of Army personnel collaborating with the Norte de Valle drugs cartel. The Fiscalia has arrested at least nine military members and two civilians, and th [...] | 2007-08-10 21:11:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PGOV PTER MARR CO |
07BOGOTA5882 | COLOMBIA'S NEW CRIMINAL GROUPS: THE DRUG TRADE'S [...] (SBU) New criminal groups active in areas of former paramilitary influence are largely small drug mafias that lack the United Self-Defense Forces' (AUC) political pretensions. Most emerged to exploit the narcotrafficking and criminal vacuum left by the AUC's demobilization; an estimated 20% [...] | 2007-08-13 13:01:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER MARR CO |
07BOGOTA5986 | OAS DELEGATION INSPECTS HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN [...] (U) Summary: Poloff accompanied an international delegation organized by the OAS Mission to Aid the Peace Process (MAPP/OAS) to hear concerns of the San Jose de Apartado Peace Community (PC). PC members reiterated their distrust of the GOC justice system and concerns about security. Apartado [...] | 2007-08-16 12:58:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KJUS CO |
07BOGOTA6013 | OPPOSITION AND GOVERNMENT MEMBERS VOICE CONCERN [...] (U) Summary: As the October 28 regional elections approach, concerns over the integrity of elections are surfacing. Opposition politicians and GOC officials voiced concern that paramilitaries, the FARC, ELN and narco-traffickers will affect the outcomes in certain regions. Opposition leader [...] | 2007-08-16 21:13:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR CO |
07BOGOTA6020 | URIBE PROPOSES BILL TO CHARGE PARAS FOR CRIMINAL [...] (U) On August 15, Interior and Justice Minister Carlos Holguin officially presented a bill in Congress that would charge the 18,000 demobilized paramilitaries--who have been in legal limbo since the July 11 Supreme Court that para crimes were common, not political offenses--with "simple consp [...] | 2007-08-16 22:27:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KJUS PGOV PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA6028 | GOC SHOWS SOME FLEXIBILITY ON CEASEFIRE TERMS WITH [...] (C) Summary: President Uribe showed some flexibility on possible ceasefire terms with the ELN, but said the group should sign a "base agreement" (acuerdo base) establishing a roadmap for the peace process at the next GOC-ELN talks set for August 20-24 in Havana. The GOC feels a sense of urgen [...] | 2007-08-17 16:04:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PTER PREL PREF PHUM CO |
07BOGOTA606 | JOINT CHIEFS CHAIRMAN GENERAL PACE MEETS WITH VICE [...] (C) In a one-hour meeting with CJCS General Peter Pace on January 19, Vice President Francisco Santos urged continued U.S. Congressional support for the fight against FARC terrorists. Santos said the GOC supported spraying but also sought new strategies. He cautioned that Ecuador's President [...] | 2007-01-29 18:07:00 | Embassy Bogota | SECRET | PGOV PREL MARR PTER CO |
07BOGOTA6105 | DUSTR VERONEAU DISCUSSES TRADE, LABOR VIOLENCE [...] (C) Summary. During his August 7-11 visit to Colombia, DUSTR John Veroneau discussed U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement (CTPA) prospects and labor violence with Trade Minister Luis Guillermo Plata and Attorney General Mario Iguaran. Veroneau briefed the officials on the state of play i [...] | 2007-08-20 22:29:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD ECON PREL PGOV CO |
07BOGOTA6106 | BUDGET INCREASE FOR PROSECUTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE [...] Minister of Interior and Justice Carlos Holguin said in an August 13 interview in Semana magazine the GOC would provide an additional 80 billion pesos (40 million USD) to the Prosecutor General's Office (Fiscalia) in the 2008 budget. This would enable the Fiscalia to add 497 new personnel to [...] | 2007-08-20 23:00:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | KJUS PGOV PINR PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA6186 | CHAVEZ OFFERS TO HELP NEGOTIATE COLOMBIAN [...] (C) Summary: Venezuelan President Chavez met with relatives of FARC-held hostages and offered to act as an observer/guarantor for a humanitarian exchange. He also suggested Venezuela as a possible site for talks. Colombian Liberal party Senator Piedad Cordoba set up the meeting after Presi [...] | 2007-08-22 22:51:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR PGOV PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA6200 | VISIT OF HDAC COMMITTEE, AUGUST 27-31, 2007 [...] (SBU) Colombia's congress passed President Uribe,s top legislative priorities in its latest session, and its members look forward to developing institutional ties with the U.S. Congress. Security has markedly improved with successful military efforts to re-take areas controlled by the Revolut [...] | 2007-08-23 20:46:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KDEM ECON ETRD OVIP OTRA PGOV PREL CO |
07BOGOTA6230 | GOC, LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE TO MASS [...] Summary. In response to a displacement of over 400 rural, mostly Afro-Colombian residents of the Condoto municipality in southern Choco, GOC, local government and international humanitarian groups provided emergency humanitarian aid and protection. In recent days, the internally displaced pers [...] | 2007-08-27 15:48:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PREF PHUM ICRC CO |
07BOGOTA6278 | EXTRADITION PROCESS ON TRACK FOR FORMER PARAS [...] (C) Minister of Interior and Justice Carlos Holguin announced August 24 the transfer of Carlos Mario Jimenez (alias "Macaco") from Itagui prison in Medellin to the maximum security Combita prison near Bogota for conducting drug trafficking activities from prison. The Fiscalia has approved his [...] | 2007-08-27 19:23:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR PRGOV PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA6283 | COLOMBIA: FEEDBACK ON WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE [...] Per reftel, post consulted with Arnobio Cordoba Palacios of Afro-Colombian Credit, and Monsignor Hector Fabio Henao of National Pastoral Social, to solicit feedback regarding their participation in the July White House Conference on the Americas. A former mayor of Quibdo, capital of the depa [...] | 2007-08-27 21:08:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | KSUM KPAO CO |
07BOGOTA6290 | GOC AND FARC MANEUVER ON HUMANITARIAN EXCHANGE [...] (U) Summary: FARC spokesperson Raul Reyes insisted the GOC create a demilitarized zone ("despeje") for a humanitarian exchange of FARC-held hostages. GOC officials firmly rejected a despeje, but said the GOC would consider new proposals to achieve a humanitarian exchange. End summary. [...] | 2007-08-27 21:42:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR PGOV PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA6329 | REPRESENTATIVE BLUNT MEETS WITH VICE PRESIDENT [...] Summary: Representative Roy Blunt (R-MO) met with Vice President Santos on August 22 to discuss counter narcotics cooperation and prospects for U.S. congressional approval of the bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Santos voiced optimism regarding degradation of the FARC's network and cont [...] | 2007-08-29 14:45:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | KJUS PGOV PINR PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA6382 | SENTENCING OF SOLDIERS IN ARAUCA LABOR CASE [...] A Bogota court sentenced four Colombian soldiers to 40 years each for murdering three union leaders in Saravena, Arauca department on August 5, 2004. The court ruling, announced August 28, found the soldiers guilty of executing labor leaders Jairo Eduardo Prieto Chamucero, Hector Alirio Mart [...] | 2007-08-30 21:22:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PGOV KJUS CO |
07BOGOTA6383 | COLOMBIA TO EXTEND UN HIGH COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE [...] (SBU) The Government of Colombia (GOC) and the UN High Commission on Human Rights (UNHCHR) have agreed on the renewal of the UNHCHR mandate in Colombia through 2010. The agreement will be signed during the September 8-9 visit of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour. Juan [...] | 2007-08-30 21:23:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PGOV KJUS CO |
07BOGOTA6400 | REPRESENTATIVE BLUNT MEETS WITH PRESIDENT URIBE [...] (SBU) Summary: President Uribe thanked Representative Blunt for his support, and outlined GOC efforts to protect union members, prosecute human rights violators, combat emerging new criminal groups, and address Colombia's socio-economic problems. Uribe explained that he had begun to review t [...] | 2007-08-31 16:28:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KJUS PGOV ETRD PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA6460 | GOC KILLS FARC HIGH VALUE TARGET TOMAS MEDINA [...] (U) The GOC claims to have killed Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) 16th Front commander Tomas Medina Caracas, aka "Negro Acacio." Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos said Medina died September 1 during a pre-dawn bombing of a FARC jungle camp near the Venezuela border. The GOC h [...] | 2007-09-05 11:35:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR PGOV PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA6461 | INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS RECOVERS BODIES OF FARC [...] (C) The FARC and GOC agreed after six weeks of negotiations that the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) would recover the bodies of the 11 legislators killed in June and that the OAS would coordinate an international forensic team to examine the cadavers. The FARC claims the le [...] | 2007-09-05 11:36:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR PGOV PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA6487 | USNS COMFORT VISIT TO COLOMBIA [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. USNS COMFORT anchored near Buenaventura, Colombia from August 22-28 during its humanitarian assistance deployment to the region. Coordinating with Embassy Bogota, Colombian authorities, and NGOs, the COMFORT team provided 25,815 medical, dental and veterinary services and train [...] | 2007-09-05 22:12:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL MARR MASS MOPS SNAR PTER CO |
07BOGOTA6520 | CHAVEZ OFFERS TO HOST NINTH ROUND OF ELN PEACE [...] (C) Summary. At an August 31 summit with President Uribe in Bogota, Venezuelan President Chavez offered to host a new round of GOC-ELN peace talks in Caracas. Uribe quickly agreed to Chavez' offer, believing it is better to have Chavez inside the tent rather than outside causing problems. G [...] | 2007-09-07 14:46:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREF PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA6535 | GOC CONSULTATIONS WITH INDIGENOUS AND [...] The GOC must consult with indigenous and Afro-Colombian groups about actions that affect them pursuant to international treaties, the Colombian Constitution, laws, and court decisions. The GOC conducts 50-75 consultations per year, 80 percent with indigenous groups and 20 percent with Afro-C [...] | 2007-09-07 19:29:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PTER PGOV PREL ECON SOCI CO |
07BOGOTA6536 | COLOMBIAN MILITARY REACHES OUT TO INDIGENOUS AND [...] Summary: The Ministry of Defense issued directives instructing military and police to respect the integrity of indigenous and Afro-Colombians. The directives educate commanders on the rights of indigenous and Afro-Colombians and provide guidance on how such communities should be treated. A [...] | 2007-09-07 19:32:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL SOCI CO |
07BOGOTA6594 | UNHCHR INTERNAL REPORT ASSESSES SAN JOSE DE [...] (C) Summary: A local United Nations High Commission for Human Rights (UNHCHR) report on San Jose de Apartado (SJDA) highlights differences between the Peace Community's (PC) version of recent killings and accounts provided by the Prosecutor General (Fiscalia),Human Rights Ombudsman (Defenso [...] | 2007-09-11 18:35:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KJUS CO |
07BOGOTA6645 | GOC WILL SUPPORT U.S. POSITION REGARDING IRAN [...] (C) On September 7, Ambassador delivered all points in reftel to acting Foreign Minister Camilo Reyes. On September 11, MFA Coordinator for the United States and Canada Patricia Cortes confirmed Reyes had sent U.S. points to Colombian Mission in Vienna with instructions to support the U.S. [...] | 2007-09-12 16:48:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KMNP MNUC IR IAEA AORC |
07BOGOTA6649 | CHAVEZ FACES TOUGH JOB NEGOTIATING HUMANITARIAN [...] (C) Summary. On August 31, President Uribe and Venezuelan President Chavez discussed Chavez' efforts to facilitate a "humanitarian exchange" of FARC-held hostages for FARC prisoners in Colombian jails. Uribe ruled out any demilitarized area ("despeje") or return of released prisoners to FA [...] | 2007-09-12 17:05:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL PTER PREF CO |
07BOGOTA6668 | ELECTORAL VIOLENCE DOWN, BUT STILL AN ISSUE IN [...] Summary: As the October 28 local elections draw near, violence against candidates continues in specific regions--though at lower levels than in previous elections. Contacts from political parties across the spectrum expect free and fair elections in spite of the limited violence. The FARC and [...] | 2007-09-12 21:09:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PINR CO |
07BOGOTA6697 | CODEL PRICE MEETS WITH PRESIDENT URIBE [...] (SBU) Summary: In an August 28 meeting with Codel Price, President Uribe explained the Justice and Peace Law and reiterated his commitment to extradite former paramilitaries who violate their peace process obligations. He reviewed GOC efforts to reintegrate former paramilitaries -as well as [...] | 2007-09-13 15:16:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV ETRD KJUS PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA6699 | AMBASSADOR BROWNFELD PRESENTS CREDENTIALS TO [...] No summary [...] | 2007-09-13 15:39:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL ETRD CO |
07BOGOTA670 | WHA A/S SHANNON AND FM ARAUJO DISCUSS PLAN [...] (C) In a one-hour meeting with Foreign Minister Maria Consuelo Araujo on January 29, WHA A/S Thomas Shannon welcomed the GOC's Plan Colombia consolidation proposal. Araujo said the proposal assigns new resources to human rights, social development, displaced people, and Afro-Colombian and ind [...] | 2007-01-31 12:58:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM SNAR EC CO |
07BOGOTA6705 | COLOMBIA WILL SUPPORT US CANDIDACY FOR ICAO COUNCIL [...] On August 21 poloff delivered reftel demarche. On September 11 we received a response from the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Relations stating that the GOC will support the U.S. candidacy referred to in reftel. We were further advised that Fernando Sanclemente, Director General of the GOC's [...] | 2007-09-13 19:24:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL EAIR AORC ICAO CO |
07BOGOTA6744 | GOC BREAKS UP EMERGING CRIMINAL GANG AND [...] On August 31, the Colombian National Police (CNP) arrested 50 alleged members of "Los 40," an emerging criminal gang involved in violence, drug trafficking and extortion in Atlantico, Bolivar, and Magdalena departments. The group took its name from former AUC commander "Jorge 40" (demobilized [...] | 2007-09-17 14:13:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PGOV PTER PHUM MARR CO |
07BOGOTA6745 | POLO PARTY'S INTERNAL RIVALRIES FLARE OVER THE FARC [...] (U) Summary: Polo Democratico Senator Dussan's September 11 statement that "we are neither with the FARC, nor against the FARC" overshadowed the party's rejection of the FARC's armed struggle and generated an angry exchange with fellow Polo Senator Petro. Petro attributed Dussan's comment t [...] | 2007-09-17 15:14:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL PTER PREF CO |
07BOGOTA6746 | COLOMBIA: TRACKING CONVICTIONS IN LABOR VIOLENCE [...] The Prosecutor General's Office (Fiscalia) created a special sub-unit in October 2006 to focus on prosecuting "priority" cases of violence against trade unionists. Working with the three main labor confederations, the Fiscalia identified 204 "priority" cases and pledged to prosecute the perpe [...] | 2007-09-17 15:30:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ELAB PGOV PHUM PTER KJUS CO |
07BOGOTA6754 | GOC PLANS FOR TRIPARTITE G-24 MEETING IN BOGOTA [...] Vice Foreign Minister Adriana Mejia told us September 13 that the Group of 24's (G-24) Third International Conference on Colombia (November 29-December 1) in Bogota would provide an excellent opportunity to highlight the GOC's international cooperation strategy, showcase progress on human righ [...] | 2007-09-17 20:22:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PHUM PGOV CO |
07BOGOTA6755 | ICAO ASSEMBLY: SOLICITING SUPPORT FOR [...] On September 12, the non-paper and proposed additional language to the budget resolution was delivered to the Colombian Ministry of External Relations per reftel. On September 13, the demarche was also hand-delivered to Fernando Sanclemente, Director General of the GOC's civil aviation agenc [...] | 2007-09-17 20:37:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | EAIR ICAO CO |
07BOGOTA6780 | DEMANDING ACCOUNTABILITY OF WIPO DG DEMARCHE [...] On September 17, post delivered reftel non-paper to the Colombian Ministry of External Relations (MRE). Post followed-up with two separate conversations with the MRE regarding the issue but no response has been received. Brownfield [...] | 2007-09-18 20:03:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | AORC CO |
07BOGOTA6789 | MAJOR SENTENCED TO 40 YEARS FOR 1999 MASSACRE IN [...] On September 15, the Colombian Supreme Court found Major Luis Fernando Campuzano Vasquez guilty of complicity in the August 21, 1999 massacre of 27 people in La Gabarra, Norte de Santander. The court ruled that Campuzano, a lieutenant at the time, ordered the withdrawal of military patrols an [...] | 2007-09-18 23:24:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PGOV PTER KJUS CO |
07BOGOTA6862 | COLOMBIA AUCTIONS NINE OFFSHORE BLOCKS ON [...] (U) On September 18, Colombia's National Hydrocarbons Agency (ANH) successfully auctioned nine exploration blocks totaling $50 million. The nine blocks represent part of 13 oil and gas blocks off the coast of Atlantico, Bolivar, Magdalena, and La Guajira departments offered in ANH's 2007 Cari [...] | 2007-09-19 20:12:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ENRG EPET ECON EINV CO |
07BOGOTA6881 | GOC REITERATES RULES OF THE GAME FOR CHAVEZ AND [...] (S) Summary. Peace Commissioner Restrepo said he and President Uribe repeatedly told Venezuelan President Chavez the GOC will not consider a demilitarized zone as part of a deal for a "humanitarian exchange" with the FARC. The FARC does not want to meet with Chavez in Venezuela (preferring [...] | 2007-09-19 22:47:00 | Embassy Bogota | SECRET | PGOV PHUM PREL PTER PREF FR CO |
07BOGOTA6885 | CORDOBA SEEKS MEETINGS WITH "SIMON TRINIDAD" AND [...] (C) Colombian Senator Piedad Cordoba called the Charge from Caracas on September 18 to request a meeting with FARC members "Simon Trinidad" and "Sonia" (convicted in the United States of terrorism and drug charges, respectively). Cordoba asked to meet with the two on September 21 during a plan [...] | 2007-09-20 19:07:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL PTER PREF FR VZ CO |
07BOGOTA689 | CERREJON COAL COMPANY SETTLES LABOR DISPUTE [...] (U) On January 29, Cerrejon Mines (owned by a consortium of UK and Canadian companies) settled biannual labor talks, averting a strike which would have affected delivery of nearly 500,000 tons per month of coal to the U.S. The workers' union at Cerrejon, SINTRAMINENEGETICA, was the same union [...] | 2007-01-31 21:54:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ENRG EMIN EINV ELAB CO |
07BOGOTA6894 | ELN "CONFUSED" AS PARTIES PREPARE FOR TALKS IN [...] (C) Summary. Peace Commissioner Restrepo told us the last round of ELN talks in Havana (August 20-24) made it clear the Cubans would not press the ELN to make a deal, leading the GOC to accept the ELN's long-standing request to shift the talks to Caracas. The GOC thinks President Chavez wants [...] | 2007-09-20 23:25:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL PTER PREF VZ CO |
07BOGOTA6898 | WHO IGWG ANTI-IP PROPOSALS AT AMERICAS [...] On September 6 Econoff raised reftel issue with Colombian Ministry of External Relations (MRE) North America Desk Coordinator Patricia Cortes and delivered non-paper. Cortes said she would distribute non-paper to appropriate GOC agencies. On September 17, Cortes told us the Ministry of Soci [...] | 2007-09-21 16:14:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON ETRD KIPR CO |
07BOGOTA6899 | SCENE SETTER FOR THE VISIT OF GENERAL MCCAFFREY [...] (SBU) President Uribe's "democratic security" policy has hit the FARC and ELN hard over the past five years, with security improving across the country. Colombians are free to travel highways and confidence has skyrocketed, translating into record economic growth. The paramilitary peace proc [...] | 2007-09-21 18:28:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL MARR PTER CO |
07BOGOTA6932 | COLOMBIA'S NEW VICTIMS' PROTECTION PROGRAM UNDER [...] The Ministry of Interior and Justice (MIJ) issued a decree on September 18 creating an integrated program to protect almost 70,000 victims who have denounced paramilitary crimes or sought redress under the Justice and Peace Law (JPL). The decree assigns the national police (CNP) the task of [...] | 2007-09-24 18:53:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ELAB PGOV PREL CO |
07BOGOTA6948 | COLOMBIA'S EFFORTS TO ENSURE FAIR ELECTIONS IN [...] During a pre-elections visit to Sucre and Cordoba departments, politicians, local authorities, and victims, groups all told us the safer environment created by the demobilization of paramilitaries resulted in a dramatic increase in the participation of newer political parties. However, some v [...] | 2007-09-25 04:33:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | KJUS PGOV PINR PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA6957 | OPIC CEO MOSBACHER HIGHLIGHTS U.S.-COLOMBIAN [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: In September 10-11 meetings with government and private sector representatives, Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Robert Mosbacher, Jr. highlighted the potential for increased U.S. investment in Colombia and the range of OPIC services a [...] | 2007-09-25 14:17:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EINV EFIN ETRD ENRG OPIC CO |
07BOGOTA696 | COLMIL RELIEVES COLONEL OF COMMAND FOR [...] (SBU) On January 26, Minister of Defense Juan Manuel Santos relieved Colonel Hernan Mejia Gutierrez, a highly decorated officer, from command of the 13th Mobile Brigade due to allegations tying him to former paramilitary leader Jorge 40. Military Criminal Justice authorities transferred their [...] | 2007-01-31 22:50:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PTER CO |
07BOGOTA6966 | AMBASSADOR'S SEPTEMBER 21 MEETING WITH PRESIDENT [...] (C) The Ambassador briefed President Uribe on the latest developments on the bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA),urged the GOC to coordinate closely with the USG on the efforts of Senator Cordoba and President Chavez to achieve a humanitarian exchange with the FARC, and outlined likely shift [...] | 2007-09-25 17:01:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON KJUS PGOV PHUM PINR PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA6967 | AMBASSADOR BROWNFIELD'S SEPTEMBER 21 MEETING WITH [...] (C) GOC Peace Commissioner Restrepo said that the GOC finds it hard to control Senator Cordoba's and President Chavez' efforts to facilitate a humanitarian exchange. The FARC has little interested in an exchange, but wants to use Chavez' role to gain international recognition, create tension [...] | 2007-09-25 17:02:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PREL PGOV VZ CO |
07BOGOTA6998 | THREE AIR FORCE OFFICERS SENTENCED FOR SANTO [...] The 12th Circuit Penal Court in Bogota sentenced two pilots and a technician to six years under house arrest on manslaughter charges stemming from the accidental bombing of a community in Tame (Arauca),which killed 17 people during an operation against the FARC on December 13, 1998. Captain [...] | 2007-09-26 12:29:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PGOV KJUS CO |
07BOGOTA7017 | GENERAL PETER PACE'S SEPTEMBER 13 MEETING WITH [...] (U) September 13, 2007, Cartagena Airport, 60 minutes 2. (U) Participants: United States SouthCom Commander ADM James Stavridis Ambassador William Brownfield Colombia Minister of Defense Juan Manuel Santos Military Forces Commander GEN Fredy Padilla Army Commander GEN Mario Monto [...] | 2007-09-27 15:47:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MARR PTER PHUM CO |
07BOGOTA7019 | AMBASSADOR BROWNFIELD'S SEPTEMBER 24 CALL ON TRADE [...] (SBU) Summary. Minister of Trade, Industry and Tourism Luis Guillermo Plata on September 24 told the Ambassador that the dramatic turnaround of Colombia remains a process and still requires expanded trade and investment. The Minister applauds USG efforts to expand the bilateral economic rela [...] | 2007-09-27 18:06:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | CASC ETRD EINV PGOV CO |
07BOGOTA7038 | NGO CONSULTATION FOCUSES ON AFRO-COLOMBIAN AND [...] Summary: On September 14, we hosted a discussion of Afro-Colombian and indigenous issues with human rights groups. Participants criticized the GOC's "democratic security" policy as a pretext to transfer lands traditionally belonging to indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities to large commer [...] | 2007-09-27 23:00:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PGOV KJUS CO |
07BOGOTA7061 | AMBASSADOR BROWNFIELD,S SEPTEMBER 26 MEETING WITH [...] (C) Summary: The Ambassador met September 26 with families of the three American hostages held by the FARC. The families appreciated the Ambassador's recent statements that he would not oppose other governments' efforts to resolve the hostages' detention. The Ambassador stressed the importan [...] | 2007-09-30 20:47:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | CASC PTER PREL PGOV CO VZ |
07BOGOTA7088 | ECOPETROL PARTIAL PRIVATIZATION RESOUNDING SUCCESS [...] (U) SUMMARY: On September 25, Colombia's state-owned hydrocarbons company Ecopetrol completed the first round of its partial privatization, successfully selling a 10.1 percent stake to a mix of Colombian companies and private citizens. The offering, which raised USD 3.3 billion in new funds f [...] | 2007-10-02 14:26:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ENRG ECON EINV EFIN CO |
07BOGOTA7104 | AMBASSADOR BROWNFIELD'S SEPTEMBER 26 MEETING WITH [...] (C) Summary: Minister of Interior and Justice (MOIJ) Holguin told the Ambassador on September 26 that the Justice and Peace Law (JPL) process faced difficult challenges as it addresses the legal status of 18,000 rank and file demobilized paramilitary. The recent victims protection decree will [...] | 2007-10-03 12:44:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KJUS PINR PHUM PTER CO |
07BOGOTA7110 | FLUSH WITH CASH--COLOMBIA'S RISING INFLOW OF [...] (U) SUMMARY: Colombia's international reserves have topped USD 20 billion for the first time ever. Rising exports, foreign direct investment, and remittances, as well as increased international borrowing, have infused Colombia's financial system with dollars and solidified its debt-service ca [...] | 2007-10-03 17:28:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN ETRD SNAR KCRM CO |
07BOGOTA7158 | FARC TIE RELEASE OF "SONIA" AND "SIMON TRINIDAD" [...] (C) The FARC published an editorial on October 2 calling for the GOC to grant a demilitarized zone for talks on a humanitarian accord and demanding the release of FARC members "Sonia" and "Simon Trinidad" from U.S. custody as part of a deal. Catholic priest Father Echeverri, who attended Vene [...] | 2007-10-03 23:25:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL PTER PREF VZ CO |
07BOGOTA7171 | CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL SPEAKER HIGHLIGHTS [...] SUMMARY: With funding from the Bureau of Economic, Energy and Business Affairs (EEB),Embassy Bogota hosted the visit of Conservation International Senior Research Scientist Timothy J. Killeen to Colombia September 26-28 to speak about the sustainable development of biofuels. As part of the t [...] | 2007-10-04 15:32:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ENRG ECON KPAO OIIP SENV CO |
07BOGOTA7193 | PRE-ELECTIONS CLIMATE IN SUCRE: NEW SPACE [...] (U) Politicians, local authorities, and victims groups in Sucre report the paramilitary demobilization has opened new political space, allowing increased participation by new political parties and social groups ahead of the October elections. Still, some victims, groups and candidates complai [...] | 2007-10-04 20:13:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KJUS PGOV PINR PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA720 | LATIN PACIFIC ECONOMIC MINISTERS INTERESTED IN [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. Colombia hosted the "Latin American Pacific Basin Initiative Forum" January 29-30 in Cali, with participants from 9 of the 11 Latin American Pacific coast countries. The largely symbolic meeting was intended to galvanize trade and investment among the Latin Pacific countries, [...] | 2007-02-02 15:00:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ECIN ETRD APECO CO |
07BOGOTA7203 | URIBE REITERATES GOC OPPOSITION TO RETURN OF [...] On October 3, following a breakfast meeting with Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates, President Alvaro Uribe told the press the GOC opposed the return to Colombia of FARC members "Sonia" and "Simon Trinidad" as part of any humanitarian exchange of FARC-held hostages for FARC members in Colomb [...] | 2007-10-04 23:36:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PHUM PINR PREF PREL PTER VZ CO |
07BOGOTA7223 | CORDOBA PRE-ELECTIONS REPORT: INCREASED [...] (U) New parties and community groups are taking advantage of the greater political space created by the paramilitary demobilization and jailing of elected officials with paramilitary ties to participate actively in the October local elections in Cordoba. Still, candidates fear new criminal gr [...] | 2007-10-05 19:42:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KJUS PGOV PINR PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA7224 | SHOOTING VICTIMS REQUEST INVESTIGATION AND [...] (C) On September 17, Miguel and Ualberto Hoyos, leaders of a resettlement effort for displaced persons near Curvarado and Belen de Bajira, Choco department, were shot outside their home by a man believed linked to new criminal groups and local ranchers. The Hoyos brothers believe they were ta [...] | 2007-10-05 20:01:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KJUS PGOV PHUM CO |
07BOGOTA7225 | COLOMBIA-VENEZUELA BORDER BLOCKED OVER TOLL DISPUTE [...] (C) SUMMARY: Twice since August, Venezuelan government-supported protesters have closed cross-border traffic at the Colombian city of Cucuta, which depends on USD 10 million a day in trade with Venezuela. The protesters, who object to a new Colombian-imposed toll, turned violent on October [...] | 2007-10-05 20:19:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ETRD ECIN CO |
07BOGOTA7234 | AMBASSADOR'S OCTOBER 1 MEETING WITH FOREIGN [...] (C) The Ambassador reiterated to Foreign Minister Araujo on October 1 our commitment to obtaining U.S. congressional approval of the bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and said we will need continued GOC support for the congressional delegations that will likely visit Colombia in the coming [...] | 2007-10-06 00:00:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV PHUM PINR PREL PTER UNSC VZ CO |
07BOGOTA7238 | HUMAN RIGHTS CONCERNS IN CARTAGENA INVOLVE NEWLY [...] (U) Summary: Displaced community members told a visiting international delegation organized by UNHCHR that threats by newly emerging criminal bands are on the rise. A community leader was shot on July 16, and 15 other human rights and community leaders received threats this year. The local Hum [...] | 2007-10-09 12:45:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KJUS CO |
07BOGOTA7239 | AMBASSADOR'S OCTOBER 1 CALL ON FINANCE MINISTER [...] (SBU) Summary. Finance Minister Zuluaga reiterated to the Ambassador, on October 1, GOC support for Treasury Secretary Paulson's informal consultative process with like-minded Latin American finance ministers. He concurred with the Ambassador's suggestion that our governments pursue an expan [...] | 2007-10-09 12:59:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EFIN ECON PREL VZ PE CO |
07BOGOTA7240 | PARA-POLITICAL SCANDAL UPDATE [...] (C) Summary. The Supreme Court has linked 37 of Colombia's 268 legislators to the former paramilitaries, with fourteen members in jail, one a fugitive, and twenty-two under formal investigation. Congressmen facing investigation include Mario Uribe, a distant cousin and longtime political ass [...] | 2007-10-09 15:24:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PREF PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA7265 | WORLD BANK BOOSTS COLOMBIA'S "DOING BUSINESS" [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: According to the World Bank's "Doing Business 2008" report released September 27, companies are finding it easier to do business in Colombia. In comparison to last year, Colombia improved 13 positions to 66th out of 178 countries ranked. The World Bank identified Colombia as t [...] | 2007-10-09 21:51:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON BEXP ETRD EFIN CO |
07BOGOTA7281 | GOC-GOV TENSIONS EMERGE AS HUMANITARIAN EXCHANGE [...] (C) President Chavez urged the GOC to facilitate, not block, GOV efforts to meet with FARC leaders in Venezuela. The GOC responded by warning the international community not to "fall for the deception of terrorism." Long-time FARC intermediary Alvaro Leyva said Uribe's decision to involve Cha [...] | 2007-10-10 16:08:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PREF PREL PTER VZ CO |
07BOGOTA7319 | PROS/CONS OF SECRETARY GUTIERREZ' DELEGATION VISIT [...] (SBU) Embassy Bogota proposes visit by Secretary of Commerce Gutierrez and delegation to the village of Bojaya on October 13. The delegation would accompany President Uribe. Pros and cons of such a trip follow. 2. (SBU) The trip to Bojaya presents certain risks: health risks, the risk as [...] | 2007-10-10 23:49:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | CO |
07BOGOTA7323 | TRANSPARENT ELECTION PROCESS AND GREATER POLITICAL [...] Local candidates and officials in Apartado (Antioquia department) told us preparations for the October elections are proceeding in a transparent manner. Local candidates said the current environment allowed a broader "political space" to campaign freely and had few complaints about how local [...] | 2007-10-11 15:11:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PGOV KJUS CO |
07BOGOTA7325 | AMBASSADOR BROWNFIELD'S 26 SEPTEMBER MEETING WITH [...] (C) Ambassador Brownfield met with Minister of Defense (MOD) Juan Manuel Santos and Vice MoD Juan Carlos Pinzon on September 26. Santos raised the need for agreement on GOC sharing of intelligence with Israeli defense contractors, as well as Colombia's request that its priority military purc [...] | 2007-10-11 16:49:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER MARR CO |
07BOGOTA7350 | ELECTION RISK MAPS HIGHLIGHT REGIONAL THREATS [...] In mid-September, the civil society Electoral Observation Mission (MOE) published maps identifying 576 of Colombia's 1099 municipalities as at risk for violence or electoral fraud during the October 28 departmental and municipal elections. Interior Minister Carlos Holguin dismissed the MOE f [...] | 2007-10-11 21:14:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PINR CO |
07BOGOTA7359 | PRESIDENT URIBE: QUESTIONS ARISE WITH SUPREME [...] (SBU) On October 8, President Uribe released a statement saying he had received a letter from a jailed paramilitary accusing Supreme Court Magistrate Ivan Velasquez of offering the paramilitary legal benefits to implicate Uribe in a plot to murder a jailed paramilitary leader. Uribe called Vel [...] | 2007-10-12 14:25:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM PINR PREF PREL PTER |
07BOGOTA7364 | U.S. DRAFT RESOLUTION CONDEMNING THE USE OF RAPE [...] On September 26 Econoff verbally delivered reftel talking points to the Colombian Ministry of External Relations (MRE) North America Desk Coordinator Patricia Cortes and provided Cortes with the text of the draft resolution. Cortes said she would raise reftel issue with the appropriate GOC a [...] | 2007-10-12 18:10:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | AORC UNGA PHUM KWMN SOCI CO |
07BOGOTA7375 | U PARTY PROPOSES THIRD TERM FOR URIBE [...] On October 10, U Party Secretary General Luis Guillermo Giraldo announced that the Party would seek to amend the constitution to allow President Uribe to run for a third term in 2010 presidential elections. In a Senate session hosted by the U Party to discuss its platform, Giraldo said "no m [...] | 2007-10-12 20:21:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PINR CO |
07BOGOTA7395 | GOC TAKING CONCRETE STEPS TOWARDS INVESTIGATING [...] (SBU) Summary: An international human rights group coalition claims there were 955 extrajudicial killings by Colombian security forces between July 2002 and June 2007. The Prosecutor General's Office (Fiscalia) is formally investigating 189 allegations of extrajudicial killings involving 388 [...] | 2007-10-15 18:54:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KJUS CO |
07BOGOTA7397 | PRE-ELECTIONS CLIMATE IN VALLEDUPAR: CRIMINAL [...] (U) Summary: Candidates and officials in Valledupar, capital of the northern Cesar Department, report some paramilitary influence in local campaigns and isolated security threats against candidates, but note an overall improvement in openness and transparency this election season. The GOC is [...] | 2007-10-15 20:14:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KJUS PGOV PINR PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA7421 | INCREASING ASSET SEIZURES: A STEP FORWARD IN [...] (U) In the past three months, the GOC seized close to a billion dollars in assets tied to major narcotraffickers, including infamous ex-paramilitaries "Macaco" and Vicente Castano, and drug trafficker "Chupeta." The seizures reflect excellent US-GOC law enforcement cooperation, as well as the [...] | 2007-10-16 22:38:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PINR PREF PREL PTER PHUM CO |
07BOGOTA7423 | ECOPETROL OUTLINES ITS APPROACH TO HUMAN RIGHTS [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: On October 10, Jose Rafael Unda, Ecopetrol's Director for Social Responsibility, confirmed his company's incorporation of the Voluntary Principles (VPs) into its human rights policies. Unda said Ecopetrol added Spanish translations of the text of the Voluntary Principles to its [...] | 2007-10-16 23:10:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | ECON ENRG EPET PHUM ETRD CO |
07BOGOTA7451 | AMBASSADOR'S OCTOBER 10 MEETING WITH UNHCHR [...] (SBU) In an October 10 courtesy call, the Ambassador voiced our support for the work of local UN High Commission for Human Rights (UNHCHR) Office Director Juan Pablo Corlazzoli and noted our interest in working closely with his successor. Corlazzoli thanked the Ambassador for U.S. funding, voi [...] | 2007-10-17 23:57:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV PINR PREL PTER UN CO |
07BOGOTA7453 | COLOMBIAN HIGH-VALUE TARGET OPERATIONS BEARING [...] (S) The Colombian military's successful operation against FARC 16th Front commander and leading narcotrafficker Tomas Medina Caracas aka "Negro Acacio" shows that the Colombians--with substantial U.S. support--have advanced in intelligence, strike accuracy, mission planning and deployment, op [...] | 2007-10-18 15:17:00 | Embassy Bogota | SECRET | PREL PGOV PTER MARR CO |
07BOGOTA7456 | MAGDALENA GOVERNOR CONVICTED FOR PARAMILITARY TIES [...] Trino Luna Correa, Liberal party member and former governor of Magdalena, plead guilty to aggravated conspiracy (concierto para delinquir agravado) to commit crime due to his paramilitary ties on October 14. Luna, who ran uncontested in 2003, was detained in March for ties to para leaders Ro [...] | 2007-10-18 19:49:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PINR PREF PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA7470 | UNITED STATES, COLOMBIA AND MEXICO MEETING [...] (C) Drug Enforcement Administration Administrator Karen Tandy met with Colombian Minister of Defense Juan Manuel Santos Calderon and Mexican Attorney General Eduardo Medina Mora Icaza on October 9 to promote increased counternarcotics cooperation. The meeting was part of a series and led to ag [...] | 2007-10-18 22:06:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ASEC ECIN PTER SNAR MX CO |
07BOGOTA7481 | AMBASSADOR'S OCTOBER 11 MEETING WITH [...] (C) In an October 11 meeting, the Ambassador and Vice-President Santos reviewed prospects for U.S. approval of the bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA),agreed on the need to work closely to deflect efforts by President Chavez and the FARC to make the USG and GOC look intransigent in humanita [...] | 2007-10-19 14:15:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON KJUS PGOV PHUM PINR PREL PTER VZ CO |
07BOGOTA7483 | PRE-ELECTIONS CLIMATE IN CUCUTA: CRIME AND BORDER [...] (U) Cucuta, the capital of Norte de Santander, is a major transit point to Venezuela, making it a magnet for illegal armed groups trying to control legal and illegal commercial activity. Its mayor was arrested in September for paramilitary ties, but he remains highly popular. Election preparat [...] | 2007-10-19 15:27:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KJUS PGOV PREL PINR PTER CO |
07BOGOTA7575 | COLOMBIA INTERESTED IN WIREC 2008 [...] Post delivered reftel demarche separately to Minister of Mines and Energy Hernan Martinez and Ministry of External Relations (MRE) Director for Multilateral Economic, Social, and Environmental Issues Maria Alban Duran. Post also presented WIREC 2008 information to officials at the Ministries [...] | 2007-10-19 21:40:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ENRG EAID EPET SENV SOCI TRGY KPAO KSCA EAGR |
07BOGOTA7581 | COLOMBIA BULLISH ON WIREC 2008, REQUESTS SPOT ON [...] This is an action cable. See para. 4. 2. Post delivered reftel demarche on the Washington International Renewable Energy Conference (WIREC) separately to Minister of Mines and Energy Hernan Martinez, Ministry of External Relations (MRE) Director for Multilateral Economic, Social, and Envir [...] | 2007-10-19 22:21:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ENRG EAID EPET SENV SOCI TRGY KPAO KSCA EAGR |
07BOGOTA7582 | OAS AND U.S. ELECTORAL OBSERVATION EFFORTS IN [...] The OAS Electoral Observation Mission (EOM) has a presence on the ground and will support extensive GOC actions to promote free and fair elections (reftel). The Embassy has developed an election observation plan, and will deploy 30 officers across key Departments under OAS accreditation. Othe [...] | 2007-10-19 22:31:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PHUM PINR PREF PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA7622 | META AT RISK: ELECTIONS VISIT TO VILLAVICENCIO [...] (U) On September 26-28, we met with political party leaders, candidates, incumbents, and civil society representatives in Meta to discuss the October 28 local elections. The civil society group--the Electoral Observation Mission (MOE)--considers Meta at high risk for violence and fraud. Cor [...] | 2007-10-22 22:32:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PTER PHUM CO |
07BOGOTA7623 | MAPP/OAS CONCERNED OVER ALLEGED EXTRAJUDICIAL [...] (C) An internal MAPP/OAS report outlined concerns about the disappearance of eleven young men in Sucre department, allegedly involving the 11th brigade. Six of the men (ages 16-22) were found dead days after their disappearance; the 11th brigade claimed they were killed in combat. Five remain [...] | 2007-10-22 22:33:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KJUS MARR CO |
07BOGOTA7625 | COLOMBIA CONFLICT UPDATE - Q3'07 [...] (C) The following reflects the Country Team's quarterly review of Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and GOC activities. During the third quarter of 2007, the FARC shifted forces to its core territories between Meta Department and the Pacific coast -- evidently to hunker down, pro [...] | 2007-10-23 13:53:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER MARR MCAP OAS CO |
07BOGOTA7648 | GOC PEACE COMMISSIONER REVIEWS LATEST DEVELOPMENTS [...] (C) Defense Minister Santos voiced skepticism about the efforts of President Chavez and Senator Cordoba to facilitate a humanitarian exchange with the FARC, prompting a rebuke from President Uribe. GOC Peace Commissioner Restrepo told us Uribe was chagrined with Santos' remarks, because at th [...] | 2007-10-24 15:33:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PREF PREL PTER VZ CO |
07BOGOTA7671 | GOC'S POSSIBLE SHIFT ON INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL [...] (C) During an October 17 meeting with Luis Moreno Ocampo, chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC),President Uribe suggested the GOC would revisit whether to continue delaying the application of the ICC war crimes provision. The GOC exempted itself from the provision for se [...] | 2007-10-24 22:06:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KJUS CO |
07BOGOTA7695 | DRAFT MAPP/OAS TENTH QUARTERLY REPORT ON PEACE [...] (C) The MAPP/OAS draft Tenth Quarterly Report on the peace process recognizes GOC progress in the reintegration of demobilized paramilitaries, as well as in combating new criminal groups, but urges it to do more to prevent narcotraffickers, the FARC, and other criminal groups from exploiting [...] | 2007-10-25 17:33:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | CO PHUM PGOV KJUS PREL |
07BOGOTA7702 | VALLE DE CAUCA: CLEAN ELECTIONS EXPECTED DESPITE [...] (C) Summary. We expect peaceful elections in most races in Valle de Cauca, but there is widespread concern that drug money may be behind some campaigns. The FARC is unlikely to disrupt elections, but is reportedly sponsoring candidates around Cali. New criminal groups and ex-paramilitaries [...] | 2007-10-25 21:43:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PREF PREL PTER VZ CO |
07BOGOTA7718 | SECRETARY GUTIERREZ AND U.S. REPRESENTATIVES' [...] (SBU) In an October 13 breakfast meeting with Commerce Secretary Gutierrez and an accompanying congressional SIPDIS delegation, President Uribe thanked the group for U.S. support and urged them to support the bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA). He said the FTA will complement Plan Colomb [...] | 2007-10-26 22:57:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ELAB ETRD KJUS OVIP PGOV PHUM PTER EC |
07BOGOTA7746 | COLOMBIAN LOCAL ELECTIONS PROCEED SMOOTHLY WITH [...] Colombia's October 28 local elections occurred without significant violence or problems. The GOC deployed 167,000 police and military to voting sites, and electoral officials were well-organized overall. The GOC quickly deployed security to the few areas where allegations of fraud--or local [...] | 2007-10-30 17:47:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PHUM PINR PREF PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA7748 | SCENESETTER FOR THE USTR SCHWAB-LED CODEL AND [...] (SBU) Your delegation will visit a Colombia far safer, economically stronger, better governed and more democratic than it has been in decades. Many Colombians say conditions today have improved to a level better than any other time in their lives or those of their parents. During your visit y [...] | 2007-10-30 19:41:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD ELAB EAGR OVIP PGOV PREL CO |
07BOGOTA7761 | GOC CONSIDERING CHANGES IN REPARATIONS IN JUSTICE [...] (SBU) The GOC announced October 23 it is considering a proposal by the National Commission of Reparations and Reconciliation (CNRR) to change the reparations process from the current judicial procedure--which has proved extremely slow in identifying victims and assets--to an administrative p [...] | 2007-10-30 22:31:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KJUS PGOV PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA7767 | COLOMBIAN MFA TRAINS JUDGES AND LAWYERS ON HAGUE CHILD [...] Summary: The Colombian MFA hosted a September 13 seminar for judges, lawyers and child welfare workers on the Hague Convention on child abduction. The seminar was the second MFA-hosted conference on the Convention this year, and, along with two recent lower-court decisions ordering the retur [...] | 2007-10-31 15:49:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | CASC CVIS CJAN PREL CO |
07BOGOTA7772 | COLOMBIA'S 2008 BUDGET INCREASES SOCIAL AND [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: On October 16, Colombia's Congress approved the 2008 national budget with a 9 percent spending increase over the 2007 budget. Despite the increase, the GOC expects to come in below its fiscal deficit target of 3.3 percent of GDP while raising the primary surplus above 1 percent [...] | 2007-10-31 20:41:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN PGOV CO |
07BOGOTA7804 | AMBASSADOR BROWNFIELD'S OCTOBER 29 MEETING WITH [...] (C) The Ambassador told Cardinal Pedro Rubiano on October 29 that the USG would consider joint efforts with the Church on health, education, and poverty reduction projects. Rubiano said the National Conciliation Commission has useful insights into peace talks with the Revolutionary Armed Forces [...] | 2007-11-01 17:45:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL PTER VE VT CO |
07BOGOTA7842 | COLOMBIA: DELIVERY OF FY08 MCC SCORECARDS [...] No summary [...] | 2007-11-02 14:28:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | EAID PREL PGOV ETRD ECON KMCA MCC CO |
07BOGOTA7862 | EMBASSY CONFIRMS REPORT OF AMERICAN KIDNAPPED BY FARC IN APRI [...] (C) Summary. On October 25, FBI and consular representatives inter 2. (C) In late September 2007, Colombian citizen Nestor Mora wrote to 3. (C) Nestor described the circumstances surrounding his brotherQs ki 4. (C) Nestor said the kidnappers contacted him two months later, and [...] | 2007-11-02 20:22:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | CASC PTER PREL PGOV CO |
07BOGOTA7873 | EMBASSY CONFIRMS REPORT OF AMERICAN KIDNAPPED BY FARC IN [...] (C) Summary. On October 25, FBI and consular representatives interviewed Colombian citizen Nestor Mora. Mora said that the FARC had kidnapped his brother, U.S. citizen Daniel Mora, in April 2003. Post verified DanielQs citizenship, and Colombian authorities have confirmed NestorQs account o [...] | 2007-11-02 22:25:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | CASC PTER PREL PGOV CO |
07BOGOTA7875 | COLOMBIA: DELIVERY OF FATF STATEMENT ON IRAN [...] No summary [...] | 2007-11-05 13:33:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | EFIN PTER ECON PARM PREL MNUC CO |
07BOGOTA790 | TRADE CONFEDERATIONS SEND ANTI-FTA LETTER TO U.S. [...] (U) On January 23, two trade confederations and a pensioner's group released an open letter to the U.S. Congress, criticizing the bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and urging that it not be ratified (See para 5). The trade confederations also invited a U.S. labor-Congressional delegation [...] | 2007-02-06 11:33:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ELAB ETRD PGOV CO |
07BOGOTA791 | FISCALIA INDICTS, ARRESTS SEVEN SOLDIERS IN HIGH [...] (U) On January 31, the Prosecutor General's Office (Fiscalia) announced the indictments and arrests of seven soldiers on homicide charges in the January 21, 2006 killing of Edilberto Vasquez Cardona of the Arenas Alta Peace Community in San Jose de Apartado. The seven soldiers, two noncommiss [...] | 2007-02-06 11:34:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PGOV KJUS CO |
07BOGOTA7946 | PARAS, FARC, AND CORRUPTION LOSE GROUND IN LOCAL [...] (C) Summary. The results of October 28 local elections saw ex-paramilitaries and their political associates lose ground. The paramilitary demobilization created new political space, with the press actively exposing candidates with para ties. Still, some candidates linked to jailed para-poli [...] | 2007-11-06 21:42:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PREF PREL PTER VZ CO |
07BOGOTA7951 | SCENESETTER FOR ONDCP DIRECTOR JOHN WALTERS AND DEA [...] (SBU) You are visiting a Colombia far safer, economically stronger, better governed and more democratic than it has been in decades. Many Colombians say conditions today have improved to a level better than any other time in their lives or those of their parents. Murder rates declined 40 per [...] | 2007-11-06 22:16:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | OVIP SNAR ETRD ELAB PGOV PREL CO |
07BOGOTA7954 | AMBASSADOR'S OCTOBER 29 MEETING WITH FORMER [...] (C) The Ambassador reviewed with Liberal Party leader Cesar Gaviria on October 29 the result of the preceding day's local elections, Senator Cordoba's and President Chavez' efforts to promote a humanitarian accord, and prospects for U.S. Congressional approval of the bilateral Free Trade Agre [...] | 2007-11-06 22:50:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ETRD PHUM PINR PREL OAS PE VE CO |
07BOGOTA7955 | SCENESETTER FOR ONDCP DIRECTOR JOHN WALTERS AND DEA [...] (SBU) You are visiting a Colombia far safer, economically stronger, better governed and more democratic than it has been in decades. Many Colombians say conditions today have improved to a level better than any other time in their lives or those of their parents. Murder rates declined 40 per [...] | 2007-11-07 14:16:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | OVIP SNAR ETRD ELAB PGOV PREL CO |
07BOGOTA7971 | MARINES MAKE MAJOR DRUG SEIZURES, BUT SUFFER [...] (C) Operating in difficult terrain, Colombian Marine units accounted for 20% of Colombian cocaine seizures in January-October 2007 (nearly 20 metric tons). Beyond fighting drugs, Marines participated in counterguerrilla offensives, manned river checkpoints and patrols, safeguarded shipping, a [...] | 2007-11-07 18:48:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER MARR CO |
07BOGOTA7981 | AMBASSADOR'S NOVEMBER 1 MEETING WITH BOGOTA MAYOR [...] (C) Bogota Mayor Luis Eduardo "Lucho" Garzon told the Ambassador on November 1 that he supports the Free Trade Agreement--with modifications--as well as President Uribe's democratic security policy. Garzon urged the USG to pay greater attention to "leftist" movements in the region but disavow [...] | 2007-11-08 12:36:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ASEC PHUM PTER ETRD VE CO |
07BOGOTA7982 | WTO DEMARCHE REQUEST - GOC UNLIKELY TO RAISE ISSUE [...] No summary [...] | 2007-11-08 14:14:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD ECON CO |
07BOGOTA7987 | RECOMMENDATION TO RESTORE ASSISTANCE TO AIR COMBAT [...] (C) The Department of State suspended U.S. assistance to Colombian Air Force Air Combat Command-1 (CACOM-1) in Puerto Salgar (Cundinamarca) in January 2003 due to the Air Force's refusal to accept responsibility for the bombing of the village of Santo Domingo (Arauca) on December 13, 1998 by a [...] | 2007-11-08 14:28:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV PTER KJUS CO |
07BOGOTA7990 | AMBASSADOR BROWNFIELD'S OCTOBER 25-26 VISIT TO [...] The Ambassador visited Cartagena, capital of the Department of Bolivar for meetings with government, private sector, educational and religious leaders. His interlocutors underscored that improved security had opened the door for economic growth and expressed interest in deepening the U.S.-Co [...] | 2007-11-08 18:42:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON ETRD EAID PGOV ASEC CO |
07BOGOTA7998 | USTR SCHWAB-LED CODEL DISCUSSES COLOMBIA TRADE [...] (U) Sunday, November 3, 2007; 8:00 - 10:00 a.m. 2. (U) Participants: U.S. USTR Ambassador Susan Schwab Acting Secretary of Agriculture Chuck Conner Ambassador William R. Brownfield Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AK) Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) Rep. John Ta [...] | 2007-11-08 21:10:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD PGOV PREL ECON OVIP USTR USDA CO |
07BOGOTA8001 | CHAVEZ AND THE FARC KEEP GOC IN THE DARK [...] (C) Summary: Prompted by press reports of a President Chavez-FARC meeting, GOC Peace Commissioner Restrepo issued a statement on November 7 stating that Chavez had not informed the GOC of his encounter--as Uribe and Chavez had previously agreed. A senior GOC official voiced skepticism about [...] | 2007-11-09 11:48:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PREF PREL PTER VZ CO |
07BOGOTA8002 | COLOMBIA-CANADA TRADE AGREEMENT CLOSING FAST [...] (U) Colombia and Canada are racing quickly to conclude their free trade talks by the end of November 2007. In preparation for the scheduled final round at the end of November in Lima, mini-rounds are taking place all over the Western Hemisphere, including the services group meeting in Bogota, [...] | 2007-11-09 11:48:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD ECON CO |
07BOGOTA8025 | AMBASSADOR'S NOVEMBER 6 MEETING WITH CNRR [...] (U) National Commission for Reconciliation and Reparations (CNRR) President Eduardo Pizarro thanked the Ambassador for USG support, reviewed CNRR progress in addressing legitimacy, organizational and coordination challenges, and outlined his future priorities in a November 6 meeting. He noted t [...] | 2007-11-13 14:37:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM PREL KJUS AR CI GM SP SZ CO |
07BOGOTA8029 | BLUE LANTERN POST-SHIPMENT END-USE CHECK ON [...] After follow-up with the Department to obtain clarification on ref A, on November 8 Econoff and MilGroup Army Officer confirmed the purchase by the Colombian Army of 285 AN/PVS17 (M971) Mini Night Vision Gen III Omnivus V Type MX 101060 Night Vision Devices (NVDs) from Nightline, Inc. of Miam [...] | 2007-11-13 18:33:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ETTC KOMC CO |
07BOGOTA8044 | MILITARY JUSTICE WORKING GROUP HEARS REFORM [...] (SBU) Military Criminal Justice (MPJ) director Luz Marina Gil and National Director for Prosecutors of the Prosecutor General's office (Fiscalia) Alicia Ledesma outlined their plans for greater military-civilian cooperation on human rights investigations, including extrajudicial killings, to a [...] | 2007-11-13 23:05:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PGOV KJUS CO |
07BOGOTA8045 | AMBASSADOR'S NOVEMBER 1 MEETING WITH FORMER [...] No summary [...] | 2007-11-14 00:10:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD PGOV PHUM PINR PREL PTER KJUS FR NU VE |
07BOGOTA8047 | ELN MILITARY ACTIONS AND AREA OF OPERATIONS [...] Summary: Local security experts and peace advocates said ELN attacks against the GOC fell over 90 percent from 2002-2006. The ELN's geographic area of operations also shrank dramatically. The experts voiced hope that the ELN's fading military capacity would make the group ready for peace neg [...] | 2007-11-14 16:10:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PINR CO |
07BOGOTA8056 | RECENT HUMAN RIGHTS CASES DEMONSTRATE PROGRESS [...] The Prosecutor General's office (Fiscalia)--supported by the GOC ans using evidence generated by the Justice and Peace Law (JPL)--has made progess on human rights. The Fiscalia is considering asking the Supreme Court to re-open proceedings against retired military generals Rito Alejo del Rio [...] | 2007-11-14 19:30:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PGOV KJUS CO |
07BOGOTA8068 | GOC CONTINUES EFFORTS TO REESTABLISH STATE PRESENCE [...] (U) The GOC created the Centro de Coordinacion de Accion Integral (CCAI) to integrate military, police civilian programs into a single, coordinated effort to establish GOC penetration of key conflict areas. CCAI works to ensure civilian health, welfare, educational, and economic development pr [...] | 2007-11-14 22:11:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PINR PHUM PTER NL SP CO |
07BOGOTA8071 | UN FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION EVALUATION [...] On November 6 Econoff raised reftel points with Colombian Ministry of External Relations (MRE) North America Desk Officer Claudia Cuevas and delivered non-paper. Cuevas said she would distribute non-paper to appropriate GOC agencies. 2. On November 9, Foreign Agriculture Service office d [...] | 2007-11-15 12:51:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | EAGR AORC FAO UN CO |
07BOGOTA8080 | FISCALIA SPECIAL COMMISSION INVESTIGATING [...] The Prosecutor General's office (Fiscalia) has sent a special commission to Antioquia, Cordoba, and four other departments to review the backlog of alleged extrajudicial killing and to spur action on investigations. Human Rights unit prosecutor William Arteaga--based in Medellin--heads the co [...] | 2007-11-15 19:07:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KJUS CO |
07BOGOTA8086 | URIBE REAFFIRMS OPPOSITION TO DEMILITARIZED ZONE [...] (SBU) President Uribe reiterated his opposition to a demilitarized zone ("despeje") in talks with the FARC, and ruled out a meeting between Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and senior FARC leader Manuel Marulanda. In his November 8 meeting with Chavez, FARC Secretariat member Ivan Marquez had [...] | 2007-11-15 20:57:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PREF PREL PTER VZ CO |
07BOGOTA8091 | MONTES DE MARIA: MILITARY-CIVILIAN COOPERATION [...] (C) On October 24, the military attacked the FARC 37th Front, killing its commander alias "Martin Caballero." Caballero was the second front commander on the GOC's "most wanted" list to be killed by the military since September. The Caballero operation capped a year of joint military and law e [...] | 2007-11-15 21:29:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM CO MARR |
07BOGOTA8092 | COLOMBIA BIOFUELS UPDATE: PROMISE DESPITE [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: The opening of Colombia's first biodiesel plant, establishment of a biodiesel free trade zone, and increasing blending mandates reinforce the GOC's commitment to adopt biofuels to diversify energy supplies and promote rural job creation. However, while growers expand palm oil c [...] | 2007-11-15 22:07:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ENRG EAGR ECON EAID PGOV CO |
07BOGOTA8117 | USG SUPPORT FOR GOC EFFORTS TO COMBAT [...] (C) The Colombian Government has made ending extrajudicial killings (EJES) a top priority, with Defense Minister Santos and Prosecutor General Iguaran instituting steps to facilitate civilian investigation of combat deaths, end jurisdictional disputes between military and civilian courts, and [...] | 2007-11-19 17:51:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KJUS MARR PTER UN CO |
07BOGOTA8135 | COLOMBIA'S RESPONSE TO UNGA THIRD COMMITTEE [...] (SBU) On November 17 and 18, the Ambassador spoke to President Uribe and Foreign Minister Araujo, in President Uribe's presence, to press for GOC support on country-specific human rights resolutions on Iran, North Korea, Belarus, and Burma (reftels). The GOC appears committed to its global pol [...] | 2007-11-20 15:31:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PREL KTIA UN CO |
07BOGOTA8160 | CHAVEZ' PROPOSAL FOR MEETING WITH FARC'S MARULANDA [...] On November 20, in response to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez' public statement that he received GOC authorization for a meeting with FARC leader Manuel Marulanda, the GOC issued a communique clarifying that such a meeting could only occur after the FARC began to release its hostages. The GOC [...] | 2007-11-21 11:52:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PINR PREF PREL PTER FR SP SZ VZ CO |
07BOGOTA8165 | BONA FIDE ASYLUM CLAIM EXCEPTION TO 9B [...] (SBU/N) Colombian nationals listed below applied for a nonimmigrant visa at Embassy Bogota on 18 SEP 2007. However, on the family's last trip to the United States, they all stayed for over a year and a half even though they were authorized to stay for six months. During the period this famil [...] | 2007-11-21 16:24:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM |
07BOGOTA8170 | COLOMBIAN AND MEXICAN AUTHORITIES MOVING SWIFTLY IN WAKE OF [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: The Government of Mexico (GOM) seized two large cocaine shipments that originated from Colombian seaports in October. In response to these seizures, the Government of Colombia (GOC) sought additional information from the GOM and initiated formal investigations of all involved [...] | 2007-11-21 18:36:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR PGOV PREL KCRM PTER MX CO |
07BOGOTA8200 | SCENESETTER FOR THE VISIT OF SENATE MAJORITY [...] No summary [...] | 2007-11-21 21:19:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV ETRD ECON CO |
07BOGOTA8221 | AMBASSADOR VISITS CALI--COLOMBIA'S THIRD CITY, AT [...] (C) On November 14, Ambassador Brownfield visited Cali, capital of Valle del Cauca and Colombia's third largest city. Infamous for the violence and narcotrafficking of the 1980s and 90s, Cali continues trying to start a revival and clean up its image. The Ambassador expressed the Embassy's c [...] | 2007-11-23 21:22:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PINR PREF PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA8224 | GOC ENDS CHAVEZ/CORDOBA "HUMANITARIAN EXCHANGE" [...] (C) President Alvaro Uribe terminated the mandates of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Colombian Senator Piedad Cordoba in the "humanitarian exchange" process on November 21, after the two intermediaries phoned and spoke with Colombian Army Commander Montoya. Uribe previously told Chavez [...] | 2007-11-24 15:21:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PREF PTER PHUM VZ CO |
07BOGOTA8255 | IMPROVING SECURITY AND STRONG ECONOMY BOOST [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Strong economic growth and record levels of foreign direct investment (FDI) are bolstering Colombian bank balance sheets as well as foreign financial institutions' interest in investing in the sector. Following a period of consolidation, three Colombian-owned banking groups have [...] | 2007-11-27 15:31:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EFIN ECON CO |
07BOGOTA8256 | FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE ERADICATION IN SOUTH [...] On November 6 Econoff raised reftel issue with Colombian Ministry of External Relations (MRE) North America Desk Officer Claudia Cuevas and delivered non-paper. Cuevas said she would distribute non-paper to appropriate GOC agencies. Based on the recommendation of the Embassy's Agricultural A [...] | 2007-11-27 16:01:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | EAGR PTER KSCA CO |
07BOGOTA8273 | COLOMBIA'S SMALL FARMERS--COOPERATION AND CREDIT [...] Historically large agricultural producers in Colombia have benefited from government largesse to the exclusion of small farmers. Despite government institutions intended to help them get loans, small farmers often must turn to the informal lending system where they pay interest rates in exce [...] | 2007-11-28 17:53:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | EAGR ECON ETRD EAID CO |
07BOGOTA8281 | COLOMBIA'S RESPONSE TO CERD DEMARCHE [...] No summary [...] | 2007-11-28 23:06:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PHUM UNGA CO |
07BOGOTA8305 | GOC RECOVERS PROOF OF LIFE FOR SIXTEEN HOSTAGES [...] No summary [...] | 2007-11-30 22:26:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PGOV PHUM PREL CASC FR VE CO |
07BOGOTA8306 | GOC PEACE COMMISSIONER EXPLAINS SUSPENSION OF [...] (C) GOC Peace Commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo told the Ambassador that Venezuelan President Chavez' repeated violation of the rules set by President Uribe for Hugo Chavez' effort to promote a humanitarian accord with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) had forced Uribe to suspe [...] | 2007-11-30 23:56:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL PTER MARR AR BR CS EC FR UY |
07BOGOTA8332 | URIBE REITERATES COMMITMENT TO OBTAIN RELEASE OF [...] President Uribe said the GOC remains committed to obtaining the release of hostages held by the FARC, and would work with French President Sarkozy on new ways to achieve this goal. Still, he cautioned that any release should not strengthen the FARC or encourage kidnapping. GOC Peace Commissi [...] | 2007-12-03 21:24:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PHUM PINR PTER FR CO |
07BOGOTA8362 | SCENESETTER FOR DECEMBER 7-9 VISIT OF DEPUTY [...] (SBU) Your return to Colombia comes as the Uribe Administration continues building a safer, economically stronger, better governed and more democratic country. Murder rates declined 40 percent since 2002, violence against union members fell over 60 percent, and kidnapping rates plummeted 76 pe [...] | 2007-12-04 23:56:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | OVIP ETRD PREL ELAB PHUM PTER PREF CO |
07BOGOTA8367 | MINISTRY OF DEFENSE DIRECTIVE TAKES STRONG [...] The Ministry of Defense (MOD) issued a directive on November 20 ordering military commanders to give greater weight to the demobilization or capture of illegal combatants than to kills (bajas) in evaluating the success of military operations. The directive addresses human rights groups' conc [...] | 2007-12-05 19:12:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PGOV KJUS CO |
07BOGOTA8368 | PROSECUTOR GENERAL TO APPEAL ACQUITTAL OF GENERAL [...] On November 28, civilian judge Oscar Jaimes acquitted General Jaime Humberto Uscategui, former commander of the 7th Brigade, of homicide, kidnapping and omission charges in connection with the July 1997 paramilitary massacre of an estimated 50 people in Mapiripan, Meta department. Uscategui, [...] | 2007-12-05 19:27:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PGOV KJUS CO |
07BOGOTA8384 | PRESIDENT URIBE SPEAKS TO REID DELEGATION ON TPA, [...] (SBU) During a November 28 meeting with the U.S. Congressional Delegation led by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, President Alvaro Uribe outlined Plan Colombia's accomplishments and stressed the importance of continued U.S. support. Uribe said passage of the U.S.- Colombia Trade Promotion A [...] | 2007-12-06 20:14:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PREF PTER PHUM PGOV KJUS VE CO |
07BOGOTA8390 | G-24 CONFERENCE ON COLOMBIA FORUM FOSTERS DIALOGUE [...] The international community expressed political support for the GOC at the G-24 Third International Conference on Colombia on November 29-December 1. The joint G-24 Bogota declaration recognized GOC advances on human rights and sustainable development, stressed the international commitment to [...] | 2007-12-06 23:06:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PHUM PGOV PTER OFDP AR CA SW CO |
07BOGOTA8400 | ARMY CAPTAIN CHARGED IN FEBRUARY 2005 MASSACRE OF [...] On November 22, the Prosecutor General's office (Fiscalia) ordered the detention of Army Captain Guillermo Gordillo for his participation in the massacre of eight civilians near San Jose de Apartado in February 2005. Captain Gordillo is in preventive detention, charged with homicide of protec [...] | 2007-12-07 17:18:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PGOV KJUS CO |
07BOGOTA8405 | URIBE ACCEPTS "ENCOUNTER ZONE" FOR HUMANITARIAN [...] (U) President Alvaro Uribe announced on December 7, that the GOC would accept a Catholic Church proposal to create a small "zona de encuentro" (encounterzone) toseek a "humanitarian exchange" of Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC)-held hostages for FARC prisoners in Colombian jails. [...] | 2007-12-07 20:52:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PTER PREL PREF PHUM VZ FR CO |
07BOGOTA8430 | U PARTY REMAINS DIVIDED HEADING INTO 2010 [...] (C) The U Party continues to consolidate its party structure following the October local elections, with Party leaders focused on quashing internal dissent and developing a plan to enable it to maintain strong ties with whoever wins the 2010 presidential elections. Still, the Party's poor rel [...] | 2007-12-10 14:39:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR CO |
07BOGOTA8434 | PROSECUTOR GENERAL DATA SKETCHY BUT SHOWS MOST [...] The Colombian Prosecutor General's Office (Fiscalia) reports that since 2001, it has resolved 59 cases of violence against labor union members, resulting in the sentencing of 126 individuals. Eleven of the cases, leading to 20 convictions, were prosecuted by the special subunit set up by the [...] | 2007-12-10 17:56:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ELAB KJUS PGOV PHUM PTER CO |
07BOGOTA8453 | GOC 'WEALTH TAX' FIGHTS CURRENT AND FUTURE WARS [...] (C) Allocation of the $3.7 billion "wealth tax" (ref A) for 2007-10 defense spending has been a topic of heated debate within the Defense Ministry since its passage by the Colombian Congress late last year. Minister of Defense Santos stressed that his top priorities are purchases that contri [...] | 2007-12-10 22:51:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER MARR CO |
07BOGOTA8455 | AMBASSADOR'S NOVEMBER 28 MEETING WITH GOVERNOR [...] (C) Governor Angelino Garzon told the Ambassador the GOC's suspension of Colombian Senator Piedad Cordoba's and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez' efforts to promote a humanitarian accord with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) stemmed from their mercurial approaches, the GOC's f [...] | 2007-12-11 13:55:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL PTER ELAB ECON VE CO |
07BOGOTA8458 | GOC FIGHTING TO CONTAIN NEW CRIMINAL GROUPS [...] Combined GOC military and police efforts to combat new criminal groups are making progress, with 1,710 captures and 568 kills of gang members from January through mid-November 2007. The share of demobilized ex-AUC among these new groups appears to be falling, indicating that reinsertion prog [...] | 2007-12-11 14:37:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PGOV PTER MARR CO |
07BOGOTA8477 | CATHOLIC CHURCH BEGINS EFFORT TO CONTACT FARC ON [...] (C) Catholic priest Dario Echeverri told us the Church will reach out to the FARC to explain its proposal to create an "encounter zone" for GOC talks with the FARC on a humanitarian exchange. He said President Uribe had asked the Church to make the proposal to deflect international pressure o [...] | 2007-12-11 21:14:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL PTER PREF AR CI FR SZ VZ VE |
07BOGOTA8478 | PRESIDENT URIBE DISAVOWS THIRD TERM, BUT DOUBTS [...] (C) Summary: Public debate continues over whether President Uribe will seek a second re-election in 2010. Uribe has publicly said he will not do so, and presidential political strategist Jose Obdulio Gaviria categorically told us Uribe will not run again. Still, U Party Secretary General Lu [...] | 2007-12-11 21:20:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR CO |
07BOGOTA8508 | ILO COMMISSION GAINS TRIPARTITE PERSPECTIVES IN [...] A high-level International Labor Organization (ILO) commission visited Colombia November 25-28 to encourage progress on implementation on the June 2006 Tripartite Agreement (ref A). The commission released its report--which the local ILO report called positive--to the GOC, unions, and employe [...] | 2007-12-13 20:37:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ELAB KJUS PGOV PHUM PTER CO |
07BOGOTA8518 | ELN-GOC PEACE PROCESS REMAINS STALLED [...] (C) The GOC is trying to revive FARC-ELN peace talks, but a December meeting appears doubtful. Numerous contacts told us ELN leaders remain divided over whether to pursue peace talks with the GOC, and are looking to close ranks with the FARC. Former ELN member Leon Valencia told us senior ELN [...] | 2007-12-13 22:40:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL PTER PREF CU VZ CO |
07BOGOTA8534 | COLOMBIAN FLOWER INDUSTRY MAKES SOCIAL AS WELL AS [...] Colombia's flower industry contributes USD 1 billion to the economy and directly employs 100,000 workers, the majority of them female heads-of-households. The industry spends millions on social programs for its workers and has developed a certification program that has dramatically improved [...] | 2007-12-14 21:16:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | EAGR ECON ELAB ETRD SENV EAID CO |
07BOGOTA8545 | EMBASSY ANALYSIS OF HOSTAGE PROOF-OF-LIFE [...] (S) Colombian Security Forces captured three suspected Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) members in possession of proof-of-life (POL) for sixteen hostages, including U.S. citizen Defense Departments contractors Tom Howes, Keith Stansell, and Marc Gonsalves on November 29, 2007 (re [...] | 2007-12-17 14:16:00 | Embassy Bogota | SECRET//NOFORN | PGOV PTER PREL PREF PHUM VZ FR CO |
07BOGOTA8563 | INDIGENOUS MASS DISPLACEMENT NEAR TUMACO, NARINO - [...] Since mid-September, the GOC, local officials, and several international groups have helped over 1000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from the Awa indigenous group in Inda Sabaleta, near Tumaco, Narino. The Awa were displaced by Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) incursions in [...] | 2007-12-17 21:41:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PREF PHUM CO |
07BOGOTA8574 | GOC SETS UP COMMISSION FOR ADVANCEMENT OF [...] On October 29, 2007, President Uribe issued a decree creating the Commission for the Advancement of Afro-Colombians which will identify barriers to Afro-Colombian socio-economic advancement and make recommendations on ways to overcome them. Vice President Santos will chair the commission, an [...] | 2007-12-18 17:46:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PTER PGOV PREL ECON SOCI CO |
07BOGOTA8585 | SUCCESSES AND CHALLENGES: HUMANITARIAN DEMINING IN [...] (U) A November 12-17 visit by PM/WRA program officer reviewed progress of USG-supported humanitarian mine action (HMA) projects and next steps. The GOC's recent restructuring of its civilian HMA management shows renewed commitment to demining issues, and receives high marks from international [...] | 2007-12-18 20:59:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PARM PHUM PREF CO |
07BOGOTA8592 | U.S.-COLOMBIA FLIGHTS TAKEOFF [...] SUMMARY: A new aviation agreement between the USG and the GOC unleashed a flood of interest by U.S. and Colombian carriers. The agreement should increase flights between the two countries by at least 50 percent. U.S. carriers with established flights to Colombia want to expand the number of [...] | 2007-12-19 16:23:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | EAIR ECON EINV CO |
07BOGOTA8618 | FARC ANNOUNCES PENDING RELEASE OF THREE [...] (C) SUMMARY: The GOC welcomed the December 18 announcement by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) that it would release three hostages - Clara Rojas, her son Emmanuel, and former Congresswomen Consuelo Gonzales de Perdomo - to Venezuelan President Chavez or "whomever he designat [...] | 2007-12-19 22:25:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PTER PREL PREF PHUM CU FR VZ CO |
07BOGOTA8640 | AMBASSADOR BROWNFIELD,S DECEMBER 13 VISIT TO [...] (SBU) Summary. The Ambassador visited Barranquilla, capital of Atlantico Department on December 13 for meetings with Governor Carlos Rodado, ranking regional military Commander Colonel Carlos Bueno, and public outreach audiences. Rodado expressed his support for the U.S.-Colombian Trade Pro [...] | 2007-12-21 21:20:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EAID PGOV MARR CO |
07BOGOTA8651 | COUNSELOR COHEN'S DECEMBER 20 MEETING WITH [...] (C) President Uribe told Counselor Eliot Cohen on December 20 of his growing concern over Venezuelan President Chavez and suggested that the USG and GOC hold "strategic consultations" on Venezuela. Uribe said the GOC's immediate priorities remain U.S. congressional approval of the Colombia T [...] | 2007-12-21 22:25:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINS PTER ECON CO VZ |
07BOGOTA8652 | CONTINUING PROBES IN PARA-POLITICAL SCANDAL [...] (U) The Supreme Court and the Prosecutor General's Office (Fiscalia)--with GOC support--continue to investigate politicians with alleged paramilitary ties. Former Senate President Luis Humberto Gomez Gallo was arrested on December 3, bringing the total number of congressmen in jail to eightee [...] | 2007-12-21 22:35:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PREF PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA8657 | GOC ACCEPTS CHAVEZ PROPOSAL FOR "OPERATION [...] (C) On December 26, the GOC accepted a proposal from Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to send an international commission with representatives from France, Venezuela, Brazil, Ecuador, Bolvia, Argentina, and Cuba to Colombia to recover three FARC-held hostages. The commission would travel to a [...] | 2007-12-26 21:32:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL PTER PREF VE CO |
07BOGOTA8658 | BOGOTA AIR QUALITY AMONG WORST IN LATIN AMERICA [...] SUMMARY: Bogota's seven million plus inhabitants breathe some of the worst air in the region. Air quality falls below safe levels over 95 percent of the time. Low-quality fuel, poor driving practices, and urban deforestation are largely to blame. GOC officials expect an agreement to improv [...] | 2007-12-26 21:32:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON ELTN EPET SENV SOCI ENRG CO |
07BOGOTA8660 | URIBE ADMINISTRATION SUPPORTS EXTRADITIONS AT [...] (SBU) The GOC processed a record number of 164 extraditions in 2007, surpassing the previous record of 134 set in 2005. Under President Uribe, 581 defendants involved in crimes such as drug trafficking, extortion, money laundering and terrorism have been extradited to date to the United Sta [...] | 2007-12-26 21:34:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV PTER SNAR CO |
07BOGOTA8661 | NICARAGUA URGES FARC "BROTHER" TO RELEASE HOSTAGES [...] On December 7, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega called on his "beloved brother," Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) leader Manual Marulanda, to free Ingrid Betancourt, apparently in response to Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez' appeal for his involvement. Ortega added that "in the [...] | 2007-12-27 13:13:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PTER PREL PREF PHUM FR VZ CO NU |
07BOGOTA8662 | GOC MOVES TO EXPEDITE CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL OF [...] In response to concerns identified by the International Labor Organization (ILO),the GOC has introduced bills in Congress that would bring Colombia's laws closer to ILO standards. The proposed legislation would: transfer authority for declaring whether a strike is legal from the executive t [...] | 2007-12-27 13:32:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ELAB KJUS PGOV PHUM PTER CO |
07BOGOTA8692 | EMBASSY PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPONSORS CONFERENCE ON [...] Embassy Public Affairs sponsored the 12th Houston Series seminar with a focus on "Social Justice: Reducing Poverty, Building the Economy and Peace." 110 leaders and officials from the private sector, academia, government and NGOs participated in the three-day conference held in Cartagena fr [...] | 2007-12-28 20:17:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON PGOV ASEC KPAO OIIP CO |
07BOGOTA8694 | VENEZUELAN / ICRC HOSTAGE RECOVERY MISSION SET FOR [...] The Colombian Government announced on December 28 that it had authorized a VeQuelan-led, international delegation -- operating in conjunction with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) -- to recover three FARC-held hostages between 1700 EST December 27 and 1700 EST December 30 i [...] | 2007-12-28 21:32:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PREF PTER PHUM CASC VZ CO |
07BOGOTA8696 | BLUE LANTERN POST-SHIPMENT END-USE CHECK ON [...] In response to reftels A and B Econoff initiated efforts with MilGroup Army Officer to confirm the purchase by the Colombian Army (COLAR) of 28 power supply units from Israel. After receipt of reftel C, Econoff understood that the items referenced in reftel A had been incorporated into nine c [...] | 2007-12-31 13:11:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ETTC KOMC IS CO |
07BOGOTA8697 | COLOMBIA'S NATIONAL INDIGENOUS GROUPS CONGRESS [...] Summary: The National Organization for the Indigenous in Colombia (ONIC) held its Seventh Congress December 9-14, declaring unity among all indigenous groups in South America and calling for protection of indigenous communities and their way of life. Complaints ran high against private inves [...] | 2007-12-31 15:12:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PTER PGOV PREL ECON SOCI CO |
07BOGOTA870 | INL A/S PATTERSON MEETS WITH MINISTER OF INTERIOR [...] (C) In a January 30 meeting, INL A/S Anne Patterson asked Minister of Interior and Justice Carlos Holguin to continue expediting consultations with indigenous communities regarding aerial eradication in reserves. Holguin expressed frustration with the conflicting SIMCI and CNC numbers on hec [...] | 2007-02-07 20:44:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KJUS PGOV PINR PREL PTER CO SNAR |
07BOGOTA871 | INL A/S PATTERSON MEETS WITH REINTEGRATION CZAR [...] (C) In a February 1 meeting, Reintegration Commissioner Frank Pearl told INL A/S Anne Patterson of his efforts to increase the program's credibility in Colombia and with the international community. He noted the GOC pays 96 percent of the Reintegration Program's budget, while the internation [...] | 2007-02-07 20:48:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KJUS PGOV PINR PREL PTER CO |
07BOGOTA8722 | CONSERVATIVES MODERNIZE AND REBUILD LEADING UP TO [...] (C) The Conservative Party did well in the recent October local elections, reversing two decades of decline and significantly increasing the overall number of votes cast for the party and its candidates. The party maintains close ties with the Casa de Narino, but its leaders are focused on ef [...] | 2007-12-31 19:13:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PREF CO |
07BOGOTA8723 | FARC DELAYS HOSTAGE RECOVERY MISSION AS [...] The Venezuelan-led, international mission to recover three hostages -- Clara Rojas, her son Emmanuel, and Consuelo Gonzales de Perdomo -- held by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) remains on hold as the GOV awaits transfer point coordinates from the FARC (reftel). President Ur [...] | 2007-12-31 19:20:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PHUM PREL PTER PREF VZ CO |
07BOGOTA884 | UNION PENEYA: SECURITY PROMPTS MASS RETURN [...] In the rural hamlet of La Union Peneya, Caqueta Department, over 1,200 residents have returned to the town they abandoned in 2004 amid military-guerrilla combat. Most of the town's infrastructure is still standing, but the residents returned earlier than expected, before all social services h [...] | 2007-02-07 22:35:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PGOV PTER MARR CO PREF |
07BOGOTA900 | URIBE COMMITTED TO POVERTY REDUCTION BUT SUCCESS [...] Colombia's poverty rate of 49 percent -- which reaches almost 70 percent in rural areas -- exacerbates the urban-rural divide and feeds social conflict. President Uribe has boosted social spending, and improved economic growth and targeted social programs have cut poverty rates. Still, Uribe [...] | 2007-02-07 23:28:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PTER PGOV PREL ECON CO PHUM PREF |
07BOGOTA923 | VIOLENCE AGAINST HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS ON [...] (U) On January 31, unknown gunmen killed human rights activist Yolanda Izquierdo, who had been warning the GOC of death threats against her. The killing followed violence, threats, and arson against other groups involved with human rights, displaced persons, and paramilitary victims' rights o [...] | 2007-02-08 19:18:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KJUS CO |
08BOGOTA1 | MEDELLIN DREAMS OF SILICON VALLEY [...] SUMMARY. The Department of Antioquia, through its industrial hub Medellin, aspires to become the leading science and technology (S&T) development area of Colombia. The Medellin Mayor's Office has identified S&T as one of its four growth sectors and a priority for channeling public and private [...] | 2008-01-02 15:02:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON ETRD KCIS PGOV EINV CO |
08BOGOTA100 | GOC TRIES TO DEFINE RULES OF THE GAME FOR [...] Peace Commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo said on January 8 that the GOC would only accept future international "humanitarian missions" to free Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC)-held hostages if commission members agreed to three GOC conditions: respect the GOC, be discreet, and main [...] | 2008-01-09 11:46:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PINR PREF PREL PTER VZ CO |
08BOGOTA1001 | URIBE'S 84 PERCENT APPROVAL RATING SPURS [...] (U) A Gallup poll taken March 4-6, shows President Uribe with an all-time high 84 percent approval rating. Only 13 percent disapproved of his performance, the lowest figure since 2002. The poll was taken prior to the Rio Group meeting in Santo Domingo, and pollster Jorge Londono said the Rio [...] | 2008-03-14 16:06:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREF PREL PTER DR EC VZ CO |
08BOGOTA1014 | FARC MUTINY LEADS TO DEATH OF SECRETARIAT MEMBER [...] Summary: The murder of Ivan Rios by one of his own men on March 6 could encourage further FARC desertions. A decision on whether to prosecute Rojas for murdering his commander has yet to be made, but many GOC officials do not want the Prosecutor General to file charges. The GOC has decided to [...] | 2008-03-17 17:01:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PINR PTER CO |
08BOGOTA1017 | UPDATE ON LABOR-RELATED VIOLENCE, IMPUNITY, AND [...] Colombian labor confederations report eleven possible union homicides so far in 2008. The Social Protection Ministry (MSP) has confirmed ten of the cases. The Prosecutor General's (Fiscalia) labor sub-unit--which was only set up in November 2006--has resolved 40 of the 73 labor cases solved [...] | 2008-03-17 18:30:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PTER PGOV PREL ECON SOCI CO |
08BOGOTA1053 | UNHCHR ANNUAL HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT CITE PROGRESS, [...] Summary: The United Nations High Commissioner for High Rights in Colombia's (UNHCHR) 2007 report on Colombia,s human rights situation cites progress, while recognizing that challenges remain. The report highlights human rights violations stemming from Colombia's armed conflict, including F [...] | 2008-03-18 14:07:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PGOV KJUS CO |
08BOGOTA1056 | QUARTERLY HUMAN RIGHTS CONSULTATIONS FOCUS ON [...] Summary: At the suggestion of the Colombian Commission of Jurists, Post's quarterly consultations with human rights groups focused on alleged extrajudicial executions (EJEs) by security forces. Citing a report released last October by a coalition of human rights groups, the participants said [...] | 2008-03-18 16:08:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PGOV KJUS CO |
08BOGOTA1059 | FARC-ELN ABUSES CREATE HUMANITARIAN NEED IN ARAUCA [...] In the first weeks of 2008, fighting between the FARC and ELN led to the displacement of over 4000 people in Arauca department. The FARC is trying to wrest oil-rich areas from the ELN, using selective assassinations and displacement. Meanwhile, the ELN pressured fleeing residents to stay. Int [...] | 2008-03-18 20:07:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PREF PHUM CO |
08BOGOTA1072 | SUPREME COURT REOPENS 1987 MURDER CASE AGAINST [...] Summary: On March 6, the Supreme Court ordered the reopening of the investigation of a retired general and two officers for the 1987 massacre of 19 businessmen in Magdalena. New testimony from demobilized paramilitaries in the Justice and Peace process, as well as a ruling by the Inter-Ameri [...] | 2008-03-19 13:01:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PGOV KJUS CO |
08BOGOTA1092 | BLUE LANTERN POST-SHIPMENT CHECK ON LICENSES [...] In response to reftel Econoff initiated efforts with MilGroup Army Officer to confirm the purchase by the Colombian Military (COLMIL) of 111 compressor-turbine stators with the part number 3056531CL07 ("stators") from two U.S. vendors. Per reftel, the stators are parts for the PT6A-68C engin [...] | 2008-03-19 21:27:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ETTC KOMC NL CO |
08BOGOTA1094 | LEAK IN PARA-POLITICAL INVESTIGATION LEADS TO ONE [...] (U) On March 19, Prosecutor General Mario Iguaran accepted the resignation of Martha Luz Hurtado, a prosecutor before the Supreme Court working on investigations related to the ongoing para-political scandal, after a suspected leak of information. The Prosecutor Generals Office (Fiscalia) ack [...] | 2008-03-19 21:42:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KJUS PGOV PREL PTER CO |
08BOGOTA1095 | AMBASSADOR BROWNFIELD'S MARCH 18 MEETING WITH [...] (U) The Ambassador emphasized the important role human rights workers in a democratic society to Gloria Florez, the Executive Director of the Association for Alternative Social Policy (MINGA) in a March 18 meeting. MINGA officials expressed appreciation for the Ambassador's visit to demonstr [...] | 2008-03-19 22:05:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PGOV KJUS CO ELAB |
08BOGOTA1127 | COLOMBIAN COAL SECTOR BOOMING IN THE FACE OF [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. Despite already ranking as the world's fifth largest coal exporter, Colombia's coal sector looks to increase production nearly 65 percent over the next three years. Rich coal deposits in Guajira and Cesar Departments as well as attractive prospects for developing nearby natural [...] | 2008-03-26 18:02:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ENRG EPET EINV ECON SENV CO |
08BOGOTA1136 | NEW CRIMINAL GROUPS AND POLICE EFFORTS TO COMBAT [...] (C) The OAS Mission for Support of the Peace Process (MAPP/0AS) and local media highlight the growing threat to local governance posed by new narcotrafficking and extortion groups. The new criminal groups lack the popular and political acceptance that facilitated the expansion of United Self- [...] | 2008-03-27 17:58:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR CO |
08BOGOTA1144 | GOC SEIZES "UNENRICHED" URANIUM FROM FARC [...] (U) On March 26, the GOC confirmed that it had seized from the FARC approximately 30 kilograms of uranium "empobrecido" (unenriched or depleted) -- low in radioactivity, safe to handle with special equipment, and similar to material used in medical equipment, armoring material or counterweights [...] | 2008-03-27 22:06:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PTER PGOV PINR PARM CO |
08BOGOTA1145 | (C) COLOMBIA'S STRATEGY TO EXPLOIT INFO FROM FARC [...] (C) Defense Minister Santos and Vice Minister of Defense (VMOD) Jaramillo told the Ambassador the GOC plans to selectively leak information from FARC computers connecting Presidents Chavez and Correa and their Governments to the FARC over the next 4-6 weeks, as INTERPOL completes its verificat [...] | 2008-03-27 22:45:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PREF PREL PHUM MOPS VZ EC CO |
08BOGOTA1165 | STATUS OF COLOMBIAN VOLUNTARY PLEDGE FOR WIREC 2008 [...] No summary [...] | 2008-03-28 21:01:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | SENV ENRG TRGY KGHG KPAO KSCA CO |
08BOGOTA1167 | PLAN COLOMBIA: NATIONALIZATION OF FMF/DOD FUNDING [...] In keeping with expected cuts in U.S. military assistance, post has drafted a nationalization plan that steadily transfers current USG funded programs to the GOC. The strategy identifies eight funding priorities aimed at 1) achieving the "irreversibility" of Colombian military momentum agains [...] | 2008-03-28 21:13:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PGOV PTER MARR CO |
08BOGOTA1178 | URIBE OFFERS THE FARC NEW HOSTAGE EXCHANGE PROPOSAL [...] (C) The GOC offered on March 27, to release an unspecified number of prisoners requested by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC),even those accused of serious crimes, if the FARC released its hostages--starting with Ingrid Betancourt. Reports that Betancourt remains gravely ill [...] | 2008-03-28 23:09:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PREF PREL PHUM CASC VZ CO |
08BOGOTA119 | AMBASSADOR BROWNFIELD'S DECEMBER 19 MEETING WITH [...] (C) Summary: Senate President Nancy Patricia Gutierrez told the Ambassador there is much support for the United States and the bilateral Free Trade Agreement in the Colombian Congress. She criticized opposition party members who attack the Uribe administration and the United States, but do n [...] | 2008-01-09 20:36:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KJUS PGOV PINR PREL PTER CO |
08BOGOTA1197 | AGUILAS NEGRAS AND THREATS AGAINST HUMAN RIGHTS [...] (C) The GOC decried the recent violence and threats reported by various human rights groups after the March 6 march against para and state violence, and met with them to discuss their security. The GOC said preliminary investigations show that in three of the four union murders, the motives [...] | 2008-03-31 22:58:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PTER PGOV PREL ECON SOCI CO |
08BOGOTA1199 | CORRECTED COPY: AGUILAS NEGRAS AND THREATS AGAINST [...] (C) The GOC decried the recent violence and threats reported by various human rights groups after the March 6 march against para and state violence, and met with them to discuss their security. The GOC said preliminary investigations show that in three of the four union murders, the motives w [...] | 2008-04-01 13:01:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PGOV PREL ECON SOCI CO |
08BOGOTA120 | COLOMBIA: DELIVERY OF WIREC INVITATION LETTER [...] This cable includes an action request for Department. Please see paragraph 3. 2. On January 9, post delivered ref A letter for Foreign Minister Araujo via diplomatic note with copy to Mines and Energy Minister Hernan Martinez and MFA Director of Multilateral Economic, Social and Environment [...] | 2008-01-09 21:01:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ENRG EAID EPET SENV SOCI TRGY CO |
08BOGOTA1205 | SCENESETTER FOR APRIL 4-6 VISIT OF USTR SCHWAB AND [...] (U) Fostered by targeted U.S. assistance, Colombia finds itself safer, economically stronger, better governed, and more democratic than it has been in decades. Rates of murder, kidnapping, and violence nationwide, particularly against union members, have fallen dramatically. Increased secur [...] | 2008-04-01 20:53:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD PREL ECON EFIN PGOV EAID CO |
08BOGOTA1223 | GOC OK'S FRENCH MEDICAL MISSION FOR INGRID--AWAITS \ [...] (C) President Uribe approved a request from French \ President Sarkozy to deploy a medical "humanitarian mission" \ to Colombia to save FARC hostage Ingrid Betancourt. Uribe \ did not provide details, but said the GOC would halt military \ operations once the French provided the coordinates for th [...] | 2008-04-02 21:05:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PREL PREF PHUM CASC MOPS FR CO |
08BOGOTA126 | A/S FARRAR'S VISIT TO CHOCO RAISES CONCERNS ON [...] On November 28, 2007, DRL Acting A/S Jonathan Farrar visited Quibdo, Choco to discuss Afro-Colombian land and social issues. Choco Governor Julio Ibarguen said weak infrastructure, poor nutrition, and underdevelopment foster violence and displacement in Choco, especially in Afro-Colombian com [...] | 2008-01-10 18:22:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PGOV KJUS CO SOCI |
08BOGOTA1266 | MACACO EXTRADITION EXPECTED SOON [...] (C) Vice Minister of Interior and Justice Carlos Reyes told us United Self Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) leader Carlos Mario Jimenez Naranjo, alias "Macaco," will soon be extradited to the United States. Jimenez will be the first high-level AUC leader and participant in the Justice and Pe [...] | 2008-04-04 20:16:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER SNAR PGOV CO |
08BOGOTA1267 | FRENCH HOSTAGE MISSION ON HOLD DUE TO FARC \ [...] (C) FARC spokesman Rodrigo Granda issued a statement on \ April 3 dashing hopes the FARC would release hostage Ingrid \ Betancourt. XXXXXXXXXXXX told us there \ was "no possibility" the French medical mission in Bogota \ would succeed in reaching Betancourt. He added that \ President Uribe had i [...] | 2008-04-04 22:06:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PREL PREF PHUM CASC FR SP CO |
08BOGOTA1281 | SANTOS DEFENDS REYES OPERATION IN CONGRESS [...] Summary: On April 2, Minister of Defense Juan Manuel Santos testified to the House Plenary Commission in Congress on the Raul Reyes' operation and relations with Ecuador following the attack. Santos, along with Foreign Minister Fernando Araujo, reviewed GOC efforts to work with the Ecuadori [...] | 2008-04-08 11:59:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PINR CO |
08BOGOTA1282 | NEW ARRESTS IN 2005 SAN JOSE DE APARTADO MASSACRE [...] On March 14, the Prosecutor General's Office (Fiscalia) ordered the capture of 15 members of the Velez Battalion of the Army's 17th Brigade in connection to the February 21, 2005 massacre of eight people, including three children, connected to the San Jose de Apartado peace community. Thirteen [...] | 2008-04-08 11:59:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PGOV KJUS CO |
08BOGOTA129 | ICRC RECOVERS FARC HOSTAGES CLARA ROJAS AND [...] (U) Summary. At 1100 EST on January 10, an International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) mission recovered FARC-held hostages Clara Rojas and Consuelo Gonzalez de Perdomo in a remote area approximately 120 miles southeast of San Jose de Guaviare. Two Venezuelan helicopters -- flying under IC [...] | 2008-01-10 18:45:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL PTER PREF VZ CO |
08BOGOTA1304 | NEW ARRESTS IN PARA-POLITICAL SCANDAL GENERATE [...] (U) Three additional members of Congress, including a former Senate president, were arrested for alleged ties to paramilitaries, bringing to 28 the total of members jailed in the scandal. Twenty-six others remain under investigation. Key members of the GOC coalition are among those detained. [...] | 2008-04-08 17:51:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PREF PTER PHUM CO |
08BOGOTA1311 | FARC REJECTS FRENCH HUMANITARIAN MISSION TO AID [...] (U) The FARC issued a communique, dated April 4, rejecting a French mission to provide urgent medical care to FARC-held hostages, including Ingrid Betancourt. The FARC communique accused President Uribe and the French Government of "bad faith," saying the group would not be blackmailed. The FA [...] | 2008-04-09 21:12:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PREL PREF MOPS CASC FR CO |
08BOGOTA1320 | USTR SCHWAB AND CODEL'S APRIL 6 MEETING WITH [...] No summary [...] | 2008-04-09 21:24:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ELAB ETRD KJUS OVIP PGOV PREL PTER CO |
08BOGOTA1369 | SUPREME COURT AND JUDICIAL COUNCIL DECISIONS [...] Summary: A week after the Supreme Court approved the extradition of former AUC leader Carlos Mario Jimenez Naranjo (aka "Macaco"),the High Judicial Council issued a temporary injunction blocking it in response to a motion filed by a victims group. The motion argued that Macaco should remain i [...] | 2008-04-11 22:36:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL CO SNAR PGOV |
08BOGOTA1373 | AMBASSADOR BROWNFIELD'S VISIT TO QUIBDS, CHOCS ON MARCH [...] (U) SUMMARY. The Ambassador traveled on March 28 to the predominately Afro-Colombian town of Quibds, Chocs to meet local military, political and economic figures, civil society leaders, and university students. Chocs is the department with the highest percentage of Afro popolulation in Colo [...] | 2008-04-14 13:44:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV EAID EAGR PTER PREL ECON SOCI CO |
08BOGOTA1376 | AMBASSADOR BROWNFIELD'S VISIT TO QUIBDS, CHOCS ON MARCH [...] (U) SUMMARY. The Ambassador traveled on March 28 to the predominately Afro-Colombian town of Quibds, Chocs to meet local military, political and economic figures, civil society leaders, and university students. Chocs is the department with the highest percentage of Afro popolulation in Colo [...] | 2008-04-14 14:47:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV EAID EAGR PTER PREL ECON SOCI CO |
08BOGOTA1389 | URIBE MEETS WITH ELN'S GALAN WITH HOPE OF REVIVING [...] (C) President Uribe met with ELN member Francisco Galan at the Narino Palace on April 3 to discuss options to revive the ELN peace process. Peace Commissioner Restrepo told us Uribe authorized Galan to meet with ELN leaders to try to resuscitate the peace process and reiterated GOC support for [...] | 2008-04-14 22:02:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PREL PREF MOPS CO |
08BOGOTA1391 | ARMED FORCES COMMANDER PADILLA ON FARC, HOSTAGES, [...] (S) Colombian Armed Forces Commander Padilla stressed to the Ambassador on April 4 that the GOC would do all it could to support the French humanitarian operation seeking Ingrid Betancourt's release, though he doubted its prospects for success. Padilla said GOC continued its efforts to locate all o [...] | 2008-04-14 22:58:00 | Embassy Bogota | SECRET | PGOV PINR CO |
08BOGOTA1411 | GOC TRIES TO MANAGE RELATIONS WITH ECUADOR [...] (C) GOC officials said the GOC wants to improve relations with Ecuador, but questioned whether the GOE is interested in doing so. Presidential Communications Director Jorge Eastman said President Uribe felt compelled to respond to Correa's April 11 comments calling the GOC operation against FA [...] | 2008-04-16 13:44:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PTER EC CO |
08BOGOTA1418 | POLO SENATOR PETRO ON CHAVEZ, AN URIBE THIRD TERM, [...] (C) Polo Party Senator Gustavo Petro speculated that Venezuelan President Chavez -- fearing what might be in the Raul Reyes' computers -- appears to be rethinking his involvement in humanitarian negotiations or unilateral liberation of FARC-held hostages. Petro claimed President Uribe will de [...] | 2008-04-16 18:01:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL PTER VZ CO |
08BOGOTA1427 | AFRO-COLOMBIAN REPORT FOCUSES ON DISPLACEMENT [...] AFRODES, an Afro-Colombian human rights group that focuses on displacement issues, released a report on April 4 focusing on exclusion of Afro-Colombians from GOC land development plans. AFRODES claimed the GOC has a "deliberate and planned strategy to drive the communities out of their ancestr [...] | 2008-04-16 22:36:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PGOV KJUS CO |
08BOGOTA1432 | GOC AND MAPP/OAS AGREE: EVIDENCE SHOWS NO AGUILAS [...] (U) Speculation over the presence of an Aguilas Negras group in Bogota continues following threats allegedly made by the group against human rights groups responsible for the March 6 march against paramilitaries and state violence (see reftel). The Human Rights Ombudsman (Defensoria) has issued [...] | 2008-04-17 15:46:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PGOV PINR CO |
08BOGOTA1441 | AMBASSADOR'S APRIL 2 VISIT TO CARTAGENA [...] The Ambassador visited Cartagena, capital of the Department of Bolivar, to attend a bilateral summit between the United States Coast Guard (USCG) and the Colombian Navy (COLNAV),meet with the Mayor of Cartagena And the Governor of the Department of Bolivar, and visit a Little league baseball [...] | 2008-04-17 22:07:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV ECON PREL ASEC EAGR ETRD EAID SOCI CO |
08BOGOTA1442 | AMBASSADOR'S APRIL 2 VISIT TO CARTAGENA [...] The Ambassador visited Cartagena, capital of the Department of Bolivar, to attend a bilateral summit between the United States Coast Guard (USCG) and the Colombian Navy (COLNAV),meet with the Mayor of Cartagena And the Governor of the Department of Bolivar, and visit a Little league baseball [...] | 2008-04-17 22:07:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV ECON PREL ASEC EAGR ETRD EAID SOCI CO |
08BOGOTA1443 | POLICE ARREST SEVEN MILITARY OFFICIALS TIED TO [...] (SBU) In two different operations on April 16, the Colombian National Police (CNP) arrested seven military personnel tied to two criminal groups in Cordoba and Antioquia Departments. The military detainees included Lieutenant Colonel Alvaro Zambrano, commander of the Junin Battalion of the 11 [...] | 2008-04-18 13:11:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR PGOV PINR PTER CO |
08BOGOTA1456 | WTO REMANUFACTURING DEMARCHE - COLOMBIA RESPONSE [...] No summary [...] | 2008-04-18 21:26:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON ETRD CO |
08BOGOTA146 | SCENESETTER FOR VISIT OF ADMIRAL MULLEN, CJCS [...] (U) Post welcomes the January 16-18 visit of Admiral Michael G. Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to Bogota. Your delegation will visit Colombia in the midst of a dramatic transformation, one in which U.S. assistance is playing a powerful role. The Colombia of 2008 is far safer, [...] | 2008-01-11 18:52:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PGOV PTER CO |
08BOGOTA1460 | GOC REACTS TO SURGE IN LABOR VIOLENCE [...] (U) The murder rate of unionists in the first quarter of the year has increased over 2007, with 19 reported cases to date. If the rate continues at this pace, the total in 2008 will be 76, an increase over the 39 reported in 2007. Some human rights groups link the surge in labor murders to [...] | 2008-04-21 12:12:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PTER PGOV PREL ECON SOCI CO |
08BOGOTA1467 | COLOMBIAN IMPLEMENTATION OF INTERNATIONAL HEALTH [...] In response to reftel Econoff contacted Victor Hugo Alvarez, Coordinator of Public Health for the Colombian Ministry of Social Protection (Ministry). Alvarez said the Colombian government is implementing the International Health Regulations (IHR). Alvarez also requested a copy of the U.S. I [...] | 2008-04-21 15:13:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON AORC PREL TBIO WHO CO |
08BOGOTA1473 | GOC ISSUES FARC DEMOBILIZATION DECREE FOR JUSTICE [...] On April 9, the Minister of Interior and Justice (MOIJ) announced a new decree that would allow 750 individually demobilized FARC to receive benefits under the Justice and Peace Law (JPL),similar to those received by demobilized paramilitary. Decree 1059 would put the jailed FARC into two c [...] | 2008-04-21 22:04:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | KJUS PGOV PREL PTER CO |
08BOGOTA1486 | WORLD HEALTH DAY ACTIVITIES IN COLOMBIA [...] In response to reftel Econoff contacted Luz Estella Mendez, Director of the Office of International Cooperation for the Colombian Ministry of Social Protection. Mendez said the Colombian government joined with the World Health Organization (WHO) to celebrate World Health Day in two important [...] | 2008-04-22 13:43:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON SENV UNGA WHO KGHG TBIO KPAO CO |
08BOGOTA1509 | NARCO INFIGHTING REEMERGES IN ANTIOQUIA AND CORDOBA [...] (C) Summary: The Uraba region of Antioquia Department as well as Cordoba Department--both of which contain major narcotrafficking routes--are suffering a serious outbreak of narco-related violence. A fight between rival narcotrafficking groups has reportedly left 400 dead since January, with [...] | 2008-04-23 17:14:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR PGOV PINR CO PTER |
08BOGOTA1517 | URIBE-SUPREME COURT TENSIONS RISE OVER [...] (C) Preliminary investigations by the Supreme Court of Senate President Nancy Patricia Gutierrez and U Party President Senator Carlos Garcia for alleged paramilitary ties led President Uribe to call on April 17 for "objectivity" in the Court. Uribe voiced "total support" for the judiciary, b [...] | 2008-04-23 21:03:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KJUS PHUM PREF PREL PTER CO |
08BOGOTA1535 | URIBE REBUTS QUESTIONABLE ARO MASSACRE TESTIMONY [...] President Alvaro Uribe told the media on April 23 that testimony by convicted criminal Francisco Villalba that Uribe was involved in the 1997 paramilitary El Aro massacre was not credible and invented to obtain judicial benefits. On October 22, 1997, 15 people in Ituango, Antioquia were massa [...] | 2008-04-24 19:45:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PREF PHUM PTER CO |
08BOGOTA1538 | COLOMBIA RESPONSE TO KOSOVO DEMARCHE [...] On April 22, DCM Nichols delivered all points in reftel to Foreign Minister Fernando Araujo, who said that the decision remains under review. Separately, Post delivered the demarche to MFA Director for U.S. and Canadian Affairs Patricia Cortes. We will continue to follow up with the GOC on [...] | 2008-04-24 20:25:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL UNMIK PGOV YI EU KV CO |
08BOGOTA1547 | COLOMBIA RECEIVES NPT U.S. PROPOSED PAPERS DEMARCHE [...] On April 25, Post delivered all points in reftel to Vice Minister for Multilateral Affairs Adriana Mejia-Hernandez and separately to MFA Director for U.S. and Canadian Affairs Patricia Cortes. Cortes thanked us for the information and stated the GOC would review the papers. We will continue [...] | 2008-04-25 22:00:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ENRG KNNP MNUC PARM PREL NPT IAEA |
08BOGOTA1555 | SCENESETTER FOR APRIL 30- MAY 2 VISIT OF CHIEF OF [...] (U) Fostered by targeted U.S. assistance, Colombia finds itself safer, economically stronger, better governed, and more democratic than it has been in decades. Rates of murder, kidnapping, and violence nationwide, particularly against union members, have fallen dramatically. Increased secur [...] | 2008-04-25 22:02:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PINR CO |
08BOGOTA1567 | FARC AND GOV LINKED TO CCB AND DESIGNS FOR [...] (U) Colombian media report that evidence found in the computers of FARC Secretariart Raul Reyes suggests that the Bolivarian Continental Coordinator (CCB),a regional grouping of leftist civil society, serves as a platform to spread FARC and Venezuelan violent, expansionist ideology throughou [...] | 2008-04-28 22:19:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PREL SNAR CO EC BL MX PE |
08BOGOTA1568 | PARA-POLITICAL SCANDAL COMPLICATES POLITICAL [...] No summary [...] | 2008-04-28 22:37:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PREF PTER PHUM CO |
08BOGOTA1569 | MACACO EXTRADITION DEBATE CONTINUES [...] (U) Supreme Court President Francisco Javier Ricaurte--citing an April 10 Supreme Court decision--stated in an interview on April 26 that victims have the right to hear the confessions of demobilized paramilitaries in the Justice and Peace Law process and receive reparations prior to their ex [...] | 2008-04-28 23:04:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PTER SNAR PREL CO |
08BOGOTA1570 | AFRO-COLOMBIAN COMMISSION TO BEGIN WORK ON MAY 21 [...] The GOC will announce the official launch of work by the Commission for Advancement of Afro-Colombians on Afro-Colombian Day, May 21. Commission Executive Director Oscar Gamboa said the launch was delayed due to the perception of some Afro-Colombian communities that they did not have adequate [...] | 2008-04-29 14:40:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PHUM PREL SOCI ECON CO |
08BOGOTA1571 | PRESIDENT URIBE SIGNS ADMINISTRATIVE REPARATIONS [...] President Uribe signed a decree April 22 to provide administrative reparations to victims of paramilitaries and FARC/ELN under the Justice and Peace Law (JPL) as well as housing benefits to 450,000 displaced families. To date, over 120,000 victims have registered under the JPL; victims who ha [...] | 2008-04-29 16:11:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | KJUS PGOV PHUM PREL PTER CO |
08BOGOTA1593 | ARRESTS IN URABA TACKLE FORMER PARAMILITARIES BUT [...] (C) The Colombian National Police (CNP) recently arrested a local Mayor--as well as a key businessman--for alleged paramilitary ties, but violence continues to plague the Uraba region in the northern part of Antioquia (reftel). Local San Jose de Apartado community leader Cesar Jaramillo fled U [...] | 2008-04-30 19:35:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KJUS CO |
08BOGOTA1596 | KEY NARCO-TRAFFICKER 'MELLIZO' KILLED IN POLICE [...] (U) Minister of Defense Juan Manuel Santos announced April 29 that Victor Manuel Mejia Munera (Sebastian),co-head of the Los Nevados drug cartel and a former United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) member, was killed in Antioquia during an operation by Colombia's judicial police (DIJIN) [...] | 2008-04-30 20:17:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | SNAR PTER CO |
08BOGOTA1611 | AMBASSADOR BROWNFIELD'S VISIT TO MEDELLIN, ANTIOQUIA ON [...] (U) SUMMARY. The Ambassador traveled on April 15 to Medellin to open a three-day workshop on protecting cultural patrimony from looting and illicit trafficking, pay an office call on the Mayor of Medellin, speak with Martin Luther King (MLK) Fellows at a Binational Center, address the status [...] | 2008-05-02 13:28:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV EAID PHUM EINV ETRD PTER PREL ECON SOCI CO |
08BOGOTA164 | GOC CAPTURES ELN COMMANDER "PABLITO" [...] (C) Colombian authorities captured Carlos Marin Guarin (aka "Pablito") a commander of the country's second largest terrorist group, the National Liberation Army (ELN),on January 7. Defense Minister Santos said Pablito was the key figure in the ELN's military structure, adding that his captur [...] | 2008-01-11 21:17:00 | Embassy Bogota | SECRET | PTER PREL PREF PHUM CO |
08BOGOTA1641 | COLOMBIA RECEIVES NPT TALKING POINTS [...] On April 30, Post delivered all points in reftel to Vice Minister for Multilateral Affairs Adriana Mejia-Hernandez and to MFA Director for U.S. and Canadian Affairs Patricia Cortes. Cortes said the GOC will consider all points and thanked us for the information. BROWNFIELD [...] | 2008-05-02 21:44:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ENRG KNNP MNUC PARM PREL NPT IAEA CO |
08BOGOTA1642 | POST DELIVERS GLOBAL INITIATIVE TO COMBAT NUCLEAR [...] On April 22, post delivered all points in reftel to Vice Minister for Multilateral Affairs Adriana Mejia-Hernandez and MFA Director for U.S. and Canadian Affairs Patricia Cortes, and reiterated Russian and Spanish joint interest in the issue. Cortes thanked us for the information and said the [...] | 2008-05-02 21:44:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PTER KGIC PARM PREL CO |
08BOGOTA1656 | THREATS TO PRIESTS IN SOUTHERN BOLIVAR [...] (U) Three Catholic priests and ten lay workers in Southern Bolivar said they were thV8=Q'yZth links to narcotraffickers Victor and Miguel Mejia (LosMellizos). The priests believe they were targeted due to their alternative development, human rights, and social organization programs which antago [...] | 2008-05-06 16:32:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PGOV PHUM PREL CO |
08BOGOTA1678 | DELIVERY OF SHRIMP/TURTLE CERTIFICATION INFORMATION [...] Econoff contacted the Colombian Ministry of External Relations (MRE) North America Desk Officer Sergio Suarez on May 7 in response to reftel. Econoff advised Suarez that on May 1, 2008 Colombia was certified under P.L. 101-162 and can export all categories of shrimp to the U.S. in the coming [...] | 2008-05-07 16:34:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | EFIS ETRD SENV CO |
08BOGOTA1679 | FAO/WHO CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION-U.S. [...] On May 6 FAS/Bogota delivered a letter with the talking points and bio of the U.S. candidate to the Colombian Ministry of External Relations (MRE). FAS/Bogota is translating this information into Spanish and will deliver English and unofficial Spanish translation to the members of the local [...] | 2008-05-07 16:35:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | EAGR CO |
08BOGOTA169 | COLOMBIAN CARMAKERS SMARTING FROM NEW VENEZUELA [...] SUMMARY: Venezuela's recently imposed vehicle import quota will hit Colombian assemblers particularly hard. Colombia's big three, who have been gearing up for increases in the Venezuelan market, will have their exports cut to less than one third of what they were in 2007. Citibank estimates [...] | 2008-01-11 22:43:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | EIND ETRD PREL ECON CO |
08BOGOTA1692 | COLOMBIA: DELIVERY OF WIPO ELECTIONS DEMARCHE [...] No summary [...] | 2008-05-07 22:23:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | AORC KIPR ETRD CO |
08BOGOTA1697 | ARREST OF COLONEL HERNAN MEJIA CONTINUES [...] Colonel Hernan Mejia, former commander of the La Popa Battalion, was arrested on May 6 on charges of criminal conspiracy for colluding with paramilitary leader Rodrigo Tovar Pupo (Jorge 40) and committing murder. Mejia surrendered to authorities and publicly denied the charges. The Prosecutor [...] | 2008-05-08 16:20:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PGOV PTER KJUS CO |
08BOGOTA1705 | EX-CONGRESSWOMAN ACCUSES GOC OF BRIBERY IN URIBE'S [...] (C) Former Representative Yidis Medina plead guilty to charges that the GOC bribed her to approve the constitutional change that allowed President Uribe's first reelection. She accused Social Protection Minister Palacio, Prosecutor General Iguaran, and former Interior Minister Pretelt of prov [...] | 2008-05-08 22:48:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PREF PTER PHUM CO |
08BOGOTA1708 | COLOMBIA TIGHTENS CAPITAL CONTROLS -- MORE HARM [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: One year after Colombia's Central Bank implemented controls on inflows of foreign capital in an attempt to stem the appreciation of the Colombian peso, the U.S. dollar has fallen a further 16 percent and reached a nine-year low against the peso due to external and domestic press [...] | 2008-05-09 16:10:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EFIN ECON ETRD PGOV CO |
08BOGOTA1713 | AMBASSADOR BROWNFIELD'S VISIT TO ARAUCA, APRIL 29, [...] (U) SUMMARY: The Ambassador traveled on April 29 to the oil-producing and historically conflict-plagued Department of Arauca (along the Venezuelan border) to meet with local political, security, and civil society representatives as well as to visit Occidental Petroleum's (Oxy) major production [...] | 2008-05-09 17:57:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EPET EAID PGOV PREL CO |
08BOGOTA1714 | GOC CLARIFIES PLAN TO USE RAUL REYES COMPUTER [...] (C) Defense Minister Santos told the Ambassador on May 5 that the GOC appreciated U.S. efforts to safeguard information in the Raul Reyes computers. He said V/MOD Jaramillio is managing the GOC strategy to release the Reyes data, and is privately briefing select governments on the files. Onc [...] | 2008-05-09 18:23:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PREF PTER PHUM CO |
08BOGOTA1715 | BRAZIL PUSHES SOUTH AMERICAN SECURITY COUNCIL [...] (C) Brazilian Defense Minister Nelson Jobim briefed Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos on April 28 on the GOB proposal to create a South American Security Council and pushed hard for the GOC to sign up. Santos told us the GOC fears the initiative may duplicate UN and OAS efforts, suspects Ve [...] | 2008-05-09 18:30:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR MOPS PTER PHUM BR CO |
08BOGOTA1716 | POST REITERATES PSI ENDORSEMENT REQUEST AND [...] On May 7, post delivered all points in reftel to Vice Minister for Multilateral Affairs Adriana Mejia-Hernandez and Acting MFA Director for U.S. and Canadian Affairs Claudia Cuevas. Cuevas thanked us for the information and said the GOC is still reviewing the request. Post will continue to f [...] | 2008-05-09 20:35:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | MNUC PARM PGOV PHSA PREL KNNP CO |
08BOGOTA172 | ICRC/WFP ASSESSMENT OF IDP CONDITIONS AND AID [...] The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) delegation and the World Food Program (WFP) mission released a study of the humanitarian response to internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Colombia. The two-year study, conducted in eight municipalities with the highest IDP populations, cite [...] | 2008-01-14 13:39:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PREF PREL ICRC CO |
08BOGOTA1722 | CONGRESSWOMAN GUILTY OF TAKING BRIBES IN 2004 [...] (U) The Supreme Court accepted former Congresswoman Yidis Medina's guilty plea on bribery charges related to her 2004 vote to change the Constitution to allow President Uribe's 2006 reelection. She faces a minimum of two years in prison. The Court also sent its case files to the Prosecutor Gen [...] | 2008-05-12 22:47:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PREF PTER PHUM PGOV CO |
08BOGOTA1764 | COLOMBIA EXTRADITES 14 EX-PARA LEADERS TO THE U.S. [...] (U) The GOC extradited 14 ex-paramilitary leaders, including Salvatore Mancuso, Diego Murillo, and Rodrigo Tovar Pupo, on May 13 to the United States to face narcotrafficking and money laundering charges. President Uribe said he extradited the fourteen due to due to their continued involvemen [...] | 2008-05-13 22:37:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KJUS PREL PREF PTER PHUM CO |
08BOGOTA177 | SCENESETTER FOR ONDCP DIRECTOR AND CONGRESSIONAL [...] (U) Post welcomes the January 18-20 visit of Office of National Drug Control Policy Director John P. Walters and accompanying CODEL. Your delegation will visit a Colombia in the midst of a dramatic transformation, one in which U.S. assistance is playing a powerful role. The Colombia of 2008 [...] | 2008-01-14 19:07:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PHUM SNAR MARR KCRM PTER EAID ETRD ECON |
08BOGOTA1789 | RECORD PRICES AND INVESTMENT PROPELLING COLOMBIAN [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Bolstered by external demand, domestic security gains, and pro-investment terms, Colombia's mining and hydrocarbon sector has experienced an unprecedented increase in investment and exploration activities. Petroleum production has reached a six-year high while coal and natural g [...] | 2008-05-15 16:22:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | EMIN EPET ENRG PGOV ECON CO |
08BOGOTA1797 | GOC DISMISSES CHAVEZ' COMMENTS ON US MILITARY BASE [...] (U) The GOC dismissed Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez' May 13 threats to challenge Colombian sovereignty over the La Guajira peninsula if the GOC agreed to a U.S. "military base" in the Department, which borders Venezuela. Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos told the press there was nothing t [...] | 2008-05-15 22:11:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR MARR MOPPS VZ CO |
08BOGOTA1838 | NAS MONTHLY REPORT FOR APRIL [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: In April the Government of Colombia (GOC) aerially eradicated 10,630 hectares of coca and manually eradicated another 1,607 hectares of coca and 48 hectares of poppy. The Colombian National Police (CNP) seized 7.46 metric tons of cocaine HCl and coca base, 11.50 metric tons of [...] | 2008-05-16 16:40:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR SENV KCRM PTER CO |
08BOGOTA1847 | GOC PLEASED WITH INTERPOL CONFIRMATION OF [...] (U) Interpol Secretary General Ronald Kenneth Noble said at a May 15 press conference in Bogota that Colombia did not tamper in any way with files on computers seized after the March 1 raid on Raul Reyes FARC camp in Ecuador. Noble said Interpol is "absolutely certain that the computer exhibit [...] | 2008-05-16 22:39:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER VZ CO |
08BOGOTA1858 | COLOMBIA: FOLLOW-UP ON WIPO DEMARCHE [...] No summary [...] | 2008-05-19 16:53:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | AORC KIPR PGOV CO |
08BOGOTA1889 | GOC "INTENDS" TO RECOGNIZE KOSOVO - BUT DITHERS [...] (C) The Ambassador called Foreign Minister Fernando Araujo on May 13 to urge that the GOC immediately recognize Kosovo. The Ambassador summarized points from the Secretary's letter (ref B) and told Araujo that the issue was important to the USG. The Ambassador noted that the GOC had spent a lo [...] | 2008-05-20 16:03:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNMIK PGOV YI EU KV CO |
08BOGOTA1895 | COLOMBIA CONFLICT UPDATE FOR JANUARY-MARCH 2008 [...] (S) During the first quarter of 2008, the Colombian military scored new successes against FARC leadership, killing two FARC Secretariat members - Raul Reyes and Ivan Rios. These successes, as well as the killing of two key FARC commanders in the last quarter of 2007, led to increased desertio [...] | 2008-05-20 20:02:00 | Embassy Bogota | SECRET | PGOV PINR MARR PTER VZ EC CO |
08BOGOTA190 | COLOMBIA REDUCES POVERTY THROUGH GROWTH COMBINED [...] SUMMARY. Economic growth and anti-poverty programs have lifted over 5.5 million Colombians out of poverty since 1999. "Families in Action," the GOC's conditional cash transfer program, substantially increased school attendance and children's health for 700,000 families in extreme poverty. T [...] | 2008-01-15 19:41:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | SOCI PGOV ECON CO |
08BOGOTA191 | COLOMBIANS REJECT CHAVEZ' PROPOSALS ON FARC AND [...] The GOC rejected President Chavez' January 10 statement urging that the FARC and ELN be removed from international lists of terrorist groups and receive "belligerent status" from the international community. President Uribe later said he would be willing to seek the FARC's removal from intern [...] | 2008-01-15 19:48:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PINR PREF PREL PTER VZ CO |
08BOGOTA1920 | UNHCR AND GOC AGRICULTURE MINISTER SIGN IDP LAND [...] The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) signed an agreement on April 7 with the GOC's Agriculture Ministry to implement joint projects to protect and restore land rights of internally displaced persons (IDPs). UNHCR believes the new accord complements previous agreements to a [...] | 2008-05-21 22:02:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PREF PHUM PREL CO |
08BOGOTA1921 | FARC DOCUMENTS INDICATE THAT ERADICATION FINANCIALLY HURTS [...] (U) SUMMARY: Documents recovered from the laptop computers of two recently killed Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC in Spanish) Secretariat members and subsequently released to the press indicate that coca eradication causes financial hardship for the organization. In essence, the [...] | 2008-05-22 11:42:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR SENV KCRM PTER CO |
08BOGOTA1925 | AIR BRIDGE DENIAL: APRIL 2008 PROGRAM UPDATE [...] (U) SUMMARY. This is the monthly Air Bridge Denial (ABD) activity report for April, 2008, as required by Reftel. The Government of Colombia (GOC) sorted 6,859 tracks during April. Four were Unknown, Assumed Suspect (UAS). Two other aircraft without a flight plan were visually identified in [...] | 2008-05-22 16:38:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR PREL MOPS MASS PGOV CO |
08BOGOTA1926 | COLOMBIA'S TRADE AGENDA - MOVING AHEAD WITHOUT US [...] (U) Summary. As theQ Washington continues over the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement (CTPA),Colombian trade negotiators are working non-stop to wrap up on-going negotiations with other partners and seek new market opening opportunities. Colombia expects to finish free trade negotiation [...] | 2008-05-22 20:40:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ETRD CO |
08BOGOTA1927 | GOC CONSIDERS ESTABLISHING SPECIAL COURTS FOR SUBSTANCE [...] (U) SUMMARY: Colombia is looking at new strategies in the war on drugs, including the creation of "drug courts" that would treat drug users as addicts in need of treatment rather than as criminals. There is no indication that this project has gone beyond the concept state at this point. END [...] | 2008-05-22 20:57:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | SNAR SENV KCRM PTER CO |
08BOGOTA1929 | FARC 47TH FRONT LEADER 'KARINA' DESERTS [...] (C) FARC 47th Front leader "Karina" voluntarily deserted on May 18 in Antioquia due to continuing military pressure on her unit. The GOC made no promises to Karina regarding her inclusion in the Justice and Peace Law (JPL) program, but a Defense Ministry official told us that it is likely she [...] | 2008-05-22 22:31:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KJUS PGOV PTER PINR MOPS CO |
08BOGOTA1946 | DIPLOMATIC CLEARANCE REQUEST FOR TROPICAL STORM [...] On May 16, Econoff initiated efforts with MilGroup Air Force South Air Operations and Coordination Cell (AAOCC) Office to request diplomatic overflight clearance for tropical storm and hurricane reconnaissance aircraft from the GOC in accordance with reftel. AAOCC made the request to the Col [...] | 2008-05-23 21:39:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PM ECON CO |
08BOGOTA1951 | PROSECUTOR GENERAL MAKES PROGRESS ON SAN JOSE DE [...] (U) On May 17, local media reported that Army Captain Guillermo Gordillo of the 17th Brigade had confessed to participating in the February 21, 2005 murder of eight civilians near San Jose de Apartado. Gordillo claimed that the Brigade's commander and other senior officers "must have known" a [...] | 2008-05-23 23:40:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KJUS CO |
08BOGOTA1952 | GOC CONCERNED ABOUT ILO CONFERENCE [...] (C) Ministry of Social Protecion (MSP) officials told us they fear Colombia will be listed as an individual country case for discussion by the Conference Committee on the Application of Standards at the International Labor Conference May 28-June 13 in Geneva. Colombian labor unions are lobbyi [...] | 2008-05-23 23:54:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PGOV PREL ECON SOCI CO |
08BOGOTA1954 | GOC BEGINS INVESTIGATIONS ON INDIVIDUALS WITH FARC [...] (C) The Prosecutor General (Fiscalia) announced it is investigating nine individuals, including a U.S. citizen and three other foreigners, for alleged ties to the FARC, and has also asked the Supreme Court to investigate three Colombian legislators. The investigations result from the Fiscalia [...] | 2008-05-27 19:27:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PGOV CO |
08BOGOTA1965 | AFRO-COLOMBIAN INITIATIVES ADVANCING BUT COMMUNITY [...] (U) Vice President Francisco Santos announced the official launch of the Commission for Advancement of Afro-Colombians on May 19. The Commission will identify barriers to Afro-Colombian socio-economic advancement and make recommendations on ways to overcome them. Tensions continue to exist b [...] | 2008-05-28 18:18:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PTER PGOV PREL ECON SOCI CO |
08BOGOTA1966 | COLOMBIAN CONSTITUTIONAL COURT AXES FORESTRY LAW [...] (U) SUMMARY: Colombia's Constitutional Court issued a decision overturning a controversial Forestry law for failing to adequately consult with "affected" Afro-Colombian and indigenous groups on the law's impact. While proponents claimed the law strengthened sustainable forest management, o [...] | 2008-05-28 18:18:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAGR SENV ECON PGOV CO |
08BOGOTA1988 | AIR MOBILITY KEY TO SUCCESS IN COLOMBIA [...] (U) SUMMARY: Colombia has transformed itself into a secure, prosperous democracy and an even closer U.S. ally with our help. Many factors contributed to this successful transformation, but one of the most important was the provision of air mobility to the Colombian security forces. Air mobili [...] | 2008-05-30 19:47:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | SNAR PGOV PREL MCAP EAID KCRM PTER SENV CO |
08BOGOTA2 | COLOMBIA'S 2008 MACROECONOMIC OUTLOOK-AIMING FOR A [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: As Colombia completes one of its best economic years in recent history with growth approaching seven percent, the outlook for 2008 foreshadows slower growth closer to the five percent average registered since 2003. Buoyed by an improving security situation, strong inflows of for [...] | 2008-01-02 16:50:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN EINV AADP CO |
08BOGOTA2013 | MAPP/OAS NOTES GOC PROGRESS IN COMBATING NEW [...] (C) The draft MAPP/OAS (OAS Mission in Support of the Peace Process) eleventh quarterly report cites recent GOC progress in combating emerging criminal groups, but notes that narcotrafficking profits enable these groups to adapt and recruit even under sustained military pressure. MAPP/OAS Chi [...] | 2008-06-02 14:03:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PGOV PHUM PREL CO |
08BOGOTA2024 | MARULANDA'S DEATH SPARKS SPECULATION ON FARC'S [...] (C) Most GOC officials and outside analysts believe the death of FARC founder Pedro Marin (Manuel Marulanda) will have little impact on the FARC's approach to a humanitarian hostage exchange or broader peace talks with the GOC. Peace Commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo called new FARC leader Guillerm [...] | 2008-06-03 19:21:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | CO PTER PGOV PREL SNAR |
08BOGOTA2034 | MAPP/OAS HIGHLIGHTS PROGRESS/CHALLENGES IN [...] (SBU) The MAPP/OAS (OAS Mission in Support of the Peace Process) eleventh draft report favorably evaluates the GOC reintegration program for demobilized paramilitaries as well as heightened GOC attention to victims, citing greater psychosocial assistance to the former paramilitaries, expansio [...] | 2008-06-03 23:25:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | CO PHUM PGOV KJUS PREL |
08BOGOTA2051 | COLOMBIA: NARCOTICS MAJORS LIST CERTIFICATION [...] (U) SUMMARY: Though Colombia remains a major producer and trafficker of illicit narcotics, the Government of Colombia (GOC) continues as an unwavering ally in the fight against both narcotics production and trafficking. Our core bilateral counternarcotics eradication and interdiction program [...] | 2008-06-06 13:21:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | SNAR SENV KCRM PTER CO |
08BOGOTA2052 | GOC TIGHTENS CAPITAL CONTROLS AS PESO HITS [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. For the second time in six weeks, the GOC has tightened capital controls in an attempt to stem the steady appreciation of the Colombian Peso against the U.S. dollar. The peso's rise (14 percent since January 1) has significantly strained the competitiveness of Colombian non-ene [...] | 2008-06-06 13:53:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN PGOV CO |
08BOGOTA2053 | GOC TIGHTENS CAPITAL CONTROLS AS PESO HITS [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. For the second time in six weeks, the GOC has tightened capital controls in an attempt to stem the steady appreciation of the Colombian Peso against the U.S. dollar. The peso's rise (14 percent since January 1) has significantly strained the competitiveness of Colombian non-ene [...] | 2008-06-06 14:09:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN PGOV CO |
08BOGOTA2054 | DEPUTY SECRETARY NEGROPONTE'S JUNE 1 MEETING WITH [...] (C) President Alvaro Uribe told Deputy Secretary Negroponte on June 1 that he appreciated President Bush's efforts to obtain congressional passage of the Colombian Trade Promotion Agreement (CTPA) at a bi-lateral meeting during the Organization of American States (OAS) General Assembly meetin [...] | 2008-06-06 14:42:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV PREL PTER EC CO |
08BOGOTA2057 | DEPUTY SECRETARY NEGROPONTE'S JUNE 2 MEETING WITH [...] (C) Deputy Secretary Negroponte met with Peruvian Foreign Minister Jose Garcia Belaunde on June 2. Belaunde said the GOP is in the process of implementing the Peru Trade Promotion Agreement (PTPA),and requested a bilateral meeting for President Garcia with President Bush at the upcoming APEC [...] | 2008-06-06 15:07:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PGOV PREL ECON CI EC VE PE CO |
08BOGOTA2063 | DEPUTY SECRETARY NEGROPONTE'S JUNE 2 MEETING WITH [...] (C) Deputy Secretary Negroponte met with Panamanian Foreign Minister Samuel Lewis Navarro June 2. Both the Deputy and Navarro noted the U.S.-Panama relationship had "never been stronger." Navarro said the GOP lost its last helicopter in an accident, and requested expedited USG assistance to [...] | 2008-06-06 17:16:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PGOV PREL ECON PM EC CO |
08BOGOTA2064 | DEPUTY SECRETARY NEGROPONTE'S JUNE 2 MEETING WITH [...] (C) Summary: Deputy Secretary Negroponte met with Uruguayan FM Gonzalo Fernandez June 2. The Deputy and Fernandez noted a "growing bilateral relationship" between the USG and GOU, due in part to recent bilateral economic and science and technology agreements. Fernandez discussed Uruguayan at [...] | 2008-06-06 17:43:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PGOV PREL ECON SOCI EC UY CO |
08BOGOTA2068 | DEPUTY SECRETARY NEGROPONTE'S JUNE 2 MEETING WITH [...] (C) Deputy Secretary Negroponte met with Mexican Foreign Minister Patricia Espinosa Fernandez on June 2. Espinosa advocated OAS budget reform, underscoring the significant financial support the OAS receives from both the U.S. and Mexico. She voiced concern regarding the scheduled execution o [...] | 2008-06-06 19:26:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PGOV PREL ECON MX CO |
08BOGOTA2073 | BLUE LANTERN PRE-LICENSE END-USE CHECK ON [...] (SBU) In response to reftel, Econoff initiated efforts with MilGroup Officer to determine the circumstances surrounding the relationship between the Colombian Air Force (CAF) and Higher Source Aviation (HSA). On June 9, Econoff and MilGroup Officer met with Colonel Jaime Ivan Reyes Rincon, [...] | 2008-06-09 17:03:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETTC KOMC ECON CO |
08BOGOTA2074 | BLUE LANTERN POST-SHIPMENT CHECK ON LICENSE [...] In response to reftel, Econoff initiated efforts with MilGroup Officer to confirm the purchase by the Colombian Air Force (CAF) of 2 Wheel Assemblies, part number 3-1588. Post specifically sought to confirm the items incorporation into Super Tucano aircraft manufactured by Foreign Consignee [...] | 2008-06-09 18:14:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ETTC KOMC ECON CO |
08BOGOTA2075 | BLUE LANTERN POST-SHIPMENT END-USE CHECK ON [...] THIS IS AN ACTION REQUEST. SEE PARAGRAPH 5. 2. SUMMARY: In response to reftel, Econoff initiated efforts with MilGroup Officer to confirm the purchase by the Colombian Air Force (CAF) of 6 Mounting Brackets, part number 3E2652, and 1 Timer, part number 3E2311. However, Post was unable t [...] | 2008-06-09 18:22:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ETTC KOMC ECON CO |
08BOGOTA2089 | SENATOR PIEDAD CORDOBA'S COMMENTS INCREASINGLY [...] Liberal Party Senator Piedad Cordoba publicly praised the efforts of deceased FARC founder Pedro Marin in a June 3 public address and again in an exclusive interview published on June 8. Cordoba called the Uribe administration a "puppet government" and called the Ambassador a "reptile." She [...] | 2008-06-10 17:10:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PTER CO |
08BOGOTA209 | FOREIGN INVESTMENT CONTINUES TO BOOM IN COLOMBIA [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. According to preliminary figures Colombia attracted over USD 7.5 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2007 amid improvements in security, investment climate reforms and strong macroeconomic fundamentals. The total represents Colombia's second highest inflow of FDI in h [...] | 2008-01-16 16:43:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EINV ECON BEXP CO |
08BOGOTA2091 | SAN ANDRES: COLOMBIA'S CARIBBEAN PARADISE BANKS ON [...] SUMMARY: San Andres, Colombia's Caribbean island paradise, makes a living on tourists who come for the sun, sand, surf and shopping. The island hosts over a thousand visitors daily and looks to increase the number with increased domestic visibility, a new convention center, five-star hotel, [...] | 2008-06-10 18:53:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON SOCI EAIR EFIS EAGR PBTS SENV SNAR TINT |
08BOGOTA2097 | AIR BRIDGE DENIAL: MAY 2008 PROGRAM UPDATE [...] (U) SUMMARY. This is the monthly Air Bridge Denial (ABD) activity report for May, 2008, as required by Reftel. The Government of Colombia (GOC) sorted 6,543 tracks during April. Four were Unknown, Assumed Suspect (UAS). There were no Phase I/II/III events during the month. END SUMMARY. ----- [...] | 2008-06-10 20:58:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR PREL MOPS MASS PGOV CO |
08BOGOTA2105 | SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN'S REQUEST FOR EMBASSY ASSISTANCE FOR [...] (SBU) Summary and Action Request: Senator John McCain's Senate office informed Post on June 10, 2008 that the Senator intends to visit Cartagena, Colombia at GOC invitation from July 1-2, 2008. The office classifies the visit as a "campaign trip" not a CODEL. The Senator's office, dealing dire [...] | 2008-06-11 16:08:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | OVIP MCCAIN JOHN APER ASEC CO |
08BOGOTA2107 | COLOMBIA GLOBAL MARITIME PARTNERSHIPS DEMARCHE [...] On May 13 econoff delivered reftel non-paper to the Colombian Ministry of External Qs (MRE) North America Desk Officer Claudia Cuevas who agreed to distribute non-paper to appropriate GOC agencies. Econoff also contacted the Colombian Maritime Agency Director of International Affairs William [...] | 2008-06-11 16:54:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | EWWT EAID ECIN ECON EFIS MARR MASS MCAP CO |
08BOGOTA2120 | OY CANADA - COLOMBIA CLOSES FTA WITH CANADA [...] (U) SUMMARY: Colombia closed free trade negotiations with Canada on Saturday, June 7. Implementation before the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement (CTPA) could place some U.S. producers at a competitive disadvantage, most notably agricultural products, certain manufactured products, ser [...] | 2008-06-11 20:47:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD EFIN ECON CO CA |
08BOGOTA2145 | U.S. CANDIDATE FOR CHAIRPERSON FAO/WHO CODEX [...] In response to reftels B and C, FAS/Bogota delivered a letter with the talking points and bio of the U.S. candidate to members of the Colombian Committee on the Codex Alimentarius (CCC),including Ramon-Eduardo Madrinan, CCC Chairman, Javier Munuz, CCC member, and Blanca-Cristina Olarte, CCC [...] | 2008-06-13 18:04:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | EAGR ECON ETRD TBIO KPAO |
08BOGOTA2156 | COLOMBIA'S PACIFIC COAST: CAN THE PRIVATE SECTOR [...] (U) SUMMARY. Colombia's largely Afro-Colombian Pacific coast suffers from high unemployment, isolation and poverty. Poor infrastructure and lack of human capital hobble development. The coast's three most important cities, Buenaventura, Tumaco and Quibdo, generate the majority of its econo [...] | 2008-06-16 19:15:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON SOCI EFIS EAID EIND ELAB EWWT EAGR CO |
08BOGOTA2166 | AMBASSADOR'S JUNE 11 MEETING WITH HOSTAGES AND [...] (C) Free Country Foundation (Pais Libre) Executive Director Olga Lucia Golez Cardona told the Ambassador on June 11 her human rights group seeks more resources and support for kidnapped victims and their families. She voiced concern that the extradition of former United Self-Defense Forces of [...] | 2008-06-16 23:24:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PTER PREL PREF PHUM CASC FR CU CO VZ |
08BOGOTA2173 | BRIEF TRUCKERS' STRIKE OVER RISING COSTS RESOLVED [...] (U) SUMMARY: A 22-hour strike by 145,000 Colombian truckers ended June 16 after industry representatives reached agreement with President Uribe on credits for the sector to replace aging vehicles and revamp regulations on shipping fees and rules. Trucking representatives said they resorted to [...] | 2008-06-17 15:50:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON ELTN ENRG ELAB PGOV CO |
08BOGOTA2175 | GOC ADVANCES ON LABOR CONCERNS [...] (U) The GOC continues to make progress on labor concerns. The GOC announced plans to make special labor judge jobs permanent positions, and the Colombian National Police's (CNP) new "rewards program" for information on violence against unionists led to the capture of five perpetrators. The Fis [...] | 2008-06-17 16:36:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL ECON SOCI CO |
08BOGOTA2176 | COLOMBIA TO BOOST POWER WITH SIX NEW HYDROELECTRIC [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: The Colombian government has issued contracts for the private construction of six new hydroelectric dams that will add almost 3000 megawatts (MW) of electricity to the domestic network by 2018. The additional wattage represents a 22 percent increase in installed capacity and wi [...] | 2008-06-17 16:57:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ENRG ECON CO |
08BOGOTA2178 | URIBE THIRD TERM ISSUE DOMINATES REFORM EFFORT, [...] (C) Key presidential advisors told us President Uribe has not decided whether to seek a third term, but agreed he would have to make his intentions clear in the second half of 2008. Several GOC coalition and opposition leaders plan to run in 2010, including Cambio Radical leader German Vargas [...] | 2008-06-17 19:41:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PREF PTER PHUM CO |
08BOGOTA2179 | NAS MONTHLY REPORT FOR MAY [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: In May the Government of Colombia (GOC) aerially eradicated 9,540 hectares of coca and manually eradicated another 9,358 hectares of coca and 62 hectares of poppy. The Colombian National Police (CNP) seized 8.21 metric tons of cocaine HCl and coca base, sixteen metric tons of [...] | 2008-06-17 20:55:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR SENV KCRM PTER CO |
08BOGOTA2195 | COLOMBIA: MAKTOUM FOUNDATION ENTREPRENEURS [...] (SBU) Post has consulted internally in response to reftel and suggests current Barranquilla Mayor Alejandro Char Chalub and Colombian businessman and philanthropist Samuel Azout. 2. (SBU) Prior to his 2007 election as Mayor of Barranquilla (one of three major ports on Colombia's Caribbean Co [...] | 2008-06-18 19:54:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON PGOV PREL CO |
08BOGOTA2200 | AFRO-COLOMBIAN AND INDIGENOUS EARMARK - INITIAL PLAN FOR [...] (U) Summary. A congressional soft earmark was listed in FY08 legislation directing the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Colombia to implement economic development activities in Afro-Colombian and indigenous communities. After extensive consultations with the GOC, US [...] | 2008-06-19 16:36:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV EAID EAGR PTER SNAR CO |
08BOGOTA2214 | JUNE 2008 NATIONALIZATION UPDATE [...] (U) NAS Director and NAS Nationalization Coordinator met on June 17 MOD Special Projects Director Alejandro Gamboa. VMOD Pinzon was traveling to Afghanistan and provided guidance to Gamboa prior to departing. The discussion reviewed the status of various nationalization themes to include the U [...] | 2008-06-19 22:03:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | SNAR SENV KCRM PTER CO |
08BOGOTA2215 | AMBASSADOR'S VISIT TO BARRANQUILLA, JUNE 7, 2008 [...] (U) Ambassador visited Barranquilla, Atlantico Department, on June 7 to receive a major food donation funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and destined for the World Food Program (WFP). Barranquilla Mayor Alejandro Char, Atlantico Governor Eduardo Verano, a [...] | 2008-06-19 22:03:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM PREL SNAR KCOM KAID EC CO |
08BOGOTA2241 | GOC TO ENGAGE ON BOLIVIA SECURITY CONCERNS [...] (C) The Ambassador delivered all points in reftel on June 18 to Foreign Minister Fernando Araujo. The Ambassador told Araujo that the violent June 9 march--and the GOB's reaction--showed the need for the international community to remind the GOB of its international obligations. The Ambassa [...] | 2008-06-20 16:33:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | ASEC PREL KDEM BL CO |
08BOGOTA2261 | COLOMBIA: INFORMATION ON CHILD/FORCED LABOR IN THE [...] The following is information on forced labor and exploitative child labor in the production of goods in Colombia, as requested per reftel. Post obtained the information from Colombian government agencies, human rights groups, and the International Labor Organization (ILO) for use in preparing [...] | 2008-06-20 16:58:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON PGOV PREL SOCI CO |
08BOGOTA2264 | EMBASSY BOGOTA REPLY REGARDING THE AUC'S FTO [...] (U) Over 32,000 former United Self Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) paramilitaries have demobilized since 2002 and the elimination of its national command structure significantly reduced the group's terrorist activities. Still, a human rights group reports that AUC offshoots committed 358 vio [...] | 2008-06-20 20:11:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PGOV ASEC PREL KCRM KJUS CO |
08BOGOTA2266 | NO CLEAR SUSPECTS IN RECENT BOGOTA BOMBINGS [...] (C) SUMMARY: During the week of June 9-13, Bogota was hit by four explosions in different neighborhoods, causing property damage, injuries and one death. Initial reports indicated that the four explosions may have been the work of the FARC, but officials told us at least three of the bombings [...] | 2008-06-20 21:17:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR MARR PTER CO |
08BOGOTA229 | FOREIGN INVESTMENT CONTINUES TO BOOM IN COLOMBIA [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. According to preliminary figures Colombia attracted over USD 7.5 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2007 amid improvements in security, investment climate reforms and strong macroeconomic fundamentals. The total represents Colombia's second highest inflow of FDI in h [...] | 2008-01-16 20:48:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EINV ECON BEXP CO |
08BOGOTA2291 | UPDATE ON JIGUAMIANDO AND CURVARADO LAND DISPUTE [...] (U) Legal, bureaucratic, and security issues--exacerbated by resistance from local palm oil interests and divisions within the displaced communities--continue to delay the return of the displaced Jiguamiando and Curvarado communities to their land. Interior and Justice Vice Minister Isabel Ni [...] | 2008-06-24 21:49:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PGOV PREL ECON SOCI CO |
08BOGOTA2293 | FARC INTENTIONS ON HUMANITARIAN EXCHANGE REMAIN \ [...] (C) On June 21-22 the FARC released proof of life videos \ for two Colombian hostages, and the media reported renewed \ French contacts with the FARC Secretariat--a claim discounted \ by the French Embassy in Bogota. XXXXXXXXXXXX \ told us the GOC received a message from a reliable contact \ who c [...] | 2008-06-24 22:06:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PREF PTER PHUM CO |
08BOGOTA2295 | FARC DESERTIONS ON THE RISE; LEGAL HURDLES FOR [...] (C) The Ministry of Defense's $21 million budget for humanitarian aid, rewards, and public outreach continue to promote FARC desertions. FARC desertions hit a record 2480 in 2007, and 1278 have deserted through May 2008. Still, Colombia's constitutional prohibition against granting amnesty [...] | 2008-06-25 12:53:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KJUS CO PREL FR PTER MARR |
08BOGOTA2313 | GOC AND USG COMPLETE UH-1N LOAN AGREEMENT ON JUNE 19, [...] (U) The USG and GOC signed the Loan Agreement for 18 UH-1N helicopters for the Colombian Army Aviation Brigade on June 19, 2008. NAS Bogota has engaged with Colombian Army officials to coordinate the return of the previously grounded helicopters to flight status. All 18 helicopters are fully [...] | 2008-06-25 21:44:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | SNAR SENV KCRM MOPS PGOV PTER CO |
08BOGOTA2317 | COFAN INDIGENOUS GROUP DEMANDS CONSULTATIONS ON [...] (U) The Santa Rosa del Guamuez Cofan Indigenous community petitioned the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) to seek precautionary measures requiring the GOC to consult with them on plans to build a military base near their territory. The Santa Rosa representatives (who clash wi [...] | 2008-06-25 22:34:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PTER PGOV PREL ECON SOCI CO |
08BOGOTA2318 | COLOMBIA-ECUADOR RELATIONS: ONE STEP BACK [...] (C) President Alvaro Uribe, angry over critical statements from Presidents Rafael Correa and Daniel Ortega, announced on June 23 that the GOC would delay the previously agreed-on resumption of diplomatic relations with Ecuador. The GOE responded by suspending indefinitely the renewal of bilate [...] | 2008-06-25 23:17:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREF PREL PTER CO |
08BOGOTA2319 | MAPP/OAS IN VALLEDUPAR: PROGRESS BUT A WEAK [...] (U) During a June 19 visit to Valledupar organized by the MAPP/OAS (Organization of American States' Mission to Support the Peace Process),security forces and local officials described an improved security environment overall, but noted concerns over continued threats by the FARC and criminal [...] | 2008-06-26 13:25:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KJUS CO |
08BOGOTA2328 | AMBASSADOR'S VISIT TO META, JUNE 12, 2008 [...] SUMMARY: The Ambassador traveled on June 12 to the historically conflict-plagued Department of Meta to meet with local political, security, and civil society representatives and highlight USG efforts to assist the GOC in consolidating security gains made in territory previously occupied by th [...] | 2008-06-26 20:19:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM PREL SNAR KCOM KAID EC ECON EPET EAID |
08BOGOTA2331 | SUSTAINABLE PALM OIL PRODUCTION IN COLOMBIA [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Despite challenges, Colombia's palm industry continues to expand as a result of high palm oil prices, increasing security and biofuels demand. The GOC and private industry have publicly committed to developing the sector in a sustainable manner and initiated efforts to do so, i [...] | 2008-06-26 21:30:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ENRG SENV ECON CO |
08BOGOTA2373 | URIBE CALLS FOR NEW ELECTIONS AFTER COURT [...] (SBU) President Uribe addressed the nation at midnight on June 27, calling for the "repetition of the 2006 presidential elections." His speech was prompted by the Supreme Court's request--in its ruling sentencing former Congresswoman Yidis Medina to 47 months of house arrest for selling her vo [...] | 2008-06-27 23:16:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PREF PTER PHUM CO |
08BOGOTA2386 | HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP STUDY SHOWS DOWNWARD TREND IN [...] (C) A June 9 report released by the well-known Colombian think tank/human rights group Center for Research and Popular Education (CINEP) showed a marked fall in alleged extrajudicial killings in the latter part of 2007. CINEP director Mauricio Garcia Duran told us it is too early to determine [...] | 2008-07-01 21:49:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KJUS CO |
08BOGOTA2387 | POLO PARTY: FAR LEFT CONSOLIDATES POWER [...] (C) The opposition Polo Democratico Party is becoming increasingly dominated by the far-left, with Party moderates such as former Bogota May LuchoGarzon distancing themselves from the group. The Party's decision to fire moderate Secretary General Daniel Garcia Pena ahead of a critical Party C [...] | 2008-07-01 21:55:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PREF PTER PHUM CO |
08BOGOTA239 | GOC READY TO RETURN AFRO-COLOMBIAN LANDS IN CHOCO [...] SUMMARY: The GOC has resolved the legal issues surrounding the return of the Afro-Colombian communal territories of Curvarado and Jiguamiando to their rightful inhabitants. The GOC determined that the communities, displaced by paramilitaries in the mid-1990s, own 29,300 hectares of land occ [...] | 2008-01-17 20:54:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PTER PGOV SOCI ECON POL CO |
08BOGOTA2403 | COLOMBIAN MILITARY RESCUES AMERICAN HOSTAGES, [...] Minister of Defense Juan Manuel Santos announced on July 2 that the Colombian military had rescued American hostages Marc Gonsalves, Thomas Howes, and Keith Stansell, along with Ingrid Betancourt and eleven members of the Colombian security forces, from the FARC. Military intelligence rescue [...] | 2008-07-03 00:20:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PTER PREL PREF PHUM FR CO |
08BOGOTA2404 | COLOMBIAN MILITARY RESCUES AMERICAN HOSTAGES AND [...] Minister of Defense Juan Manuel Santos announced on July 2 that the Colombian military had rescued American hostages Marc Gonsalves, Thomas Howes, and Keith Stansell, along with Ingrid Betancourt and eleven members of the Colombian security forces, from the FARC. Military intelligence rescue [...] | 2008-07-03 00:34:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PTER PREL PREF PHUM FR CO |
08BOGOTA2406 | COLOMBIAN MILITARY RESCUES AMERICAN HOSTAGES, [...] Minister of Defense Juan Manuel Santos announced on July 2 that the Colombian military had rescued American hostages Marc Gonsalves, Thomas Howes, and Keith Stansell, along with Ingrid Betancourt and eleven members of the Colombian security forces, from the FARC. Military intelligence rescue [...] | 2008-07-03 11:28:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PTER PREL PREF PHUM CU FR VZ CO |
08BOGOTA2425 | COLOMBIA TOUTS HEROIC RESCUE SUCCESS OF HOSTAGES [...] President Uribe touted the successful July 2 military rescue mission of the three Americans, Ingrid Betancourt, and eleven members of the Colombia security forces. He called on the FARC to release the remaining hostages and seek peace. The operation - planned for months - incurred no casualtie [...] | 2008-07-03 23:08:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PTER PREL PREF PHUM FR CO SP |
08BOGOTA243 | GOC REACTS TO CHAVEZ "AGGRESSION TOWARDS COLOMBIA" [...] The GOC issued a formal communique on January 16 demanding that Venezuelan President Chavez "cease his aggression against Colombia." Foreign Minister Fernando Araujo, who was held hostage by the FARC for nearly six years, read the communique, which was prompted by Chavez' comments accusing th [...] | 2008-01-17 22:14:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PTER PINR PHUM PREL PREF CO VZ |
08BOGOTA2434 | PRISONERS OF CONSCIENCE PUBLIC AFFAIRS EVENT [...] No summary [...] | 2008-07-07 20:58:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PREL KDEM |
08BOGOTA244 | COLOMBIA MAKES MAJOR ADVANCES ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN [...] In 2007, Colombia made significant progress in implementing the Justice and Peace Law (JPL),exposing and punishing politicians tied to paramilitaries, and resolving longstanding human rights cases. Twenty-five paramilitary leaders remained in jail. JPL testimony helped clarify 3000 crimes, in [...] | 2008-01-17 22:29:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PGOV PREL PTER KJUS CO |
08BOGOTA2459 | TAMING THE DRAGON: COLOMBIA'S ECONOMIC [...] (C) SUMMARY: Historically focused on trade with the United States and economic integration with its Latin American neighbors, Colombia has only begun in the last decade to expand its trade relationship with giant Asian markets such as China. Colombia-China trade has grown briskly in the last [...] | 2008-07-09 19:01:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | ETRD ECON CO |
08BOGOTA2506 | GOC ANNOUNCES END OF MEDIATORS, SEEKS DIRECT \ [...] (C) Summary: On July 8, President Uribe formally \ notified the European Ambassadors that he was terminating \ European facilitation efforts with the FARC, emphasizing that \ the decision reflected GOC concerns with facilitators Jean \ Pierre Gontard and Noel Saez rather than \ government-to-gove [...] | 2008-07-11 22:33:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KJUS CO PTER PREL PREF FR SP SZ |
08BOGOTA2510 | AMBASSADOR BROWNFIELD'S JULY 7 MEETING WITH [...] (SBU) At a July 7 meeting with Association of Internally Displaced Afro-Colombians (AFRODES) President Geiler Romana, the Ambassador underscored U.S. support of Afro-Colombian communities through institution-building, human rights, and development programs. AFRODES said the GOC and internation [...] | 2008-07-14 13:07:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PTER PGOV PREL ECON SOCI CO |
08BOGOTA2535 | URIBE'S POPULARITY AT ALL TIME HIGH AS [...] (C) After the successful July 2 rescue of 15 hostages from the FARC, President Uribe's approval rating reached a record 85 percent. Seventy-four percent of Colombians approved of a third Uribe term. The Constitutional Court rejected the Supreme Court's request that it review the legality of t [...] | 2008-07-14 17:47:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PREF PTER PHUM CO |
08BOGOTA2545 | NAS MONTHLY REPORT FOR JUNE [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: In June the Government of Colombia (GOC) aerially eradicated 17,953 hectares. The Colombian National Police (CNP) seized 28.3 metric tons of cocaine and coca base, 19.3 metric tons of marijuana, and 22 kilos of heroin. They also captured 26 metric tons of precursor chemicals. [...] | 2008-07-14 19:56:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR SENV KCRM PTER CO |
08BOGOTA2558 | ECONOMIC WOES OVERTAKE SECURITY ATOP COLOMBIANS' [...] (U) SUMMARY. A plurality of Colombians now believe the economy is the number one problem the country faces, more so than security, according to a recent Gallup poll. While the data undoubtedly reflect the perception of an improved security situation (particularly in the wake of Operation Jaq [...] | 2008-07-14 22:17:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN EIND ETRD |
08BOGOTA2568 | ASSISTANT SECRETARY SHANNON'S JULY 7 MEETING WITH [...] (C) Assistant Secretary Shannon conveyed President Bush's gratitude to President Uribe for the Colombian military's successful rescue of the three U.S. and twelve Colombian hostages held by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). The operation reflects the transformation that has occurre [...] | 2008-07-15 20:29:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | EAID ECIN PGOV PREF PTER MARR SNAR KJUS CO |
08BOGOTA2578 | GOC REACHES OUT TO FARC, BUT WILL CONTINUE [...] (C) Peace Commissioner Restrepo told us the GOC has reached out to establish direct contact with the FARC, but does not feel any pressure to move quickly on a peace process. The GOC believes Cano is isolated from other Secretariat members, and will continue military efforts to kill or capture him. [...] | 2008-07-16 20:38:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PREF PTER PHUM CO |
08BOGOTA259 | FARC - WITH CHAVEZ GUIDANCE - CHANGES TACTICS BUT [...] (C) The FARC continues to push its historic goals--belligerent status, removal from international terrorism lists, and GOC acceptance of a demilitarized zone (despeje)--but seems to have adopted more flexible tactics. Abandoning its previous isolation, over a five-month period the FARC has re [...] | 2008-01-18 23:02:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL PTER PREF VZ CO |
08BOGOTA2597 | SCENESETTER: VISIT OF POLICY PLANNING DIRECTOR, [...] (U) Your visit comes as Colombia celebrates major victories in its fight against the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC),continued strong economic growth, and an expansion of democratic governance. Increased security has led to an economic boom that has reduced poverty by 20 perce [...] | 2008-07-17 22:54:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PGOV KJUS PREL CO |
08BOGOTA2598 | URIBE CONFIDANT JAIME BERMUDEZ SWORN IN AS NEW [...] (C) President Uribe named Jaime Bermudez Merizalde Foreign Minister on July 17, replacing Fernando Araujo. Bermudez, a close Uribe confidant and Colombia's ambassador to Argentina since September 2006, was President Uribe's communications director in the 2002 presidential campaign and througho [...] | 2008-07-17 23:29:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PREF PINR CO |
08BOGOTA260 | SCENESETTER FOR THE JANUARY 24-25 VISIT OF [...] (U) Your visit is well timed. Colombia is in the midst of a dramatic transformation, one in which U.S. assistance is playing a powerful role. The Colombia of 2008 is safer, economically stronger, better governed and more democratic than it has been in decades. Murder rates have declined over [...] | 2008-01-22 13:54:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PTER SNAR ETRD PHUM VZ CO |
08BOGOTA2623 | AIR BRIDGE DENIAL: JUNE 2008 PROGRAM UPDATE [...] (U) SUMMARY. This is the monthly Air Bridge Denial (ABD) activity report for June, 2008, as required by Reftel. The Government of Colombia (GOC) sorted 5,867 tracks during June. Three were Unknown, Assumed Suspect (UAS). There were no Phase I/II/III events with one Law Enforcement End game [...] | 2008-07-21 15:04:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR PREL MOPS MASS PGOV CO |
08BOGOTA2641 | COLOMBIA'S JUNGLAS -- ANTINARCOTICS POLICE WITH AN [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: While recent GOC success liberating the hostages has persuasively demonstrated the enormous operational strides made by Colombian Army intelligence forces, GOC Special Forces proficiency extends beyond the Colombian Army. The Narcotics Affairs Section (NAS) Bogota-supported eli [...] | 2008-07-23 12:02:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR PGOV PREL KCRM PTER MX EC AF CO |
08BOGOTA2647 | COLOMBIAN MARCHES HIGHLIGHT FARC'S ISOLATION, PUT [...] (C) Summary: The participation of millions of Colombians in anti-kidnapping and anti-FARC marches on July 20 showed the FARC's isolation and led to calls from across Colombia's political spectrum for the group to start peace talks with the GOC. In his remarks at the opening of Congress, Pres [...] | 2008-07-24 13:40:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PREF PTER PHUM CO |
08BOGOTA2649 | COLOMBIA ACKNOWLEDGES DESIGNATION OF ADDITIONAL [...] No summary [...] | 2008-07-24 15:52:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | KNNP EFIN PARM IR CO |
08BOGOTA267 | PRESIDENT URIBE'S NEXT STEPS ON HOSTAGE RELEASE [...] No summary [...] | 2008-01-22 20:44:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PTER PREL VZ VT FR SP SZ CO |
08BOGOTA2674 | COLOMBIA'S JUNGLAS -- ANTINARCOTICS POLICE WITH AN [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: While recent GOC success liberating the hostages has persuasively demonstrated the enormous operational strides made by Colombian Army intelligence forces, GOC Special Forces proficiency extends beyond the Colombian Army. The Narcotics Affairs Section (NAS) Bogota-supported eli [...] | 2008-07-24 21:04:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR PGOV PREL KCRM PTER MX EC AF CO |
08BOGOTA2702 | ARREST OF U PARTY LEADER PRESIDENT FOR [...] (U) Summary: The arrest of U Party President Carlos Garcia--leader of the largest party in the governing congressional coalition and a player in efforts to amend the constitution to allow for a possible third Uribe term--shows the strength of Colombia's democratic institutions as they investi [...] | 2008-07-28 20:45:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER CO |
08BOGOTA273 | INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL TURMOIL ROILS COLOMBIAN [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Amid recent turmoil in global markets and fears of a recession in the United States, the Colombian stock market suffered its fourth-worst drop ever on January 21. Despite regaining some ground on January 22, the market remains in negative territory for 2008 and concern has grow [...] | 2008-01-22 21:26:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN PGOV CO |
08BOGOTA2751 | COLOMBIAN FORCES HIT FARC 6TH AND 10TH FRONTS HARD [...] Summary: On July 21st and 26th, the Colombian National Police and Colombian Air Force, with assistance from the U.S. Government, executed two successful operations against the Armed Revolutionary Forces of Colombia (FARC) 6th Front in Cauca and the 10th Front in Arauca. The combined ground-air [...] | 2008-07-30 18:55:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL PTER CO |
08BOGOTA277 | VENEZUELAN CRACKDOWN ON SMUGGLING UNLIKELY TO HURT [...] (SBU) On January 21, Venezuela initiated a crackdown on the smuggling of subsidized food and gasoline into Colombia via the northeastern Colombian border town of Cucuta. Contacts tell us that so far the crackdown has had limited impact. Pedro Sayago, Executive Director of the local Chamber [...] | 2008-01-22 22:02:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD PREL ECON CO |
08BOGOTA2774 | THE STRUGGLE OF COLOMBIA'S INDIGENOUS TO PRESERVE [...] (U) Indigenous make up slightly more than 3% of Colombia's total population, but indigenous reserves (resguardos) account for over 30% of Colombia's national territory. Indigenous groups are relatively well-organized, and international conventions and Colombian law on consultations, political [...] | 2008-07-30 22:54:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PGOV PREL ECON SOCI CO |
08BOGOTA2782 | JULY HUMAN RIGHTS UPDATE: NATIONAL MURDER RATES [...] GOC statistics show 8030 homicides occurred nationwide from January to June, down from 8903 during the same period in 2007. Kidnappings fell from 281 during the first semester of 2007 to 242 during the same period in 2008. The National Unionist College reports 32 union members have been kille [...] | 2008-07-31 16:06:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL KJUS PGOV PHUM ELAB SMIG CO |
08BOGOTA2798 | SCENESETTER FOR AUGUST 7-9 VISIT OF ACTING DEPUTY [...] (SBU) Summary: Amid strong economic growth, pro-investment policies, improved security, and targeted U.S. assistance, Colombia finds itself safer, economically stronger, better governed, and more democratic than it has been in decades. Foreign direct investment and trade, led by the energy [...] | 2008-08-01 12:08:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ENRG PGOV PREL CO |
08BOGOTA2800 | SCENESETTER FOR VISIT OF DIRECTOR OF FOREIGN ASSISTANCE [...] (SBU) Summary: Fostered by targeted U.S. assistance, Colombia finds itself safer, economically stronger, better governed, and more democratic than it has been in decades. Rates of murder, kidnapping, and violence nationwide, particularly against union members, have fallen dramatically. Incre [...] | 2008-08-01 16:20:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAID PGOV EAGR PTER SNAR CO |
08BOGOTA2831 | COLOMBIA LOOKS AT DEVELOPING ILLICIT FINANCE [...] (SBU) In a July 25 speech to the VIII Panamerican Congress on the Prevention of Money Laundering and Terrorism Finance, Colombian Vice President Francisco Santos announced the GOC's intention to create an Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)-type sanctions list of Colombian nationals involve [...] | 2008-08-01 20:48:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PTER SNAR KCRM PGOV ECON EFIN ETTC CO |
08BOGOTA2855 | U.S.-COLOMBIA LAUNCHES STRATEGIC POLICY DIALOGUE [...] (C) Summary: On July 23, Dr. David F. Gordon, the State Department's Director of the Office of Policy Planning (S/P),led the first Policy Planning talks with the GOC. The talks were carried out under the March 2007 U.S.-Colombian strategic framework agreement. The meetings in Bogota with FM [...] | 2008-08-04 18:28:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KJUS CO PINS SOCI SNAR PTER ETRD |
08BOGOTA2891 | HIGH COURTS OPPOSE GOC JUDICIAL REFORM PROPOSAL [...] (C) Summary: The Supreme Court and other high court judges oppose a judicial reform package proposed by Justice and Interior Minister Fabio Valencia on July 29. The proposal would--among other reforms--apparently transfer authority to conduct criminal investigations of legislators from the S [...] | 2008-08-05 21:03:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KJUS PGOV PREL PTER CO |
08BOGOTA2892 | S/P DIRECTOR GORDON DISCUSSES COLOMBIA'S ECONOMIC [...] (SBU) Summary: Finance Minister Oscar Ivan Zuluaga told Director of Policy Planning Dr. David Gordon on July 23 that the long-term outlook for the Colombian economy remains strong despite turmoil in international markets, rising inflation, and appreciation of the peso. He pointed to energy, [...] | 2008-08-06 15:27:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PGOV KJUS CO ECIN ECON |
08BOGOTA2901 | EXTRADITION OF EVER VELOZA (HH) UNDER SCRUTINY FOR [...] (C) On July 31, the Supreme Court approved the extradition of former paramilitary leader Ever Veloza, but included qualifying language linking his extradition to fulfillment of his Justice and Peace Law (JPL) obligations. Veloza has so far acknowledged his complicity in over 3000 murders. Hu [...] | 2008-08-06 20:46:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KJUS PGOV PREL PTER CO |
08BOGOTA2902 | COLOMBIA INSTITUTES TUNA MORATORIUM; PLEDGES NEW [...] (U) On July 22 the Instituto Colombiano Agropecuario (ICA),Colombia's lead agency for fishing-related issues, published resolution 002557 creating a moratorium-period on tuna fishing from July 22 to December 31. Luisa Maldonado, the marine biologist who drafted the resolution, told Econoff [...] | 2008-08-06 21:30:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EFIS PHSA SENV CO |
08BOGOTA2918 | SLOWER COLOMBIAN ECONOMY IN 2008 AMID INFLATION [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: A slowing global economy, rising inflation and currency appreciation are now expected to drag Colombia's economy down from its average of over 7 percent in 2006-07 to less than 5 percent in 2008. Many business leaders and GOC officials including President Uribe blame the Central [...] | 2008-08-11 12:38:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN PGOV CO |
08BOGOTA2921 | NOAA RONALD H. BROWN MARINE RESEARCH CLEARANCE [...] On August 11, upon August 8 receipt of final version of supporting documents from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),Post delivered the Clearance Request for the NOAA Ronald H. Brown Research vessel and supporting materials to the Colombian Ministry of External Relati [...] | 2008-08-11 16:55:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | KRVC TPHY EWWT CI CO ECIN PE |
08BOGOTA2926 | COLOMBIAN UNIONS, IDEOLOGY, AND THE ARMED CONFLICT [...] (SBU) Labor advocacy groups complain that Colombia's three main confederations focus too much on politics, hindering efforts to improve wages and worker conditions. The confederations have made some progress in moving away from their traditional hard-left orientation, but continue to struggle [...] | 2008-08-11 22:26:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PGOV PREL ECON SOCI CO |
08BOGOTA2930 | CIVAIR COLOMBIA: RESPONSE TO SANCLEMENTE LETTER [...] (SBU) On August 12 Econoff met Fernando Sanclemente, Director of Colombia's Civil Aviation Authority and provided Sanclemente with a copy of the July 30 Robl letter and orally delivered talking points per reftel. Sanclemente said he would review the Robl letter to see if it could be the basis [...] | 2008-08-12 20:37:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAIR KTIA CO |
08BOGOTA2956 | POST DELIVERY OF DEFENSE MINISTERIAL OF THE [...] On August 11, post delivered reftel to MFA Director for U.S. and Canadian Affairs Patricia Cortes. Cortes told us the GOC has not made a final decision on participants, but will likely include Vice Minister of Defense Sergio Jaramillo, Armed Forces Commander General Freddy Padilla, and Direct [...] | 2008-08-13 21:34:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PTER KGIC PARM PREL CO |
08BOGOTA3003 | AIR BRIDGE DENIAL: JULY 2008 PROGRAM UPDATE [...] (U) SUMMARY. This is the monthly Air Bridge Denial (ABD) activity report for July, 2008, as required by Reftel. The Government of Colombia (GOC) sorted 7,268 tracks during July. Three were Unknown, Assumed Suspect (UAS). There were no Phase I/II/III events. There were three events in miss [...] | 2008-08-15 11:31:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR PREL MOPS MASS PGOV CO |
08BOGOTA3005 | COLOMBIA REVIEWS INTER-AMERICAN TROPICAL TUNA [...] (SBU) On August 14 EconCouns delivered demarche (ref B) concerning Colombia's obstreperous participation at the June meeting of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) to Maria Andrea Alban, Director of Economic, Social and Environmental Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). [...] | 2008-08-15 13:23:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | EFIS PHSA SENV CO |
08BOGOTA3006 | CONSTITUTIONAL COURT LIMITS DISCRETIONARY [...] (U) On August 11, the Constitutional Court announced a ruling limiting the Ministry of Defense's (MOD) discretional authority to dismiss police and military personnel without cause. In its ruling on the case of a career navy infantry officer fired after nine years of service, the court ordere [...] | 2008-08-15 16:56:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KJUS CO |
08BOGOTA3007 | NO END IN SIGHT TO URIBE-SUPREME COURT POWER [...] (C) President Uribe used a statement by Senator Nancy Patricia Gutierrez accusing Auxiliary Supreme Court Magistrate Ivan Velasquez of irregularities in his para-political investigations, to slam the Supreme Court for "judicialclientalism" and nepotism. Uribe urged Congress to proceed with ju [...] | 2008-08-15 17:21:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PREF PTER PHUM KJUS CO |
08BOGOTA3017 | COLOMBIA SHOWCASES POTENTIAL AS STRATEGIC ENERGY [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. Acting Deputy Secretary of Energy Jeffrey Kupfer led a DOE delegation to Cartagena, Colombia August 7-9, which met with a wide array of government and private sector leaders from across the energy sector. They told the delegation that Colombia's business climate was excellent a [...] | 2008-08-18 14:09:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ENRG ECON EPET EAGR PGOV ETRD CO |
08BOGOTA3018 | EXTRADITION OF EVER VELOZA (HH) POSTPONED [...] (U) On August 13, the Ministry of Interior and Justice announced it would postpone the extradition of former paramilitary Ever Veloza (aka HH) for at least six months to allow further testimony of his crimes under the Justice and Peace Law (JPL). Human rights groups and victims organizations [...] | 2008-08-18 14:44:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KJUS PGOV PREL PTER CO |
08BOGOTA3028 | GOC WANTS QUICK AGREEMENT IN PRINCIPAL ON DEFENSE [...] (C) SUMMARY. The Ambassador delivered draft text of the Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA) to the Acting Foreign Minister, Minister of Defense, and Armed Forces Commander on September 13-14. All agreed that a formal agreement was necessary, hoped to announce agreement in principle soon, and [...] | 2008-08-18 17:13:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR PREL SNAR MCAP PGOV CO |
08BOGOTA3031 | COLOMBIA CONFLICT UPDATE FOR APRIL - JUNE 2008 [...] (S) In the second quarter of 2008, FARC leader Manuel Maralunda ("Tirofijo") died, notorious FARC commander Nelly Avila Moreno ("Karina") deserted, and the military rescued three American hostages, Ingrid Betancourt and eleven others. These successes further demoralized the morale of FARC ran [...] | 2008-08-18 19:50:00 | Embassy Bogota | SECRET | PGOV PINR MARR PTER VZ EC NI CO |
08BOGOTA3070 | ARMY CAPTAIN IMPLICATES GENERAL FANDINO IN SAN [...] General Hector Fandino, former commander of the 17th Brigade, was implicated by jailed Captain Guillermo Gordillo in a cover-up of the February 2005 massacre of eight people, including three children, near San Jose de Apartado. Gordillo has pled guilty and asked for witness protection for hims [...] | 2008-08-19 21:33:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PGOV KJUS CO |
08BOGOTA3076 | STRENGTH OF THE COLOMBIAN PESO: HOW HEAVY IS THE [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. Since 2003, the Colombian peso has averaged about nine percent annual nominal appreciation against the dollar. The revaluation, a product of global economic pressures and Colombia's improved economic and security situation, has been more pronounced in the last two years and is [...] | 2008-08-19 22:33:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN ETRD CO |
08BOGOTA3077 | MEDELLIN GRAPPLES WITH POST-CONFLICT SECURITY [...] (C) Summary: A 17% rise in murders in Medellin--after five consecutive years of decline--has aroused fears that security may be deteriorating. Local officials blame the increase on infighting between narcotraffickers seeking to fill the vacuum left by the extradition of crime boss Diego Mu [...] | 2008-08-20 14:51:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KCRM PGOV PREL CO |
08BOGOTA3079 | NO PROGRESS IN GOC PEACE OVERTURES TO FARC AND ELN [...] (C) Peace Commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo told us the GOC continues efforts to contact FARC leader Alfonso Cano to start peace talks, but has made no progress. Restrepo's contact with the group communicated with lower-level FARC, but has not obtained a meeting with the FARC leader. Restrepo [...] | 2008-08-20 18:51:00 | Embassy Bogota | SECRET | PGOV PREL PREF PTER PHUM CO |
08BOGOTA3082 | GOC TO TAKE LARGER SHARE OF HIGH OIL REVENUES [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Amid sustained high oil prices and rising production (ref A),the GOC plans to increase its take in new hydrocarbon contracts from 30 percent up to a maximum 50 percent. GOC officials have told us that they will not retroactively implement the proposed changes to existing contr [...] | 2008-08-21 20:03:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EPET ENRG ECON EINV PGOV CO |
08BOGOTA3084 | EMBASSY RAISES HUMAN RIGHTS CONCERNS WITH SENIOR [...] (C) Summary: We recently raised specific human rights issues--including threats and violence against human rights defenders--with senior GOC officials. Colombian National Police (CNP) director Oscar Naranjo said the GOC has found that most threats against Bogota-based human rights groups we [...] | 2008-08-21 22:01:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KCRM PGOV PREL CO |
08BOGOTA3088 | BLUE LANTERN POST-SHIPMENT END-USE CHECK ON [...] In response to reftel Econoff initiated efforts with MilGroup Army Officer to confirm the purchase by the Colombian Army (COLAR) of 574 AN/PVS-14 Night Vision Devices ("NVDs") from U.S. vendor Nightline, Inc. of Miami Florida exported under license No. 050032015. 2. On August 22, Econoff [...] | 2008-08-22 21:00:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ETTC KOMC CO |
08BOGOTA3090 | DEMOBILIZED REINTEGRATION PROGRAM GETS MAKEOVER, [...] (SBU) The High Commissioner for Reintegration Office (ACR) has assisted 37,137 demobilized (29,776 collective and 7361 individual),but is revising its focus to respond to new challenges. ACR lifted its 18-24 month limit on program participation, and has conditioned receipt of benefits on par [...] | 2008-08-25 16:31:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KJUS PGOV PREL PTER CO |
08BOGOTA3093 | SCENESETTER FOR VISIT OF SENATOR HAGEL AND [...] (SBU) Summary: With U.S. support, Colombia finds itself safer, economically stronger, better governed, and more democratic than it has been in decades. Murders, kidnapping, and violence are down nationwide. Increased security has led to an economic boom that has reduced poverty by 20 percent [...] | 2008-08-25 18:59:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD PGOV PREL PTER SNAR CO |
08BOGOTA3094 | DRL A/S KRAMER VISIT FOCUSES ON HUMAN RIGHTS [...] (SBU) On August 20-21, DRL Assistant Secretary David Kramer visited Colombia to focus on human rights issues, extrajudicial killings, internally displaced persons (IDPs),and dialogue between civil society and the GOC. Prosecutor General Mario Iguaran and Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos [...] | 2008-08-25 19:30:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KJUS CO |
08BOGOTA310 | ONDCP DIRECTOR WALTERS AND U.S. REPRESENTATIVES' [...] (SBU) President Uribe told ONDCP Director Walters and five U.S. Congressmen in a 19 January meeting that his Democratic Security policy enjoyed bipartisan support, noting that its economic and social goals had predated the campaign for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Uribe said the GOC had increa [...] | 2008-01-24 23:20:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD PGOV PHUM PREL PTER VZ VT FR SP SZ CO |
08BOGOTA3133 | GOC DIALOGUE WITH MEDIO MAGDALENA COMMUNITY [...] (U) The GOC continues dialogue with human rights, civic and Catholic Church leaders in the Medio Magdalena region through the Inter-sectorial Commission for Life (CIV),a public forum created in 2003 to promote communications between the GOC and human rights groups in the highly polarized, vi [...] | 2008-08-26 12:54:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV PHUM PREL PTER SOCI CO |
08BOGOTA3134 | MEDIO MAGDALENA REGION REMAINS VIOLENT, BUT MAYOR [...] (SBU) Barrancabermeja's strategic position, natural resources, and tradition of civic activism have placed it at the center of Colombia's armed conflict. Barranca Mayor Carlos Contreras eschews traditional political clientism and corruption, and said his greatest challenge is breaking the ci [...] | 2008-08-26 14:28:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PGOV PREL ECON SOCI CO |
08BOGOTA3135 | COLOMBIA'S TRADITION OF CORPORATE SOCIAL [...] (U) SUMMARY: Colombia has a long tradition of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Philanthropic foundations and industry associations have, fueled in part by absences of state presence or resources as a result of civil conflict, provided social services and built infrastructure in areas [...] | 2008-08-26 16:07:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON SOCI CO |
08BOGOTA3146 | EUROPEANS BLAST COLOMBIAN INTER-AMERICAN TROPICAL [...] (C) Gonzalo Fournier, Political and Economic Counselor for the European Commission to Colombia (EC),told Econoff that the EC, Spain, and France collectively delivered a formal demarche to the GOC condemning Colombia's behavior at the June meeting of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commissi [...] | 2008-08-26 22:06:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIS PHSA SENV CO |
08BOGOTA3181 | AMBASSADOR'S VISIT TO CAUCA, JULY 30, 2008 [...] (U) SUMMARY: The Ambassador traveled on July 30 to the Department of Cauca to meet with local political, security, and civil society representatives, as well as to visit USAID sponsored sites in and around Popayan, Cauca. During his visit he emphasized the U.S.-Colombia partnership in matters [...] | 2008-08-27 23:23:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV EAID PHUM EINV ETRD PTER PREL ECON CO |
08BOGOTA3182 | MEDELLIN SCANDAL GENERATES POLITICAL FALLOUT [...] (C) Summary: The dismissal of Guillermo Valencia Cossio, former head of the Prosecutor General's Office (Fiscalia) in Medellin, for criminal ties also led to the resignations of former Medellin Colombian National Police (CNP) Commander Marco Pedreros and Medellin "South American Games" orga [...] | 2008-08-28 13:56:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KCRM PGOV PREL PTER PHUM SNAR CO |
08BOGOTA3193 | URIBE-SUPREME COURT TENSIONS ESCALATE [...] (C) President Uribe intensified his offensive against the Supreme Court the week of August 24 after the revelation that senior GOC officials met three times at the presidential place with emissaries of extradited former paramilitary leader Diego Murillo Bejarano (Don Berna). The two allegedly [...] | 2008-08-28 16:29:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM KJUS CO |
08BOGOTA3253 | COLOMBIA: SUPPORT FOR AVIAN INFLUENZA MINISTERIAL [...] No summary [...] | 2008-09-02 20:49:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | KFLU AORC TBIO EAGR EAID PREL |
08BOGOTA3277 | DRL A/S KRAMER VISIT FOCUSES ON HUMAN RIGHTS [...] (SBU) On August 20-21, DRL Assistant Secretary David Kramer visited Colombia to focus on human rights issues, extrajudicial killings, internally displaced persons (IDPs),and dialogue between civil society and the GOC. Prosecutor General Mario Iguaran and Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos [...] | 2008-09-03 20:05:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KJUS CO |
08BOGOTA3278 | SHOW OF RESILIENCE LIKELY BEHIND RECENT FARC [...] (C) Summary: Colombian officials accused the FARC of carrying out several deadly bombings in Cali, Bogota and in Antioquia province. These attacks were likely designed to demonstrate the terrorist group's continued resilience after a string of high profile, tactical GOC victories. President [...] | 2008-09-03 20:09:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PREF PTER PHUM CO |
08BOGOTA3279 | AUGUST HUMAN RIGHTS UPDATE: EXTRAJUDICIAL KILLINGS [...] (C) The UN High Commissioner on Human Rights (UNHCHR) office in Medellin praised the GOC's commitment to end extrajudicial killings, but said it remains a problem on the ground. The Defense Ministry committee set up to address such killings reported 112 alleged victims in 2007, but human rig [...] | 2008-09-03 20:15:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KJUS CO |
08BOGOTA3288 | COLOMBIA: MARINE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AUTHORIZATIONS [...] Embassy Bogota Maritime Scientific Research Authorizations Officer beginning October 17, 2008 through October 1, 2009 will be Megan Selmon (unclassified email: SelmonML@state.gov; tel: 011-571-383-2448). 2, Interim/alternate point of contact is Deputy Economic Counselor William Popp (unclas [...] | 2008-09-04 00:04:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | KRVC TPHY EWWT CO |
08BOGOTA3289 | COLOMBIA LOOSENS CAPITAL CONTROLS AS PESO FALLS [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Less than three months after tightening capital controls on portfolio investment (reftel),the Colombian Finance Ministry announced September 1 that it would eliminate deposit requirements on foreign capital inflows into Colombian stocks. The move represents the first loosening [...] | 2008-09-04 11:56:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN EINV PGOV CO |
08BOGOTA3304 | ICC PROSECUTOR MORENO'S VISIT TO COLOMBIA [...] (C) Luis Moreno Ocampo, chief prosecutor for the International Criminal Court (ICC),visited Colombia August 25-27 to review progress on the prosecution of those responsible for crimes against humanity. Moreno questioned whether the GOC's extradition of 15 former paramilitary leaders to the U [...] | 2008-09-04 20:11:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM KJUS CO |
08BOGOTA3315 | SECOND PALM OIL SPILL RAISES CONCERNS [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Two palm oil spills in the last four months on Colombia's northern coast have begun to raise concerns about industry procedures and the sector's safeguards. While the spills of the biodegradable material were limited in size and appear to have caused little environmental impact, [...] | 2008-09-05 14:15:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SENV ENRG ECON CO |
08BOGOTA3316 | LABOR VIOLENCE DATA ON MOTIVES REMAINS LIMITED AND [...] (C) Data on the motives behind unionist murders remains controversial and limited. The Prosecutor General's Office (Fiscalia) reports that the most common motive (35%) identified in the 100 unionist murders solved since 2001 was the victim's perceived affiliation with the FARC or ELN by par [...] | 2008-09-05 15:13:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PGOV PREL ECON SOCI CO |
08BOGOTA3338 | URIBE KEEPS THEM GUESSING ON POSSIBLE THIRD TERM [...] (C) President Uribe has not yet announced whether he will seek a Constitutional amendment that would allow a possible third Uribe term, but he repeated on September 3 that "it is not good to perpetuate yourself in power." Presidential Advisors Jose Obdulio Gaviria and Mario Eastman told us Uri [...] | 2008-09-05 21:33:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PREF PTER PHUM CO |
08BOGOTA3342 | COLOMBIA MAKES PROGRESS IN FIGHT AGAINST IMPUNITY [...] (U) The Prosecutor General's Office (Fiscalia) and Colombian National Police (CNP) recently made several high-profile arrests of military and police officials linked to human rights abuses and other crimes. The Fiscalia detained highly decorated, former Army General Rito Alejo del Rio after [...] | 2008-09-08 16:17:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KJUS CO |
08BOGOTA335 | UNHCR COACHES COLMIL IN PROTECTING CIVILIANS [...] The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is offering nationwide workshops with Colombian military and police to reinforce awareness of their duty to protect civilians and and avert displacement. The seminars present core principles of humanitarian law, followed by discussion [...] | 2008-01-28 16:47:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PTER PHUM MARR CO PREF |
08BOGOTA3350 | IS THE COST OF LIVING INCREASING IN COLOMBIA? [...] (U) SUMMARY. Inflation figures over the last 12 months indicate an acceleration of an already increasing cost of living in Colombia. Analysts expect the consumer price inflation to come in at double the target for 2008, and prices for producers have risen even faster. While a month-long dep [...] | 2008-09-08 22:23:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN CO |
08BOGOTA3352 | COLOMBIA GAINING ON UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE, BUT A [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Since the 1993 implementation of national health care coverage in Colombia, the GOC has tripled the number of Colombians with access to public health services. However, the expansion has come with fiscal, legal, bureaucratic costs that are expected to rise further with the recen [...] | 2008-09-09 12:03:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN TBIO PGOV CO |
08BOGOTA3359 | UNITED NATIONS WEIGHS IN ON URIBE-SUPREME COURT [...] (C) UN rapporteur for Judicial Independence Leandro Despouy used his participation in a judicial conference in Cartagena organized by Colombia's judiciary to voice concern over tensions between President Uribe and the Supreme Court. At the conference, Supreme Court President Ricaurte complained [...] | 2008-09-09 20:12:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM KJUS CO |
08BOGOTA337 | CJCS ADMIRAL MULLEN'S JANUARY 17 MEETING WITH [...] (S) President Uribe's overwhelming concern during a January 17 meeting with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) Admiral Michael Mullen, was Hugo Chavez' aggressive remarks and proposal to grant belligerent status to the FARC. Uribe insisted the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia [...] | 2008-01-28 17:05:00 | Embassy Bogota | SECRET | PREL PGOV PTER MARR MOPS VZ AR BH BR CI CS |
08BOGOTA3403 | GOC BRACES FOR INCREASED U.S.-BOLIVIAN TENSIONS [...] No summary [...] | 2008-09-12 11:42:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD PREL CO BL |
08BOGOTA3408 | COLOMBIA PLEASED WITH OFAC KINGPIN ACT [...] (C) Charge told Colombian Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos on September 11 that the USG will designate three current and former Venezuelan officials under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act for materially assisting the narcotics trafficking activities of the Revolutionary Armed F [...] | 2008-09-12 15:12:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KTFN PTER PINR EFIN SNAR PREL KCRM VE CO |
08BOGOTA3424 | GOC AGREES WITH GOPA COMMUNIQUE TEXT [...] No summary [...] | 2008-09-15 13:00:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ETRD UNGA CO |
08BOGOTA3433 | VISIT OF SENATOR CHUCK HAGEL TO BOGOTA AND [...] (C) Summary. Senator Chuck Hagel, Southcom Deputy Commander General Glen Spears and delegation visited Bogota and Cartagena from August 28-31, 2008. In Bogota, Senator Hagel, the Ambassador and delegation met with President Alvaro Uribe, who urged support for the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promoti [...] | 2008-09-15 19:14:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ETRD PTER ENRG SNAR MARR KJUS CO |
08BOGOTA3473 | HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP CONCERNED ABOUT ALLEGED MILITARY INTELLIGENCE REPORTS LINKING IT TO THE FARC AND ELN [...] No summary [...] | 2008-09-16 22:18:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | CO KJUS PHUM PREL PTER |
08BOGOTA3494 | CORDOBA AND SUCRE SHOW PROGRESS, THREATS POSED BY [...] (C) Local officials in Sucre noted improved security and less violence due to the paramilitary demobilization, but remain concerned about the threats posed by new criminal groups and narcotraffickers. Demobilized paramilitaries face high unemployment and recruitment pressure from new criminal [...] | 2008-09-17 21:40:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KJUS CO |
08BOGOTA3497 | AIR BRIDGE DENIAL: AUGUST 2008 PROGRAM UPDATE [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. This is the monthly Air Bridge Denial (ABD) activity report for August, 2008, as required by Reftel. The Government of Colombia (GOC) sorted 6,612 tracks during August. Four were Unknown, Assumed Suspect (UAS). There were no Phase I/II/III events. There was one event during [...] | 2008-09-17 22:23:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR PREL MOPS MASS PGOV CO |
08BOGOTA35 | COLOMBIA'S MINIMUM WAGE INCREASED 6.4% [...] SUMMARY: Effective January 1, 2008, nearly two million Colombian workers earning the national minimum wage will receive a 6.4 percent raise. President Uribe announced the increase after annual talks between labor unions and employers to set the new wage broke down. Although the wage increase [...] | 2008-01-03 17:42:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON EFIN ELAB PGOV CO |
08BOGOTA3502 | UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY THIRD COMMITTEE 2008 HUMAN [...] No summary [...] | 2008-09-18 20:53:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PTER PGOV PREL ECON SOCI CO |
08BOGOTA3506 | COLOMBIA'S DISPLACEMENT PARADOX [...] (U) Despite significant security, economic, and political gains in Colombia since 2002, new displacements continue at high levels. The GOC registered more than 321,000 new displacements in 2007, and nearly 160,000 have registered in the first seven months of 2008. International organizations [...] | 2008-09-18 23:31:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PHUM PREL CO |
08BOGOTA3514 | DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON U.S. AMBASSADORS IN BOLIVIA [...] (C) The Ambassador and Deputy Chief of Mission delivered points to President Uribe and Foreign Minister Jaime Bermudez on September 16, based on Ref C guidance. In response, Uribe voiced concerns about regional tensions, but considered the U.S. position logical. Per Bogota 3403, Charge d'Aff [...] | 2008-09-19 17:50:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KDEM CO BL |
08BOGOTA3521 | (C) GOC SEEKS TO "NORMALIZE" RELATIONS WITH [...] (C) Foreign Minister Bermudez announced that he would meet with Venezuelan Foreign Minister Maduro in mid-October to discuss trade and a full range of bilateral issues. Vice FM Reyes told us the GOC wants to use the meeting to "normalize" relations through existing bi-national forums to addres [...] | 2008-09-19 20:00:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PREF PTER PHUM CO VE EC |
08BOGOTA3535 | COLOMBIA SEEKS A SEAT AT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF [...] The Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) delivered a diplomatic note requesting USG support in seeking a seat on the Executive Committee of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). The MFA cites GOC support for the promotion of health, commitment to regional cooperation, and sustai [...] | 2008-09-22 19:07:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL SOCI CO |
08BOGOTA3537 | URIBE CONTINUES TO KEEP ALL OPTIONS OPEN ON [...] (C) President Uribe continues to keep all options open on a possible third presidential term. He urged Congress to shelve the proposal for a constitutional change to allow a third term after it was presented on September 10, but congressional leaders said Congress is legally required to consi [...] | 2008-09-22 19:25:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PREF PTER PHUM CO |
08BOGOTA3553 | INDIGENOUS LAND CONFLICTS IN NORTHERN CAUCA [...] (C) Over the last three years, indigenous land protests in northern Cauca have led to more than 30 clashes with security forces. The local Paez claim the GOC has failed to fulfill a 1995 agreement--signed after the 1991 massacre of 20 Paez--which committed the GOC to buy 15,663 hectares of l [...] | 2008-09-23 13:34:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER KGIC PARM PREL CO |
08BOGOTA3580 | QUARTERLY HUMAN RIGHTS CERTIFICATION CONSULTATION [...] Summary: Post's quarterly human rights consultations focused on new criminal groups and so-called paramilitary structures. Many participants asserted that the armed criminal groups which continue to operate in many areas represent a continuation of the former paramilitary blocks. Others cont [...] | 2008-09-23 22:58:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PGOV KJUS CO |
08BOGOTA3582 | GOC FACES CHALLENGES IN EXPANDING STATE PRESENCE [...] (C) The GOC's Center for Coordinated and Integrated Action (CCAI) is working to better coordinate security and civilian agency efforts to establish civilian state services in post-conflict areas, but is hampered by lack of sufficient staff and funding to fully manage its vast range of responsi [...] | 2008-09-24 12:59:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR CO |
08BOGOTA3583 | AMBASSADOR GROSS LAUNCHES NEW ERA IN BILATERAL [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. As part of a broader effort to expand economic relations with Colombia and complement the pending U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement (reftel),Ambassador David A. Gross, U.S. Coordinator for International Communications and Information Policy, launched a new bilateral dialo [...] | 2008-09-24 15:04:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECPS ECON EINV EAID PREL CO |
08BOGOTA3584 | FARC UNIVERSITY RECRUITMENT EFFORTS UNDER [...] (C) Summary: Colombian officials are investigating reports that the FARC is stepping up recruitment efforts at Colombian universities. The controversy was sparked by leftist Senator Piedad Cordoba's address to Bogota university students on September 4, in which she urged them to rise up agai [...] | 2008-09-24 15:39:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PREF PTER PHUM CO |
08BOGOTA3585 | BIOFUELS: US EXPERT URGES COLOMBIA TO LOOK TOWARD [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: With funding from the Bureau of Economic, Energy and Business Affairs (EEB),Embassy Bogota hosted the visit of Roundtable for Sustainable Biofuels Director Charlotte Opal September 3-5 to inform local biofuels producers and policymakers about the ongoing international dialogue [...] | 2008-09-24 16:06:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ENRG EAGR ECON PGOV CO |
08BOGOTA3588 | WEATHERING THE STORM: COLOMBIA'S EXPOSURE TO THE [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. Amid ongoing turmoil in U.S. and global financial markets, Colombia's financial sector appears at low susceptibility to a contagion and its macro-economic foundation significantly more stable than during the 1998 international financial crisis. Nevertheless, local experts predi [...] | 2008-09-25 16:06:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EFIN ECON PGOV CO |
08BOGOTA36 | BOGOTA PROPOSAL FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY OUTREACH FUNDS [...] SUMMARY: Embassy Bogota proposes an agbiotech outreach program in Colombia for 2008 focused on engaging executive branch officials, legislators, and agricultural industry representatives regarding policy and regulatory issues associated with agbiotech and its benefits as a tool in poverty r [...] | 2008-01-03 17:54:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | EAGR ECON ETRD TBIO KPAO PREL CO |
08BOGOTA3600 | COLOMBIAN-ECUADORIAN ANTINARCOTICS COOPERATION [...] No summary [...] | 2008-09-25 20:57:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL SNAR CO EC |
08BOGOTA3601 | CAUCA: FARC DIMINISHED, BUT RETAIN INFLUENCE IN [...] (C) The Colombian military is steadily pushing the FARC into Cauca department's northeast corner, reducing the group's influence. Still, the FARC retains a significant base within the Paez indigenous communities in northern Cauca, and GOC officials fear the communities are vulnerable to pene [...] | 2008-09-25 21:03:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PGOV PREL ECON SOCI CO |
08BOGOTA3603 | SCENESETTER FOR SEPT 30-OCT 1 VISIT OF U/S JAMES [...] (U) With U.S. assistance, Colombia finds itself safer, economically stronger, better governed, and more democratic than it has been in decades. Rates of murder, kidnapping, and violence nationwide have fallen sharply. The captures or kills of several leaders of the Revolutionary Armed Forces [...] | 2008-09-25 22:30:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL PTER PINR CO |
08BOGOTA3604 | TOUGH WEEK FOR THE BAD GUYS: COLOMBIAN POLICE FORCES [...] No summary [...] | 2008-09-25 22:45:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR PREL PGOV CO |
08BOGOTA3625 | UNHCHR INTERNAL REPORT ON EXTRAJUDICIAL KILLINGS [...] (C) The Prosecutor General's Office (Fiscalia) and the Defense Ministry (MOD) are investigating the deaths of 19 young men who disappeared from Soacha earlier this year and were later declared killed in combat by the military in northeast Colombia. Human rights groups said several of the dece [...] | 2008-09-29 22:58:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KJUS CO |
08BOGOTA3629 | SUGAR CANE WORKERS STRIKE FOR WAGES AND RIGHTS [...] (C) Over 10,000 sugar cane cutters (corteros) began a strike in Valle del Cauca on September 15, demanding that the sugar mills end their use of worker cooperatives and contractors. The corteros charged that the cooperatives undercut their wages and right to organize. The mill owners refuse [...] | 2008-09-30 18:15:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PGOV PREL ECON SOCI CO |
08BOGOTA3653 | SUPREME COURT RULES EX-MEMBERS OF CONGRESS REMAIN [...] (C) Colombia's Supreme Court opted on September 18 not to expand its powers to investigate members of Congress suspected of paramiliatary ties to include ex-legislators. Under current rules, the Court prosecutes and tries sitting senators and representatives; the Prosecutor General's Office (F [...] | 2008-10-02 17:30:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM KJUS CO |
08BOGOTA3686 | SPECIAL PROSECUTOR'S TEAM TO INVESTIGATE SOACHA [...] (S) Summary: Vice President Francisco Santos announced on September 30 the creation of a special Prosecutor General (Fiscalia) team to investigate the deaths of 19 men reported killed in combat by the Army only days after they went missing in Soacha. Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos also [...] | 2008-10-07 13:16:00 | Embassy Bogota | SECRET | PHUM PGOV KJUS CO |
08BOGOTA3699 | COLOMBIAN LIBERAL PARTY: "THE RATIONAL OPPOSITION" [...] (SBU) The Liberal Party remains Colombia's strongest political party, winning seven governorships and seven key mayoral seats in the 2007 local elections. Still, the Liberals continue to suffer a long-term decline in overall support, with only 14% of Colombians claiming Liberal affiliation-- [...] | 2008-10-08 20:00:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR CO |
08BOGOTA3705 | EU TO INITIATE TRADE TALKS WITH COLOMBIA AND PERU: [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. The EU has responded favorably to Colombia's and Peru's requests to move forward with trade negotiations outside of the framework of the Andean Community of Nations (CAN),with the goal of sealing a deal by the first semester of 2009. While the CAN provides a basis for greater [...] | 2008-10-08 21:49:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | ECIN ECON ETRD PREL EU CO |
08BOGOTA3710 | SCENESETTER FOR OCTOBER 14-16 VISIT TO COLOMBIA OF [...] (SBU) Your visit comes as Colombians watch with great interest the U.S. presidential campaign, and speculate on what the outcome of the campaign might mean for U.S.-Colombia relations--especially prospects for Congressional passage of the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Act (CTPA). As a bridge [...] | 2008-10-08 22:25:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PREF PHUM PTER ETRD SNAR CO |
08BOGOTA3715 | HUMAN RIGHTS AND INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW [...] (C) The USG co-hosted a two-day conference on international humanitarian law and international human rights law, as well as measures to promote the Colombian military's respect for human rights, with the Colombian Defense Ministry. The conference was attended by officials from the Prosecutor [...] | 2008-10-08 22:36:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PGOV PREL ECON SOCI CO |
08BOGOTA3718 | URIBE-SUPREME COURT FEUD SPAWNS FEARS OF [...] (U) The conflict between President Uribe and the Supreme Court spilled into the judiciary after the Superior Judicial Council (CSJ)--one of Colombia's four top courts--ordered the Supreme Court to delete all references to Social Protection Minister Diego Palacio from its ruling accepting the g [...] | 2008-10-09 20:07:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM KJUS CO |
08BOGOTA3724 | EXHUMATION OF SUCRE EXTRAJUDICIAL KILLING VICTIMS [...] (C) On October 5th, we accompanied UN High Commissioner on Human Rights (UNHCHR) Representative Javier Hernandez, Prosecutor General's Office (Fiscalia) Human Rights Unit director Sandra Castro, and MAPP/OAS regional officials to the exhumation and re-burial of 8 of the 11 youths from Sucre w [...] | 2008-10-09 20:16:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PGOV KJUS CO |
08BOGOTA3728 | GAINS OF POLICE REESTABLISHMENT PROGRAM JEOPARDIZED BY [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Since its inception six years ago, the Reestablishment of Police Presence in Conflictive Zones program has achieved impressive successes in restoring government control throughout rural Colombia. This program has also begun to play a major role in other high-priority missions, [...] | 2008-10-09 21:17:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR PREL PGOV CO |
08BOGOTA3729 | COLOMBIA LIFTS CAPITAL CONTROLS IN THE FACE OF [...] (SBU) SUMMARY On October 8, President Uribe announced the elimination of remaining capital controls on foreign investment, as part of a plan to ensure liquidity to Colombian markets in the face of the worsening global financial crisis. Uribe also outlined draft legislation that would offer [...] | 2008-10-09 21:44:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN EINV PGOV CO |
08BOGOTA3744 | EXHUMATION OF SUCRE EXTRAJUDICIAL KILLING VICTIMS [...] (C) On October 5th, we accompanied UN High Commissioner on Human Rights (UNHCHR) Representative Javier Hernandez, Prosecutor General's Office (Fiscalia) Human Rights Unit director Sandra Castro, and MAPP/OAS regional officials to the exhumation and re-burial of 8 of the 11 youths from Sucre w [...] | 2008-10-10 16:39:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KJUS CO |
08BOGOTA3747 | UNDERSECRETARY GLASSMAN'S OCTOBER 1 MEETING WITH PRESIDENT URIBE [...] (C) President Alvaro Uribe told Undersecretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs James Glassman on October 1 that he appreciated President Bush's efforts to obtain congressional passage of the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act (ATPDEA) but voiced concerns over the impact of the [...] | 2008-10-14 13:20:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV CO ECON PREL PTER EC BL VE ETRD |
08BOGOTA3759 | SEPTEMBER HUMAN RIGHTS UPDATE [...] The Prosecutor General's office (Fiscalia) voiced concern over attempts to kill and intimidate witnesses in the case against Colonel Hernan Mejia, and has taken actions to protect remaining witnesses. The Fiscalia ordered the arrest of three Colonels and a police Captain for their alleged in [...] | 2008-10-14 22:39:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PGOV KJUS CO |
08BOGOTA376 | WORLDWIDE MARCHES AGAINST THE FARC PLANNED FOR [...] (U) Summary: A non-partisan Colombian student group is organizing marches against kidnapping and the FARC in 148 cities around the world on February 4. The students are using the web-site Facebook to organize the events, and the initiative enjoys widespread popular support, Still, the oppos [...] | 2008-01-30 22:30:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PINR PHUM PTER CO |
08BOGOTA377 | COLOMBIAN MOD CODIFIES HUMAN RIGHTS POLICIES [...] The Ministry of Defense (MOD) released a comprehensive policy document outlining the Colombian military's Human Rights (HR) and International Humanitarian Law (IHL) doctrine. The policy stresses that prudent use of force earns the armed forces legitimacy with the public, conferring tactical [...] | 2008-01-31 11:50:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | MARR PHUM PREL PTER CO |
08BOGOTA3782 | EVER VELOZA (HH),OTHER FORMER PARA LEADERS [...] (U) On September 24-25, former AUC (United Self Defense Forces of Colombia) block commander Ever Veloza (aka "HH") continued his voluntary testimony (version libre) under the Justice and Peace Law (JPL). Veloza, who previously acknowledged his complicity in over 3000 murders and whose extradi [...] | 2008-10-15 22:59:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KJUS PGOV PREL PTER CO |
08BOGOTA3786 | COLOMBIAN TRADE OFFICIALS FRUSTRATED OVER [...] (C) SUMMARY. The October 17 ministerial that the GOC had hoped would smooth over testy Colombian/Venezuelan ties -- a follow-up to the July 11 Uribe-Chavez summit -- has devolved into a vague working lunch between foreign ministers at the BRV's insistence. On trade Colombia had sought to come [...] | 2008-10-16 15:52:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | ETRD ECON ECIN PREL CO VE |
08BOGOTA3794 | INDIGENOUS PROTESTS TURN VIOLENT [...] (U) Two days of protests by indigenous groups in Valle de Cauca and Cauca led to violent clashes between security forces and protesters, leaving at least 150 injured and one dead. The protests, organized by the National Organization of Indigenous in Colombia (ONIC),were prompted by indigenou [...] | 2008-10-17 14:28:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KJUS CO |
08BOGOTA3795 | NO MOVEMENT IN SIGHT ON PEACE TALKS WITH FARC AND [...] (C) Peace Commissioner Restrepo told us there will likely be no movement on peace talks with the FARC until the first half of 2009 at the earliest, adding that talks with the ELN also remain "highly doubtful." FARC leader Alfonso Cano is focused on consolidating internal control of the group, [...] | 2008-10-17 15:04:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PREF PTER PHUM CO |
08BOGOTA3824 | COLOMBIA: COMMENTS ON OPIC-SUPPORTED INVESTMENT [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: In addition to pursuing increased exploration and production in its traditional hydrocarbons sector in order to maintain its net energy exporter status beyond 2015, Colombia is also increasing renewable energy production through new hydroelectric plants, aggressive biofuel blend [...] | 2008-10-21 17:04:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | EINV ENRG SENV ECON OPIC CO |
08BOGOTA3826 | NOMINATION FOR IQBAL MASIH AWARD FOR ELIMINATION [...] Embassy Bogota would like to nominate the Cartagena Drivers Association (ASOCHOFECAR) for the Department of Labor's Iqbal Masih Award for the Elimination of Child Labor. Information requested in reftel is listed below. 2. Nomination information: a) Cartagena Drivers Association (ASOCHOF [...] | 2008-10-21 19:12:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ELAB EIND ETRD PHUM SOCI KTIP CO |
08BOGOTA3829 | CAUCA INDIGENOUS PROTESTS EXPANDING TO NATIONAL [...] (C) Summary: On October 20, the National Organization of Indigenous in Colombia (ONIC) announced plans for over 12,000 indigenous to participate in an eight day march from Popayan to Cali. The march follows a week of indigenous protests in Cauca over human rights and land. The indigenous say t [...] | 2008-10-21 20:35:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KJUS PTER PREL SOCI CO |
08BOGOTA3840 | PLAN COLOMBIA HELICOPTER PROGRAM IN-PROGRESS REVIEW [...] (U) The purpose of this message is to announce that INL/A and NAS Colombia will be co-hosting an in-progress review conference for the Plan Colombia Helicopter Program (PCHP) also known as the Colombian Army (COLAR) Aviation Program. The conference will be held at the Hilton Melbourne beach o [...] | 2008-10-21 22:02:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | SNAR AFIN SENV KCRM PTER CO |
08BOGOTA3848 | ECOPETROL TO EXPAND COOPERATION WITH PETROBRAS [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. Reinforcing its growing international focus, Colombia's state-owned hydrocarbons company Ecopetrol has agreed to increase cooperation with Brazil's parastatal Petrobras. The companies recently announced they will jointly cooperate in exploration in Colombia and Brazil, block of [...] | 2008-10-22 16:19:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ENRG EINV ECON PGOV CO |
08BOGOTA3855 | TRIP TO CURVARADO HIGHLIGHTS COMMUNITY DIVISIONS, [...] (C) The GOC effort to restore land--which has been illegally occupied by palm oil firms--to the displaced communities of Jiguamiando and Curvarado continues to move slowly due to community divisions and legal hurdles. Despite a military presence in the region, security is also a serious conc [...] | 2008-10-22 20:27:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PGOV PREL ECON SOCI CO |
08BOGOTA3856 | NARCOTRAFFICKERS BEHIND "AUTODEFENSAS GAITANISTAS" [...] (C) The recent appearance of pamphlets ordering work stoppages in Antioquia, Cordoba, Sucre, La Guajira, Cesar and Santander departments--allegedly from a group calling itself the Autodefensas Gaitanistas de Colombia (AGC)--has stirred popular concerns about a revival of paramilitarism. No re [...] | 2008-10-22 20:27:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KJUS CO |
08BOGOTA3887 | NAS MONTHLY REPORT FOR AUGUST [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: In August, the Government of Colombia (GOC) aerially eradicated 16,524 hectares; the Colombian National Police (CNP) seized 30 metric tons of cocaine and coca base, 17 metric tons of marijuana, and 74 kilograms (kgs) of heroin, and captured 1,973 metric tons of precursor chemic [...] | 2008-10-23 21:18:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR SENV KCRM PTER CO |
08BOGOTA3888 | DAS DIRECTOR RESIGNS OVER OPPOSITION SPYING SCANDAL [...] (C) Maria del Pilar Hurtado, director of Colombia's Administrative Department of Security (DAS),resigned on October 22 after opposition Senator Gustavo Petro publicly revealed internal DAS documents that tasked officials to gather intelligence on Petro and on his party, the Polo Democratico [...] | 2008-10-24 19:48:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM KJUS CO |
08BOGOTA3892 | COLOMBIA RETOOLS ITS IATTC POLICY, BUT GOC [...] (SBU) Summary. On October 23 MFA Director of Economic, Social and Environmental Affairs, Maria Andrea Alban, told EconCouns that the GOC has been meeting to revise its posture before the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) in an effort to avoid the embarrassment caused in Panama ( [...] | 2008-10-24 21:43:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EFIS PHSA SENV CO |
08BOGOTA3896 | U/S BURNS OCT 14-16 VISIT TO COLOMBIA: GOC LOOKS [...] (U) Under Secretary Bill Burns met with President Uribe and Foreign Minister Bermudez during his October 14-16 visit to Colombia. President Uribe underscored the importance to Colombia of the Colombia Free Trade Promotion Act (CTPA) and continued USG support in its fight against the Revolution [...] | 2008-10-27 16:36:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PREF PTER PHUM CO |
08BOGOTA3909 | BOGOTA NOMINATES INGRID BETANCOURT FOR THE 2009 [...] Embassy Bogota nominates Ingrid Betancourt for the 2009 Secretary's Award for Women of Courage. 2. Below are the requested details (see reftel) for the nomination: Full Legal Name of Nominee: Ingrid Betancourt Pulecio Job Title/Association: Activist Date of Birth: 25 December 1961 Count [...] | 2008-10-27 20:58:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PHUM PINR FR CO |
08BOGOTA3920 | DISMISSAL OF TWO COLONELS AND LT COLONEL TIED TO [...] (C) On October 24, Army Commander General Mario Montoya removed two colonels and a lieutenant colonel from their commands due to their roles in the alleged extrajudicial killings of eleven men from Soacha. Montoya publicly said the three officers were removed due to "serious indications that [...] | 2008-10-28 18:41:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KJUS CO |
08BOGOTA3925 | THREATS FROM DON MARIO PROMPT SECURITY BOOST IN [...] (C) Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos announced on October 25 that the GOC will boost its security presence in the Uraba region of Antioquia after threats by the so-called Autodefensas Gaitanistas de Colombia (AGC)--a front organization for major narcotrafficker Daniel Rendon--led to a wides [...] | 2008-10-28 19:58:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM KJUS CO |
08BOGOTA3927 | COLOMBIA: DESIGNATION OF ADDITIONAL IRANIAN [...] No summary [...] | 2008-10-28 21:40:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EFIN PTER PARM KNNP MNUC CO |
08BOGOTA3928 | INDIGENOUS AND URIBE FAIL TO MEET [...] (C) President Uribe and indigenous protesters exchanged accusations of bad faith after they failed to meet in Cali to address indigenous concerns. The meeting was scheduled after 30,000 indigenous protesters marched from northern Cauca to Cali to press their demands for land, investigations i [...] | 2008-10-28 21:54:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PGOV PREL ECON SOCI CO |
08BOGOTA3951 | HOSTAGE ESCAPE CONTINUES FARC'S WORST YEAR EVER [...] Former congressman Oscar Lizcano, held by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) for eight years, escaped from a FARC camp along with one of his captors and turned himself into an Army checkpoint in San Jose del Palmar (Choco) on October 26. President Uribe and Defense Minister Sa [...] | 2008-10-29 17:05:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM KJUS CO |
08BOGOTA3953 | GOC SKEPTICAL OF FARC WILLINGNESS TO NEGOTIATE [...] (U) The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) issued a letter, dated October 16, saying the group is willing to talk about a political solution to Colombia's conflict as well as a humanitarian release of its hostages. The communique, released publicly on October 28, responds to a Sept [...] | 2008-10-29 19:10:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM KJUS CO |
08BOGOTA3959 | GOC FIRES 27 MILITARY OFFICIALS FOR LINKS TO [...] (C) President Uribe announced the dismissal of 27 military officers--including two division and three brigade commanders--for their roles in the disappearance and subsequent murders of young men from Soacha and Antioquia. Uribe said a special ministerial commission found that commanders' neg [...] | 2008-10-29 23:24:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KJUS CO |
08BOGOTA3966 | SOCIAL PROTESTS - WHY NOW? [...] (C) Social protests in Colombia are on the rise--recent judicial, trucker, and sugar cane worker strikes and indigenous protests culminated in a one-day, 500,000-person national solidarity strike in 21 cities on October 20. Presidential Communications Director Jorge Eastman said there is loos [...] | 2008-10-30 17:19:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PGOV PREL ECON SOCI CO |
08BOGOTA3967 | COLOMBIA: DELIVERY OF FY09 MCC SCORECARDS [...] No summary [...] | 2008-10-30 18:00:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | EAID PREL PGOV ETRD ECON KMCA CO |
08BOGOTA3978 | URIBE 2014 REELECTION PROSPECTS STUMBLE IN [...] (SBU) Summary: In a heated Congressional debate on October 29, the House plenary voted to remove article 19--which would have allowed President Uribe to run for a third term in 2014--from the political reform bill. U Party legislators and other Uribista congressmen voted against the article in [...] | 2008-10-31 13:40:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR CO |
08BOGOTA3982 | PEACE LABS: THE BOTTOM-UP APPROACH TO GOVERNANCE, [...] (U) The European Commission (EC),along with the GOC Accion Social's Peace and Development Program (PDP),helped found and support three "Peace Laboratories" in six different regions. The "Peace Laboratories" focus on three key areas: supporting human rights and local peace initiatives, stre [...] | 2008-10-31 21:57:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PINR PTER PHUM EAID SNAR CO |
08BOGOTA3987 | COLOMBIA: COMMENTS ON APPLICATION FOR OPIC FINANCE [...] Generacion y Comercializacion de Energia S.A. (ISAGEN) is a well known Colombia-based company dedicated to electric energy generation and sales. ISAGEN owns and operates five power plants in Colombia: San Carlos (hydroelectric); Jaguas (hydroelectric); Calderas (hydroelectric); Miel 1 (hydroe [...] | 2008-10-31 22:14:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | EINV ENRG ECON CO |
08BOGOTA3990 | AMBASSADOR BROWNFIELD'S OCTOBER 23 MEETING WITH [...] (C) Summary: At an October 23 meeting, Foreign Minister Jaime Bermudez provided the Ambassador with a proposed MFA-MOD rewrite of the Cooperative Security Location (CSL) agreement and said he foresaw a resolution by the end of the year. Bermudez commented that his October 17 meeting with V [...] | 2008-11-04 12:14:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINS PREL VE CO |
08BOGOTA4007 | AIR BRIDGE DENIAL: SEPTEMBER 2008 PROGRAM UPDATE [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. This is the monthly Air Bridge Denial (ABD) activity report for September, 2008, as required by Reftel. The Government of Colombia (GOC) sorted 5063 tracks during September. Five were Unknown, Assumed Suspect (UAS). There were no Phase I/II/III events. There was one event in [...] | 2008-11-05 14:52:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR PREL MOPS MASS PGOV CO |
08BOGOTA4008 | AMBASSADOR'S BARRANQUILLA VISIT FOCUSES ON [...] (U) SUMMARY. During an October 30 visit to Barranquilla, Ambassador Brownfield discussed a range of themes -- including U.S.-Colombia relations, U.S. elections, the global financial crisis, corporate social responsibility, and sports diplomacy -- with a wide array of interlocutors. The Ambas [...] | 2008-11-05 18:06:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL ECON PGOV EAID CO |
08BOGOTA4011 | MINISTRY OF DEFENSE COMMISSION FINDS ARMY [...] (C) Vice Minister of Defense (MOD) Sergio Jaramillo briefed the Ambassador on the results of the special military Commission that reviewed the recent Soacha and eastern Antioquia killing. He said the Commission's finding showed a mix of corruption, inadequate intelligence and operational pro [...] | 2008-11-05 20:07:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KJUS CO |
08BOGOTA4012 | OCTOBER HUMAN RIGHTS UPDATE [...] (U) Murders in Medellin through September 30 this year increased 35.6% over the comparable period last year. President Uribe met with the indigenous from Cauca in La Maria reserve on November 2, stating he would consider removing the military presence in La Maria reserve if the indigenous agr [...] | 2008-11-05 20:38:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KJUS CO |
08BOGOTA4028 | COLOMBIAN MILITARY COMMANDER MONTOYA RESIGNS, [...] (S) Colombian Army Commanding General Mario Montoya Uribe resigned his post on November 4. Montoya stepped down less than a week after President Alvaro Uribe's dismissal of 27 military officers for their roles in the disappearance and subsequent murders of young men from Soacha and Antioquia. [...] | 2008-11-06 18:33:00 | Embassy Bogota | SECRET | PHUM PGOV KJUS CO |
08BOGOTA4036 | COLOMBIA'S RELATIONS WITH ISRAEL (C-NE8-00834) [...] (C) The Government of Colombia (GOC) maintains positive relations with Israel, particularly in the defense sector through private Israeli defense contractors. Key areas of cooperation include strategic military advice, special forces training, and arms sales in support of Colombia's battle ag [...] | 2008-11-07 20:13:00 | Embassy Bogota | SECRET | PGOV PINR PTER MASS MCAP PREL CO IS |
08BOGOTA4066 | PRESIDENT URIBE ANNOUNCES NEW MILITARY HUMAN [...] (U) On November 6, President Uribe announced that the Colombian military would designate a special official in every division, brigade, battalion, and police command to receive public complaints of possible human rights abuses by the security forces. The officials will provide publicized wee [...] | 2008-11-10 20:52:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PGOV KJUS CO |
08BOGOTA4067 | POLO REMAINS SPLIT HEADING INTO NEXT FEBRUARY'S [...] (C) On October 26, the Polo Democratico Alternativo (Polo) party held internal elections to elect 1500 delegates to its 2nd National Congress--planned for February 2009. The elections did not produce a clear winner among the three leading Polo factions: Bogota Mayor Samuel Moreno's supporter [...] | 2008-11-10 21:18:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PTER CO |
08BOGOTA4083 | COLOMBIAN COUNTERPROPOSAL TO U.S. DEFENSE [...] (U) This is an Action Request. See paragraph 5. SUMMARY ------- 2. (C) On October 23 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Government of Colombia (GOC) delivered its official response to Embassy Bogota on the Defense Cooperation Agreement text that we proposed on August 13. The GOC counterpropos [...] | 2008-11-12 16:05:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL MARR PREF PTER MASS CO |
08BOGOTA4086 | COLOMBIA: INFORMATION FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY [...] SUMMARY: The following information on Colombia's energy sector is provided in response to reftel request. Colombia is working to expand its renewable energy output and offers extensive opportunities for increased investment in wind, solar, geothermal, biomass/biofuels, and hydroelectric proje [...] | 2008-11-12 17:16:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ENRG EINV SENV PGOV OPIC CO |
08BOGOTA4088 | COLOMBIA AUCTIONS OFF 22 NEW OIL BLOCS TO EXTEND [...] No summary [...] | 2008-11-12 20:38:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ENRG EINV ECON PGOV CO |
08BOGOTA4092 | SCENESETTER FOR NOVEMBER 20-22 VISIT TO COLOMBIA [...] (SBU) Your visit comes as Colombians watch with great interest the results of the U.S. presidential election, and speculate on the impact on U.S.-Colombia relations--especially prospects for Congressional passage of the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Act (CTPA). The Government of Colombia (GOC [...] | 2008-11-13 16:34:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PREF PTER PHUM MARR MASS CO |
08BOGOTA4093 | DEMARCHE ON BOLIVIA DELIVERED [...] (SBU) The Ambassador raised the Government of Bolivia's suspension of operations by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) with Foreign Minister Jaime Bermudez this month. Additionally, on November 12, post delivered points in reftel to MFA Director for U.S. and Canadian Affairs Patricia C [...] | 2008-11-13 16:57:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL KDEM SNAR BL CO |
08BOGOTA4120 | POST DELIVERS DEMARCHE ON UN HUMAN RIGHTS [...] On November 13, we delivered all points in reftel to Vice Minister for Multilateral Affairs Adriana Mejia-Hernandez. Mejia reiterated that the GOC understands the USG position. She confirmed the Canadians had also pressed the GOC to support the Iran resolution. Mejia said the GOC is currently [...] | 2008-11-13 21:07:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PHUM CO |
08BOGOTA4125 | PORT STRIKE IN BUENAVENTURA AVOIDED FOR NOW [...] (SBU) After a strike threat by Buenaventura port employees in early October, the Social Protection Ministry quickly established a dialogue with workers and port authority officials, and also initiated a 30-day plan to review workers' complaints. The unions want to negotiate directly with the [...] | 2008-11-13 22:43:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PTER PGOV PREL ECON SOCI CO |
08BOGOTA413 | URIBE ANNOUNCES ENCIRCLEMENT PLAN FOR HOSTAGE [...] (U) President Uribe announced January 26 that he has ordered military and police to locate, and subsequently encircle, areas where the FARC holds hostages. GOC officials explained the move is aimed at putting "humanitarian pressure" on the FARC to release its hostages and is not a military r [...] | 2008-01-31 22:39:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PGOV PTER VE FR SP SZ VT CO |
08BOGOTA4131 | AMBASSADOR BROWNFIELD'S NOVEMBER 10 MEETING WITH [...] (C) At a November 10 meeting with Supreme Court President Francisco Ricaurte and Criminal Chamber Vice President Julio Socha, the Ambassador expressed the USG's support for a strong and independent judiciary. Socha explained that extradition requests unrelated to narcotrafficking are difficu [...] | 2008-11-17 15:14:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL SOCI KJUS PTER CO |
08BOGOTA4134 | COLOMBIA: PYRAMID SCHEMES SWINDLE THOUSANDS, [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. Colombian authorities believe as many as three million Colombians have been defrauded of at least USD 300 million in a series of pyramid schemes that began collapsing November 12 after the government's seizure of the firm Proyecciones DFRE. The fall of DFRE spurred the subseque [...] | 2008-11-17 21:03:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN KCRM PGOV CO |
08BOGOTA4135 | BUENAVENTURA: EPICENTER OF NARCOTRAFFICKING, [...] (SBU) Top security officials said Buenaventura illustrates all of Colombia's ills, including narco-trafficking, violence, corruption and poverty. Local Marine Commander Carlos Diaz told us murder rates have fallen 70% since last year, attributing the fragile gains to the increased military a [...] | 2008-11-17 21:52:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PGOV PREL ECON SOCI CO |
08BOGOTA4145 | CONSERVATIVES MAINTAIN DISCIPLINE, WHILE U PARTY [...] (C) On October 26, the Conservative Party and the U Party held their internal elections to set their respective agendas leading up to the 2010 presidential elections. The Conservatives had a strong showing, with over 1.5 million votes cast for local delegates and National Committee members. [...] | 2008-11-18 15:02:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR CO |
08BOGOTA4158 | EMBASSY BOGOTA USES ARTS AND SPORTS DIPLOMACY IN DRUG [...] (U) SUMMARY: The Ambassador launched "Do not turn off your light," a drug demand prevention campaign, on November 7 that will provide community development and social mobility opportunities via education, work, arts, and sports to children at risk of drug use. The main event was followed by a [...] | 2008-11-18 22:15:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | SNAR PREL PGOV SCUL EAID CO |
08BOGOTA4165 | GOC LAUNCHES FIRST PUBLIC FORUM ON HUMAN RIGHTS [...] (C) On November 17, President Alvaro Uribe presided over the first, public forum on human rights abuses against the security forces. Military and police commanders were instructed to report human rights complaints as well as the status of each case. Uribe also ordered them to forward all com [...] | 2008-11-19 00:13:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV MOPS KJUS CO |
08BOGOTA4175 | SPORTS ENVOY BARRY LARKIN PROMOTES EDUCATION THROUGH [...] (U) SUMMARY: Retired Major League Baseball great Barry Larkin visited Bogota, Cartagena, and Barranquilla from November 5th to 12th, 2008 as part of the Sports Diplomacy Program. Joined by three other Sports Envoys - Steve Laska, Joe Logan, and Matt Krause, Larkin participated in seventeen ev [...] | 2008-11-19 20:24:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO KJRE OEXC VE CO JO LE IS |
08BOGOTA4178 | COLOMBIA TO SIGN TRADE/INVESTMENT AGREEMENTS WITH [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. Colombia plans to sign its Free Trade Agreement with Canada as well as a Bilateral Investment Treaty with China on the margins of the APEC Summit in Lima, Peru, November 22-23. Colombia will also use the occasion to formally accept an invitation from the P4 to begin accession [...] | 2008-11-19 20:24:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ETRD ECIN PREL APEC CO |
08BOGOTA4179 | CODEL MEEKS FOCUSES ON AFRO-COLOMBIAN ISSUES, [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. Representative Gregory Meeks (D-NY) traveled to Bogota, Cali, and Guapi, Colombia November 6-10. During meetings with President Uribe and other public and private sector leaders, Congressman Meeks emphasized that the Obama administration would continue to embrace Colombia as a [...] | 2008-11-19 20:31:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD PREL EAID PHUM CO |
08BOGOTA4194 | COLOMBIA TO OPPOSE IRAN NO ACTION MOTION ON HUMAN [...] (SBU) On November 12 and 13, Post delivered all points in reftel to Director of U.S. and Canadian Affairs Patricia Cortes and Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Adriana Mejia, urging a review of previous GOC policy to abstain on no action motions. Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Adriana Meji [...] | 2008-11-21 14:52:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM CO |
08BOGOTA4201 | GOC ARRESTS ALLEGED PYRAMID RINGLEADERS AMID [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Amid collapsing pyramid schemes suspected of defrauding at least 300,000 Colombians (reftel),the GOC seized DMG Holding Group, S.A., the largest suspected scam in the country and arrested its founder and principal directors on charges of money laundering, illicit enrichment, and [...] | 2008-11-21 21:02:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EFIN ETTC PTER KCRM SNAR PGOV CO |
08BOGOTA421 | VENEZUELAN AUTO QUOTA COULD COST COLOMBIA [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Local auto experts estimate Venezuela's new auto import quota may cost Colombia 5,000 jobs in the assembly sector. Colombian parts manufacturers serve to benefit from the quota in anticipated increased sales to Venezuelan assemblers. The GOC met with auto industry officials [...] | 2008-02-01 15:59:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | EIND ETRD PREL ELAB ECON CO |
08BOGOTA4215 | SCENESETTER FOR DECEMBER 8-9 VISIT TO COLOMBIA OF [...] (SBU) Your visit comes as Colombians watch with great interest the transition period to President-elect Barack Obama, and speculate on what the outcome might mean for U.S.-Colombia relations--especially prospects for Congressional passage of the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Act (CTPA). The [...] | 2008-11-25 13:20:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PREF PHUM PTER ETRD SNAR CO |
08BOGOTA4231 | NARINO--PROGRESS ON SECURITY AND ALTERNATIVE [...] (C) The poor, coca-growing department of Narino--which borders Ecuador along the Pacific coast--has seen significant security gains against the FARC, ELN, and new illegal armed groups since 2006. Governor Navarro Wolff and local security officials told us the illegal armed groups have been pus [...] | 2008-11-25 19:11:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PREF PTER PHUM CO SNAR |
08BOGOTA4233 | LABOR CONFEDERATIONS REMAIN INTRANSIGENT ON THE [...] (C) Summary: Center-left Nuevo Arco Iris think tank Director Leon Valencia wrote an open letter to the presidents of Colombia's three labor confederations on November 18, saying that due to the changing political climate in the United States, the "time was right" for Colombian unions to send [...] | 2008-11-25 19:44:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PGOV PREL ECON SOCI CO |
08BOGOTA4234 | COLOMBIA SIGNS FTA WITH EFTA [...] (U) SUMMARY On November 25, Colombia signed a Free Trade Agreement with the four member countries of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) -- Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein. With total trade between EFTA countries and Colombia at just over one billion dollars, the agreem [...] | 2008-11-25 19:48:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON ETRD PREL CO |
08BOGOTA4243 | GOC OUTLINES AMBITIOUS INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN, BUT [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Infrastructure has long constrained Colombia's economic competitiveness, geographical cohesion and presence of the state. However, as security continues to improve and Colombia aims to position itself to compete in the global marketplace, the GOC is launching an ambitious plan [...] | 2008-11-25 22:35:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EINV ECON ELAN EWWT EFIN PGOV CO |
08BOGOTA4248 | NAS MONTHLY REPORT FOR OCTOBER 2008 [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Even with poor weather conditions negatively affecting the total hectares sprayed, the contractor remains above the projection line for the year. Total manual coca eradication for the month of October was 11,683 hectares - bringing the GME program's year-to-date total to 68,60 [...] | 2008-11-26 17:10:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR SENV KCRM PTER CO |
08BOGOTA4261 | URIBE THIRD TERM SETBACK: 2010 REELECTION REJECTED [...] (U) The First Commission of the Colombian House of Representatives rejected in a razor thin vote on November 26, a proposal to change the constitution to allow President Uribe to run for a third term in 2010. The Commission later approved language that would allow Uribe to seek reelection in [...] | 2008-11-26 22:47:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PREF PTER PHUM CO |
08BOGOTA4262 | COLOMBIANS MARCH - IN SMALLER NUMBERS - AGAINST [...] (U) Several thousand Colombians marched through the country's major cities on November 28th to demand the FARC and other illegal armed groups release the hostages they still hold before Christmas. The disappointing turnout was significantly smaller than the millions who demonstrated to releas [...] | 2008-11-28 21:44:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM KJUS CO |
08BOGOTA4263 | FALLOUT FROM PYRAMID SCHEME CONTINUES TO SHAKE [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Nearly three weeks since the first of Colombia's various pyramid schemes collapsed (ref A) and ten days since the closure of the largest such alleged entity, DMG (ref B),the economic, political, and social fallout continue to shake Colombia. Officials from Colombia's southern [...] | 2008-11-28 22:28:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EFIN ECON KCRM SNAR PGOV CO |
08BOGOTA4265 | AIR BRIDGE DENIAL: OCTOBER 2008 PROGRAM UPDATE [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. This is the monthly Air Bridge Denial (ABD) activity report for October, 2008, as required by Reftel. The Government of Colombia (GOC) sorted 6262 tracks during October. Seven were Unknown, Assumed Suspect (UAS). There was one Phase II event where the aircraft departed Colomb [...] | 2008-12-01 13:38:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR PREL MOPS MASS PGOV CO |
08BOGOTA4304 | INDIGENOUS MARCH TO BOGOTA [...] (U) After a 16-day trip from Cauca department, the indigenous protest reached Bogota on November 20. They demanded the GOC comply with prior commitments on land, apologize for making public statements linking the indigenous to the FARC, and make concessions on a range of issues including th [...] | 2008-12-02 14:04:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PGOV PREL ECON SOCI CO |
08BOGOTA4305 | HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS CONDITION TALKS ON IMPROVED [...] (C) Interior and Justice Minister Fabio Valencia met November 10 with civil society, the international community, and Defense Ministry representatives to discuss the GOC's protection program for human rights defenders. Human rights groups challenged the GOC's commitment to protect their work [...] | 2008-12-02 14:11:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL CO |
08BOGOTA4307 | COLOMBIA CONFLICT UPDATE FOR JULY-AUGUST, 2008 [...] (S) The success of operation "Jaque" on July 2 and the blows delivered to the FARC Secretariat over the past six months left the terrorist organization weakened and demoralized, resulting in record numbers of desertions. Still, the FARC continued to maintain between 8,000 and 12,000 fighters, [...] | 2008-12-02 14:29:00 | Embassy Bogota | SECRET | PGOV PREL PREF PTER PHUM MASS MARR CO |
08BOGOTA4310 | MAPP/OAS COMMENDS PEACE PROCESS, HIGHLIGHTS [...] (SBU) The MAPP/OAS (OAS Mission in Support of the Peace Process) twelfth draft report commends GOC progress made under the peace process, including increased victim participation, expanded services for ex-combatants, and advances in investigations of paramilitary crimes. The report recommend [...] | 2008-12-02 19:43:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PGOV KJUS CO |
08BOGOTA4312 | U.S. AIRLINES EXPAND COLOMBIA OPERATIONS DESPITE [...] (SBU) Summary: U.S. airlines operating in Colombia have no plans to cancel existing routes or flights, despite a significant drop in bookings in recent weeks and concerns about 2009 profitability. They cite the current global financial crisis and Colombia's strict regulatory structure -- spec [...] | 2008-12-03 15:36:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAIR EINV ECON PGOV ETRD EFIN CO |
08BOGOTA4323 | MAPP/OAS RESTRUCTURING, CLOSING OFFICES IN [...] (C) Summary: OAS Mission in Support of the Peace Process (MAPP/OAS) Director Sergio Caramagna briefed the international community on MAPP'S plans to restructure its operations, including dismissing 20 officials, naming a new director, and combining several regional offices. MAPP will conti [...] | 2008-12-03 21:41:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KJUS CO AORC |
08BOGOTA4334 | COLOMBIA-CUBA: REVIEW FOR SUSPENSION OF TITLE III [...] (C) Colombia has a minimal trade and investment relationship with Cuba. According to the Colombian Ministry of Trade, in 2007 Colombia exported USD 50.5 million worth of goods to Cuba and imported USD 8.4 million of goods from Cuba. The rate of bilateral trade flows in the first half of 2008 [...] | 2008-12-05 16:07:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD ECON ETTC PGOV PREL CU CO |
08BOGOTA4335 | PYRAMID COLLAPSE BURYING THIRD TERM PROSPECTS? [...] (SBU) The results of a recent Invamar-Gallup poll show Uribe maintains high public approval ratings in spite of a host of political and economic troubles. Still, public support for a third term has dropped from 74% to 54% since last July. In southern departments--areas hard-hit by the pyram [...] | 2008-12-05 16:07:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PTER ECON EFIN |
08BOGOTA4338 | PEACE PROSPECTS WITH FARC REMAIN BLEAK [...] (C) GOC Peace Commissioner Restrepo told us the FARC has not responded to GOC outreach efforts. He thinks the FARC may make a gesture to influence Colombia's 2010 presidential elections, as well as overtures to Venezuela and other Latin countries, but only if it first scores a military success [...] | 2008-12-05 19:12:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PREF PTER PHUM CO |
08BOGOTA4342 | NOVEMBER HUMAN RIGHTS UPDATE [...] (C) MAPP/OAS Chief Sergio Caramanga said he considered President Uribe's appointment of General Gonzalez Pena as new Army commander a "mistake" due to human rights concerns. MOD officials said Minister Santos' 15 point plan would strengthen the Inspector General (IG) system and revise milita [...] | 2008-12-05 22:14:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KJUS CO |
08BOGOTA4352 | COLOMBIA: DEMARCHE ON IMPLEMENTATION OF AMENDED [...] No summary [...] | 2008-12-09 16:29:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SENV EAID EAGR ETRD EINV BTIO |
08BOGOTA4353 | COLOMBIAN PALM: RURAL SAVIOR OR HUMAN RIGHTS [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Driven by strong international demand for palm oil, improving security in rural areas, government support for viable alternatives to coca, and domestic demand for palm oil-derived biodiesel, Colombia's palm industry has expanded 70 percent since 2003. As a result, it now ranks a [...] | 2008-12-09 18:21:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAGR SENV ENRG ECON PGOV PHUM CO |
08BOGOTA4371 | URIBE WARNS AGAINST FARC AND ELN PEACE "TRAP" [...] (SBU) President Uribe publicly warned on December 6 that talk of new hostage releases and a humanitarian accord is a "trap" laid by the FARC with the support of an unnamed Colombian political leader. The latter is a reference to Senator Piedad Cordoba, who is leading a group of "intellectuals [...] | 2008-12-10 20:53:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PREF PTER PHUM CO |
08BOGOTA4372 | POSSIBLE URIBE REELECTION IN 2010 INCREASINGLY [...] (C) Summary: Prospects for a possible third term for President Uribe in 2010 look increasingly unlikely. Congress announced it would delay further debate on the bill that could permit Uribe to run again in 2010 until March 2009, and key Uribista supporters have publicly dismissed the 2010 opt [...] | 2008-12-10 21:12:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR CO |
08BOGOTA4386 | MEDELLIN MAYOR SALAZAR DENIES RECEIVING DON [...] (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 [...] | 2008-12-11 20:15:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PTER SNAR CO |
08BOGOTA4390 | GOC WORKS TO ACHIEVE ILO COMPLIANCE [...] (SBU) The GOC made efforts to align Colombia's labor code with International Labor Organization (ILO) conventions in 2008 through new legislation (see reftel),but key issues remain: clarity on essential public services and the right to strike, registration of new unions, allowance of industr [...] | 2008-12-11 20:21:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PGOV PREL ECON SOCI CO |
08BOGOTA4396 | LA GUAJIRA AND CESAR--SHARED INDIGENOUS [...] (U) Cesar and La Guajira departments share significant indigenous populations and security issues, including the presence of FARC, ELN, and criminal groups. The indigenous in the region have great cultural differences, but express a common distrust for the National Indigenous Organization of [...] | 2008-12-12 22:57:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV PREL PTER SOCI CO VE |
08BOGOTA4397 | LEGAL OBSTACLE TO FARC DEMOBILIZATIONS NOT [...] (C) President Uribe announced that all Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) members, including senior leaders, would avoid prosecution for human rights crimes if they assisted in hostage releases. Local legal experts said despite Uribe's assurances, the Wilson Bueno Largo (Isaza) ca [...] | 2008-12-12 23:26:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PGOV PREL ECON SOCI CO |
08BOGOTA4398 | BOGOTA FY 2009 SEC 1206 PROJECT PROPOSALS [...] (SBU) The Charge confirms Post's review and concurrence with the following five project proposals for Section 1206 funding in FY 2009. Listed in priority order, all will strengthen Colombia's capacity to conduct counter-terrorism operations against the three Designated Foreign Terrorist Organ [...] | 2008-12-15 16:14:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | MASS PTER PGOV PREL MARR CO |
08BOGOTA442 | USG ASSISTS COLOMBIAN LABOR PROTECTION EFFORTS [...] Summary: The USG, through USAID and the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL),supports GOC efforts to improve labor rights and enforcement. Programs include assistance for a new risk-based labor inspection system, extending the oral justice system to labor cases, outreach on labor rights, strength [...] | 2008-02-04 19:42:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ELAB EAID KJUS ECIN ECON ILO CO |
08BOGOTA4430 | EMERGING CRIMINAL GROUPS: POLITICAL THREAT WITHOUT [...] (C) Emerging criminal groups (ECGs) persist despite recent GOC successes, with narcotrafficking profits and continuing weak state presence in some areas enabling them to bribe local officials and recruit new members to replace those killed or captured by security forces. The ECGs are largely [...] | 2008-12-16 17:59:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM KJUS CO SNAR |
08BOGOTA4442 | TIERRALTA TRIP HIGHLIGHTS CORDOBA SECURITY CONCERNS [...] (C) An international delegation--including representatives from the OAS Mission in Support of the Peace Process (MAPP/OAS),the U.S. and Canadian Embassies, and Lutheran World Relief--met with community leaders and victims in southern Cordoda, departmental police and military commanders, and [...] | 2008-12-16 21:21:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KJUS CO |
08BOGOTA4452 | COLOMBIA ENERGY UPDATE: MORE BLOCS, GAS PROSPECTS, [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. Colombia's energy sector continues its solid expansion in spite of the recent decline in oil and gas prices. The National Hydrocarbons Agency (ANH) has adjudicated 100 exploration contracts in 2008--a new record--and concluded two successful bloc auctions during the year. On t [...] | 2008-12-17 15:11:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ENRG ECON SENV EPET PGOV CO |
08BOGOTA4457 | MILITARY KILLS HUSBAND OF CAUCA INDIGENOUS LEADER [...] (U) 29th Army Brigade Commander General Barrero told us Colombian soldiers killed the husband of prominent Regional Indigenous Council of Cauca (CRIC) Chairperson Aida Quilcue when his vehicle did not stop at a check-point around 4:00am on December 16. Barrero called the incident a "terrible [...] | 2008-12-17 17:02:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PTER PGOV PREL ECON SOCI CO |
08BOGOTA4462 | LAND ISSUES REMAIN CONTENTIOUS IN COLOMBIA [...] (U) Summary: The land issue is central to almost all aspects of consolidation and post-conflict reconstruction in Colombia. Not only is it of concern for victims and those displaced by the conflict, but boosting agricultural productivity is also a GOC priority. After over 50 years of conflic [...] | 2008-12-17 19:46:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM ECON SOCI CO |
08BOGOTA4468 | THIRD TERM REFERENDUM TAKES A SECOND SMALL STEP [...] (U) Summary: President Uribe called for a special congressional session only 30 minutes before the normal close of Congress on December 16, allowing his supporters to push through the second of four required votes on the presidential reelection referendum bill. The language in the bill would [...] | 2008-12-17 21:08:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR CO |
08BOGOTA4479 | COLOMBIA: RESPONSE ON CIVIL NUCLEAR TRADE PROMOTION [...] The following information is keyed to reftel request for information on Colombia's developments regarding civil nuclear energy and future plans in the sector. Plans/Motivations for Development of Nuclear Power --------------------------------------------- ----- 2. According to officials a [...] | 2008-12-18 15:06:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ENRG TRGY BEXP BTIO PGOV CO |
08BOGOTA4485 | INVESTIGATION INTO MILITARY KILLING OF EDWIN [...] (C) Summary. Vice Defense Minister Jaramillo told us the killing of Edwin Legarda--husband of indigenous activist Aida Quilcue--appeared to have been a mistaken military ambush based on bad intelligence intended to target arms traffickers. President Uribe repeatedly expressed his condolences [...] | 2008-12-18 20:27:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV PTER KJUS CO |
08BOGOTA4486 | BONA FIDE ASYLUM CLAIM EXEMPTION TO 9B [...] (SBU/N) Colombian national listed below applied for an immigrant visa at Embassy Bogota on 20-OCT-2008. However, on his last trip to the United States, the subject stayedover five years from Sep. 2002 until February 2008, even though he was only authorized to stay for six months. During the [...] | 2008-12-18 22:14:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM |
08BOGOTA4487 | BONA FIDE ASYLUM CLAIM EXCEPTION TO 9B [...] (SBU/N) Colombian nationals listed below applied for an immigrant visa at Embassy Bogota on 01-OCT-2008. However, on their last trip to the United States, the subjects stayed for over seven years from Jan. 2001 until June 2008, even though they were only authorized to stay for six months on a [...] | 2008-12-18 22:20:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM |
08BOGOTA4499 | NAS MONTHLY REPORT FOR NOVEMBER 2008 [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: In November, only 4,492 hectares of coca were sprayed due to bad weather and lack of support from the Colombian National Police (CNP); this setback slowed our progress toward the annual eradication goal of 130,000 hectares sprayed. Eradication aircraft were involved in four ho [...] | 2008-12-19 19:27:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR SENV KCRM PTER CO |
08BOGOTA4521 | COLOMBIA: DESIGNATION OF TWO ADDITIONAL IRANIAN [...] No summary [...] | 2008-12-22 17:59:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KNNP EFIN PARM PTER CO |
08BOGOTA4527 | USG FUNDED LABOR PROJECTS [...] (U) Summary: The U.S. Government supports the labor sector through eleven projects, including: one by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL),three by the Department of Labor (DOL),and seven by USAID. The $27 million in funding over the 2001-2011 time frame support projects t [...] | 2008-12-22 20:14:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PTER PGOV PREL ECON SOCI CO |
08BOGOTA4547 | QUARTERLY HUMAN RIGHTS CERTIFICATION CONSULTATIONS [...] Summary. Post's quarterly consultations with human rights groups focused on recent violence against indigenous communities and extrajudicial killings. Participants highlighted the recent killing of Edwin Legarda--husband of Cauca indigenous leader Aida Quilcue--by military forces as evidenc [...] | 2008-12-23 21:45:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PGOV KJUS CO |
08BOGOTA4577 | GOC REPORTS ON WEALTH TAX EXPENDITURES [...] (C) The Colombian Ministry of Defense (MOD) reported in November 2008 that the four-year "wealth tax" imposed on Colombia's richest citizens and enterprises to fund the democratic security policy would total $3.7 billion from 2007-2011. Approximately 80% is directed towards the internal confl [...] | 2008-12-24 15:53:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PREF PTER MASS MCAP CO |
08BOGOTA4588 | URIBE REJECTS INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPATION IN [...] (C) The FARC announced on December 21 their intention to release six hostages to a group of Colombian "intellectuals" led by Piedad Cordoba, and reiterated its demand for a demilitarized zone. Cordoba said President Chavez should participate in the process, but President Uribe quickly rejecte [...] | 2008-12-24 19:12:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PREF PTER PHUM CO |
08BOGOTA4615 | GOC OFFERS JUSTICE AND PEACE BENEFITS TO FORMER [...] (C) Peace Commissioner Restrepo announced on December 30 that the GOC would offer Justice and Peace Law (JPL) benefits, including possible reduced sentences, to 120 jailed members of the FARC in exchange for criminal confessions and written pledges to lay down their arms. "Martin Sombra," the [...] | 2008-12-30 22:47:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM KJUS CO SNAR |
08BOGOTA4632 | GOC INVITATION TO ATTEND 50TH ANNUAL IDB MEETING [...] On December 31, Post received a diplomatic note and original letter from Colombian Minister of Finance and Public Credit Oscar Ivan Zuluaga extending an invitation to Treasury Secretary Paulson to attend the 50th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Inter-American Development Bank ( [...] | 2008-12-31 20:50:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | EFIN ECON EAID OTRA OVIP PGOV CO |
08BOGOTA470 | MILLIONS OF COLOMBIANS MARCH AGAINST THE FARC [...] On February 4, millions of Colombians in Bogota and dozens of other cities marched against the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and kidnapping. As many as two million marched in Bogota, in what leading daily "El Tiempo" described as the largest demonstration in Colombian history [...] | 2008-02-05 23:51:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PGOV PTER PHUM CO |
08BOGOTA482 | COLOMBIA: INPUT FOR CONGRESSIONAL REPORT ON ENERGY [...] The following responses are keyed to requests in reftel. A. A number of agencies at post handle energy issues. The State Department Economic Section primarily handles energy reporting and cooperation matters. Insofar as issues may directly involve U.S. companies, the Economic Section and t [...] | 2008-02-06 15:42:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ENRG SENC APER ABUD CO |
08BOGOTA49 | BOGOTA FY08 "1206" PROJECT PROPOSALS [...] (SBU) Embassy Bogota concurs with the following six project proposals for section 1206 funding in FY 2008. Listed in priority order, all will strengthen Colombian military capacity to conduct counterterrorism operations against the FARC and ELN (designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations) and [...] | 2008-01-04 17:49:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PTER MARR CO |
08BOGOTA5 | HOSTAGE RECOVERY MISSION ON HOLD AFTER GOC SAYS IT [...] The Venezuelan-led, international mission to recover three FARC-held hostages was put on hold on December 31 after President Uribe announced the GOC "hypothesis" -- backed by extensive circumstantial evidence -- that the reason for the FARC's delay in releasing the hostages was that the group [...] | 2008-01-02 20:51:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PINR PREF PREL PTER VZ CO |
08BOGOTA501 | UPDATE OF WORST FORMS OF CHILD LABOR: COLOMBIA, [...] Embassy Bogota's update of worst forms of child labor information request follows. 2. LAWS AND REGULATIONS PROSCRIBING THE WORST FORMS OF CHILD LABOR INDICATORS: -What laws have been promulgated on child labor, such as minimum age(s) for employment or hazardous forms of work? Are there [...] | 2008-02-08 00:46:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ELAB ETRD PHUM CA CO |
08BOGOTA51 | PEACE COMMISSIONER RESTREPO CHIDES CHAVEZ ON [...] (C) GOC Peace Commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo told the Charge on January 3 that Venezuelan President Chavez will continue to use the humanitarian exchange issue to create problems, but said the GOC plans to make him pay a high political cost for his recent unsuccessful hostage rescue missio [...] | 2008-01-04 20:19:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PREF PREL PTER VZ CO |
08BOGOTA511 | AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES EXPANDED ECONOMIC ENGAGEMENT [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: The Ambassador hosted a breakfast on February 4 for senior Colombian government economic policymakers to discuss ideas for expanded bilateral economic engagement to reinforce the benefits of the pending U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement (CTPA). The Ambassador emphasized t [...] | 2008-02-08 18:19:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EINV EAID PGOV CO |
08BOGOTA528 | APPELLATE COURT ELECTS NEW JUDGE FOR LABOR [...] SUMMARY. In late December, 2007, the six-month term for Colombia's three specially appointed judges handling cases of violence against unionists ended. As part of its normal selection process, magistrates of the Appellate Court for Bogota voted to reappoint Elsa Rivera de Jimenez and Maria [...] | 2008-02-11 17:45:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | KJUS PGOV PHUM PTER CO |
08BOGOTA533 | EMBASSY SUPPORTS SOUTHCOM RECOMMENDATION OF [...] (U) This is an action request. See paragraph 5. 2. (C) Summary. Embassy concurs with the U.S. Southcom recommendation that Palanquero Air Base represents the best location for a possible Cooperative Security Location (CSL) in Colombia. We request that the Department expedite approval fo [...] | 2008-02-11 23:12:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KTIA MARR PREF PREL SNAR MOPPS CO |
08BOGOTA54 | DNA EVIDENCE CONFIRMS IDENTITY OF "EMMANUEL" BORN [...] Prosecutor General Mario Iguaran confirmed at a press conference on January 4 that results from DNA testing indicate with "high probability" that the boy in state custody known as Juan David Gomez Tapiero is Emmanuel, the son of Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) hostage Clara Roja [...] | 2008-01-04 21:27:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PINR PREF PREL PTER VZ CO |
08BOGOTA540 | COLOMBIA'S TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE: IS IT UP TO [...] (U) SUMMARY: Colombia's demography and topography make transportation infrastructure development particularly challenging. Security problems and constitutional earmarks for social services and local governments hobbled public investment in transportation in the 1990s. Today the GOC is emb [...] | 2008-02-12 15:13:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ELTN EAIR EWWT ETRD ECON CO |
08BOGOTA555 | G/TIP PROPOSAL TO HELP ENSURE VICTIMS ASSISTANCE [...] As requested reftels, post provides the following information on a proposal by the International Organization for Migration to help ensure the safety of trafficking victims and the prosecution and conviction of traffickers. 2. A. Name of Applicant: International Organization for Migrati [...] | 2008-02-12 20:23:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ASEC ELAB KCRM PHUM PREL SMIG CO |
08BOGOTA570 | COLOMBIA'S OIL & GAS OUTLOOK: INVESTORS BULLISH, [...] No summary [...] | 2008-02-12 22:19:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ENRG EPET ECON EINV PGOV CO |
08BOGOTA583 | COLOMBIAN BANKING SECTOR PROFITS UP SHARPLY IN 2007 [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Amid strong economic growth and growing consumer credit demand, Colombian banks booked a USD 2.1 billion profit in 2007, up 13 percent over 2006. The solid performance ran across the financial sector including insurance and pension segments. In particular, local and internatio [...] | 2008-02-13 22:30:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | EFIN ECON CO |
08BOGOTA590 | POLO REMAINS DIVIDED - WEAKENING PROSPECTS FOR 2010 [...] (C) Summary: The leftist Polo Democratico Alternativo Party (Polo)'s poor performance in last October's local elections--as well as its ambiguous stance toward the FARC--have exacerbated tensions between its pragmatic, social democratic wing and unreconstructed, orthodox communist elements. [...] | 2008-02-14 18:07:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PHUM PTER CO VZ |
08BOGOTA591 | URIBE VS THE SUPREME COURT [...] Summary: In January, Supreme Court Justice Cesar Valencia publicly accused President Alvaro Uribe of interfering in the Supreme Court's investigation of the president's distant cousin for alleged paramilitary connections. Valencia said Uribe called him to complain about the Court's actions an [...] | 2008-02-14 18:59:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PINR PINS CO |
08BOGOTA595 | GOC CONSIDERS WAYS TO REVIVE ELN TALKS [...] (C) Summary. GOC Peace Commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo told us the National Liberation Army (ELN) remains wedded to Venezuelan President Chavez and has expressed no interest in resuming peace talks. Still, Restrepo said the GOC would like to revive negotiations on the basis of previous GOC [...] | 2008-02-14 21:16:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREF PREL PTER KAID CO |
08BOGOTA601 | COLOMBIA LIKELY TO RECOGNIZE KOSOVO [...] The Ambassador spoke with Foreign Minister Fernando Araujo on February 14, and delivered all points in reftel A. Araujo said the GOC was considering the U.S. request, and indicated the GOC would "likely" respond favorably. Vice-Foreign Minister Camilo Reyes subsequently confirmed that the For [...] | 2008-02-15 18:53:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL UNGA UNMIK YI UN CO |
08BOGOTA609 | REMITTANCES REACH RECORD HIGH IN 2007 [...] SUMMARY: Colombia's Central Bank expects 2007 to rank as a record year for remittance inflows with the total estimated to reach USD 4.4 billion. The amount represents Colombia's second highest source of legitimate foreign currency inflows after foreign direct investment (USD 7.5 billion),exce [...] | 2008-02-19 17:05:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | EFIN ECON EINV CO |
08BOGOTA618 | TRIP TO CURVARADO HIGHLIGHTS SECURITY CONCERNS; [...] (C) Local members of the Afro-Colombian communities of Jiguamiando and Curvarado complained about GOC delays in returning their land, lack of security and GOC financial support, and perceived military bias in favor of African palm companies. Local leader Enrique Petro told us the palm firms c [...] | 2008-02-20 15:46:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KJUS MARR PGOV PHUM PTER CO |
08BOGOTA624 | COURT FINDS COLONEL GUILTY OF JAMUNDI KILLINGS [...] Summary: On February 18, the Trial Court of Cali found Colombian military Colonel Byron Carvajal and fourteen members of his platoon guilty of "aggravated homicide" for the May 22, 2006 massacre of ten members of an elite anti-narcotics police unit and an informant in Jamundi (Valle del Cauca [...] | 2008-02-20 21:39:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PGOV KJUS MARR CO |
08BOGOTA634 | SATELLITE ENGAGEMENT UPDATE PRESENTED TO GOC [...] On February 21, Post delivered all relevant points in reftel to MFA Director for U.S. and Canadian Affairs Patricia Cortes. Cortes said the GOC appreciated the information. Brownfield [...] | 2008-02-21 18:15:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PARM PNAT PINS TSPA KTIA CO |
08BOGOTA644 | COLOMBIA DENIES MEDEVAC REQUEST [...] (C) On February 12, Post delivered all points in reftel to MFA Director for U.S. and Canadian Affairs Patricia Cortes, who confirmed that the GOC's decision was with Vice Foreign Minister Camilo Reyes. Post followed up on three occasions to encourage the GOC to accept the U.S. request. On Feb [...] | 2008-02-22 20:46:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREF PREL SMIG CO |
08BOGOTA645 | FARC AND NARCOTRAFFICKERS CONTINUE TO PLAGUE URABA [...] (C) Members of the San Jose de Apartado Peace Community (PC) told us February 5 that paramilitary groups, in collusion with the military and police, continue to threaten and kill community members. The military denied the allegations, stating their focus is combating the increased FARC and na [...] | 2008-02-22 20:46:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KJUS MARR PGOV PHUM PTER CO |
08BOGOTA646 | WTO DDA NEGOTIATIONS ON ENVIRONMENTAL GOODS AND [...] (C) Ministry of Trade Official Juan Guillermo Castro, strictly protect, described the GOC's World Trade Organization (WTO) environmental goods and services position as once not settled and "in the middle" of the U.S. and Brazilian proposals. Castro, who had just returned from negotiations in [...] | 2008-02-22 20:46:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ETRD SENV CO |
08BOGOTA648 | WTO DDA NEGOTIATIONS ON ENVIRONMENTAL GOODS AND [...] (C) Ministry of Trade Official Juan Guillermo Castro, strictly protect, described the GOC's World Trade Organization (WTO) environmental goods and services position as once not settled and "in the middle" of the U.S. and Brazilian proposals. Castro, who had just returned from negotiations in [...] | 2008-02-22 20:46:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ETRD SENV CO |
08BOGOTA683 | GOC TO FACILITATE NEW FARC HOSTAGE RELEASE, [...] (C) President Uribe said the GOC will facilitate the possible release of four more political hostages held by the FARC, including allowing Venezuelan helicopters to use San Jose de Guaviare airport. Peace Commissioner Restrepo told us the February 21 meeting with Uribe and French FM Kouchner [...] | 2008-02-25 21:33:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PREL PTER PHUM OAS BR CU FR PM SP SZ |
08BOGOTA687 | AMBASSADOR'S VISIT TO PUTUMAYO HIGHLIGHTS USG [...] (SBU) Ambassador Brownfield visited Villa Garzon, Putumayo on February 8, to inaugurate a major road pavement project and survey a water treatment project funded by USAID. Local officials touted the road as an important step to reducing Putumayo's isolation, improving security, and promoting [...] | 2008-02-25 22:45:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM PREL PTER SNAR KCOM KAID EC CO |
08BOGOTA692 | COLOMBIA RECEIVES DEMARCHE ON SOMALIA AND PIRACY [...] On February 25, Post delivered all points in reftel to Vice Minister for Multilateral Affairs Adriana Mejia-Hernandez and MFA Director for U.S. and Canadian Affairs Patricia Cortes. MFA officials thanked us for the information. We do not anticipate a substantive GOC response. Brownfiel [...] | 2008-02-26 15:44:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PBTS PREL KCRM CO |
08BOGOTA693 | COLOMBIA RECEIVES DEMOCRATIC CUBA DEMARCHE [...] On February 25, Post delivered all points in reftel to MFA Director for U.S. and Canadian Affairs Patricia Cortes. We will press MFA contacts for possible GOC actions in response to the recent developments in Cuba and will report on any actions taken. . Brownfield [...] | 2008-02-26 15:44:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL CO |
08BOGOTA695 | COLOMBIA'S PRO-TPA UNIONS TO FORM THEIR OWN LABOR [...] SUMMARY. On February 14, representatives from over 60 unions who support the U.S - Colombia Trade Promotion Act (TPA) proposed forming a new labor group (central) as an alternative to the three main labor confederations that oppose the TPA. The 60 unions -- which represent more than 45,000 w [...] | 2008-02-26 17:01:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ELAB PGOV PHUM CO |
08BOGOTA712 | ECOPETROL ANNOUNCES PLAN TO TRIPLE OIL PRODUCTION [...] (U) Amid strong investment in Colombia's oil and gas sector (ref A),state-owned hydrocarbons company Ecopetrol announced February 25 plans to increase its annual production to 1 million barrels per day (bpd) by 2015. Ecopetrol intends to direct much of the proceeds from its successful partia [...] | 2008-02-26 20:56:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ENRG EPET ECON PGOV CO |
08BOGOTA713 | COLOMBIA BANKING ON TOURISM BOOM -- BUT IS IT [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: A record-breaking 1.3 million foreign visitors traveled to Colombia in 2007. Improved security, better facilities, and a booming cruise business contributed to the growth. With a new master plan for tourism, more hotels under construction, and increased flights to the U.S. [...] | 2008-02-26 21:40:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON EINV CO |
08BOGOTA716 | COUNTRY TEAM ASSESSMENT ON SUBMARINE COMBAT [...] The Colombian Navy (COLNAV) seeks to purchase two U.S. submarine combat systems -- equivalent to either the AN/BYG-1 or SUBICS 9000. This purchase intends to modernize combat systems and capabilities on the Navy's two Type 209 submarines and keep them operational for an estimated 20 addition [...] | 2008-02-26 23:33:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | MARR PGOV PTER CO |
08BOGOTA736 | SCENESETTER FOR FEBRUARY 29-MARCH 2 VISIT OF [...] (U) Your visit comes as Colombia experiences a dramatic transformation, fostered by targeted U.S. assistance. Colombia finds itself safer, economically stronger, better governed and more democratic than it has been in decades. Rates of murder, kidnapping, and violence nationwide, including aga [...] | 2008-02-28 00:16:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD EFIN PGOV EAID CO |
08BOGOTA737 | SCENESETTER FOR FEBRUARY 29-MARCH 3 VISIT OF LABOR [...] No summary [...] | 2008-02-28 00:56:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ELAB ETRD CO |
08BOGOTA741 | COLOMBIA LOOKS TO NEIGHBORS TO PICK UP SLACK IN [...] (U) SUMMARY: Colombian exports to Venezuela jumped 87% in 2007; however, increased diplomatic and economic tensions and Venezuelan efforts to reduce Colombian trade have caused Colombian exporters to look for alternative markets. Local experts tell us Colombia's automobile and textile/apparel [...] | 2008-02-28 15:08:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD ECON CO |
08BOGOTA794 | POPULAR WOMEN'S ORGANIZATION MEMBERS ALLEGE [...] (SBU) Polcouns visited a Popular Women's Organization (OFP) office in Barrancabermeja and also made remarks at the inauguration of a new OFP office in Bucaramanga on February 13. Members of the group told Polcouns about the threats against their group by so-called "paramilitaries" and other [...] | 2008-03-03 19:33:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM PTER OAS CO |
08BOGOTA800 | COLOMBIAN FORCES KILL FARC'S KEY LEADER, SPURRING \ [...] (U) Summary: The GOC announced March 1 that its military \ forces killed Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) \ Secretariat member Raul Reyes in a cross-border operation in \ \ SIPDIS \ Ecuador. Reyes' death shattered the FARC's myth of \ invincibility, and boosted popular support for Pr [...] | 2008-03-04 00:29:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREF PREL PTER CASC SP PM FR VZ SZ CO |
08BOGOTA812 | LABOR CONFEDERATIONS CRITICIZE GOC'S LABOR REFORM [...] (U) Colombia's three main labor confederations criticized the GOC's labor reform package which is pending in Congress. The unions applauded the proposed transfer of authority for declaring whether a strike is legal from the executive to the judiciary, but said the two bills (Legality of Strike [...] | 2008-03-04 20:01:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PTER PGOV PREL ECON SOCI CO |
08BOGOTA821 | CAMBIO RADICAL: STRONGER THAN EVER [...] (C) Governing coalition party Cambio Radical made significant gains in the October 2007 local elections, emerging as the one of Colombia's four leading parties in the run up to the 2010 presidential elections. Cambio supports Uribe's "democratic security" policy, free trade, and close relatio [...] | 2008-03-04 22:47:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR CO |
08BOGOTA827 | COLOMBIA RESPONDS CALMLY TO VENEZUELA AND ECUADOR [...] (C) After Venezuela's announcement on March 4 that it would close its border with Colombia, the GOC re-stated that it would not send troops to the Venezuelan or Ecuadorian borders. Ecuadorian President Correa confirmed in a Colombian radio interview that he authorized GOE contacts with the FA [...] | 2008-03-05 01:56:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREF PREL PTER MOPS VZ SP FR SZ EC CO |
08BOGOTA834 | FTA'S IMPACT ON SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZE BUSINESSES [...] (U) SUMMARY: Small and medium size enterprises (SME) in Colombia expect to benefit from the U.S.-Colombian Trade Promotion Agreement (CTPA) as it grows the overall economy and increases domestic demand. SMEs will also benefit from cheaper inputs and increased capital investment flows. Accordi [...] | 2008-03-05 21:39:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD ECON CO |
08BOGOTA838 | COLOMBIA: REPORT ON FISCAL TRANSPARENCY [...] (U) The following information responds to request in reftel. Colombian Government Efforts ---------------------------- 2. (SBU) Under the administration of President Alvaro Uribe, the Colombian government (GOC) has made significant progress on increasing accountability and transparency. N [...] | 2008-03-05 22:55:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAID ECON PREL PGOV CO |
08BOGOTA839 | MARCH 5 UPDATE ON COLOMBIA'S DISPUTE WITH ECUADOR [...] (C) Colombia's border with Venezuela remained partially closed on March 5, as the GOV confirmed that its troop deployments on the border were 90 percent complete (reftel). The border with Ecuador remained open. The GOC reiterated that it would not deploy troops to its borders. GOC Deputy Fo [...] | 2008-03-05 23:07:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PREF PTER MOPS VZ EC SP FR SZ CO |
08BOGOTA856 | BOGOTA'S NOMINEE FOR TRAINING ON FORCED LABOR AND [...] Post nominates Labor and Human Rights Officer Kelly A. Hapka (Kelly H. Carrillo on the e-mail system). 2. Mrs. Hapka-Carrrillo is expected to depart post on July 2009. 3. Colombia is a high priority country with critical labor and human rights issues. The labor officer in Colombia is [...] | 2008-03-06 15:53:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | AMGT ELAB OTRA PHUM |
08BOGOTA901 | WEATHERING THE VENEZUELA/ECUADOR CRISIS - GOC AND [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. Following meetings with business leaders, the GOC has announced a four-point contingency plan to stimulate the Colombian economy in the event Venezuela cuts all trade with Colombia for the killing of FARC senior leader Raul Reyes in Ecuador (ref A). While presented as a worst-c [...] | 2008-03-06 19:49:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ETRD PGOV BEXP CO |
08BOGOTA902 | PARAMILITARY DEMOBILIZATION CREATES GREATER [...] (C) Local civic and Catholic church leaders said the paramilitary demobilization and parapolitical investigations created new political space in the Medio Magdelena region, noting the triumph of reformist mayors in southern Bolivar department and Barrancabermeja in the October local elections. [...] | 2008-03-06 21:07:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PGOV PREL ECON SOCI CO |
08BOGOTA903 | MARCH 6 UPDATE: COLOMBIA DISPUTE WITH ECUADOR AND [...] (U) Venezuela continued to restrict the import of Colombian goods and people into Venezuela in response to the GOC's March 1 attack against the FARC in Ecuador (reftel). Still, the flow of food and other perishable products continued. Businessmen reported GOV authorities were lifting restrict [...] | 2008-03-06 21:53:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PREF PTER MOPS ETRD VZ FR SP SZ EC NU |
08BOGOTA905 | COLOMBIA CONFLICT UPDATE FOR SEPTEMBER-DECEMBER [...] (S) The military killed two key FARC commanders in the September-December period, prompting desertions from the 16th and 37th fronts. The FARC continued to move forces from the eastern Macarena in Meta to parts of Tolima -Valle zone, leading some analysts to speculate that it is withdrawing [...] | 2008-03-06 23:29:00 | Embassy Bogota | SECRET | PREL PTER MARR PGOV CO |
08BOGOTA911 | VENEZUELAN NATIONALIZATION THREAT RATTLES [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Adding fuel to the diplomatic crisis between Colombia and Ecuador over the killing of FARC senior commander Raul Reyes (ref A),Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez warned he may nationalize Colombian companies operating in Venezuela. While a number of Colombian private sector repr [...] | 2008-03-07 21:09:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD ECON PREL PGOV CO |
08BOGOTA917 | COLOMBIANS MARCH FOR VICTIMS OF PARA AND STATE [...] (U) Summary: On March 6, tens of thousands marched in cities in Colombia to commemorate victims of paramilitary and state violence. Turnout was less than that of the February 4 march against the FARC, but participation exceeded organizers' expectations. March organizer Ivan Cepeda, head of t [...] | 2008-03-07 23:52:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PINR CO |
08BOGOTA918 | COLOMBIA RESPONSE TO 2008 IAGGA REPORT [...] The GOC continues to make progress on fighting corruption and increasing accountability and transparency. In the past two years, the GOC took significant steps to reform its criminal justice system, increase transparency in public expenditure, modernize public procurement, and ensure account [...] | 2008-03-07 23:55:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | KCOR KCRM CO |
08BOGOTA919 | MARCH 7 UPDATE ON COLOMBIA'S DISPUTE WITH ECUADOR, [...] (C) The flow of goods and people into Venezuela along the Colombian border was further restricted on March 7, but passage of food and perishables continued. The Colombia-Ecuador border remained open. The Ambassador reiterated to Acting Foreign Minister Mejia and Defense Minister Santos the USG [...] | 2008-03-08 00:08:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREF PREL PTER VZ SP FR SZ EC CO |
08BOGOTA921 | MILITARY JUSTICE OFFSITE YIELDS PROGRESS [...] At an offsite conference in Paipa organized and funded primarily by SOUTHCOM with USAID and DOJ support, senior Ministry of Defense and Prosecutor General's office officials made progress in addressing extrajudicial killings by military personnel. Participants discussed their interpretations [...] | 2008-03-08 16:02:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PGOV PHUM KJUS CO |
08BOGOTA937 | COLOMBIA MAKES SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION TO ACCUSATORY [...] Summary: On January 1, 2008, Colombia initiated the final phase of a four-year, phased implementation of its new Criminal Procedure Code which introduces an accusatory criminal justice system. Implementation of the new system, which began on January 1, 2005, has largely been viewed as a succ [...] | 2008-03-10 20:58:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | KJUS PGOV PREL PTER CO |
08BOGOTA940 | COLOMBIA'S EIGHT ANNUAL ANTI-TRAFFICKING IN [...] (U) Embassy point of contact on trafficking in persons is human rights officer Scott Fagan, phone number (57-1) 383-2122, fax number (57-1) 315-2163. Officer spent 48 hours preparing the report. 2. (U) Responses below are to questions in paragraphs 27-30 of reftel. ------- SUMMARY --- [...] | 2008-03-10 22:12:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KCRM PHUM KWMN SMIG KFRD ASEC PREF ELAB CO |
08BOGOTA941 | MARCH 10 UPDATE ON COLOMBIA DISPUTE WITH ECUADOR, [...] (C) Colombia's borders with Venezuela and Ecuador returned to normal March 8-9, following the March 7 Rio Group resolution of the crisis over the GOC's March 1 attack against the FARC in Ecuador. Venezuela agreed to renew diplomatic relations with Colombia; Ecuador said it would consult wit [...] | 2008-03-10 22:25:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PREL PTER VZ EC CO |
08BOGOTA955 | DECREE ON ADMINISTRATIVE REPARATIONS FOR VICTIMS [...] Summary: The National Commission of Reparations and Reconciliation (CNRR),Ministry of Interior and Justice (MOIJ),other government agencies, and civil society are consulting on a draft decree to set up an administrative reparations scheme. This would avoid the lengthy delays under the curr [...] | 2008-03-11 20:44:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | KJUS PGOV PREL PTER CO |
08BOGOTA956 | REPARATIONS DECREE CONSULTATIONS GIVE VICTIMS [...] The National Commission for Reparation and Reconciliation (CNRR) held ten regional consultations with hundreds of victims groups and the general public to discuss the draft reparations decree. The meetings provided victims an opportunity to voice their concerns and offer ideas to improve the [...] | 2008-03-11 21:07:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | KJUS PGOV PREL PTER CO |
08BOGOTA970 | SECRETARY GUTIERREZ AND CHAO DELEGATION MEETS WITH [...] Participants: UNITED STATES Secretary Carlos Gutierrez SIPDIS Secretary Elaine L. Chao SIPDIS Steven Preston, Administrator, Small Business Administration Ambassador William R. Brownfield Senator Bob Corke, R-TM Representative Tom Davis, R-VA Representative Edolphus Towns, D-NY [...] | 2008-03-12 17:52:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PTER PGOV PREL ECON SOCI CO |
08BOGOTA971 | COLOMBIA INCREASES TRANSGENIC CROP CULTIVATION [...] (U) SUMMARY: Colombia's planting of Genetically Modified (GM),or transgenic, crops, while small compared to some other countries in the region, grew by 23 percent in 2007. Experts believe the increase demonstrates that Colombia does not oppose GM agriculture, and told us that local devel [...] | 2008-03-12 18:00:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAGR ECON SENV TBIO CO |
08BOGOTA989 | ELN LEADERSHIP SPLIT BRINGS PROPOSAL FOR MINI [...] (C) ELN spokesman Francisco Galan is frustrated with the group's dithering on GOC peace proposals, and is considering splitting from the group. He is seeking a meeting with President Uribe to gain the president's approval of a plan to pursue regional peace initiatives with ELN fronts in Narin [...] | 2008-03-13 19:13:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PREF PTER PHUM CO |
08BOGOTA996 | MARCH 13 UPDATE: COLOMBIA DISPUTE WITH ECUADOR [...] (C) The GOC used a March 10-12 visit to Colombia by OAS SYG Insulza and the OAS Commission examining the March 1 GOC attack against the FARC in Ecuador to provide a "frank and detailed" briefing on the attack. Presidential advisor Jorge Eastman told us Insulza seemed impressed by the GOC's br [...] | 2008-03-13 22:20:00 | Embassy Bogota | SECRET | PGOV PHUM PREF PREL PTER OAS VZ SP FR SZ EC |
08BOGOTA997 | LOAN DEFAULTS RISE WITH INCREASE IN CONSUMER CREDIT [...] SUMMARY: After five years of strong economic growth, consumer credit has reached record levels in Colombia. However, the rise in consumer lending has also led to an increase in loan defaults and suggestions that such defaults could harm the solvency of Colombia's booming financial sector (reft [...] | 2008-03-13 23:33:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | EFIN ECON CO |
08BOGOTA998 | AMBASSADOR AND FM DISCUSS MARCH 17 OAS MINISTERIAL [...] (C) The Ambassador shared the USG position regarding the March 17 Organization of American States (OAS) Ministerial with FM Araujo on March 13. Araujo said the GOC hopes the upcoming meeting will end tensions between Ecuador and Colombia, and produce agreement on an OAS regional mechanism to [...] | 2008-03-13 23:53:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER PGOV OAS EC CO |
09BOGOTA1 | MEDELLIN DREAMS OF SILICON VALLEY [...] SUMMARY. The Department of Antioquia, through its industrial hub Medellin, aspires to become the leading science and technology (S&T) development area of Colombia. The Medellin Mayor's Office has identified S&T as one of its four growth sectors and a priority for channeling public and private [...] | 2009-01-01 00:01:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON ETRD KCIS PGOV EINV CO |
09BOGOTA100 | COLOMBIA: DEMARCHE ON AIRES SERVICE TO FT. [...] (SBU) On January 9 Econoff delivered copies of ref email points to Claudia Esguerra, Director of International Affairs & Regulations at AeroCivil. Esguerra said she supported the AIRES route and would send official notification to DOT of their selection of Ft. Lauderdale as a city on the rout [...] | 2009-01-13 18:04:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAIR EINV ECON PGOV ETRD EFIN CO |
09BOGOTA1012 | COLOMBIA LABOR UPDATE [...] (C) The labor-affiliated National Union School (ENS) reports seven cases of unionist homicides so far in 2009. Since its inception in October 2006, the Prosecutor General's (Fiscalia) labor sub-unit has obtained convictions of 126 individuals for labor-related crimes. In total, the Fiscalia [...] | 2009-03-27 19:54:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | ELAB PGOV PHUM PREL SOCI CO |
09BOGOTA1014 | AMBASSADOR'S VISIT TO MEDELLIN, ANTIOQUIA [...] (U) On March 10-11, the Ambassador traveled to Medellin on the occasion of a State Department-sponsored workshop on protecting cultural patrimony. Antioquia Governor Luis Alfredo Ramos and Mayor Alonso Salazar Jaramillo told the Ambassador that the security situation had improved with the Rev [...] | 2009-03-27 21:46:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV SCUL EAID SNAR PHUM PTER PREF ECON CO |
09BOGOTA1027 | JUSTICE AND FOREIGN MINISTERS PROPOSE WAY FORWARD [...] No summary [...] | 2009-03-31 14:14:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KJUS PTER SNAR CO |
09BOGOTA1033 | POLO MODERATES SEACH FOR NEW CENTER-LEFT STRATEGY [...] The recent Polo Party Congress moved the Party further to the left, alienating more pragmatic members and weakening its general electoral appeal. Leading Polo moderates, including former Bogota Mayor Lucho Garzon and Senator Gustavo Petro, are frustrated with the Polo's sectarian internal poli [...] | 2009-03-31 17:56:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR CO |
09BOGOTA1040 | EMBASSY BOGOTA RESPONSE - AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN [...] No summary [...] | 2009-03-31 21:45:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL AF NATO PK MARR MOPS CO |
09BOGOTA1047 | MARCH HUMAN RIGHTS UPDATE [...] (U) Bogota's Superior Court issued the first conviction of a participant under the Justice and Peace Law. Fliers calling for "social cleansing" have appeared in over 20 cities. The Supreme Court reopened the case of retired General Rito Alejo del Rio for alleged paramilitary collaboration in [...] | 2009-04-01 16:06:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KJUS CO |
09BOGOTA1103 | EMBASSY BOGOTA RESPONSE - ICJ ADVISORY OPINION ON [...] Post delivered all points in reftel on March 27 to the MFA Director for the U.S. and Canadian Affairs Patricia Cortes. On March 30, and again on April 2, post followed up with her office to solicit the GOC's response. Adriana Maldonada, from the U.S. and Canadian Affairs Office, told us our d [...] | 2009-04-02 18:04:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | AORC PREL ICJ KV CO |
09BOGOTA1104 | URIBE CONDITIONS PEACE TALKS ON VERIFIABLE END TO [...] (C) President Uribe reiterated on March 31 that the FARC would have to verifiably cease all criminal activities if the group wanted to engage the GOC on peace talks. Uribe's comments followed the FARC's open letter to "Colombians for Peace," in which it voiced its willingness to discuss a hu [...] | 2009-04-02 19:20:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PREF PTER PHUM CO |
09BOGOTA1108 | NAS MONTHLY REPORT FOR FEBRUARY 2009 [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Due to poor weather, 6,410 total hectares were sprayed in February; eradication aircraft were involved in one hostile fire incident. February's operations in Tumaco included several NAS humanitarian missions to aid victims of floods and violence. The GOC's 2009 manual eradicat [...] | 2009-04-02 21:44:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR SENV KCRM PTER CO |
09BOGOTA1110 | COLOMBIA'S GOALS AT THE APRIL 17-19 SUMMIT OF THE [...] (C) The GOC's focus in the April 17-19 Summit of the Americas is primarily bilateral. President Uribe told the Ambassador on March 30 that he hopes to have an individual meeting with President Obama. Substantively, he is seeking a clear indication of the way forward on the U.S.-Colombia Free [...] | 2009-04-02 22:26:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KSUM PGOV PREL CO |
09BOGOTA1113 | COLOMBIA NEGOTIATES NEW AGREEMENT WITH UN TO MONITOR COCA [...] SUMMARY: The Colombian government (GOC) and the United Nations Office of Drug Control (UNODC) in Colombia have signed a new agreement on how the UNODC conducts its annual coca cultivation census. The GOC requested to renegotiate the agreement after the UNODC reported a 27 percent increase in [...] | 2009-04-03 12:16:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR PGOV KCRM PTER CO |
09BOGOTA1120 | GOC PROCEEDS WITH PRIVATIZATION OF PROTECTION [...] (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 c [...] | 2009-04-03 15:59:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | ELAB KJUS PHUM PREL PGOV CO |
09BOGOTA1123 | COLOMBIA CHILD LABOR INFORMATION FOR TRADE AND [...] (U) The following is Embassy Bogota's update on Colombia's efforts to implement its international commitments to eliminate the worst forms of child labor, as required under the Trade and Development Act (TDA) of 2000. 2. (U) LAWS AND REGULATIONS PROSCRIBING THE WORST FORMS OF CHILD LABO [...] | 2009-04-03 20:15:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ELAB EING ETRD PHUM SOCI PGOV PTER CO |
09BOGOTA1126 | AWA INDIGENOUS SEARCH FOR MEMBERS SLAIN BY FARC; 8 [...] (U) An indigenous humanitarian mission of 600 returned to the Awa community in Narino department where the FARC killed at least eight Awa members in February. Search parties found eight bodies in the area. The mission was greatly complicated by security concerns, which also prevented any int [...] | 2009-04-06 14:50:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PREF PHUM SMIG SNAR SOCI CO |
09BOGOTA1203 | COLOMBIA'S YEAR FOR THE BOOKS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST DRUGS [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: In 2008, the NAS coordinated closely with the Colombian Government to achieve sustainable nationalization for USG-supported programs. With significant help from the USG, the Colombian Government made great strides in battling narcoterrorism and denying Foreign Terrorist Organiz [...] | 2009-04-08 19:58:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR PREL PGOV CO |
09BOGOTA1208 | COLOMBIA: PROPOSED ACTION PLAN TO ENSURE CONTINUED [...] (C) The Colombian Supreme Court's recent denial of seven U.S. extradition requests marked the Court's shift to a more restrictive interpretation of Colombia's constitutional limits on extradition. The shift reflects a longstanding debate in Colombian judicial circles, a nationalist backlash [...] | 2009-04-08 21:20:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER SNAR KJUS CO |
09BOGOTA1214 | COLOMBIA: OUTREACH ON ENERGY AND CLIMATE [...] No summary [...] | 2009-04-13 20:00:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ENRG ECON SENV KGHG KSUM PGOV PREL CO |
09BOGOTA1248 | U.S. GOVERNMENT AIDS IN THE CAPTURE OF COLOMBIAN NUMBER ONE [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: At approximately 8:40 a.m. on April 15, Colombian National Police (CNP) captured paramilitary head and narcotrafficker Daniel Rendon Herrera, alias "Don Mario." "Don Mario" led a large criminal organization that engaged in drug trafficking, weapons trafficking, and other narcot [...] | 2009-04-15 22:43:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR SENV KCRM PTER CO |
09BOGOTA1249 | COLOMBIA: TERRORISM FINANCE COORDINATION OFFICER [...] No summary [...] | 2009-04-16 14:47:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | EFIN KTFN ETTC PTER CO |
09BOGOTA1252 | NEW INTELLIGENCE LAW CREATES UNIFIED FRAMEWORK AND [...] (C) The Colombian Congress recently passed Law 1288 which sets up a unified legal framework for domestic intelligence gathering, establishes a Joint Intelligence Council to facilitate intelligence sharing, and creates a congressional intelligence oversight committee. GOC officials say the law [...] | 2009-04-16 17:58:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PINR PREL PTER PHUM KJUS CO |
09BOGOTA1253 | COLOMBIA RESPONSE ON SUPPORT FOR KOSOVO'S [...] No summary [...] | 2009-04-16 18:12:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN PREL PGOV CO |
09BOGOTA1255 | COLOMBIA RESPONSE: UNASUR MULTILATERAL MEETINGS IN [...] Post passed points in reftel to the Ministry of Foreign Relations Office of U.S. and Canadian Affairs official Adriana Maldonado. The MFA confirmed that President Alvaro Uribe and Foreign Minister Jaime Bermudez will attend the UNASUR meeting with President Obama during the Summit of the Amer [...] | 2009-04-16 19:59:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | AMGT AORC APER BEXP ECON EFIN ENRG ETRD KSUM |
09BOGOTA1270 | COLOMBIA SKIRTING RECESSION [...] (C) SUMMARY: Colombia's economy has slowed dramatically as a result of falling international demand for exports, a decline in investment, and weak domestic consumption. GDP growth for 2008 fell to 2.5 percent after reaching a high of 7.5 percent in 2007. The final quarter of 2008 registered [...] | 2009-04-17 16:53:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN PGOV CO |
09BOGOTA1283 | NAS MONTHLY REPORT FOR MARCH 2009 [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Aerial eradicators sprayed 10,920 total hectares in March; this number brought the calendar year total to 23,200 hectares of coca sprayed. Eradication aircraft were involved in three hostile fire incidents, resulting in four impacts for a total for the year of seven hostile f [...] | 2009-04-20 11:43:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR SENV KCRM PTER CO |
09BOGOTA1294 | COLOMBIA AND BRAZIL MOVING AHEAD ON JOINT SECURITY [...] (C) The GOC is reaching out to Brazil and Peru to raise its regional profile and improve trade and security relations with its neighbors. Colombian and Brazil recently concluded an agreement to jointly monitor each other's airspace to combat illegal armed groups (the FARC) and narco-traffickin [...] | 2009-04-20 20:57:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM KJUS CO SNAR |
09BOGOTA1299 | COLOMBIA SEEKS USD 10.4 BILLON IMF CREDIT LINE AS [...] (SBU) Citing uncertainty over the outlook for the Colombian economy amid the global downturn, Finance Minister Oscar Ivan Zuluaga announced April 20 the Colombian government's decision to request a USD 10.4 billion flexible line of credit from the International Monetary Fund. The decision fol [...] | 2009-04-21 23:16:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EFIN ECON PGOV CO |
09BOGOTA1334 | COLOMBIA DCA TALKS MOVE AHEAD DESPITE OBSTACLES [...] (C) U.S. and Colombian delegations reached tentative agreement on more than half of the draft text during round three of the Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA) negotiations in Bogota on April 14-16. Still, key provisions remain unresolved, with the GOC insisting it cannot meet some U.S. requ [...] | 2009-04-23 16:52:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR PREL MOPS PGOV MCAP KTIA PTER CO |
09BOGOTA1336 | COLOMBIA - CODEX COMMITTEE ON FOOD LABELING (CCFL) [...] No summary [...] | 2009-04-23 20:43:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD TBIO ECON CO |
09BOGOTA1338 | FARC CONTINUES HOSTAGE RELEASE STRATEGY TO STAY IN [...] (C) The FARC offered to release police hostage Pablo Moncayo in response to requests from "Colombians for Peace," the Piedad Cordoba-led group which advocates a humanitarian exchange. Peace Commissioner Frank Pearl told the Ambassador the GOC could not accept a humanitarian accord, and said it [...] | 2009-04-23 21:43:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PREF PTER PHUM CO |
09BOGOTA1352 | SENATE INVESTIGATION INTO SOACHA FALSE POSITIVE [...] (C) A public meeting convoked by the Colombian Senate on the Soacha killings turned heated when Senator Galan challenged Defense Minister Santos' claim that extrajudicial killings stopped after the GOC's high-profile dismissal of 27 military officers for the Soacha murders on October 30 last y [...] | 2009-04-24 18:48:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV PREL KJUS MOPS MARR PTER MASS CO |
09BOGOTA1359 | CODEL HOYER FOCUSES ON FTA AND PLAN COLOMBIA IN [...] (SBU) Summary. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer led a Congressional Delegation to Cartagena and Medellin, Colombia, from April 6-8, 2009. President Uribe outlined to the delegation the progress Colombia has made, with U.S. support, on counternarcotics efforts and the fact that much remains t [...] | 2009-04-27 18:12:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL ETRD OREP PGOV ECON CO |
09BOGOTA1361 | COLOMBIA MANDATES FLEX FUEL VEHICLES DESPITE [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Under a new government decree, local automakers and importers will be required to sell only flex-fuel vehicles capable of running on any mixture of gasoline and ethanol up to 85 percent ethanol (E85). The decree phases in the requirement for new small vehicles beginning in 2012 [...] | 2009-04-27 19:34:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ENRG PGOV ECON SENV CO |
09BOGOTA1364 | GOC CELEBRATES DON MARIO'S ARREST, BUT CONCERNS [...] (C) GOC officials celebrated the April 15 arrests of major narcotraffickers Daniel Rendon Herrera (aka "Don Mario") and Jose Leonardo Munoz (alias "Douglas"),noting that the detentions will disrupt drug flows in northern Colombia and send an important message to the public that no one is invi [...] | 2009-04-27 22:23:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER SNAR PHUM KJUS CO |
09BOGOTA1369 | CONGRESS MOVES TOWARDS APPROVAL OF CONTROVERSIAL [...] (SBU) Summary: Victim's of Colombia's conflict have suffered death, kidnapping, rape, and the loss of land and other assets. The Justice and Peace Law (JPL) was the GOC's initial attempt to provide reparations to victims. Still, to date almost no victims have received reparations under the [...] | 2009-04-28 15:32:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM KJUS CO |
09BOGOTA1374 | URIBE SAYS ONLY THE INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS AND [...] (C) President Uribe ruled out any role for Piedad Cordoba and her "Colombians for Peace" group in further FARC hostage releases at a Town Hall meeting on April 25, saying only the ICRC and Catholic Church are authorized to facilitate such releases. Uribe said the GOC would not allow new relea [...] | 2009-04-28 19:54:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PREF PTER PHUM BR CO |
09BOGOTA1376 | INVESTMENT EXPERT HIGHLIGHTS BENEFITS OF RENEWABLE [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: With funding from the Bureau of International Information Programs (IIP),Embassy Bogota hosted the visit of Mapa Group Partner and renewable energy investment expert J.F. Scarborough April 19-22 to inform local audiences and policymakers about international investment trends in [...] | 2009-04-28 21:55:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ENRG SENV ECON EINV PGOV CO |
09BOGOTA1377 | COLOMBIA: FOREIGN BROADBAND DEPLOYMENT INITIATIVES [...] SUMMARY. Internet usage has grown to 40 percent of the Colombian population in the last ten years, with internet subscriptions rising at an annual rate of 75 percent. Over 73 percent of internet subscribers use broadband. Despite the growth, Colombia's subscription penetration average rema [...] | 2009-04-28 22:27:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ECPS ECON CO EINT EINV ETTC |
09BOGOTA1379 | AIR BRIDGE DENIAL: MARCH 2009 PROGRAM UPDATE [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. This is the monthly Air Bridge Denial (ABD) activity report for March, 2009, as required by Reftel. The Government of Colombia (GOC) sorted 4,698 tracks during December. Six were declared Unknown, Assumed Suspect (UAS). One resulted in a Phase I event with the event ending wh [...] | 2009-04-29 16:20:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR PREL MOPS MASS PGOV CO |
09BOGOTA1385 | SUPREME COURT ELECTS NEW PRESIDENT [...] (C) After more than one hundred votes and a four month delay, the Supreme Court elected Augusto Ibanez as its new President. The delay reflected divisions between magistrates who favor a confrontational approach toward the executive and those who want lower Court-Executive tensions. Ibanez co [...] | 2009-04-29 20:25:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER KJUS CO |
09BOGOTA1412 | DAS DOMESTIC SPYING SCANDAL DEEPENS [...] (C) Colombia's leading newsweekly "Semana" broke new details on domestic spying by the Department of Administrative Security (DAS),alleging the DAS maintained an extensive illegal surveillance program against GOC opponents and Supreme Court magistrates. "Semana" claims the DAS has had a uni [...] | 2009-05-04 19:50:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM KJUS CO |
09BOGOTA1415 | DAS DOMESTIC SPYING SCANDAL DEEPENS [...] (C) Colombia's leading newsweekly "Semana" broke new details on domestic spying by the Department of Administrative Security (DAS),alleging the DAS maintained an extensive illegal surveillance program against GOC opponents and Supreme Court magistrates. "Semana" claims the DAS has had a uni [...] | 2009-05-04 19:50:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM KJUS CO |
09BOGOTA1431 | COLOMBIAN-VENEZUELA TRADE SLUMPS AS TRADE [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. Following two years of banner growth for Colombian exports to Venezuela, 2009 will likely see a significant contraction in bilateral trade due to the global downturn. The GOC continues to be frustrated in its attempts to engage Venezuela on some sort of agreement to govern bil [...] | 2009-05-05 17:43:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ETRD PREL CO |
09BOGOTA1442 | APRIL HUMAN RIGHTS UPDATE [...] The Prosecutor General (Fiscalia) asked for a 60-year sentence against ex-Senator Alvaro Garcia Romero for his role in facilitating paramilitary massacres, and charged former Cesar Governor Alvaro Araujo Noguera and his son, ex-Senator Alvaro Araujo Castro, for conspiring with paramilitaries t [...] | 2009-05-05 20:40:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PGOV KJUS PTER CO |
09BOGOTA145 | HOMICIDES CONTINUE ON DOWNWARD TREND IN COLOMBIA [...] (U) The GOC's preliminary numbers for 2008 showed that homicides dropped from 16,318 in 2007 to 15,200 in 2008, a 6.8 percent decrease. Atlantico and Meta saw a ten percent reduction due to an increase in Police operations and military presence. Still, some regions -- including Medellin -- [...] | 2009-01-15 21:39:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV SNAR PTER PHUM KJUS CO |
09BOGOTA1453 | COLOMBIA: DEMARCHE ON TRADE BANS ON PORK DUE TO [...] No summary [...] | 2009-05-06 22:40:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | EAGR ETRD ECON KFLU TBIO CO |
09BOGOTA1462 | COLOMBIA COMMITTED TO RESTARTING DISCUSSIONS ON [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: The GOC remains committed to concluding a bilateral Science and Technology (S&T) agreement, but claims limited flexibility on intellectual property rights (IPR) language. GOC officials tell us reaching agreement on IPR language prior to the ratification of the U.S.- Colombia T [...] | 2009-05-07 22:43:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | TSPL EMIN EAGR TPHY TBIO SENV CO |
09BOGOTA1467 | COLOMBIA TRANSFORMING PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN LARGEST CITIES [...] Summary: Encouraged by the successful implementation of a bus rapid transit (BRT) system - locally known as TransMilenio - in Bogota, the GOC has launched an ambitious program to bring BRT to seven of Colombia's largest cities. While delays and cost overruns have complicated the effort, an e [...] | 2009-05-08 16:04:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ELTN SENV SOCI KGHG PGOV CO |
09BOGOTA1481 | COLOMBIA EAGER TO PURSUE ECPA COOPERATION [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: In a series of senior-level meetings April 29-30, GOC officials told State Western Hemisphere Affairs Director for Economic Policy and Summit Coordination Matt Rooney that Colombia was very interested in pursuing cooperation with the U.S. and regional partners under the Energy a [...] | 2009-05-11 21:49:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ENRG SENV PREL PGOV CO |
09BOGOTA1493 | AIR BRIDGE DENIAL: APRIL 2009 PROGRAM UPDATE [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. This is the monthly Air Bridge Denial (ABD) activity report for April, 2009, as required by Reftel. The Government of Colombia (GOC) sorted 3,408 tracks during April. Three were declared Unknown, Assumed Suspect (UAS). One resulted in a Phase II event with the event ending wh [...] | 2009-05-12 13:15:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR PREL MOPS MASS PGOV CO |
09BOGOTA1499 | COLOMBIA-CHILE FTA ENTERS INTO FORCE [...] (U) SUMMARY. Colombia's FTA with Chile, signed in 2006, entered into force on May 11, 2009. While the immediate impact will be minimal, the Agreement covers areas -- investment, intellectual property and agriculture -- not included in the two countries' previous trade accord. The entry-into [...] | 2009-05-12 18:43:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON ETRD ECIN PREL CO |
09BOGOTA15 | COLOMBIAN TRADE AGENDA: MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS IN [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. In 2008, Colombia made significant progress toward its stated goal of having nine free trade agreements with 45 countries by 2010. In addition to signing free trade agreements with Canada and EFTA, Colombia's Congress ratified FTAs with Central America's Northern Triangle and [...] | 2009-01-06 15:59:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ECIN ETRD PREL CO |
09BOGOTA1506 | URIBE PLEDGES TO PROTECT JUSTICES FROM ILLEGAL [...] (C) President Uribe met with the heads of Colombia's highest courts following press revelations that Colombia's Department of Administrative Security (DAS) had conducted illegal surveillance and harassment of Supreme Court magistrates. The press reported that the magistrates left the meeting [...] | 2009-05-13 14:28:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM KJUS CO |
09BOGOTA1515 | COLOMBIA-EU TRADE TALKS PROGRESS, EYEING JULY [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. The May 4-8 EU-Andean trade negotiation round produced concrete results and optimism that following two subsequent rounds Colombia and Peru might close their negotiations in July. Ecuador appears to be falling behind its two Andean neighbors and reportedly has asked for certain [...] | 2009-05-13 22:18:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ETRD ECIN CO |
09BOGOTA1534 | FARC DESERTIONS SLOW, BUT MILITARY REGAINS [...] (C) FARC desertions dropped nearly 20% in the first quarter of 2009, slowing for the first time since 2005. Kills and captures also fell. Still, some military officials believe that FARC desertions are starting to "cut to the bone," citing the defections of more senior members. The Colombia [...] | 2009-05-14 21:09:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | MOPS MCAP PGOV PREL PTER MARR PHUM SNAR CO |
09BOGOTA1539 | SCENESETTER FOR VISIT OF MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Your trip to Colombia will allow you the opportunity to see the incredible progress Colombia has made from a near failed state to an economic, political, and social leader in Latin America over the last decade. Despite Colombia's significant progress, USG support remains critica [...] | 2009-05-15 14:02:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN PGOV PREL OVIP EAID SNAR CO |
09BOGOTA1543 | COLOMBIA: DELIVERY OF DPRK DESIGNATIONS [...] No summary [...] | 2009-05-15 15:03:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EFIN ETTC KNNP AADP PREL PARM KN CO |
09BOGOTA1552 | CODHES REPORT SPARKS RENEWED DEBATE ON [...] (U) A local human rights group--the Consultancy for Human Rights and Displacement (CODHES)--recently reported a 24.5 percent increase in internally displaced persons (IDPs) in 2008. CODHES attributed the increase to GOC efforts to expand security, competition among illegal armed groups inclu [...] | 2009-05-15 20:19:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PHUM KCRM SMIG SNAR SOCI CO |
09BOGOTA1554 | CODEL LEVIN'S FACT-FINDING MISSION TO COLOMBIA [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: U.S. Representative Sander Levin, Chairman of the Trade Subcommittee, visited Bogota, Medellin, and Cali from April 12-17. President Alvaro Uribe outlined GOC efforts to reduce violence against trade union members, increase resolution of labor cases, protect vulnerable groups [...] | 2009-05-15 21:37:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL ETRD OREP PGOV ECON CO |
09BOGOTA156 | PRIVATE TV CHANNELS RENEW LICENSES; THIRD CHANNEL [...] SUMMARY: Private television channels Cadena Radial Colombiana (Caracol) and Radio Cadena Nacional de Colombia (RCN) and the National Television Commission (CNTV),after much debate, have reached an agreement to renew their license for another ten years. The agreement, signed one day before the [...] | 2009-01-16 21:38:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ECPS EINV SCUL ECON KPAO CO |
09BOGOTA1571 | FRANCISCO PATINO FONSECA ASSUMED DIRAN LEADERSHIP ON MAY 6, [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: On May 6, 2009, Colonel Francisco Patino Fonseca (promotable in June to Brigadier General) became the Director of DIRAN (Antinarcotics Section of the Colombian National Police-CNP),taking over from Brigadier General Alvaro Caro Melendez. COL Patino faces challenges such as en [...] | 2009-05-19 14:42:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR SENV KCRM PTER CO |
09BOGOTA1582 | SCENESETTER FOR VISIT OF USNS COMFORT TO COLOMBIA [...] (SBU) Post warmly welcomes the visit of the USNS Comfort and her crew to Colombia from June 6-17. The humanitarian and medical services you will provide will be welcomed by the Government of Colombia (GOC) and by the people of Tumaco, Narino -- one of the poorest areas of Colombia. Your visit [...] | 2009-05-19 21:45:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | MARR MASS MOPS PREL PGOV PTER OIIP SNAR CO |
09BOGOTA1587 | REELECTION BILL PASSES FINAL SENATE VOTE - THREE [...] (C) The Senate approved a bill on May 19, that would modify the constitution to allow the 2010 reelection of President Uribe in the fourth, and final, vote on the measure in Congress. The House version, which would allow for reelection only in 2014, and the Senate version will need to be reco [...] | 2009-05-20 20:03:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PREF PTER PHUM CO |
09BOGOTA1588 | AMBASSADOR BROWNFIELD PRESSES COLOMBIAN ARMY [...] (C) The Ambassador met Colombian Army Commander Oscar Gonzalez on May 8 to voice concern over extrajudicial killings and other human rights abuses. Gonzalez said the Army's Human Rights Directorate is facilitating the Prosecutor General Office's (Fiscalia) investigations of human rights cases and [...] | 2009-05-20 20:03:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL PGOV MARR MASS MCAP MOPS PTER CO |
09BOGOTA1595 | ERADICATION OF COCA -- GOOD NEWS FROM MANY FRONTS [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: In the last year numerous surveys, studies, and serious field reports have come out touting the success of eradication in reducing the amount of cocaine produced, the funding available to narcoterrorists, the amount of coca leaf available, and the amount of coca under cultivati [...] | 2009-05-20 20:16:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR PGOV KCRM PTER CO |
09BOGOTA1596 | DCM HIGHLIGHTS U.S. ASSISTANCE TO VULNERABLE POPULATIONS ON [...] No summary [...] | 2009-05-20 20:17:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAID ECON ENRG EPET PGOV CO SCUL SNAR PHUM PTER |
09BOGOTA1611 | COLOMBIA SUPPORTS KOSOVO WORLD BANK MEMBERSHIP [...] No summary [...] | 2009-05-21 17:56:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN PREL CO |
09BOGOTA1618 | DAS REVELATIONS KEEP COMING [...] (C) The DAS scandal returned to the headlines on May 13 with media reports that the Department of Administrative Security (DAS) had spied on leading opposition figures in the 2006 elections and that a former DAS official linked high-ranking GOC officials to the illegal surveillance of Supreme [...] | 2009-05-22 17:22:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM KJUS CO |
09BOGOTA1624 | DAS SCANDAL REIGNITES URIBE-COURT FEUD [...] (C) The longstanding feud between Colombia's judicial and executive branches reignited on May 14 after media reports claimed a former Department of Administrative Security (DAS) official had testified about high-level GOC involvement in the illegal surveillance and monitoring of Supreme Court [...] | 2009-05-22 20:04:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM KJUS CO |
09BOGOTA1632 | POLITICIAN WITH FARC CONTACTS REACHES OUT TO [...] (C) At the urging of National Conciliation Commission official Father Dario Echeverri, Polcouns met with XXXXXXXXXXXX-- a politician who was previously authorized by the GOC to transmit messages to the FARC. XXXXXXXXXXXX stressed he had no specific message for the USG, but wanted to establish a [...] | 2009-05-26 18:25:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PREL PGOV PHUM MOPS CO |
09BOGOTA168 | COLOMBIA'S NEW S&T LAW HIGHLIGHTS PUSH FOR [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: In December 2008 the Colombian Congress approved a Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Law, with the intention for STI to become a major driver of Colombian productivity and long-term economic stability. The law increases GOC funding available for STI activities and resea [...] | 2009-01-21 15:59:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON TSPL KCIS PGOV EINV CO |
09BOGOTA1690 | GOC STRUGGLES TO COUNTER ILLEGAL MINING [...] SUMMARY: Illegal mining is on the increase in Colombia, fueled by growing global markets, improved security in rural areas, and the difficulty of Colombia's law enforcement apparatus to effectively counter the well-heeled miners. Gold, platinum, and mercury extraction is most prevalent in th [...] | 2009-05-26 21:18:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON EMIN SENV EIND ENRG ELAB CO |
09BOGOTA1701 | SCENESETTER FOR VISIT OF CODEL MEEKS TO CARTAGENA AND [...] (SBU) Your attendance at the presentation of the Afro-Colombian Inter-Sectoral Commission's recommendations to Colombian Vice President Santos sends a strong signal of US support for the legitimate aspirations of this long-suffering minority. In addition to attending this meeting, you will mee [...] | 2009-05-28 11:28:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | OVIP PGOV EAID PHUM SNAR ECON PREL CO |
09BOGOTA1717 | CONTROVERSIAL RULING WOULD REDUCE COLOMBIA'S [...] (C) In a controversial ruling, the Colombian Council of State held that conscripted soldiers cannot engage in combat operations. The military leadership publicly criticized the Council's ruling, arguing that it would effectively remove half of the country's soldiers from combat and would prove [...] | 2009-05-28 17:47:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | MOPS MCAP PTER MARR PGOV PREL CO |
09BOGOTA1746 | COLOMBIA: FY09 JULIA TAFT REFUGEE FUND NOMINATION [...] (U) Post is pleased to nominate local Catholic charity Pastoral Social for a $20,000 USD grant from the Julia Taft Refugee Fund for a micro-credit/small grants program for a group of internally displaced persons (IDP) in Medellin, Colombia. Filling A Gap ------------- 2. (U) During a rece [...] | 2009-05-29 21:59:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PREF CO |
09BOGOTA1750 | COLOMBIA: NARCOTICS MAJOR 2010 REQUEST FOR REPORT CARD [...] (U) SUMMARY: Though Colombia remains a major producer and trafficker of illicit narcotics, the Government of Colombia (GOC) continues as an unwavering ally in the fight against both narcotics production and trafficking. Our core bilateral counternarcotics eradication and interdiction program [...] | 2009-06-01 11:31:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | SNAR SENV KCRM PTER CO |
09BOGOTA1751 | POINTS OF CONTENTION IN COLOMBIAN LABOR LAW [...] (U) Unionists claim Colombian labor laws prevent workers from exercising their basic rights to associate, negotiate, and strike. They want the GOC to repeal or modify Article 5 of the Substantive Labor Code (CST),which limits the definition of a "worker" to someone with a labor contract; Ar [...] | 2009-06-01 11:35:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ELAB PGOV PHUM PREL SOCI CO |
09BOGOTA1780 | CENTRAL BANK SLASHES RATES FURTHER, HINTS AT [...] (U) On May 29th the board of Colombia's central bank announced it would cut key interest rates 100 basis points to 5 percent in the wake of reports of falling consumer demand and industrial production. The drop is the sixth cut in rates since December of last year (500 basis points total) and [...] | 2009-06-03 15:54:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON EFIN CO |
09BOGOTA1810 | CIVAIR COLOMBIA: U.S. CARRIER DESIGNATION [...] No summary [...] | 2009-06-04 16:41:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | EAIR EINV ECON PGOV ETRD EFIN CO |
09BOGOTA1811 | UPCOMING ELECTION OF NEW DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE [...] No summary [...] | 2009-06-04 16:41:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ABUD AORC EAGR ECON ETRD PGOV CO |
09BOGOTA1813 | BANANA-SECTOR NEGOTIATIONS CONCLUDE POSITIVELY [...] (U) A strike that paralyzed banana exports for 13 days concluded on May 20 with an agreement to increase workers' salaries by 8% in the first year of a new collective bargaining agreement, and by the change in the local Consumer Price Index (CPI) in the second. Approximately 18,000 workers p [...] | 2009-06-04 17:49:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ELAB KJUS PHUM PREL PGOV CO |
09BOGOTA1814 | MCC MEETS WITH CROSS SECTION OF COLOMBIANS ON [...] (U) SUMMARY. During its initial visit to Colombia, a delegation from the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) explained the organization's mission and procedures to Colombian Government, civil society, and business communities. The delegation's interlocutors in Bogota and Cali identified i [...] | 2009-06-04 19:15:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAID ECON PREL PGOV CO |
09BOGOTA1824 | ARBITRARY DETENTION FOCUS OF HUMAN RIGHTS [...] Post's biannual certification consultations with human rights groups focused primarily on arbitrary detention. Participants reported the rate of detentions had declined under the new accusatory system. Still, they said the Colombian National Police (CNP) frequently abuse its right to provisi [...] | 2009-06-05 18:04:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PGOV PTER KJUS ELAB CO |
09BOGOTA1826 | MAY HUMAN RIGHTS UPDATE [...] (C) Local United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR) Deputy Director Javier Hernandez told us extrajudicial killings by security forces fell 50% from 2007 to 2008. He said UNHCHR does not consider Defense Ministry Directive 29 to have been a factor in "false positive" cases, [...] | 2009-06-05 21:57:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KJUS PTER ELAB CO |
09BOGOTA1829 | THE INFORMAL COLOMBIAN ECONOMY - WHY IS IT SO [...] (SBU) Summary: Despite several years of strong economic growth and economic liberalization, much of Colombia's economic activity continues to fall in the informal, unregulated and untaxed sector. Estimates of the size of the informal economy range from 48 to 60 percent of GDP, depending on how [...] | 2009-06-08 16:53:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EINV EAID PGOV PREL CO |
09BOGOTA1832 | LESSONS LEARNED FROM PLAN COLOMBIA [...] (C) SUMMARY AND INTRODUCTION. I asked my Country Team to distill our combined Colombia experience into a cable offering a selection of lessons learned that may be of use to our colleagues in Mexico and other countries confronting escalating drug trafficking and related violence. This is not [...] | 2009-06-08 19:26:00 | Embassy Bogota | SECRET//NOFORN | EAID SNAR PREL MOPS PTER MX CO |
09BOGOTA1845 | MILITARY HUMAN RIGHTS ADVANCES FACE GROWING [...] (C) President Uribe is increasingly sensitive to the need for further human rights progress within the military, publicly praising the efforts of former Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos in this regard. Current GOC human rights initiatives have garnered results: reducing extrajudicial kil [...] | 2009-06-09 16:29:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV PTER KJUS PREL MOPS MCAP CO |
09BOGOTA1850 | GOC WANTS TO CONCLUDE S&T AGREEMENT AS DELIVERABLE [...] (U) SUMMARY: The GOC reiterated its commitment to the U.S.-Colombia Science & Technology (S&T) Agreement and expressed urgency to reach an accord in the event that a potential Uribe-POTUS bilat takes place in the near future. Nonetheless, they still suggest numerous changes to the latest dra [...] | 2009-06-09 18:50:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON TSPL KCIS PGOV EINV CO |
09BOGOTA1853 | U PARTY MOVES AHEAD ON URIBE REELECTION--BUT ALSO [...] (C) President Uribe's allies remain focused on changing the Constitution to allow the president to run for a third term, but U party President Restrepo told us former-Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos would be the party's candidate if Uribe does not run. The bill to change the Constitution t [...] | 2009-06-09 22:09:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PREF PTER PHUM CO |
09BOGOTA1855 | NAS MONTHLY w5a hectares, with poor [...] No summary [...] | 2009-06-10 13:49:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR SENV KCRM PTER CO |
09BOGOTA1861 | AFRO-COLOMBIAN CAUCUS FINDS IT DIFFICULT TO MAKE [...] (C) The Afro-Colombian Caucus, which consists of ten legislators from nine political parties, has five of its members investigated or jailed for alleged corruption or ties to illegal armed groups. The Caucus has succeeded in highlighting Afro-Colombian issues, but has not been effective in [...] | 2009-06-10 17:13:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM CO |
09BOGOTA1867 | COLOMBIA CONFIRMS FIRST H1N1 DEATH [...] SUMMARY. The GOC reported its first H1N1 death, a 24 year-old woman from Bogota, on June 9. Media reports indicated that the deceased received negligent medical care, prompting the Ministry of Social Protection (MSP) to broaden its criteria that determine which patients undergo examinations [...] | 2009-06-10 21:16:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | AEMR ASEC CASC TBIO PREL KFLO KSAF KPAO KFLU |
09BOGOTA1879 | BOTH SIDES UP THE ANTE IN EXECUTIVE-COURT FEUD [...] (C) The ongoing feud between the executive and judicial branches heated up in the wake of the Supreme Court's June 4 conviction of two former congressmen for accepting bribes from GOC officials to help President Uribe's first reelection initiative. The Casa de Narino responded on June 7 by re [...] | 2009-06-11 19:19:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM KJUS CO |
09BOGOTA1891 | CONGRESSMAN GREGORY MEEKS VISIT TO CARTAGENA AND TUMACO [...] (SBU) Congressman Gregory Meeks visited Cartagena and Tumaco from May 28-31. In Cartagena, his attendance at the Afro-Colombian Commission's presentation of recommendations to Colombian Vice President Santos sent a strong signal of U.S. support for the legitimate aspirations of Afro-Colombian [...] | 2009-06-12 15:54:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | OVIP PGOV EAID PHUM SNAR ECON PREL CO |
09BOGOTA1894 | MEDELLIN'S MURDER RATE CONTINUES TO SOAR [...] (C) The murder rate in Medellin continues to soar, despite a late January GOC push to stem the increase. Medellin Secretary of Government Jesus Ramirez told us murders rose 80% in the city during the first five months of the year, compared with the same period in 2008. Ramirez and others att [...] | 2009-06-12 16:32:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM KJUS CO |
09BOGOTA19 | TURMOIL FROM PYRAMID SCHEME CURBS SOUTHERN OIL [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Protests and strikes over the collapse of several pyramid schemes and the government's closure of the largest reputed scheme (reftel) have cut production of some oil producers in southern Colombia over 90 percent since November 2008. While the cuts did not prevent Colombia's ov [...] | 2009-01-07 19:12:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ENRG ECON EFIN PGOV PINR CO |
09BOGOTA1969 | FAJARDO DISPELS IDEA OF A UNITED FRONT AMONG [...] (C) Former Medellin Mayor and leading independent presidential candidate Sergio Fajardo told us there is not a unified front among the five independent presidential candidates and stressed that he will not join any anti-Uribe alliance. He maintains good relations with President Uribe's advis [...] | 2009-06-18 11:21:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM CO |
09BOGOTA1975 | SUPREME COURT AND GOC UPDATE POSTIIONS ON [...] (C) The Ambassador met separately with leaders of Colombia's Supreme Court and with Interior and Justice Minister Valencia Cossio to discuss extradition-related issues. The Ambassador stressed the USG's desire to keep positive relations with the Court, and said the Court might find USG input [...] | 2009-06-18 18:12:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER KJUS CO |
09BOGOTA198 | GOC OFFERS TO SEND TROOPS TO AFGHANISTAN UNDER ISAF [...] (U) The GOC has offered an initial contribution of up to 126 troops to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan, with more possibly to follow. The Colombians are set to work alongside Spanish forces, although no formal agreement yet exists between the GOC and the Span [...] | 2009-01-22 21:46:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MOPS MARR NATO SP AF CO |
09BOGOTA1982 | SUPREME COURT DENIES MARTIN SOMBRA'S EXTRADITION [...] (C) The Supreme Court denied our request for the extradition of FARC member Eli Mejia Mendoza ("Martin Sombra"),who was involved in the hostage-taking of the three American contractors rescued last July. The Court concluded that our request failed to meet the necessary "extraterritorial" req [...] | 2009-06-18 23:26:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KJUS PGOV PREL PTER SNAR CO |
09BOGOTA1983 | AIR BRIDGE DENIAL: MAY 2009 PROGRAM UPDATE [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. This is the monthly Air Bridge Denial (ABD) activity report for May, 2009, as required by Reftel. The Government of Colombia (GOC) sorted 3,137 tracks during December. Four were declared Unknown, Assumed Suspect (UAS). There were no Phase I/II/III events this month. END SUMMA [...] | 2009-06-19 11:43:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR PREL MOPS MASS PGOV CO |
09BOGOTA1984 | AIR BRIDGE DENIAL: MAY 2009 PROGRAM UPDATE [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. This is the monthly Air Bridge Denial (ABD) activity report for May, 2009, as required by Reftel. The Government of Colombia (GOC) sorted 3,137 tracks during December. Four were declared Unknown, Assumed Suspect (UAS). There were no Phase I/II/III events this month. END SUMM [...] | 2009-06-19 11:43:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR PREL MOPS MASS PGOV CO |
09BOGOTA1987 | CLIMATE TO REMAIN PRIORITY UNDER NEW ENVIRONMENT [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. The environmental and economic costs of climate change have resulted in increased GOC efforts to adapt to its potential impacts. The Ministry of Environment (MOE) is most concerned with the effects of climate on Colombia's high mountain areas, Caribbean Coast, and its health [...] | 2009-06-19 16:59:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SENV PGOV CO |
09BOGOTA199 | COLOMBIA: DEMARCHE ON IMPLEMENTATION OF IMPORT [...] No summary [...] | 2009-01-23 14:03:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EFIS SENV CO |
09BOGOTA1999 | COLOMBIAN SENATORS INVESTIGATED IN [...] (U) In the most recent development in the "FARC-political" scandal, Colombian Inspector General Alejandro Ordonez announced on June 10 the opening of preliminary investigations against Colombian senators Piedad Cordoba, Wilson Borja and Gloria Ines Ramirez. Ordonez said the investigations are [...] | 2009-06-22 15:50:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL PTER PJUS PHUM CO |
09BOGOTA2001 | SCENESETTER FOR URIBE VISIT: RELATIONSHIP IN [...] (C) President Uribe will use his visit to reaffirm our strong bilateral ties. He will seek a timeline for approval of the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement, and will want continued U.S. help against the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and drug trafficking organizations. Ur [...] | 2009-06-22 16:07:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ETRD EAID SNAR PGOV PREF PTER PHUM CO |
09BOGOTA2015 | RAPPORTEUR SEES PROGRESS ON EXTRAJUDICIAL [...] (U) United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial Executions Philip Alston released his initial findings June 18. He praised the GOC's efforts to address 'false positives,' noting allegations of military extrajudicial killings have fallen sharply over the last 6-9 months, but called f [...] | 2009-06-22 21:49:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV PTER KJUS PREL CO |
09BOGOTA2016 | CTI INVESTIGATION INTO ILLEGAL DAS SURVEILLANCE [...] (C) A preliminary Prosecutor General Office (Fiscalia) report confirms media claims of extensive spying on human rights groups, journalists, and opposition leaders by the Department of Administrative Security (DAS). Investigators found evidence that the DAS--probably illegally--set up a secre [...] | 2009-06-23 18:56:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM KJUS CO |
09BOGOTA2017 | GOC SCRAMBLES TO DEAL WITH GROWING BUDGET WOES [...] SUMMARY. (U) After several years of steady growth, the global economic crisis is hitting GOC coffers and generating a newly projected 2009 central government deficit of $7 billion (3.7% of GDP),and a 2010 estimate of $11 billion (4.3% of GDP). With continuing obligations in infrastructure, [...] | 2009-06-23 19:31:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN CO |
09BOGOTA2019 | CTI INVESTIGATION INTO ILLEGAL DAS SURVEILLANCE [...] (C) A preliminary Prosecutor General Office (Fiscalia) report confirms media claims of extensive spying on human rights groups, journalists, and opposition leaders by the Department of Administrative Security (DAS). Investigators found evidence that the DAS--probably illegally--set up a secre [...] | 2009-06-23 20:04:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM KJUS CO |
09BOGOTA2020 | JEFFERSON SCIENCE FELLOW PROMOTES S&T DIPLOMACY IN [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Jefferson Science Fellow Tim DeVoogd visited Colombia June 8-12, exploring potential areas of bilateral Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) cooperation. He analyzed Colombia's STI system with federal and regional GOC stakeholders, leading universities and STI development [...] | 2009-06-23 21:03:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ETTC CO TSPL PGOV EINV KCIS |
09BOGOTA2025 | GOC REQUESTS MID-SEPTEMBER POLICY PLANNING TALKS [...] Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Clemencia Forero told us June 19, that the GOC would prefer to hold policy planning talks in Washington in mid-September (the week of September 14). If those dates are convenient for Washington participants, Post requests front channel confirmation in order t [...] | 2009-06-24 16:47:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PREF ETRD CO |
09BOGOTA2030 | NAS MONTHLY REPORT FOR MAY 2009 [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: The Aerial Eradication program sprayed 10,895 hectares in May, putting the program on schedule to reach the calendar goal of 100,000 hectares sprayed. Due to enhanced communication and synchronization, Accion Social management agreed to remove previously established, large no- [...] | 2009-06-24 22:02:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR SENV KCRM PTER CO |
09BOGOTA2046 | NEW FRONTIERS NEXT DOOR: GROWING ECONOMIC LINKS [...] SUMMARY: The U.S. accounts for 70% of Colombia's export market, and the Andean region, especially Venezuela, accounts for almost all of the remaining 30%. With a marked drop in U.S. consumer demand and increased difficulty in receiving payment for exports to Venezuela, Colombia is looking to [...] | 2009-06-25 20:43:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ETRD EFIN CO BR |
09BOGOTA2050 | ARMY IG ORDERED TO STOP 'FALSE POSITIVE' [...] (C) Army Inspector General General Carlos Suarez told us on June 23 that Army Commander General Oscar Gonzalez Pena had ordered him to temporarily stop investigating 'false positive' cases. Gonzalez claimed the investigations were undermining officers' morale and leading to fewer combat kil [...] | 2009-06-25 22:10:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV PTER KJUS MOPS MCAP CO |
09BOGOTA2052 | COLOMBIAN CONGRESS FREES 19,000 AUC FROM LEGAL [...] (SBU) The Colombian Congress passed a law on June 15 allowing the Prosecutor General's Office (Fiscalia) to apply the 'principle of opportunity'--a plea bargain which allows suspension of criminal investigations--to 19,000 demobilized rank-and-file paramilitaries. The 19,000 demobilized in t [...] | 2009-06-26 13:16:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PGOV PTER KJUS PREL CO |
09BOGOTA2062 | URABA SECURITY UPDATE [...] (C) Local security officialstold us major drug trafficker Daniel Rendon's (Don Mario's) capture has not affected local crime rates, and that narcotrafficking remains an enormous problem. The FARC, ELN, and criminal groups grow coca in the region's national parks, ship drugs out through the G [...] | 2009-06-26 21:10:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KJUS PHUM PREF PREL PTER CO |
09BOGOTA2065 | BOTH SIDES SEE SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE IN VICTIMS' [...] (U) Citing exorbitant costs, the Uribe coalition voted down the final version of the Victim's bill--which would have provided financial and land reparations to all victims--on June 18. Victims' groups considered the loss a relative victory since the GOC-sponsored Victims' bill--which require [...] | 2009-06-26 22:29:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PGOV PTER KJUS PREL CO |
09BOGOTA2073 | SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS ACHIEVED DURING FOURTH ROUND [...] (C) U.S. and Colombian delegations made swift and significant progress during the fourth round of Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA) talks, held in Bogota on June 23-25. The two sides reached nearly complete agreement on roughly eighty percent of the DCA text. President Uribe's instructions [...] | 2009-06-30 19:42:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR PREL MOPS PGOV MCAP KTIA PTER CO |
09BOGOTA2083 | US ADVISORY ON NORTH KOREA DELIVERED TO GOVERNMENT [...] On June 30 Econoff delivered text of U.S. Treasury Advisory on North Korea as requested reftel to Patricia Cortes, North American Director, Colombian Ministry of External Relations. She acknowledged receipt and said it was being distributed to the appropriate contacts in the Government of Col [...] | 2009-07-01 17:27:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON EFIN PARM PREL KNNP CO |
09BOGOTA2088 | FISCALIA CONTINUES TO MOVE FORWARD ON SOACHA CASES [...] (U) The Fiscalia has formally charged 75 individuals--72 army and 3 civilians--for the 'false positive' murders of thirteen Soacha residents. In courtroom statements, prosecutors have attributed the motive to the military's informal bodycount system. Victims' families report receiving thre [...] | 2009-07-01 20:42:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV PTER KJUS PREL CO |
09BOGOTA2089 | JUNE HUMAN RIGHTS UPDATE [...] (SBU) The Prosecutor General's Office (Fiscalia) continues to make progress in 'false positive' investigations, with 75 people charged for involvement in the Soacha scandal and seven members of the Army convicted in older cases. The Fiscalia is currently investigating 1056 cases--involving [...] | 2009-07-01 20:59:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PGOV KJUS PTER CO |
09BOGOTA2118 | ITSO DEMARCHE DELIVERED TO GOVERNMENT OF COLOMBIA [...] (SBU) On July 2 EconCouns delivered ITSO talking points as requested reftel to Colombian Vice Minister of Communications Daniel Medina. Medina stated that this long-standing problem needs a "middle ground solution", commenting that if all sides dig in their heels there will be no positive resu [...] | 2009-07-02 19:05:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | AORC ECON ECPS EFIN INTELSAT KTIA PREL TSPA CO |
09BOGOTA2127 | COLOMBIA: HAS RECESSION ARRIVED? [...] SUMMARY. The GOC recently released its first quarter growth figure, negative 0.06 percent, sparking a debate among economic cognizanti over whether or not Colombia was in recession. Regardless, the relatively modest downturn was viewed as a positive sign, given that most forecasts predicted [...] | 2009-07-06 12:50:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON ECIN EFIN EIND EINT EINV EMIN CO |
09BOGOTA2144 | CIVAIR COLOMBIA: U.S. CARRIER DESIGNATION [...] No summary [...] | 2009-07-07 19:30:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | EAIR EINV ECON PGOV ETRD EFIN CO |
09BOGOTA2156 | URIBE PICKS FOR TOP PROSECUTOR FACE COURT SCRUTINY [...] (C) President Uribe nominated former Colombian Permanent Representative to the OAS Camilo Ospina, former Council of State magistrate Juan Angel Palacio, and long-time Uribe associate Virginia Uribe Betancur to replace Mario Iguaran as Prosecutor General. The Supreme Court will question all thre [...] | 2009-07-08 19:43:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KJUS CO |
09BOGOTA2158 | COLOMBIA: DEMARCHE ON RESULTS OF 2008 GSP REVIEW [...] No summary [...] | 2009-07-08 20:26:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON EAID ECIN EIND ETRD |
09BOGOTA2173 | FISCALIA: NO PATTERN OF ARBITRARY DETENTION, BUT [...] (U) Advisor to the National Director of Prosecutors Maria Ximena Rincon told us the Prosecutor General's Office (Fiscalia) is reviewing 32 cases documented in a recent Human Rights First (HRF) report on alleged baseless prosecutions and arbitrary detentions of human rights defenders. The re [...] | 2009-07-09 15:48:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KJUS PTER CO |
09BOGOTA2186 | PORT DEMONSTRATIONS TURNOUT LOW, STRIKE NOT VIABLE [...] (U) Port laborers in Santa Marta, Cartagena, and Buenaventura marched July 3 to protest the GOC's alleged failure to meet its November 2008 promises. Low turnout and widespread fear of reprisals forced labor leaders to realize a planned strike July 13 was not viable. Ministry of Social Pro [...] | 2009-07-09 21:54:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | ELAB KJUS PHUM PREL PGOV CO |
09BOGOTA2223 | LOWER TAX REVENUES PUT GOC IN FISCAL SQUEEZE [...] No summary [...] | 2009-07-13 21:27:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON EAID ECIN EFIN CO |
09BOGOTA2239 | COLOMBIA: DEMARCHE ON JUSTIFICATION FOR DECISION [...] No summary [...] | 2009-07-15 15:29:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON ETRD EFIN EAID CO |
09BOGOTA2246 | THE URIBE COALITION: LESS THAN SOLID [...] (C) President Uribe's legislative coalition is focused on changing the Constitution to allow Uribe to run for a third term in 2010, but the House and Senate must reconcile differing versions of the reelection bill before it can go forward. After Congressional approval, Colombia's Constitution [...] | 2009-07-15 20:57:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM KJUS CO |
09BOGOTA2248 | COLOMBIA IRKED BY ECUADORIAN SAFEGUARD DUTIES [...] On July 11 the Government of Ecuador instituted exchange rate safeguards against Colombian imports covering 1,346 products. The GOE says it needs the safeguard to counter the Colombian Peso devaluation caused by Colombian Central Bank intervention. (NOTE: The peso has actually revalued in th [...] | 2009-07-15 21:39:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON ETRD EINV EAGR ECIN CO |
09BOGOTA2329 | COCA CULTIVATION IN COLOMBIAN NATIONAL PARKS [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. The GOC National Parks Unit (NPU) insists that coca -- despite its presence in 15 parks -- is less of a concern than invasion of licit crops and that manual eradication is effective at controlling cultivation. Coca exists in an estimated 30 percent of parks, which make up 11 p [...] | 2009-07-23 17:02:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SENV SNAR EAID ECON CO |
09BOGOTA2345 | YOUTH OUTREACH VISIT FOCUSES ON COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT [...] (U) SUMMARY. The DCM traveled on June 27 to the city of Barranquilla (in the Caribbean coast department of Atlantico) to visit a drug demand prevention program sponsored by the Lion's Club International and to participate in the inauguration ceremony for the Latin American Little League Tourna [...] | 2009-07-23 21:29:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | EAID ECON ENRG EPET PGOV CO |
09BOGOTA2347 | DCM VISIT HIGHLIGHTS U.S. PRESENCE IN COFFEE COUNTRY [...] (U) On July 1 and 2, the DCM traveled to the heart of Colombia's coffee country to inaugurate three new AmCham branches and celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Manizales Binational Center, all critical institutions to U.S. presence in the region. Coffee cultivation and processing remain the [...] | 2009-07-23 22:09:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAID ECON ENRG EPET PGOV CO |
09BOGOTA2359 | URIBE AUTHORIZES CORDOBA PARTICIPATION, OPENS DOOR [...] (C) President Uribe reversed his previous position and announced on July 8 that Senator Piedad Cordoba was authorized to participate in Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) hostage releases, with the stipulation that the FARC's remaining 24 uniformed hostages be released simultaneousl [...] | 2009-07-24 23:13:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM PINS BR EC CO VT |
09BOGOTA2360 | TFHO1: HONDURAS UPDATE FROM COLOMBIA [...] (C) President Uribe met on July 20 with acting Honduran Foreign Minister Carlos Lopez and other representatives of the de facto Micheletti government. Lopez stirred controversy by telling Colombian media that Uribe had expressed sympathy with the Micheletti regime, but the GOC quickly clarifi [...] | 2009-07-24 23:30:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PINR AMGT HO PGOV CO XK XM |
09BOGOTA2376 | COLOMBIA DCA NEGOTIATIONS -- EMBASSY IDEAS FOR [...] (C) The GOC expects positive signals soon on Track II issues as DCA negotiations wrap up. They have repeatedly stated that satisfaction on Track II is a precondition for closing out the DCA. Embassy recommends positive responses without additional commitments, specifically a U.S. Air Force-t [...] | 2009-07-27 22:08:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR PREL MOPS PGOV MCAP KTIA PTER CO |
09BOGOTA2380 | NAS MONTHLY REPORT FOR JUNE 2009 [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: The aerial eradication team sprayed 14,380 hectares in June and is on schedule to reach the 100,000 hectare goal. Accion Social opened up more area to spray in Tumaco, Narino. Phase II of the manual eradication campaign will end in July and Phase III will start in mid-August; [...] | 2009-07-28 18:03:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR SENV KCRM PTER CO |
09BOGOTA239 | COLOMBIAN COFFEE, TEXTILES AND FLOWERS BRACE FOR [...] (U) SUMMARY. Four and a half million Colombian jobs depend directly or indirectly on the coffee, textile/apparel and flower sectors. The three combine for 15 percent of Colombia's exports and trail only oil and coal as Colombia's most significant export products. With unemployment rising an [...] | 2009-01-26 16:57:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ETRD CO |
09BOGOTA2399 | EMBASSY BOGOTA RESPONSE: ASSISTING AFGHANISTAN [...] (S) Post delivered all points in reftel on July 21 to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director for U.S. and Canadian Affairs Adriana Maldonado. She informed us that the Government of Colombia (GOC) already plans to support U.S. efforts in Afghanistan. In support of Operation Enduring Freedom, [...] | 2009-07-29 14:02:00 | Embassy Bogota | SECRET | NATO PREL MOPS MARR AF CO |
09BOGOTA2409 | GOC ASKS FOR USG HELP TO PERSUADE EU AND RUSSIA TO [...] (U) This is an action request, please see paragraph 3. 2. (C) Vice Foreign Minister Clemencia Forero and Vice Defense Minister Sergio Jaramillo called Charge to the Foreign Ministry on July 29 to request USG assistance in persuading the EU and Russia to suspend arms sales to Venezuela. T [...] | 2009-07-30 17:32:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER ETTC PARM SW RS EU CO |
09BOGOTA2449 | GOC CALM AS TENSIONS RISE WITH VENEZUELA, BUT [...] (C) The GOC is trying to keep an even keel in its latest bilateral dispute with Venezuela, hoping measured responses can lower the temperature and win international support. GOC officials note the GOC's calm responses to Chavez's provocative rhetoric position the GOC to come out ahead, but th [...] | 2009-07-31 11:45:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV ECON ETRD VZ CO |
09BOGOTA2465 | COLOMBIAN ATTENDANCE AT 64TH UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY [...] No summary [...] | 2009-07-31 22:53:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL OTRA OVIP CVIS UNGA KSEP CO |
09BOGOTA2472 | JULY HUMAN RIGHTS UPDATE [...] The GOC launched its administrative reparations program; President Uribe issued reparations to victims of paramilitary, FARC and ELN violence in Popayan, Monteria and Medellin. To date, 230,000 individuals have registered to receive administrative reparations. United Nations Special Rapport [...] | 2009-08-03 19:07:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PGOV KJUS PTER CO |
09BOGOTA2482 | REELECTION EFFORT RUNNING OUT OF STEAM--AND TIME [...] (C) President Uribe's allies and opponents alike believe support is evaporating for the referendum to allow Uribe to run for a third term--and all agree time is running out to save it. The referendum bill faces delays in Congress and in the Constitutional Court which could significantly affec [...] | 2009-08-04 19:12:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL CO |
09BOGOTA2489 | BIOFUELS: US EXPERT URGES COLOMBIA TO LOOK TOWARD [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: With funding from the Bureau of Economic, Energy and Business Affairs (EEB),Embassy Bogota hosted the visit of Roundtable for Sustainable Biofuels Director Charlotte Opal September 3-5 to inform local biofuels producers and policymakers about the ongoing international dialogue [...] | 2009-08-05 17:35:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ENRG EAGR ECON PGOV CO |
09BOGOTA2493 | AIR BRIDGE DENIAL: JUNE 2009 PROGRAM UPDATE [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. This is the monthly Air Bridge Denial (ABD) activity report for July, 2009, as required by Reftel. The Government of Colombia (GOC) sorted 3,041 tracks during December. There were no Unknown, Assumed Suspect (UAS). A Law Enforcement End game based on intelligence information [...] | 2009-08-05 20:56:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR PREL MOPS MASS PGOV CO |
09BOGOTA25 | BOGOTA PROPOSAL FOR SPEAKER ON AGRICULTURAL [...] (U) SUMMARY: Post requests that EEB fund a Spanish-speaking U.S. expert on biotech policy, focusing on drafting and implementing legislation to promote biotechnology. Rather than addressing the safety or environmental effects of biotechnology, this speaker should discuss how to develop a p [...] | 2009-01-08 21:12:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON EAGR ETRD TBIO KPAO CO |
09BOGOTA2505 | COLOMBIA DCA WORKING GROUP TALKS YIELD MORE [...] (C) U.S. and Colombian working group delegations met in Bogota on August 4-5 to discuss the remaining unresolved issues in the Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA). Despite the intense public debate playing out in Colombia and regionally concerning the DCA, the Government of Colombia (GOC) tea [...] | 2009-08-06 22:58:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR PREL MASS MCAP MOPS PGOV PTER KTIA CO |
09BOGOTA2520 | URIBE'S WHIRLWIND TOUR DEFUSES SOME U.S. DEFENSE [...] (C) President Uribe and Foreign Minister Bermudez visited the presidents of Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Brazil from August 4-6 to privately make the case that the August 10 Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) summit in Quito would be an inappropriate forum to [...] | 2009-08-10 22:08:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR PTER SNAR CO |
09BOGOTA2526 | COLOMBIA MOVES TO EXPEDITE IDENTIFICATION OF [...] (U) Summary. The GOC presented on August 5 a new state policy aimed at improving efforts to identify the remains of victims of forced disappearances. The policy will dedicate $48.3 million in investment and operations over five years, which is projected to increase the GOC's capacity for gene [...] | 2009-08-11 23:39:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PGOV PTER KJUS PREL CO |
09BOGOTA2563 | COLOMBIA SCENESETTER FOR CODEL PRICE (AUGUST 20-23) [...] (SBU) We welcome the return of House Democracy Assistance Commission Chairman David Price and delegation to Colombia. Your visit comes as a regional debate over a U.S.-Colombia Defense Cooperation Agreement has heated up and amidst significant political developments, as Congress exerts greater [...] | 2009-08-13 16:59:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | OREP EAID PGOV PREL SNAR PTER ETRD PHUM CO |
09BOGOTA2568 | POST CONCURS WITH DOL'S UPDATE OF EXECUTIVE ORDER [...] (SBU) Post concurs with the Department of Labor's update of Executive Order 13126 list for the Colombian product listed in ref A. Brownfield [...] | 2009-08-14 16:54:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | EIND ELAB ETRD PHUM SOCI CO |
09BOGOTA257 | PRESIDENT OBAMA'S INAUGURATION RECEIVES BROAD, [...] SUMMARY: Reaction to the Inauguration of President Obama as reflected by the extensive and very positive media coverage for the new administration, as well as comment from our contacts, has been uniformly positive in Colombia. President Uribe and numerous Colombian government officials have [...] | 2009-01-27 14:54:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO PREL PHUM ECIN EAID PGOV CO |
09BOGOTA2583 | COLOMBIAN MEDIA OVERVIEW, 2008/2009 [...] (U) SUMMARY: Over the past year (July 08-July 09) Colombian media coverage of the U.S. has remained positive. The most important development has been that private television channels Cadena Radial Colombiana (Caracol) and Radio Cadena Nacional de Colombia (RCN) reached an agreement in January [...] | 2009-08-17 17:12:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | OPRC ECPS PGOV KMDR KPAO CO |
09BOGOTA2585 | VICE PRESIDENT SANTOS PITCHES FTA PASSAGE [...] (C) On August 6, Colombian Vice President Santos encouraged Congressional passage of the U.S.-Colombian Free Trade Agreement (FTA) to the Ambassador and members of a fact-finding mission led by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR). Santos warned that failure to pass the [...] | 2009-08-17 19:29:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | ELAB ETRD PGOV PHUM PREL SOCI USTR CO |
09BOGOTA2587 | COLOMBIA ANALYZING ECUADOR'S REVISED TRADE [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Ecuador reduced the number of emergency tariffs on Colombian products (from 1346 to about 660 items) on August 12 in response to two Andean Community (CAN) resolutions and high-level bilateral negotiations. Trade Minister Plata stated he would continue to pursue bilateral negot [...] | 2009-08-17 21:48:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN ETRD CO |
09BOGOTA2588 | OPPOSITION OUTREACH TO CHAVEZ OVER DCA IRKS GOC [...] (C) Several Colombian opposition politicians--most notably former President Ernesto Samper--visited Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in Caracas between August 6-8. All expressed a desire to serve as a bridge between the two countries during the current tensions. The Government of Colombia (GO [...] | 2009-08-18 14:04:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL CO VZ |
09BOGOTA2604 | AIR BRIDGE DENIAL: JULY 2009 PROGRAM UPDATE [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. This is the monthly Air Bridge Denial (ABD) activity report for July, 2009, as required by Reftel. The Government of Colombia (GOC) sorted 2,758 tracks during July. There were two Unknown, Assumed Suspect (UAS) for the month. END SUMMARY. ------- Tracks ------- 2. ( [...] | 2009-08-19 11:33:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR PREL MOPS MASS PGOV CO |
09BOGOTA2611 | COLOMBIA ACCEPTS POLICY PLANNING TALKS [...] (SBU) We delivered S/P's invitation to policy planning talks at the Department, the draft agenda and the talking points (per reftel) to MFA Vice Minister Clemencia Forero and the MFA North America office on August 10. On August 18, MFA North America Director Adriana Maldonado confirmed that C [...] | 2009-08-19 21:53:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PTER PHUM EAID MARR CO |
09BOGOTA2612 | COLOMBIA BACKS AUSTRIAN FOR UNESCO DG [...] No summary [...] | 2009-08-19 21:53:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL UNESCO CO AORC |
09BOGOTA262 | INVESTMENT HITS NEW HIGH IN 2008, BUT 2009 OUTLOOK [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Colombia's success in improving security conditions and its investment climate has attracted record levels of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) over the last six years. According to preliminary data, FDI reached a new high of USD 10.5 billion in 2008 based on flows spread across va [...] | 2009-01-27 19:27:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EINV ECON EFIN PGOV OPIC USTR CO |
09BOGOTA2627 | WILL COLOMBIA-VENEZUELA TRADE SURVIVE THE RHETORIC? [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. Venezuela's July 28 decision to freeze diplomatic relations with Colombia has put the Colombian business community on edge and complicated bilateral trade discussions. While Colombian exports to Venezuela for the first half of 2009 had remained resilient in the face of an overa [...] | 2009-08-21 13:13:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ETRD PREL PGOV CO |
09BOGOTA2629 | ARMY IG STILL BLOCKED, BUT NEW MOD SPARKS HOPE [...] (C) Army Inspector General Suarez reports his recommendations for administrative dismissals of those implicated in 'false positive' murders are blocked. Suarez expressed frustration at the pace of criminal and disciplinary investigations and pointed to the immediacy of administrative dismis [...] | 2009-08-21 18:20:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KJUS MOPS MCAP CO |
09BOGOTA2698 | NAS MONTHLY REPORT FOR JULY 2009 [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: The following developments occurred in July, 2009: The aerial eradication team sprayed 10,576 hectares (ha) and, with 57,219 ha sprayed so far this year, is on track to reach the 100,000 ha calendar goal. Total manual coca eradication through July was 28,739 ha. The GOC is ta [...] | 2009-08-24 19:55:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR SENV KCRM PTER CO |
09BOGOTA2712 | AIR BRIDGE DENIAL: JULY 2009 PROGRAM UPDATE [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. This is the monthly Air Bridge Denial (ABD) activity report for July, 2009, as required by Reftel. The Government of Colombia (GOC) sorted 2,758 tracks during July. There were two Unknown, Assumed Suspect (UAS) for the month. END SUMMARY. ------- Tracks ------- 2. ( [...] | 2009-08-25 19:11:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR PREL MOPS MASS PGOV CO |
09BOGOTA2714 | GOC SHARES LESSONS WITH MEXICO, BUT CHALLENGES [...] (C) Colombia is deepening its cooperation with Mexico and sharing the hard-won lessons it learned combating narcotraffickers under Plan Colombia. The two governments used Mexican President Felipe Calderon's August 12-13 Bogota visit to announce increased GOC training of Mexican police, while [...] | 2009-08-25 21:26:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV SNAR ECON PTER KJUS CO MX |
09BOGOTA2715 | GOC SHARES LESSONS WITH MEXICO, BUT CHALLENGES [...] (C) Colombia is deepening its cooperation with Mexico and sharing the hard-won lessons it learned combating narcotraffickers under Plan Colombia. The two governments used Mexican President Felipe Calderon's August 12-13 Bogota visit to announce increased GOC training of Mexican police, while [...] | 2009-08-25 21:26:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV SNAR ECON PTER KJUS CO MX |
09BOGOTA2716 | GOC INQUIRES ABOUT COLOMBIA'S MCC ELIGIBILITY [...] (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 4. 2. (U) Post received a joint letter from Finance Minister Zuluaga, National Planning Department Director Esteban Piedrahita, and Presidential Agency for Social Action Acting Director Alzate inquiring about Colombia's continued MCC elig [...] | 2009-08-25 21:26:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | EAID ECON PREL CO |
09BOGOTA2736 | AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES REGIONAL ISSUES WITH MOD SILVA [...] (S/NF) In an August 20 conversation with newly installed Minister of Defense Gabriel Silva, Ambassador Brownfield discussed several regional issues related to the Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA). The Ambassador noted that any cross-border operations while the region was focused on the DCA would [...] | 2009-08-26 22:12:00 | Embassy Bogota | SECRET//NOFORN | PREL PGOV PTER MARR MASS CO |
09BOGOTA275 | COMMENTS ON THE CHILD LABOR DRAFT LIST FOR TVPRA [...] (C) This is a response to the request for comment on the Department of Labor's (DOL) draft list of goods from counties that the Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) has reason to believe are produced by forced labor or child labor in violation of international standards. Post concurs [...] | 2009-01-28 13:36:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PGOV PREL ECON SOCI CO |
09BOGOTA2756 | COLOMBIA DEMARCHES THAILAND ON VIKTOR BOUT [...] (C) The Ambassador asked Foreign Minister Jaime Bermudez to demarche the Royal Thai Government (RTG) concerning the case of arms trafficker Viktor Bout (reftel) on August 24 and followed up with Vice Foreign Minister Clemencia Forero on August 26. VFM Forero confirmed that the GOC sent a dipl [...] | 2009-08-27 23:28:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER KCRM MARR TH CO |
09BOGOTA2759 | GENERAL SAAVEDRA SENDS POSITIVE SIGNALS ON SECURITY [...] (SBU) The Embassy's Colombia Strategic Development Initiative (CSDI) working group met August 24 with Colombian Army General Carlos Saavedra, who coordinates implementation of the GOC's security strategy in relation to the National Consolidation Plan (PNC). Many areas targeted for CSDI assista [...] | 2009-08-28 19:59:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PREF PTER PHUM EAID SNAR CO |
09BOGOTA276 | AGRICULTURE SECTOR BRACING FOR TUMULTUOUS 2009 [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. Local experts expect the agriculture sector, which employs 24 percent of Colombia's population, to weather the 2009 economic slowdown with modest growth, insulated from the worst of the global financial credit crisis by the sector's dedicated credit institutions. Their greate [...] | 2009-01-28 18:36:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EAGR ETRD TBIO KPAO CO |
09BOGOTA2763 | AIR BRIDGE DENIAL: JULY 2009 PROGRAM UPDATE [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. This is the monthly Air Bridge Denial (ABD) activity report for July, 2009, as required by Reftel. The Government of Colombia (GOC) sorted 2,758 tracks during July. There were two Unknown, Assumed Suspect (UAS) for the month. END SUMMARY. ------- Tracks ------- 2. ( [...] | 2009-08-28 20:55:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR PREL MOPS MASS PGOV CO |
09BOGOTA2765 | LATEST AWA MASSACRE INCITES SWIFT RESPONSE, BUT [...] (C) Unknown actors murdered 12 Awa indigenous--including six minors--in their home the morning of Wednesday, August 26. Four people reportedly survived the attack. One of the victims, Tulia Garcia Guanga, was allegedly the sole witness to the May 25 'false positive'--military homicide repo [...] | 2009-08-28 21:26:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV PTER KJUS PREL MOPS MCAP CO |
09BOGOTA2772 | THE 2010 COLOMBIAN ELECTIONS PROCESS [...] Colombia has entered into the 2010 election cycle. National legislative elections to replace the entire Senate and House ("Camara") are scheduled for March 14 and presidential elections are scheduled for May 30. Departmental (state) and local elections will take place in 2011. All elections [...] | 2009-08-31 12:54:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV OAS CO |
09BOGOTA2786 | AERIAL ERADICATION RESUMES IN THE MACARENA CONSOLIDATION [...] Summary: On July 2, officials from the Macarena Consolidation Program (PCIM) met with NAS and the Colombian Antinarcotics Police to request aerial eradication operations in the PCIM. The request comes over a year after the Colombian government declared the PCIM off-limits to spray to accommod [...] | 2009-09-01 11:31:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | SNAR PREL SENV KCRM PGOV PTER CO |
09BOGOTA2787 | FARC BLAMED FOR ATTACK ON U.S.-FUNDED JUSTICE HOUSE [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: The Colombian national police blamed the FARC for an August 19 attack on a U.S.-funded justice center in Cauca department. There were no reported injuries, but approximately 80% of the structure was destroyed by the blast. USAID had invested $150,000 in the new justice house, [...] | 2009-09-01 13:52:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PTER KJUS ASEC CO |
09BOGOTA2803 | COLOMBIA: LAND-BASED SOURCES PROTOCOL DEMARCHE [...] (SBU) EconOff delivered reftel message to the Ministry of Environment's Minister Carlos Costa, Vice Minister Claudia Mora, and International Relations advisor Giannina Santiago. Minister Costa recognizes the importance of the Land-Based Sources (LBS) Protocol and has instructed the Ministry to [...] | 2009-09-01 21:00:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | EFIS SENV PHSA CO |
09BOGOTA2805 | 20 MILLION COLOMBIANS LIVE IN POVERTY: GOOD NEWS [...] (U) SUMMARY. In late August the GOC released 2008 poverty figures showing 46 percent of Colombians live below the poverty line, compared with 53.7 percent in 2002. Extreme poverty declined from 19.7 percent to 17.8 percent over the same period. Urban poverty reduction far outpaced that of r [...] | 2009-09-01 22:13:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ELAB PGOV CO |
09BOGOTA2833 | CONGRESS APPROVES REELECTION REFERENDUM, BUT [...] (SBU) The Colombian Congress has approved legislation for a referendum on a third term for President Alvaro Uribe in May 2010, with the September 2 affirmative vote in the House of Representatives. After presidential signature, the Constitutional Court -- thought to be supportive of Uribe -- [...] | 2009-09-03 16:06:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM CO |
09BOGOTA2834 | COLOMBIA: BIOFUELS MEANS JOBS IN POST-CONFLICT [...] (U) Summary. Environment Minister Carlos Costa recently highlighted for us the rationale behind Colombia's biofuels policy: 1) create jobs in rural and post-conflict zones; 2) remain self-sufficient as an energy producer; and 3) protect the environment. The policy has been bolstered by Colo [...] | 2009-09-03 16:15:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ENRG SENV PGOV ECON CO |
09BOGOTA2836 | AMBASSADOR ENGAGES INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS ON [...] (C/NF) The Ambassador met with the country directors of the UN High Commission for Human Rights (UNHCHR) and International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) separately to discuss the status of Colombia's conflict and several related human rights themes. Christian Salazar of the UNHCHR noted a [...] | 2009-09-03 17:04:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MASS MCAP MOPS KTIA CO |
09BOGOTA2838 | COLOMBIA: BIOFUELS MEANS JOBS IN POST-CONFLICT [...] (U) Summary. Environment Minister Carlos Costa recently highlighted for us the rationale behind Colombia's biofuels policy: 1) create jobs in rural and post-conflict zones; 2) remain self-sufficient as an energy producer; and 3) protect the environment. The policy has been bolstered by Colo [...] | 2009-09-03 18:51:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ENRG SENV PGOV ECON CO |
09BOGOTA2839 | AWA MASSACRE: MANY ALLEGATIONS, FEW CLEAR FACTS [...] (C) Prosecutor General Human Rights Unit Director Castro said the unit has no suspects and has made no arrests in conjunction with the August 26 massacre of 12 Awa near Tumaco (Narino). Another source close to the investigation discounted military or Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FA [...] | 2009-09-03 20:27:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV PTER KJUS PREL MOPS MCAP CO |
09BOGOTA2872 | THOUSANDS OF COLOMBIANS YELL "NO MORE CHAVEZ!" [...] A group calling itself "No More Chavez" launched protests across Colombia and around the world on September 4 against the Government of Venezuela. Protesters demanded that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez stay out of Colombia, grouped him with the terrorist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colo [...] | 2009-09-04 21:52:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM VE CO |
09BOGOTA2873 | TWO MEMBERS OF THE AFRO-COLOMBIAN CAUCUS ARRESTED [...] (C) On August 30, three members of the House of Representatives were arrested for paramilitary ties. Two of them, Edgar Eulises Torres and Odin Sanchez, were prominent members of the Afro-Colombian Caucus. This brings the total number of legislators that have been arrested for parapolitical [...] | 2009-09-04 23:17:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM CO |
09BOGOTA2904 | AUGUST COLOMBIA STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT INTIATIVE UPDATE [...] (SBU) The Colombian military is moving forward with its security strategy in support of the National Consolidation Plan (PNC),the GOC's effort to increase state presence in Colombia. Civilian participation at a senior level meeting for the Coordination Center for Integrated Action (CCAI),the [...] | 2009-09-09 13:42:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PREF PTER PHUM EAID SNAR CO |
09BOGOTA2907 | MOD SILVA CALLS AMBASSADOR FOR PRE-UNASUR MEETING [...] (S/NF) Colombian Defense Minister Gabriel Silva called the Ambassador for a meeting on August 26 in advance of the August 28 Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) summit. Silva described Brazilian Defense Minister Jobim's August 25-26 trip to Bogota as useful. Silva said Jobim had made an [...] | 2009-09-09 16:58:00 | Embassy Bogota | SECRET//NOFORN | MARR PREL MASS MCAP PGOV KTIA CO |
09BOGOTA2908 | VFM FORERO GIVES AMBASSADOR READOUT ON UNASUR MEETING; AGREES TO LOWKEY DCA SIGNING [...] No summary [...] | 2009-09-09 17:49:00 | Embassy Bogota | SECRET | CO HO KJUS KTIA MARR PGOV PHUM PREL VZ XM |
09BOGOTA2917 | (C-AL9-01768) COLOMBIA AWAITS IMPLEMENTATION OF [...] (C/NF) In response to questions raised in reftel, the GOC argues privately that Ecuador's July 10 decision to impose exchange rate safeguards on Colombian goods was politically motivated. Some have also suggested that Ecuador's move was in response to the Andean Community (CAN) ruling that Ecu [...] | 2009-09-09 22:05:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PINR ECON ETRD CO EC |
09BOGOTA292 | URIBE SIGNALS THAT HE MAY NOT RUN IN 2010 [...] (C) Summary: President Uribe has signaled he may drop his effort to amend the constitution to allow for a 2010 reelection bid, but his intentions remain unclear. A respected Medellin daily reported January 29 that Uribe would not seek reelection in 2010, and Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santo [...] | 2009-01-29 13:34:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR CO |
09BOGOTA2920 | AUGUST HUMAN RIGHTS UPDATE [...] (C) The Acting Prosecutor General announced September 7 that members of the military are not suspects in the August 26 murder of 12 Awa indigenous in Narino. The United Nations High Commission for Human Rights (UNHCHR) Chief of Mission told us privately he is concerned military public posturin [...] | 2009-09-10 14:11:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KJUS PTER PREL ELAB CO |