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| Identifier | Subject | Date | Office | Classification | Tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 00BOGOTA10666 |
2000 TERRORISM REPORT (COLOMBIA) [...] THE FOLLOWING IS EMBASSY BOGOTA'S SUBMISSION FOR THE 2000 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT, KEYED TO THE QUESTIONS POSED IN REFTEL: A. RESPONSE OF JUDICIAL SYSTEM TO TERRORISM: COLOMBIA'S PROSECUTOR GENERAL (A BRANCH OF THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT INDEPENDENT OF THE EXECUTIVE) CONTINUES TO GIVE HIGH P [...] |
2000-12-05 14:42:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PTER CO |
| 00BOGOTA3734 |
FARC INAUGURATES CLANDESTINE POLITICAL PARTY [...] (C) AMIDST GREAT FANFARE AND TENS OF THOUSANDS OF ONLOOKERS, THE FARC ANNOUNCED APRIL 29 ITS "CLANDESTINE POLITICAL PARTY," THE "BOLIVARIAN MOVEMENT." FARC CHIEF MARULANDA SAID THE CLANDESTINE CHARACTER OF THE PARTY WAS INTENDED TO PROTECT ITS MEMBERS FROM A SYSTEMATIC MURDER CAMPAIGN SUCH AS [...] |
2000-05-03 21:26:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PINS PTER MASS PINR PHUM CO |
| 00BOGOTA6096 |
COLOMBIAN TERRORISM - DEFENSE OFFICIALS PAINT [...] CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR CURTIS W. KAMMAN. REASON 1.5(B). 2. (C) SUMMARY: COORDINATOR FOR COUNTERTERRORISM MIKE SHEEHAN AND ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE (SOLIC) BRIAN SHERIDAN MET WITH COLOMBIAN MINISTER OF DEFENSE LUIS RAMIREZ, THE COMMANDER OF MILITARY FORCES FERNANDO TAPIAS, AND [...] |
2000-07-13 22:24:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PGOV PREL CO PINS |
| 01BOGOTA10584 |
FARC RESISTS RE-STARTING TALKS/SLAMS U.N. [...] No summary [...] |
2001-11-27 22:34:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PREL PGOV CO |
| 01BOGOTA500 |
LATEST MASSACRE PART OF ON-GOING PARA OFFENSIVE [...] CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR ANNE W. PATTERSON. REASONS: 1.5(C,D). 2. (C) SUMMARY: ON JANUARY 17, SOME 26 RESIDENTS OF A COMMUNITY NEAR THE TOWN OF OVEJAS IN NORTHERN SUCRE DEPARTMENT WERE MASSACRED, APPARENTLY BY PARAMILITARIES BELONGING TO THE NORTHERN BLOCK OF SELF-DEFENSE GROUPS OPERATING [...] |
2001-01-19 22:42:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PTER PHUM CO |
| 01BOGOTA5460 |
COLOMBIAN GOVERNMENT/FARC BEGIN HUMANITARIAN [...] CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR ANNE W. PATTERSON. REASONS: 1.5(C,D). 2. (U) ON JUNE 16, THE COLOMBIAN GOVERNMENT AND THE FARC BEGAN THE PLANNED EXCHANGE OF CAPTURED SOLDIERS AND POLICEMEN FOR IMPRISONED FARC GUERRILLAS WITH THE FARC RELEASE OF 29 POLICEMEN AND SOLDIERS AND THE GOC RELEASE OF 11 [...] |
2001-06-18 18:23:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PTER PGOV PREL PINS MARR CO |
| 01BOGOTA5539 |
FARC ANNOUNCE INTENTION TO RELEASE ADDITIONAL 250 [...] No summary [...] |
2001-06-19 23:43:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PTER PGOV PREL CO |
| 01BOGOTA7805 |
UPDATE ON OPERATION SEVENTH OF AUGUST [...] (C) AS REPORTED REFTEL, ON AUGUST 17 THE COLOMBIAN MILITARY LAUNCHED A HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL JOINT ARMY/AIR FORCE OPERATION TO DESTROY MOBILE FARC UNITS SEEKING TO ATTACK MILITARY TARGETS IN META AND GUAVIARE DEPARTMENTS. ON AUGUST 27, FARC SUPREME MILITARY COMMANDER "MONO JOJOY" PUBLICLY ACKNOWLE [...] |
2001-08-29 00:02:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | MOPS MARR PTER PGOV PREL CO |
| 01BOGOTA8352 |
OPERATION SEVENTH OF AUGUST WINDS DOWN [...] (C) THE COLOMBIAN MILITARY'S (COLMIL) "SEVENTH OF AUGUST" OPERATION, LAUNCHED ON AUGUST 17 AGAINST A 1,300 STRONG FARC FORCE IN THE EASTERN COLOMBIAN DEPARTMENTS OF GUAVIARE AND META IS WINDING DOWN. THE JOINT ARMY/AIR FORCE OPERATION WAS EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL, ESPECIALLY IN ITS EARLY STAGES, [...] |
2001-09-14 17:26:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | MOPS MARR PTER PGOV PREL CO |
| 01BOGOTA8685 |
FARC KIDNAPS FORMER MINISTER OF CULTURE AND 10 OTHERS [...] (U) SUMMARY: FORMER MINISTER OF CULTURE CONSUELO ARAUJO NOGUERA AND SOME 10 TO 25 OTHER HOSTAGES WERE KIDNAPPED BY THE FARC NEAR VALLEDUPAR, CESAR DEPARTMENT, ON THE AFTERNOON OF SEPTEMBER 24. ARMY SOURCES CLAIM THE HOSTAGES' CARS HAVE BEEN SPOTTED FROM THE AIR IN A MOUNTAINOUS REGION NORTH [...] |
2001-09-25 23:33:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PREF PREL CO |
| 01CARACAS182 |
CHAVEZ AND COLOMBIA: IT WON'T GET BETTER [...] (C) THE RIVALRY BETWEEN VENEZUELA AND COLOMBIA HAS BEEN LONGSTANDING, WITH ROOTS REACHING BACK AS FAR AS THE BREAK- UP OF GRAN COLOMBIA INTO SEPARATE STATES. OVER THE YEARS, THE RIVALRY BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES - AND ESPECIALLY BETWEEN THEIR RESPECTIVE MILITARIES - MANIFESTED ITSELF AS A PER [...] |
2001-01-22 20:56:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL VE CO |
| 02BOGOTA1025 |
PUBLIC PROTESTS GROW IN THE FACE OF FARC [...] (C) SUMMARY: AS THE FARC'S WAVE OF VIOLENCE AND DESTRUCTION CONTINUES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, PRESIDENT PASTRANA MET WITH HIS TOP MILITARY AND CIVILIAN ADVISORS TO DEVELOP A PLAN TO COMBAT THE GUERRILLA ATTACKS. MEANWHILE, POPULAR ATTITUDES ARE HARDENING AGAINST THE FARC, AS PEOPLE TAKE TO TH [...] |
2002-02-04 11:52:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PGOV PINS CO |
| 02BOGOTA10338 |
FARC KIDNAPS PRESIDENT OF LATIN AMERICAN BISHOPS [...] (U) ON NOVEMBER 11, THE PRESIDENT OF THE LATIN AMERICAN BISHOPS CONFERENCE (CELAM) AND BISHOP OF ZIPAQUIRA, JORGE ENRIQUE JIMENEZ, WAS KIDNAPPED IN A RURAL AREA NEAR PACHO, CUNDINAMARCA. TWO ARMED MEN KIDNAPPED THE BISHOP ALONG WITH A PARISH PRIEST. THE 60 YEAR-OLD JIMENEZ WAS TRAVELING TO S [...] |
2002-11-12 20:35:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PHUM PREL PTER CO |
| 02BOGOTA11477 |
COLOMBIA: 2001 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT [...] THIS IS POST'S RESPONSE TO REFTEL REQUEST FOR INPUT ON THE 2001 TERRORISM REPORT FOR COLOMBIA. AFTER MORE THAN 50 YEARS OF FIGHTING AMONG GOVERNMENT TROOPS, GUERRILLAS AND PARAMILITARIES, COLOMBIANS ARE INTIMATELY FAMILIAR WITH THE SCOURGE OF TERRORISM. TWO COLOMBIAN TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS [...] |
2002-12-16 22:03:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PTER CO |
| 02BOGOTA3159 |
FARC RESUMES ATTACKS AGAINST CIVILIAN POPULATION [...] (U) SUMMARY: FARC ACTIONS AGAINST THE MILITARY, THE CIVILIAN POPULATION, AND COLOMBIA'S INFRASTRUCTURE FLARED DURING A THREE-WEEK PERIOD FOLLOWING THE END OF THE DESPEJE. SINCE THEN, FARC ACTIVITY AGAINST THE POPULATION HAD BEEN MINIMAL, UNTIL THIS PAST WEEK: FROM MARCH 24 TO 27, FARC REBELS [...] |
2002-04-08 23:35:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PHUM PINR SOCI CO |
| 02BOGOTA3281 |
DETAILS ON FARC CAMPS IN VENEZUELA [...] (S/NF) SUMMARY: COLOMBIAN GOVERNMENT, MILITARY AND CIVILIAN INTERLOCUTORS UNEQUIVOCALLY CONFIRM THE EXISTENCE OF FARC CAMPS IN VENEZUELA (REFTEL). EMBASSY INTERLOCUTORS IN THE GOC FEEL THE VENEZUELAN MILITARY HAS BEEN ACTIVELY ORDERED AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS TO TURN A BLIND EYE TO FARC AND ELN C [...] |
2002-04-11 20:44:00 | Embassy Bogota | SECRET | PREL PTER MOPS VE CO |
| 02BOGOTA6886 |
FARC THREATS CAUSE ENTIRE TOWN TO FLEE [...] VIRTUALLY ALL OF THE INHABITANTS OF PUERTO ALVIRA, META DEPARTMENT, HAVE FLED BECAUSE OF THREATENED GUERRILLA ACTIONS. PUERTO ALVIRA IS ON THE BORDER BETWEEN META AND GUAVIARE DEPARTMENTS, IN SOUTHEASTERN COLOMBIA, NEAR THE EASTERN BORDER OF THE FORMER DEMILITARIZED ZONE. IN MID-JULY, AND A [...] |
2002-08-02 19:17:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PTER PHUM PREF CO |
| 02BOGOTA7088 |
FARC INAUGURATION DAY VIOLENCE [...] (C) SUMMARY: ON AUGUST 7, PRESUMED MEMBERS OF THE FARC'S URBAN MILITIAS CARRIED OUT TERRORIST ATTACKS IN TWO DIFFERENT AREAS OF BOGOTA. THE FIRST ATTACK, WHICH TARGETED A GOC MILITARY INSTALLATION, WAS PROBABLY MEANT TO CONFUSE AND DISTRACT THE COLOMBIAN SECURITY SERVICES. SEVERAL HOURS LAT [...] |
2002-08-09 00:53:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CO |
| 02BOGOTA9640 |
FARC KILLS PRIEST, ATTEMPTS TO KIDNAP BISHOP [...] (U) ON OCTOBER 17, TWO ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIESTS IN SUCRE AND CALDAS DEPARTMENTS WERE ASSASSINATED AND THE FARC IS BELIEVED TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR AT LEAST ONE OF THE KILLINGS. THE FIRST MURDER TOOK PLACE IN CHALAN, SUCRE. (NOTE: SUCRE IS IN ONE OF THE URIBE ADMINISTRATION'S "REHABILITATION ZONES [...] |
2002-10-22 23:41:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PTER CO |
| 02VATICAN1152 |
SANT'EGIDIO THANKS UNCLE SAM AND CHIDES [...] (U) ANDREA RICCARDI, FOUNDER OF THE SANT'EGIDIO COMMUNITY, HOSTED AMBASSADOR AND EMBOFFS 2/19 AT A DINNER IN RECOGNITION OF THE ORGANIZATION'S CLOSE COOPERATION WITH THE CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 VATICA 01152 051435Z USG. RICCARDI EXPRESSED GRATITUDE FOR CONTINUIN [...] |
2002-03-05 13:33:00 | Embassy Vatican | CONFIDENTIAL | CO CU IT MZ PHUM PREL SOCI VT ZL |
| 03BOGOTA286 |
MASS GRAVE SITE DISCOVERED IN CAQUETA [...] (C) SUMMARY: THE HUMAN RIGHTS UNIT OF THE PROSECUTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE IS INVESTIGATING THE DISCOVERY OF WHAT ARE BELIEVED TO BE THE GRAVES OF OVER 100 VICTIMS OF PARAMILITARY ATROCITIES IN CAQUETA DEPARTMENT. THE VICTIMS ARE BELIEVED TO BE ALLEGED FARC SYMPATHIZERS WHO WERE TORTURED AND EXECU [...] |
2003-01-15 00:44:00 | Embassy Bogota | SECRET | PHUM PTER PINS PGOV CO |
| 03BOGOTA342 |
FARC KIDNAPS CIVILIANS FOR CAR BOMB ATTACKS [...] (U) IN ITS LATEST WAVE OF CAR BOMB ATTACKS IN ARAUCA, THE FARC REPORTEDLY HAS BEEN KIDNAPPING CIVILIANS AND USING THEM AS UNWITTING SUICIDE DRIVERS OF CARS LOADED WITH EXPLOSIVES. ONCE THE CARS REACH THEIR TARGET, THE EXPLOSIVES ARE DETONATED VIA REMOTE CONTROL. SINCE JANUARY 8, THERE HAVE BE [...] |
2003-01-15 22:02:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PTER CO |
| 03BOGOTA3994 |
FARC KILLS TWO HIGH PROFILE HOSTAGES [...] (S) ON MAY 5, THE FARC EXECUTED TWO HIGH PROFILE HOSTAGES- ANTIOQUIA GOVERNOR GUILLERMO GAVIRIA AND FORMER DEFENSE MINISTER AND PEACE ADVISER GILBERTO ECHEVERRI- IN AN AREA NEAR URRAO, ANTIOQUIA DEPARTMENT. EIGHT SOLDIERS WHO THE FARC ALSO HAD KIDNAPPED WERE KILLED AS WELL. SOURCES INDICATE [...] |
2003-05-06 00:07:00 | Embassy Bogota | SECRET | PGOV PHUM PREL PTER CO |
| 03BOGOTA9806 |
TOP FARC COMMANDER KILLED BY COLOMBIAN ARMY [...] (S) SUMMARY: ON OCTOBER 19, THE COLOMBIAN ARMY KILLED EDGAR NAVARRO, ALIAS "MOCHO," DEPUTY COMMANDER OF THE FARC'S TEOFILO FORERO MOBILE COLUMN (TFMC), ONE OF THE FARC'S MOST ACTIVE AND EFFECTIVE UNITS. THE OPERATION TO CAPTURE NAVARRO, WHICH ENDED WITH HIS DEATH, WAS BASED ON EFFECTIVE USE [...] |
2003-10-20 22:58:00 | Embassy Bogota | SECRET | PTER PHUM PGOV PINR PINS CO |
| 03GUATEMALA2727 |
GUATEMALA ON COLOMBIAN'S SIDE DECLARATION AT OAS [...] No summary [...] |
2003-10-24 18:27:00 | Embassy Guatemala | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PGOV PTER CO GT OAS |
| 03MONTREAL999 |
YOUTH GROUP VISITS CONSULATE ON PLIGHT OF AFRO- [...] Summary. Two leaders of Black Youth in Action (BYIA), a Montreal NGO, paid a visit to the Consul General (CG) on Monday, July 21. The purpose of the visit was to deliver a letter describing the displacement of the Afro-Colombian population in Colombia and to request the names of African- A [...] |
2003-07-30 13:47:00 | Consulate Montreal | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM SOCI PREF CA CO |
| 03PARIS5741 |
FRENCH DENY NEGOTIATING WITH FARC FOR RELEASE OF [...] (C) DURING AN AUGUST 7 MEETING WITH FOREIGN MINISTER VILLEPIN'S CABINET DIRECTOR PIERRE VIMONT ON A RANGE OF ISSUES, CHARGE ASKED DIRECTLY WHETHER FRANCE HAD NEGOTIATED WITH THE FARC IN AN EFFORT TO SECURE THE RELEASE OF FRENCH-COLOMBIAN CITIZEN INGRID BETANCOURT. VIMONT EXPLICITLY DENIED TH [...] |
2003-08-07 19:15:00 | Embassy Paris | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER CO BR FR |
| 03SANTODOMINGO6002 |
DEMARCHE ON COLOMBIA AND OAS SPECIAL CONFERENCE - [...] Post on October 24 delivered talking points reftel, regarding the proposed side declaration of support for Colombia at the OAS Special Conference on Security, to MFA acting director of international organization affairs Ambassador Radhis Abreu de Polanco. She informed us that our points had b [...] |
2003-10-25 15:27:00 | Embassy Santo Domingo | UNCLASSIFIED | CO DR MX PGOV PREL PTER |
| 03SANTODOMINGO6875 |
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST NO. 200301573 [...] Post regrets the delay in fulfilling the request as stated in Reftel, but finds the request as worded, "for all documents related to the Ambassador since his arrival at post", too broad in scope. 2. Please provide clarification in a more specific and/or defined scope for this request. KU [...] |
2003-11-28 12:49:00 | Embassy Santo Domingo | UNCLASSIFIED | AINF SNAR PREL CO |
| 03TEGUCIGALPA1792 |
HONDURAN AUTHORITIES SEIZE APPROXIMATELY 525 KILOS [...] (C) SUMMARY: On July 28 Honduran authorities seized approximately 525 kilos of cocaine from a Colombian go-fast boat that was forced to beach near the remote northern coastal region of Limon, Colon. The vessel was first interdicted by the Honduran Navy at approximately 17:45, some nine nauti [...] |
2003-07-29 20:56:00 | Embassy Tegucigalpa | SECRET | SNAR PGOV KCRM KJUS ASEC CO HO |
| 04ASUNCION232 |
PARAGUAY'S ATTORNEY GENERAL PUBLICIZES FARC LINKS [...] (U) On 2/14, Paraguayan Attorney General Oscar Latorre held a press conference (ref A) during which he released the following evidence linking Patria Libre party member Osmar Martinez to FARC leader Rodrigo Granda and implicating the FARC in supporting the kidnapping of Cecilia Cubas, daughter [...] |
2004-08-27 14:41:00 | Embassy Asuncion | SECRET//NOFORN | PREL PTER PINR KCRM SNAR CO PA |
| 04BOGOTA1 |
CONGRESS PASSES FISCAL REFORM, FOR REAL THIS TIME [...] (SBU) The Uribe Administration's fiscal reform bill, which passed on December 20 but was in danger of being overturned by the courts on technical grounds (reftel). The bill was corrected and re-passed in special session December 29. WOOD [...] |
2004-01-02 14:19:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | EFIN ECON CO PGOV |
| 04BOGOTA1017 |
AIR BRIDGE DENIAL: DECEMBER 2003 PROGRAM UPDATE [...] (U) Summary: Following is the December Air Bridge Denial (ABD) activity report required by ref A. There were over 2400 tracks sorted, of which 26 were declared Unidentified, Assumed Suspect (UAS) Tracks, with one pPhase I and two Phase II events during the month of December. ABD program issu [...] |
2004-02-02 13:51:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | SNAR PREL MOPS MASS PGOV CO |
| 04BOGOTA10484 |
SUCRE DEPARTMENT: STRUGGLING WITH SECURITY AND [...] (C) During a visit to Sincelejo, capital of Sucre Department, Embassy officials observed that security is improving only slowly in this traditionally violent area, where the Uribe administration briefly gave the police and military state-of-emergency powers in 2002. The notorious Montes de Ma [...] |
2004-10-12 14:55:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PHUM ASEC PINR SNAR CO |
| 04BOGOTA1067 |
MAJOR COLOMBIAN PRINT MEDIA TRENDS FALL 2003 [...] This report on Colombian media covers the period September - November 2003. In this time frame, major Colombian print media (dailies El Tiempo, El Nuevo Siglo, La Republica, and Portafolio, and weeklies El Espectador, Semana, and Cambio) published 88 editorials, op-eds, and other signed commen [...] |
2004-02-03 13:44:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR KPAO OPRC PREL SNAR PGOV CO |
| 04BOGOTA1092 |
SUPPORTING HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY: THE U.S. [...] This is in response to reftel request. ---------------------------- Human Rights Strategy Report ---------------------------- 2. Although Colombia is a democracy, a major internal armed conflict financed by drug trafficking and other criminal activities has created an environment in whic [...] |
2004-02-03 22:05:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PREL PGOV ELAB KDEM KPAO KSEP EAID CO |
| 04BOGOTA111 |
ELECTORAL COUNCIL RULES THAT ONE REFERENDUM ITEM [...] (U) On January 2, the National Electoral Council (CNE) released the official results of the October 25 political and economic reform referendum. The CNE concluded that one of fifteen referendum items met the twenty-five percent registered voter threshold required for approval. Item One, whic [...] |
2004-01-07 15:01:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN PGOV PHUM PINR CO |
| 04BOGOTA112 |
NOTES FROM THE FIELD: VALLEDUPAR AND CESAR [...] (C) Politics and economics in the northern department of Cesar are heavily influenced by the interests of a small number of prominent families and the depredations of illegal armed groups. Despite the distractions posed by feuds within the local aristocracy and the active presence of the FARC, [...] |
2004-01-07 16:09:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PHUM PINR PINS MCAP ECON SNAR SOCI CO |
| 04BOGOTA11205 |
RESTREPO OUTLINES AUC DEMOBILIZATION PROCESS TO [...] (C) Summary: On October 26, Peace Commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo presented the government's demobilization plan for the United Self Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) to the diplomatic corps. Seven AUC groups will demobilize between November 3 and December 18 and the GOC continues to insist [...] |
2004-11-02 14:38:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PINR PTER SNAR PHUM KJUS CO AUC |
| 04BOGOTA11206 |
URIBE REJECTS AUC PROPOSAL TO JOIN MILITARY [...] (U) President Uribe shot down a United Self Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) proposal that demobilized paramilitaries be incorporated into the armed forces. On October 28, Uribe said that members of an illegal armed group who demobilize would be given generous reinsertion benefits but would no [...] |
2004-11-02 14:39:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PINR PTER PHUM SNAR CO OAS AUC |
| 04BOGOTA11207 |
URIBE ASKS VATICAN TO BROKER PRISONER EXCHANGE [...] (SBU) On October 28, GOC High Commissioner for Peace Luis Carlos Restrepo wrote an open letter to Papal Nuncio Beniamino Stella proposing that the Catholic Church mediate an exchange of 15 prisoners from both the GOC and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). Face-to-face negotiat [...] |
2004-11-02 14:47:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PTER ASEC CO |
| 04BOGOTA11217 |
GOC SEEKS CONTINUED FUNDING FOR ILO COOPERATION [...] (C) On October 28, Vice Minister for Labor Affairs Luz Stella Arango briefed embassies of ILO Governing Body (GB) members on GOC cases before the ILO's Committee on Freedom of Association (CFA) scheduled for discussion at the ILO Governing Body meeting in November. She also requested support [...] |
2004-11-02 18:31:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | ELAB PHUM PGOV ETRD CO ILO |
| 04BOGOTA11331 |
SEVEN PERCENT INCREASE IN 2005 DEFENSE BUDGET [...] (U) The GOC's 2005 central defense budget is 9.2 trillion pesos, an approximately seven percent increase over 2004 (reftel). Defense spending has grown over 50 percent since 2001. The 2005 increase will fund over 16,000 new uniformed police and military, including three Army mobile brigades, [...] |
2004-11-02 18:31:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PGOV MASS SNAR PINR MCAP PTER ECON CO |
| 04BOGOTA11339 |
THE UN'S FUTURE IN COLOMBIA \ [...] (C) SUMMARY: Ambassador met with UN special advisor on \ Colombia James LeMoyne at the latter's request on October 28 \ and 30. LeMoyne said that the EU would release a new policy \ paper on Colombia in January 2005 which would lead to an more \ engaged approach. On demobilization, LeMoyne repor [...] |
2004-11-02 18:31:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | EAID PGOV PHUM PINR PREL CO |
| 04BOGOTA11373 |
GOC IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS DENY ENTRY TO FOUR INTERNATIONAL UNION LEADERS [...] (SBU) Summary: Over the weekend of October 30-31, GOC immigration officials denied entry to four international labor leaders, including one U.S. citizen, and cancelled the tourist visas of approximately 60 others, while permitting them to stay for a period of three days pending resolution of t [...] |
2004-11-02 18:31:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | ELAB PHUM PGOV CVIS CASC CO DUNCAN CAMERON |
| 04BOGOTA11421 |
FOLLOW-UP MEETING WITH FATHER JOAKIN MAYORGA [...] (C) Summary: On November 3, Father Joakin Mayorga visited the Embassy to discuss the status of an investigation by the Office of the Prosecutor General ("Fiscalia") into accusations made by two Army officers that he had committed criminal misrepresentation. In February, Mayorga alleged -- on [...] |
2004-11-02 18:31:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KIRF KJUS PTER PINR CO |
| 04BOGOTA11422 |
REP BALLENGER RECEIVES ORDER OF SAN CARLOS MEDAL [...] On October 27, President Uribe presented Representative Cass Ballenger with the Order of San Carlos medal and thanked him for his long-standing support. On the margins of the ceremony, Ballanger told Uribe about his trip to the USAID alternative development projects in Putumayo Department and [...] |
2004-11-02 18:31:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL EAID CO CODEL |
| 04BOGOTA11548 |
ANDEAN SECURITY CONFERENCE COLOMBIA SCENESETTER [...] No summary [...] |
2004-11-09 17:57:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ECON SNAR PTER KJUS CO |
| 04BOGOTA11571 |
COLOMBIA WOULD BE FURTHER IN THE RED IF NOT FOR [...] (SBU) Summary. With oil trading at around USD 50 a barrel, Ecopetrol's windfall profits continue to rise. GOC officials have stated privately that were it not for the record revenues of the state oil company, the GOC would not make its 2004 deficit target of 2.5 percent of GDP. End Summary [...] |
2004-11-02 18:31:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ENRG EPET CO |
| 04BOGOTA11586 |
PLAN COLOMBIA IMPLEMENTATION ROUND-UP, OCTOBER, [...] (U) The following is an update of Plan Colombia-related activities reported during October, 2004. -------- DOJ/JSRP -------- 2. (U) In October, DOJ's Justice Sector Reform Program coordinated 25 training and technical assistance programs for 820 police officers, 145 prosecutors and 110 [...] |
2004-11-02 18:31:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV SNAR MASS PREF EAID KJUS CO |
| 04BOGOTA11694 |
COLOMBIA - NIGHT OF A THOUSAND DINNERS [...] (U) Embassy Bogota hosted a dinner on November 8 to raise awareness of the landmine problem in Colombia (reftel). Fifty guests, including members of the Vice Presidency's Anti-Personnel Mine Office, NGOs, the diplomatic corps, and international organizations, listened to remarks from landmine [...] |
2004-11-02 18:31:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PREL KHDP CO |
| 04BOGOTA11705 |
LIBERAL PARTY SANCTIONS NINE SENATORS FOR [...] (U) On November 8, the Liberal Party suspended nine senators for ten months for breaking with the party's official position and voting in favor of legislation to permit Presidential reelection. Internal party rules require members of Congress to vote the party line. Prior to the move, the p [...] |
2004-11-02 18:31:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV CO |
| 04BOGOTA11735 |
OAS URGES MORE SUPPORT FOR AUC PEACE PROCESS [...] (U) On November 9, OAS Mission Chief Sergio Caramagna, in charge of verifying the paramilitary peace process, publicly urged the international community to give more support to the government's plan to demobilize the United Self Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC). In a statement to Colombia's l [...] |
2004-11-02 18:31:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PTER KJUS PINR CO OAS AUC |
| 04BOGOTA11752 |
SCENESETTER FOR PRESIDENT BUSH'S MEETING WITH [...] (C) President Uribe welcomes the visit of President and Mrs. Bush with enthusiasm. Current hot topics include: --Floods in Northern Colombia, more than 150,000 persons affected --Demobilization and reinsertion of up to 3,000 paramilitary terrorists in the next two months --U.S. support [...] |
2004-11-02 18:31:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL CO |
| 04BOGOTA11753 |
PEACE COMMISSIONER DESCRIBES DEMOBILIZATION DETAILS [...] (C) On November 12, Peace Commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo reviewed for the Ambassador recent developments in demobilizing the United Self Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) and clarified key steps in the process. Restrepo's principle concern is that without adequate security, the Revolutionary [...] |
2004-11-02 18:31:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER KJUS SNAR PHUM PINR PREL CO AUC |
| 04BOGOTA11756 |
CSJ DETERMINES ARAUCA CASE TO BE HANDLED BY [...] On November 11, the Supreme Council of the Judiciary (CSJ) determined that the Prosecutor General's Office ("Fiscalia") will maintain control of and continue to investigate the August 5 deaths of three trade unionists killed in Saravena, Arauca Department, by members of the Colombian Army's 18t [...] |
2004-11-02 18:31:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM ELAB PINR PTER PGOV ETRD KJUS CO |
| 04BOGOTA11758 |
URIBE RETIRES ARMY COMMANDER, RETAINS REST OF HIGH [...] (C) On November 10, Minister of Defense Uribe announced changes to the Armed Forces high command: Armed Forces Commander General Ospina and all the service chiefs except Army Commander Major General Carreno will remain in their positions. Carreno will retire. Joint Task Force Omega Commander [...] |
2004-11-02 18:31:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | ASEC PREL PINR CO MOPS |
| 04BOGOTA11791 |
COLOMBIA WILL ABSTAIN ON HUMAN RIGHTS RESOLUTIONS [...] No summary [...] |
2004-11-02 18:31:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM CO UNGA |
| 04BOGOTA11817 |
DEFENSE MINISTER DENIES CONJUGAL VISIT WITH [...] (C) On November 16, Defense Minister Jorge Uribe requested a meeting with the Ambassador to explain an article in El Nuevo Herald that claimed he had made a conjugal visit to a woman imprisoned in Medellin. The woman, Dora Adriana Alzate Restrepo, was arrested and sentenced to nine years in ja [...] |
2004-11-02 18:31:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | SNAR PREL PINR CO PGOV |
| 04BOGOTA11863 |
COLOMBIA'S VIEW ON ANTI-ISRAELI RESOLUTIONS AT UNGA [...] No summary [...] |
2004-11-02 18:31:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL IS CO |
| 04BOGOTA11864 |
AMBASSADOR VALENCIA REPORTS ON ELN-GOC [...] (C) Ambassador Valencia, the Mexican facilitator for talks between the National Liberation Army (ELN) and the GOC, briefed the Ambassador on recent communications between the two sides on November 16. On October 8, the ELN offered to meet with the GOC in Mexico but demanded the GOC provide a [...] |
2004-11-02 18:31:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PHUM KJUS PINR PREL CO ELN |
| 04BOGOTA1187 |
COLOMBIA NATIONAL POLICE PRESENCE IN CONFLICTIVE AREAS: [...] ONE OF PRESIDENT URIBE'S TOP STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES HAS BEEN TO "CONSOLIDATE STATE CONTROL" OVER COLOMBIAN TERRITORY BY REESTABLISHING A PUBLIC SECURITY FORCE PRESENCE THROUGHOUT COLOMBIA. IN AUGUST 2002, WHEN PRESIDENT URIBE TOOK OFFICE, 158 OF COLOMBIA'S 1098 MUNICIPALITIES (EQUIVALENT TO U.S. [...] |
2004-02-04 22:27:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | SNAR PREL PTER CO |
| 04BOGOTA1198 |
URIBE ON PARAMILITARY DEMOBILIZATION [...] (C) In a February 4 meeting with Ambassador Wood and visiting U.S. inter-agency delegation, President Uribe stated that he was instructing his Administration to offer paramilitary leaders two options: relocation to so-called "concentration zones" for those who agree to demobilize or prosecut [...] |
2004-02-05 17:15:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KJUS PTER SNAR PHUM CO |
| 04BOGOTA12265 |
PEACE COMMISSIONER DISCUSSES AUC PEACE PROCESS AND [...] (C) On November 27, Peace Commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo briefed Ambassador on developments in the peace process with the United Self Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC): -- Bananero Bloc: demobilization is complete. Thirty-seven are implicated in major crimes and will stay in the demobili [...] |
2004-12-01 14:56:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER SNAR PHUM KJUS PREL PINR CO |
| 04BOGOTA12275 |
FISCALIA INVESTIGATES TAOIST COMMUNITY IN [...] (C) Summary: On November 25, officials from the Office of the Prosecutor General ("Fiscalia") raided a Taoist commune located in a remote region of Santander Department to investigate allegations that the commune's leadership was involved in opium production and kidnapping. The allegations we [...] |
2004-12-01 16:21:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM KIRF PGOV KJUS CASC CO |
| 04BOGOTA12290 |
REELECTION PASSES HOUSE [...] (U) On November 30, the House of Representatives approved legislation to reform the Constitution to permit Presidential reelection (two terms maximum). Each article of the legislation was voted and passed in the range of 100-115 (of 166 total members) in favor. The only remaining legislativ [...] |
2004-12-01 19:29:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV CO |
| 04BOGOTA12326 |
CUBA: NSC-DIRECTED COLOMBIA REVIEW [...] (C) Concern over potential Cuban support for armed guerrilla groups affects Colombia,s cautious Cuba policy. While Colombia has cut off and reestablished diplomatic relations to Cuba multiple times in the past, the bilateral relationship is currently stable, with Colombia generally exercising [...] |
2004-12-02 13:57:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | ETTC PREL CU CO |
| 04BOGOTA12360 |
COLOMBIANS CREATE NEW CARIBBEAN JOINT COMMAND FOR [...] (U) On November 17, the Colombian military (COLMIL) announced the creation of a new joint command for the Caribbean coastal region, designed to maximize the military's assets in that area. The Caribbean Joint Command will cover the area from La Guajira Department in northeast Colombia to Choc [...] |
2004-12-02 22:30:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR PGOV CO |
| 04BOGOTA12409 |
AUC DEMOBILIZATION ON A SHOESTRING [...] (U) The GOC has begun demobilization of the 3,000-4,000 United Self Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) by the end of 2004. According to OAS mission chief Sergio Caramagna and staff, they are being forced to improvise and go without key supplies, including tables, phones, and bathrooms. End su [...] |
2004-12-03 22:49:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PTER PHUM PINR PREL KJUS CO OAS AUC |
| 04BOGOTA12410 |
GOC PARDONS 23 FARC GUERRILLAS [...] (U) On December 2, the GOC pardoned 23 imprisoned members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). Those pardoned were guilty only of membership in an illegal armed group; no guerrillas guilty of violent crimes were eligible for pardon. They will be released from prisons througho [...] |
2004-12-03 22:54:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER KJUS PHUM PINR PREL CO |
| 04BOGOTA12424 |
A/S TAYLOR MEETING WITH MOD URIBE [...] (U) December 1, 2004, 3:00-4:00 p.m., Ministry of Defense, Bogota 2. (U) Participants: U.S. ---- A/S Francis X. Taylor Col. Simeon Trombitas, Milgroup Commander Col. William Graves, Defense Attache Mark Hunter, RSO Pamela Fierst, Special Assistant Dana Brown, notetaker Colombia [...] |
2004-12-06 16:51:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | ASEC PGOV PTER CO |
| 04BOGOTA12434 |
A/S TAYLOR MEETING WITH PRESIDENT URIBE [...] No summary [...] |
2004-12-06 20:17:00 | Embassy Bogota | SECRET | ASEC CO KJUS PGOV PHUM PREL PTER |
| 04BOGOTA12512 |
GOC REACTS STRONGLY TO U.S. ATTORNEY PRESS [...] (SBU) Late on December 6, Camilo Ospina, President Uribe's Legal Advisor, contacted the Ambassador to voice the President's strong concerns over the press conference by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida on the extradition of Gilberto Rodriguez-Orejuela to the effect that [...] |
2004-12-07 21:11:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL KJUS SNAR CO |
| 04BOGOTA12575 |
NAS Monthly Report November 2004: [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: In November we sprayed 13,062 hectares of coca and completed the fourth poppy campaign of the year. Plan Colombia helicopters supported a request for a medical evacuation by the 9th Brigade. During November the CNP destroyed 20 Cocaine HCL labs. CNP also captured over 1.5 metr [...] |
2004-12-09 20:07:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR EFIN KCRM PTER CO |
| 04BOGOTA12598 |
FARC PROPOSES NEW DEMILITARIZED ZONES FOR [...] (U) On December 3, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) released a communique dated November 28, changing one of its long-standing requirements for a humanitarian exchange. The communique appears to pre-date the GOC's December 2 release of 23 (with 12 more expected) FARC members [...] |
2004-12-09 22:09:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PTER ASEC CO FARC |
| 04BOGOTA12602 |
THREE MORE AUC DEMOBILIZATIONS [...] (C) The GOC continues to demobilize elements of the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC). As of December 8, 510 out of about 1,500 paramilitaries from the Catatumbo Bloc had registered in their demobilization zone in Norte de Santander Department. They are scheduled to publicly demobi [...] |
2004-12-10 00:00:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PHUM SNAR PINR CO OAS AUC |
| 04BOGOTA12603 |
UN MAY CONSIDER DDR PROGRAM FOR COLOMBIA; [...] (C) Begin Summary: UN Special Advisor on Colombia James LeMoyne, visiting Bogota this week, told major donors on December 8 that the UN was considering a demobilization, disarmament and reintergration (DDR) program for Colombia, assuming certain conditions were met. UNDP is also exploring th [...] |
2004-12-10 00:10:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | EAID PGOV PHUM PINR PREL CO |
| 04BOGOTA12689 |
PLAN COLOMBIA IMPLEMENTATION ROUND-UP, NOVEMBER [...] (U) The following is an update of Plan Colombia-related activities reported during November 2004. -------- DOJ/JSRP -------- 2. (U) The Justice Sector Reform Program (JSRP) coordinated several training courses during November. They included the following: "Investigator as a Witness" (i [...] |
2004-11-02 18:31:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV SNAR MASS PREF EAID KJUS CO |
| 04BOGOTA12692 |
COLOMBIAN 3RD QUARTER GDP GROWTH MISSES THE MARK [...] (U) SUMMARY. The GOC released 2004 Q3 GDP figures showing a sluggish 2.43 percent growth rate. GOC forecasts had predicted a 3.9 percent increase. Colombia's expected 2004 GDP growth rate of 4 percent can now only be achieved if Q4 GDP growth reaches 5 percent or higher. These numbers are [...] |
2004-11-02 18:31:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON EFIN EPET PGOV PREL CO |
| 04BOGOTA12734 |
MILITARY AND THE MEDIA CONFERENCE AIMS TO IMPROVE [...] (U) Summary: On December 2, Embassy Bogota and the Ministry of Defense co-sponsored the third annual Public Forces and Journalism Seminar to improve military-media communication. Almost one hundred media and Armed Forces members (including the police) attended the meeting in Paipa, Boyaca Dep [...] |
2004-11-02 18:31:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV MOPS PHUM CO |
| 04BOGOTA12736 |
AUC COMMANDER MANCUSO DEMOBILIZES WITH CATATUMBO [...] (C) Over 1400 members of the AUC's Catatumbo Bloc -- including AUC military commander Salvatore Mancuso -- demobilized in a public ceremony in Norte de Santander Department on December 10. The Bloc surrendered over 1500 quality weapons, as well as over 150 pieces of real estate in the region. [...] |
2004-12-15 17:15:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PHUM PGOV CO AUC |
| 04BOGOTA12769 |
COUNTER DRUG BRIGADE SHUTS DOWN TWO HCL LABS IN [...] (SBU) On November 26 and 27, elements of the Plan Colombia-supported Counter Drug (CD) Brigade captured two FARC cocaine hydrochloride (HCL) labs during Operation Hurricane in Guaviare department. 2. (SBU) The first lab, in the Vaupes river/Miraflores area, had two chemical recycling vats ( [...] |
2004-11-02 18:31:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR PTER MOPS CO |
| 04BOGOTA1280 |
COLOMBIAN PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTOR PREPARATIONS [...] (SBU) Summary: During A/S Wayne's January 28-29 trip to Bogota, Colombian government and business leaders expressed strong support for an FTA. They recognized, however, that they have a great deal of homework to do before they are ready to negotiate. Moreover, they expressed concern that na [...] |
2004-02-09 14:17:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN ETRD EAGR CO FTA |
| 04BOGOTA12829 |
DAS SHAPIRO AND PDAS FARRAR MEET WITH PRESIDENT [...] (U) December 15, 2004, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Presidential Palace, Bogota. 2. (U) Participants: U.S. ---- WHA DAS Charles Shapiro INL PDAS Jonathan Farrar Ambassador William B. Wood David Henifin, WHA/AND Deputy Director Al Matano, INL/LP Deputy Director Craig Conway, POL (notetaker) C [...] |
2004-11-02 18:31:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KJUS PTER PHUM CO VE BR UN |
| 04BOGOTA12835 |
TAMPA AIRLINES: PROCEED WITH CAUTION [...] (C) Summary. Post has no objection to Ex-Im Bank's financing of a Boeing 767-300F cargo aircraft for Tampa Airlines based on currently available information. Embassy recommends that Ex-Im proceed with caution, however, based on results of a recent meeting between DEA and Tampa Airlines and T [...] |
2004-11-02 18:31:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | EAIR SNAR CO |
| 04BOGOTA12846 |
DAS SHAPIRO AND PDAS FARRAR MEET WITH PRESIDENT [...] (U) December 15, 2004, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Presidential Palace, Bogota. 2. (U) Participants: U.S. ---- WHA DAS Charles Shapiro INL PDAS Jonathan Farrar Ambassador William B. Wood David Henifin, WHA/AND Deputy Director Al Matano, INL/LP Deputy Director Craig Conway, POL (notetaker) C [...] |
2004-11-02 18:31:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KJUS PTER PHUM CO VE BR UN |
| 04BOGOTA12860 |
NEW DEVELOPMENTS ON REELECTION [...] (SBU) Summary: Congress has reformed the Constitution to permit presidential reelection. Implementing legislation is pending for the upcoming session. Legal challenges are likely. A showdown between two high courts is also a possibility. End Summary. 2. (U) On December 14, the Senate [...] |
2004-11-02 18:31:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV CO |
| 04BOGOTA12901 |
COLOMBIA INSTITUTES CAPITAL CONTROLS ON INVESTORS [...] (U) SUMMARY. President Uribe announced in an evening press conference on December 14 that Colombia would be instituting capital controls investments entering Colombia. This move comes after a year-long appreciation of the peso (14 percent over the past year) and a three day period just befor [...] |
2004-11-02 18:31:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON EFIN EPET PGOV PREL CO |
| 04BOGOTA12903 |
GOC OFFERS TO MEET WITH FARC TO FACILITATE [...] (U) On December 20, the GOC reiterated its willingness to revoke its extradition order against Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) Commander Ricardo Palmera (aka "Simon Trinidad") if the FARC releases 63 hostages, including the three U.S. contractors, before December 30. The GOC exp [...] |
2004-11-02 18:31:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PTER PHUM ASEC PINR PGOV CO FARC |
| 04BOGOTA12938 |
DAS SHAPIRO DISCUSSES PEACE PROCESS WITH PEACE [...] (U) December 14, 2004, 7:30-8:30 p.m., Ambassador's residence, Bogota 2. (U) Participants: U.S. ---- DAS Charles Shapiro Ambassador William B. Wood Jeff DeLaurentis, POLCOUNS David Henifin, Deputy Director for Andean Affairs Sarah LaGier, notetaker Colombia -------- Luis Carl [...] |
2004-11-02 18:31:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PHUM KJUS PINR CO AUC |
| 04BOGOTA12939 |
AUC'S CALIMA BLOC DEMOBILIZES [...] (C) The Calima Bloc, the fifth paramilitary group to demobilize in 2004, demobilized near a small village in northern Valle del Cauca Department on December 18. Bloc members, most from the departments of Valle del Cauca or Antioquia, turned in over 500 weapons. The police have increased thei [...] |
2004-11-02 18:31:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER SNAR ASEC PHUM PINR CO OAS AUC |
| 04BOGOTA12945 |
Guarded Optimism at First Year Anniversary of [...] Just hours after the November 25 demobilization of AUC's Bananero Bloc combatants in Turbo, Antioquia Department (reftel), the first anniversary of the demobilization of the Cacique Nutibara Bloc (BCN) was celebrated in the department capital of Medellin. With banners emblazoned with the slog [...] |
2004-11-02 18:31:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PTER PINR PHUM KJUS CO OAS AUC |
| 04BOGOTA12953 |
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN COLOMBIA [...] Leading companies are implementing strategically-focused corporate social responsibility programs in Colombia. Each year, private companies donate millions of dollars to fund education, health, and recreational initiatives throughout the country. The private sector is also providing managemen [...] |
2004-11-02 18:31:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | EAID ELAB PGOV CO |
| 04BOGOTA12960 |
TRANSPARENCY OF COLOMBIAN BUDGET/MILITARY SPENDING [...] (U) Per Secstate 239929, post has spoken to appropriate Colombian government authorities and has responses to questions posed by Washington. 2. (U) Military Expenditures are audited by the National Comptroller, which works on an annual cycle to audit each aspect of military expenditu [...] |
2004-11-02 18:31:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | EAID ECON EFIN CO MOPS |
| 04BOGOTA12984 |
DAS SHAPIRO AND DAS FARRAR MEET WITH DEFENSE [...] (U) December 16, 2004, 3:30-4:30 p.m., Ministry of Defense, Bogota 2. (U) Participants: U.S. ---- INL DAS Jonathan Farrar WHA DAS Charles Shapiro Ambassador William B. Wood Al Matano, INL/LP Deputy Director David Henifin, Deputy Director for WHA/AND Jeff DeLaurentis, POLCOUNS Phyl [...] |
2004-11-02 18:31:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER SNAR ASEC PINR PREL CO |
| 04BOGOTA13000 |
HAGUE COMPLIANCE REPORT PREPARATION - COLOMBIA [...] (U) Although Post concurs with the Department's assessment of Colombia as "non-compliant" with the Hague Abduction Convention, Post notes legislation to implement the Convention is moving through the Colombian Congress. There are also positive developments in judicial training and cooperatio [...] |
2004-11-02 18:31:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | CASC KOCI CO |
| 04BOGOTA13087 |
GOC PRESENTS HUMAN RIGHTS STATUS REPORT TO G-24 [...] (SBU) On December 15, President Uribe, Vice President Santos and several other GOC officials presented a human rights status report to the G-24 Ambassadors and NGO representatives in preparation for the London Declaration follow-up conference in Cartagena on February 3-4, 2005. The proceeding [...] |
2004-11-02 18:31:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PREL PTER EAID CO |
| 04BOGOTA13139 |
DAS SHAPIRO MEETS WITH FATHER DARIO ECHEVERRI [...] (U) December 15, 2004, 11:15-12:15 a.m., Espicopal Conference, Bogota 2. (U) Participants: U.S. ---- DAS Charles Shapiro Ambassador William B. Wood Jeff DeLaurentis, POLCOUNS David Henifin, Deputy Director for Andean Affairs Sarah LaGier, POL (notetaker) Colombia -------- Fat [...] |
2004-11-02 18:31:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PHUM PINR PREL PGOV CO ELN |
| 04BOGOTA13168 |
PEACE AND PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS: A VIEW FROM THE [...] (C) Summary: Leftist Senator Carlos Gaviria -- a self-declared presidential candidate in 2006 -- told poloffs to expect lawsuits against the recently approved constitutional amendment authorizing presidential reelection and expressed concerns about a possible clash between high courts over the [...] |
2004-11-02 18:31:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KJUS CO |
| 04BOGOTA13170 |
COLOMBIA TO RATIFY COUNTERTERRORISM CONVENTIONS [...] No summary [...] |
2004-11-02 18:31:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PTER ASEC PREL CO |
| 04BOGOTA1318 |
DAS DESHAZO'S MEETING WITH FM BARCO [...] (C) Summary: In a meeting on February 6, WHA DAS Peter DeShazo and FM Carolina Barco discussed paramilitary demobilization and the OAS resolution on its verification mission, Colombia-Venezuela relations, and President Uribe's February 8-14 visit to Europe. End Summary. 2. (U) At the Fe [...] |
2004-02-09 19:27:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KJUS PHUM CO VE EU |
| 04BOGOTA13216 |
YEAR END RESULTS OF AUC PEACE PROCESS [...] (U) In 2003 and 2004, the GOC demobilized over 3,600 paramilitaries from the AUC. They turned in well over 1,000 weapons and other supplies, which were inventoried by the OAS verification mission. 2005 will be the most challenging year for the peace process; the GOC is commited to demobilizin [...] |
2004-11-02 18:31:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PTER PREL PHUM CO OAS AUC |
| 04BOGOTA13217 |
OVERVIEW OF CONGRESSIONAL SESSION [...] (SBU) Summary: Passage of presidential reelection reform and implementing legislation for a new criminal procedure code were the principal accomplishments of the last session of Congress. Political wrangling prevented the Congress from dealing effectively with key pension and tax reform bills [...] |
2004-11-02 18:31:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV ECON KJUS CO |
| 04BOGOTA1356 |
URIBE'S MEETING WITH INTER-AGENCY DELEGATION [...] (C) Summary: Ambassador Wood and visiting U.S. inter-agency delegation met with President Uribe and FM Barco on February 4. Reftel details the portion of the meeting devoted to paramilitary demobilization and extradition issues. Barco expressed guarded optimism regarding the OAS vote on Se [...] |
2004-02-10 15:28:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KJUS PHUM PTER SNAR CO EU |
| 04BOGOTA1388 |
MAYOR GARZON'S UNEVENTFUL FIRST MONTH IN OFFICE [...] (C) Summary: Leftist Bogota mayor Luis Eduardo "Lucho" Garzon's first month in office was largely uneventful. Garzon has not attempted to steal President Uribe's limelight, and has been virtually silent on security issues. Instead, Garzon has talked up social issues. Thus far, however, he h [...] |
2004-02-11 13:28:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR CO CU |
| 04BOGOTA144 |
CODEL FRIST'S MEETINGS IN BOGOTA [...] (SBU) Summary: On January 5, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist met separately with Minister of Defense Jorge Alberto Uribe Echavarria, Minister of Foreign Relations Carolina Barco, and Vice Minister of Trade Claudia Maria Uribe. Senator Frist also had the opportunity to discuss the upcoming fr [...] |
2004-01-07 23:32:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EINV ETRD KSUM PHUM PINR PREL PTER CO CODEL |
| 04BOGOTA153 |
SENATOR FRIST'S MEETING WITH PRESIDENT URIBE [...] (C) Summary: Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and Ambassador Wood met with President Uribe in Cartagena on January 4. Uribe made a pitch for additional helicopters and more efficient delivery of spare parts and inquired about the possibility of A-10 Warthogs for the counternarcotics fight. [...] |
2004-01-08 17:06:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM PTER SNAR ECON CO EC MX PGOV |
| 04BOGOTA1558 |
AIR BRIDGE DENIAL: JANUARY 2004 PROGRAM UPDATE [...] (U) Summary: Following is the January Air Bridge Denial (ABD) activity report required by ref A. There were over 4800 tracks sorted, of which 42 were declared Unidentified, Assumed Suspect (UAS) Tracks, with one Phase I and one Phase III event during the month. ABD program issues of concern [...] |
2004-02-13 22:50:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR PREL MOPS MASS PGOV CO |
| 04BOGOTA1563 |
COLOMBIAN UNEMPLOYMENT AT SEVEN-YEAR LOW [...] (U) SUMMARY: Reflecting the economy's 3.5 percent increase in 2003, Colombia's unemployment rate has fallen to 12.3 percent, a seven year low. Underemployment has increased slightly to 31.9 percent. Unemployment continues to be a top issue among the public. Some analysts, while praising th [...] |
2004-02-17 13:40:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | EFIN ECON ELAB CO PGOV |
| 04BOGOTA1657 |
WOMEN'S WORLD BANKING CALI OPIC APPLICATION [...] Per reftel, Econoffs reviewed Women,s World Banking Cali (WWB) and have found it to be a reputable organization. WWB was established in 1982 and is known in Latin America as a financially sound microcredit agency. It won the Inter-American Development Bank,s Award for Excellence in Microfinanc [...] |
2004-02-17 21:52:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | EINV CO |
| 04BOGOTA1680 |
GOC TAKING ACTION AGAINST PARAMILITARY CEASE-FIRE [...] (C) Since agreeing to a unilateral cease-fire in late November 2002, Colombia's major paramilitary groups -- the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC), Central Bolivar Bloc (BCB) and Eastern Alliance have committed at least 370 murders, kidnappings, and other human rights violations nat [...] |
2004-02-18 19:19:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KJUS PTER SNAR PHUM CO AUC PGOV |
| 04BOGOTA1703 |
PLAN COLOMBIA PHASE II [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: THIS IS AN ACTION MESSAGE. THE GOC HAS PRESENTED EMBASSY WITH A FINAL DRAFT OF ITS PLAN COLOMBIA PHASE II, 2006-10, DOCUMENT, WHICH HAS BEEN REVIEWED BY PRESIDENT URIBE AND HIS CABINET. GOC AND EMBASSY SOLICIT WASHINGTON AGENCY POLICY REVIEW AND COMMENT ON THE DOCUMENT. PLEA [...] |
2004-02-18 20:38:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | SNAR CO PGOV |
| 04BOGOTA1704 |
APPREHENSION IN URABA FOR AUC DEMOBILIZATION [...] (C) Summary: On January 29, a USAID contracting team tasked to analyze the GOC's demobilization plans for the United Self Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC), USAID personnel, and poloff visited Apartado, in the Uraba region of Antioquia Department. The GOC expects to implement an AUC demobiliza [...] |
2004-02-18 20:44:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PTER PINR SNAR CO AUC |
| 04BOGOTA1748 |
UNHCHR REPORT ON COLOMBIA [...] (C) Summary: The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR) in Colombia is finalizing its report for Geneva on the GOC's compliance with its 27 human rights recommendations. The report is likely to criticize the GOC for slow and uneven implementation of the recommendations [...] |
2004-02-20 17:20:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL CO UNGA |
| 04BOGOTA1764 |
THE LAST COLOMBIAN MUNICIPALITY WITHOUT A PUBLIC [...] (SBU) On February 12, the GOC reinstalled police forces in Murindo, Antioquia department, a region in Uraba that has long lacked a public security presence. Murindo was the last of Colombia's 1,098 municipalities (equivalent to a U.S. county) to receive a public security force -- completing a [...] |
2004-02-20 20:21:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PINR PHUM SNAR CO |
| 04BOGOTA1980 |
NOTES FROM THE FIELD: MEDELLIN [...] (C) Summary: Poloff visited Colombia's vibrant second city, Medellin, February 11-12. National Police commander Ruben Carrillo noted a continued downward trend in violent crime and a lack of recidivism on the part of reinserted former paramilitary fighters. Mayor Sergio Fajardo complained [...] |
2004-02-25 21:42:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PTER PHUM KJUS EAID CO UN |
| 04BOGOTA2019 |
HAGUE COMPLIANCE REPORT PREPARATION: COLOMBIA [...] Reftel A provided Embassy Bogota's comments regarding Colombia's compliance with the Hague Convention on International Child Abduction. Ref e-mail B communicated that the Office of Children's Issues has decided to identify Colombia as a country not in compliance with the convention in the upc [...] |
2004-02-27 15:02:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | KOCI CASC PREL CO |
| 04BOGOTA2020 |
TRADE MINISTER STATES COLOMBIA'S NEW MARKET BASED [...] (SBU) Summary. On February 16, 2004, the Colombian government implemented a new import system that provides tariff reductions for importers that purchase domestic production of corn (both white and yellow), grain sorghum, rice, soybeans and cotton. The new system replaces the restrictive i [...] |
2004-02-27 15:03:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD EAGR ECON CO FTA |
| 04BOGOTA2067 |
AZNAR VISITS COLOMBIA [...] (U) Spanish President Jose Maria Aznar came to Colombia to express his solidarity with President Alvaro Uribe's fight against terrorism and to underscore Spanish assistance to Colombia. He also addressed a forum on Democracy and Development in Latin America, organized by the International Fo [...] |
2004-02-27 20:20:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MASS PTER PGOV CO SP VE |
| 04BOGOTA2071 |
FARC ATTEMPTS MAJOR KIDNAPPING IN HUILA DEPARTMENT [...] (C) On February 23, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia's (FARC) Teofilo Forero Mobile Column (TFMC) launched simultaneous attacks on a luxury residential complex in Neiva, Huila department, the city's power grid, and an isolated military outpost west of the city. A quick police respon [...] |
2004-02-27 20:52:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PTER PINR PREL CO FARC |
| 04BOGOTA2115 |
ACADEMIA TAKES A CLOSER LOOK AT HUMAN RIGHTS [...] (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Please protect. 2. (SBU) Three researchers in the Department of Economics at the University of London, working in conjunction with an Economics Professor at Augusta State University in Georgia with whom post had already been in contact, recently provided us [...] |
2004-03-01 21:07:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PTER PROP ELAB CO |
| 04BOGOTA2187 |
COLOMBIA MEETS IMF FISCAL DEFICIT TARGETS [...] (U) The GOC announced February 25 that it met the IMF target of 2.8 percent of GDP for its 2003 fiscal deficit. The GOC cut current expenditures and froze some investment projects, especially in the energy sector, in order to achieve this result. The announcement was greeted positively by ma [...] |
2004-03-02 22:05:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN ELAB PGOV CO |
| 04BOGOTA2198 |
GOC HARD LINE ON DEMOBILIZATION MAKES [...] (C) The United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia's (AUC) Centauros Bloc -- which is heavily invested in drug trafficking and involved in a struggle with a rival paramilitary bloc over control of territory and narcotics interests -- publicly announced it will not demobilize without firm GOC secur [...] |
2004-03-02 22:05:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PTER PINR PINS SNAR CO |
| 04BOGOTA2199 |
COLOMBIA - ANTI-TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS (TIP) REPORT [...] Embassy point of contact on trafficking in persons is human rights officer Kiersten Stiansen, phone number (571) 383-2122, fax number (571) 315-2163. Approximate amount of time spent to prepare this report: 30 hours. -------- Overview -------- 2. Colombia is a significant source of tr [...] |
2004-03-02 22:05:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ASEC ELAB KCRM KFRD KWMN PGOV PHUM PREF PREL PTER CO |
| 04BOGOTA2313 |
PROSECUTOR GENERAL OSORIO AND AMBASSADOR REVIEW [...] (S) Summary: In a meeting with the Ambassador on March 5, Prosecutor General (Fiscal General) Osorio said that he had accepted the resignations of two senior Fiscalia officials and dismissed several others in an effort to clean house. He will also allow the Fiscalia,s prosecutors to elect a [...] |
2004-03-02 22:05:00 | Embassy Bogota | SECRET | KCRM PHUM SNAR PREL PTER ASEC CO PGOV |
| 04BOGOTA2434 |
GOC CONTINUING TO CONFRONT PARAMILITARIES [...] (C) Summary: In the face of AUC and other paramilitary groups' failure to fulfill the unilateral cease-fire pledge (reftel), the security forces continue to confront paramilitaries throughout the country. Since the beginning of 2003, almost 3,000 paramilitaries have been captured, killed, or [...] |
2004-03-02 22:05:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER SNAR PGOV ASEC CO AUC |
| 04BOGOTA2561 |
PARAMILITARY PEACE DIFFICULTIES [...] (S) At the instruction of President Uribe, Peace Negotiator Restrepo met with the Ambassador to discuss difficulties in the GOC's negotiations with the AUC paramilitaries. Restrepo said the AUC had called for written guarantees from the GOC that, during the concentration phase, AUC members fa [...] |
2004-03-02 22:05:00 | Embassy Bogota | SECRET//NOFORN | ASEC KCRM KJUS PGOV PTER CO AUC |
| 04BOGOTA2634 |
WILL CONGRESS COME THROUGH FOR URIBE? [...] (SBU) Summary: In January, President Uribe, in an effort to nudge a recalcitrant Congress toward passage of new reforms, announced plans to form three high-level special commissions to formulate proposals in the areas of economics, justice, and administration of the state. On February 17, t [...] |
2004-03-02 22:05:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ECON KJUS PTER CO |
| 04BOGOTA2635 |
DRAFT AGREEMENTS ON INTEGRATED INTELLIGENCE AND [...] At the request of the Vice Minister of National Defense (MOD) for Policy, MOD staff and Post (NAS and MilGp) have prepared two draft agreements (Appendices) that seek to integrate the MOD and the Colombian Military and National Police in the critical areas of intelligence and communications, [...] |
2004-03-02 22:05:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | SNAR CO |
| 04BOGOTA2692 |
GOC ANNOUNCES CAMPAIGN TO HIGHLIGHT LABOR RIGHTS [...] (U) To address the international community's concerns about human rights violations against trade union members, Vice-President Santos briefed ambassadors of member states of the ILO's Governing Body on GOC advances in promoting workers' human rights and tripartite dialogue. In addition to ci [...] |
2004-03-02 22:05:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ELAB PGOV PHUM PREL CO |
| 04BOGOTA2764 |
UNHCHR PRESENTS ITS 2003 HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT ON COLOMBIA [...] No summary [...] |
2004-03-02 22:05:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | CO PGOV PHUM PINR PREL UN |
| 04BOGOTA2806 |
INL A/S CHARLES MEETING WITH PRESIDENT URIBE [...] (C) Summary: In a meeting with President Uribe on March 15, INL A/S Charles and Ambassador Wood welcomed Uribe's March 22-25 visit to Washington, lauded the decrease in violence under Uribe, stressed the need for eradication in national parks, and reiterated the importance we place on extrad [...] |
2004-03-02 22:05:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER PHUM KJUS SNAR CO |
| 04BOGOTA2840 |
ECUADOR PRESIDENT GUTIERREZ VISITS COLOMBIA [...] (SBU) Summary: In a two-day visit to Colombia, Ecuador's President Lucio Gutierrez met with President Alvaro Uribe, FM Carolina Barco, Bogota Mayor Lucho Garzon, and business leaders; spoke to a joint session of Congress; and was honored with Colombia's highest medal. Border control, immigr [...] |
2004-03-02 22:05:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ECON PTER PREF CO EC |
| 04BOGOTA2912 |
COLOMBIA GOES BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD ON PENSION [...] (SBU) Faced with the impending default of the Public Pension Fund (managed by the Institute for Social Security), the GOC is once again attempting to overhaul its public pension system. This marks the Uribe administration's third attempt to fix the problem, after the 2002 pension reform was [...] |
2004-03-02 22:05:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN ELAB PGOV CO |
| 04BOGOTA3102 |
GOC CONCERNED ABOUT UN DRAFT RESOLUTION ON [...] (C) Charge was called to the Foreign Ministry on March 26 by Acting Minister Jaime Giron to discuss the GOC's reservations about two aspects of the UNSC Draft Resolution on Children and Armed Conflict. Referring to the resolution's operative paragraph 7bis, Giron expressed concern about the [...] |
2004-03-02 22:05:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER CO UNSC |
| 04BOGOTA3103 |
THE FUTURE OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE SECURITY STRATEGY [...] SUMMARY: THE EMBASSY COUNTRY TEAM RECENTLY COMPLETED ALMOST A YEAR AND A HALF OF WORK IN ARAUCA DEPARTMENT. IN THAT TIME THE US HAS TRAINED ALMOST A BATTALION AND A HALF OF COUNTERGUERRILA SOLDIERS, CONDUCTED NUMEROUS MEDICAL ASSISTANCE VISITS, AND ESTABLISHED A COMBINED INTELLIGENCE CENTER [...] |
2004-03-02 22:05:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | SNAR PHUM CO TAGS |
| 04BOGOTA3373 |
UPDATE ON VOLUNTARY PRINCIPLES PROCESS IN [...] (SBU) British Petroleum (BP) and the Colombian Association of Petroleum Producers (ACP) hosted a briefing for British and U.S. emboffs on ACP's draft work plan regarding the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights (VPs) for the extractive industry. ACP and BP requested USG and UK as [...] |
2004-04-01 18:16:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EINV EPET PHUM PREL CO |
| 04BOGOTA3393 |
COLOMBIAN ARMY ATTACK ON POLICE UNIT SPARKS [...] (C) The deaths on March 19 of eleven people -- seven anti- kidnapping police and four civilians -- at the hands of the Colombian Army (COLAR) in Narino department has sparked controversy. The Colombian National Police (CNP) and Army have presented contradictory accounts of the incident, and P [...] |
2004-04-01 22:59:00 | Embassy Bogota | SECRET//NOFORN | PGOV PHUM PTER PINR PINS PROP SNAR MOPS ASEC CO |
| 04BOGOTA3479 |
DC-3 Accident March 28, No Injuries [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: A Colombian National Police (PNC) DC-3 aircraft (tail number PNC 0214) crashed upon landing in Caruru, Vaupes Department, on March 28. No injuries or fatalities resulted, but an initial inspection has concluded that it is not economically feasible to repair the aircraft. PNC a [...] |
2004-04-02 21:28:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR CO |
| 04BOGOTA3486 |
AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH ICRC HEAD OF DELEGATION [...] No summary [...] |
2004-04-02 22:46:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PTER PHUM PREF CO FARC ELN AUC |
| 04BOGOTA3544 |
AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES PEACE PROCESS WITH HIGH [...] (C) On April 2, Ambassador met with High Commissioner for Peace Luis Carlos Restrepo to discuss the paramilitary peace process and, especially, to confirm that the GOC would give paramilitary leaders no assurances regarding their possible extradition to the U.S. Restrepo explained recent chang [...] |
2004-04-05 19:45:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KJUS PINR PREL PTER PINS PHUM PGOV SNAR CO ELN |
| 04BOGOTA3545 |
DECIPHERING THE SIZE OF ILLEGAL ARMED GROUPS [...] (C) According to the Colombian Ministry of Defense (MOD), at least 20,000 Colombian terrorists, both paramilitaries and guerrillas, have deserted or been captured or killed in combat with government forces since President Alvaro Uribe took office in August 2002. Still, the estimated numerical [...] |
2004-04-05 19:53:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PTER PINR PINS PROP SNAR CO AUC ELN FARC |
| 04BOGOTA3618 |
ANTI-NARCOTICS UNIT MEMBERS OBJECT TO POLYGRAPHS [...] (SBU) On April 4, Bogota's El Espectador newspaper published an article about complaints by members of the Fiscalia's Anti-Narcotics and Maritime Interdiction Unit (UNAIM) about polygraph exams recently administered by the FBI. The exams were mandated by Prosecutor General ("Fiscal General") [...] |
2004-04-07 00:16:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM PINR PREL SNAR KJUS CO |
| 04BOGOTA3628 |
GOC AIRS CONCERNS OVER CALIFORNIA LAWSUIT AGAINST [...] (U)SUMMARY: The MFA has notified the Embassy of its concern over a pending lawsuit in Federal District Court in California concerning the controversial bombing of the Colombian village of Santo Domingo in 1998 (see reftels), which it fears may have negative repercussions on bilateral relation [...] |
2004-04-07 16:31:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON KJUS EPET CO PROL |
| 04BOGOTA3676 |
COLOMBIAN AVIATION: THE ONLY WAY IS UP [...] (U) Summary: 2003 was a tough year for Colombian airlines due to a drop in passenger traffic and high operational and fuel costs. Avianca, the nation's largest carrier, entered Chapter 11 reorganization in New York, and is up for sale. A Brazilian consortium has offered to take over Avianc [...] |
2004-04-12 15:13:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ETRD EAIR CO |
| 04BOGOTA3703 |
COOPERATION WITH CANADIAN EMBASSY IN BOGOTA ON VISA [...] (U) Summary: Reftel recommended that posts share information with Canadian colleagues regarding visa processing, and offered a "template" for cooperation. The Consular Section in Bogota has long enjoyed a close relationship with the Canadian Embassy in Colombia. Using the ideas provided i [...] |
2004-04-12 21:44:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | OTRA CMGT CVIS CA CO |
| 04BOGOTA3714 |
MILITARY ERROR IN CAJAMARCA CAUSES 5 CIVILIAN [...] (U) On the night of April 10 in the municipality of Cajamarca, Tolima department, soldiers from the Pijoas Battalion of the Colombian Army's Sixth Brigade killed five civilians -- including a 6-month-old infant -- who soldiers mistook in the dark for FARC guerrillas. Cajamarca is an area with [...] |
2004-04-13 14:52:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV MARR MASS PHUM PINR PREL PTER KJUS CO |
| 04BOGOTA3775 |
NEW "LAW OF JUSTICE AND COMPENSATION" SUBMITTED TO [...] (U) At an April 12 meeting with the local diplomatic corps, High Commissioner for Peace Luis Carlos Restrepo provided the following detailed sequence for the operation of the draft &Law of Justice and Compensation,8 a new version of the previous &alternative sentencing" or "conditional parole" [...] |
2004-04-14 17:17:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PTER KJUS PHUM PINR CO |
| 04BOGOTA3872 |
A GENERAL OVERVIEW OF COLOMBIA'S SECURITY SITUATION [...] No summary [...] |
2004-04-16 21:13:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PINR ASEC SNAR PTER CO |
| 04BOGOTA3894 |
UPDATE ON COLOMBIAN DRAFT LEGISLATION TOUCHING ON [...] (S) Summary: The Colombian House of Representatives is close to a final vote on criminal procedure code reforms. The GOC, supported strongly by the Embassy, is pushing for status quo on the article that addresses extradition. A sizable number of congressmen, however, continues to advocate n [...] |
2004-04-16 23:24:00 | Embassy Bogota | SECRET | PREL PGOV KJUS SNAR CO |
| 04BOGOTA3913 |
FOUR CASE STUDIES OF LABOR VIOLENCE IN COLOMBIA [...] (C) During a meeting with four participants in a USDOL-funded exchange program for at-risk trade unionists, we learned that paramilitaries had targeted at least three of them because of their leftist political activism, rather than their trade union membership. Carlos Rodriguez, the moderate [...] |
2004-04-19 13:12:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PHUM PGOV PTER ELAB SOCI CO |
| 04BOGOTA3943 |
PRM'S A/S DEWEY'S VISIT TO COLOMBIA [...] (U) PRM Bureau's Assistant Secretary Gene Dewey visited Colombia March 7-10. Most interlocutors agreed that there has been a significant reduction in the number of internally displaced persons since the Uribe Administration took office 18 months ago. Many cautioned, however, that this positiv [...] |
2004-04-20 13:56:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PREF PREL SOCI CO |
| 04BOGOTA3944 |
PRM'S A/S DEWEY DISCUSSES DISPLACEMENT, PEACE [...] (SBU) As part of his March 7-10 visit to Colombia, PRM Bureau's Assistant Secretary Gene Dewey met with PRM partner organizations that provide short- and medium-term assistance to displaced persons. Most interlocutors agreed that there has been a significant reduction in the number of internal [...] |
2004-04-20 13:56:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PREF PREL SOCI CO |
| 04BOGOTA4058 |
HOUSE DEFEATS MEASURE TO MODIFY EXTRADITION [...] No summary [...] |
2004-04-22 15:11:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KJUS SNAR CO |
| 04BOGOTA4060 |
TERRORIST FINANCE ISSUES IN COLOMBIA [...] (C) The complex relationship between drug traffickers, money launderers and terrorists led the Government of Colombia (GOC) to take a broad, multifaceted and multi-institutional approach to combating illicit finance. Colombia has worked extensively with the USG to find, investigate and freez [...] |
2004-04-22 15:38:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN ETTC PREL PTER CO EUN |
| 04BOGOTA4128 |
PERU'S PRESIDENT TOLEDO VISITS COLOMBIA [...] Summary: Border security and economic cooperation topped the agenda when Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo made a two-day visit to Colombia April 15-17. Toledo signed a 35-point Joint Declaration with President Alvaro Uribe. The Declaration called for: cooperation and coordination between [...] |
2004-04-22 22:17:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL ECON PTER SNAR CO PE |
| 04BOGOTA4176 |
CASTANO'S FATE UNKNOWN [...] (C) Carlos Castano's fate remains unclear after an April 16 armed confrontation between Castano's personnel and unidentified individuals in Antioquia Department. The most often heard scenario is that Castano's brother and fellow paramilitary commander Vicente Castano was behind the attack in [...] |
2004-04-23 23:21:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PTER PINR PGOV PINS PREL SNAR CO AUC |
| 04BOGOTA4214 |
COLOMBIA'S DEBATE OVER MASS DETENTIONS [...] (C) Some human rights NGOs oppose the GOC's policy of large-scale detentions. The GOC, however, insists that such detentions are consistent with legal norms and points out that between 60 and 70 percent of persons arrested in such operations remain in custody based on judicially-sanctioned or [...] |
2004-04-26 16:28:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KJUS PTER ELAB PROP MOPS CO |
| 04BOGOTA4238 |
CONGRESSMAN DIAZ BALART'S BOGOTA VISIT [...] (U) Begin Summary. Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart visited Colombia April 12-14. He received two awards from the Colombian Congress; both were presented for the Congressman,s efforts on behalf of Colombians in the U.S. Diaz-Balart met with President Uribe and senior GOC officials. End Summa [...] |
2004-04-26 19:40:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PINR PREL SNAR CO CODEL |
| 04BOGOTA4278 |
URIBE GIVES PUBLIC ULTIMATUM TO PARAMILITARIES [...] (C) On April 27, President Uribe issued an ultimatum to the country's illegal paramilitaries, warning that if they do not accept the GOC's conditions for peace talks -- including a verifiable cease-fire and a concentration of troops -- Government security forces will combat them until they are [...] |
2004-04-27 21:57:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PHUM PGOV PINR PINS SNAR ASEC CO ELN FARC |
| 04BOGOTA4297 |
AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH MOD AND PEACE [...] (C) On April 27, Ambassador spoke to Minister of Defense Uribe and Peace Commissioner Restrepo about that day's presidential declaration on the peace process (reftel). 2. (C) Minister Uribe said that the declaration had been composed the day before and had been reviewed before issuance by h [...] |
2004-04-28 15:53:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PHUM PGOV PINR PINS SNAR ASEC CO ELN |
| 04BOGOTA4318 |
USG PARTICIPATION IN THE FIRST ROUND OF US-ANDEAN [...] (U) To addressees from Ambassador William B. Wood. 2. (SBU) Colombia,s Minister of Commerce and the GOC,s lead FTA negotiator have approached post to request that the USG send as complete a delegation as possible to the upcoming FTA talks in Bogota, May 18-19. Both officials stressed the p [...] |
2004-04-28 21:42:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD SENV ECON CO KLAB FTA |
| 04BOGOTA4319 |
THREE ALLEGED IRA MEMBERS ACQUITTED ON TERRORISM [...] (U) Three Irish citizens -- Niall Connolly, Martin McCauley, and James Monaghan -- were acquitted on charges of training Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrillas in the use of explosives and urban terrorist tactics. The three men were, however, found guilty of entering the cou [...] |
2004-04-28 22:10:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PTER PHUM PREL KJUS CO |
| 04BOGOTA4326 |
ANDEAN FTA ANALYSIS: AGRICULTURE SECTOR IN COLOMBIA [...] (C) SUMMARY: Agriculture will probably be one of Colombia's most sensitive sectors in the FTA negotiations, due to its historical role and the sector's high level of government intervention. The U.S. has comparative advantage in the products most protected by Colombia, particularly wheat, cor [...] |
2004-04-29 14:54:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | EAGR ECON ETRD CO FTA |
| 04BOGOTA4328 |
ANDEAN FTA ANALYSIS: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS [...] (C) SUMMARY: Intellectual property rights (IPR) in Colombia are largely governed by Andean Community decisions, which are interpreted by GOC law. The latter complies with the WTO, though in key areas Colombian protection is weaker than TRIPS protections. Enforcement of IPR law is the princi [...] |
2004-04-29 15:10:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | ECON ETRD CO FTA |
| 04BOGOTA4332 |
PROSECUTOR GENERAL CONTINUES REFORMS AMID CRITICISM [...] (S) Although he cannot evade responsibility for presiding for thirty-three months over an institution polluted by corruption, Prosecutor General ("Fiscal") Luis Camilo Osorio has followed through on his promise to remove officials who fail polygraph exams or are otherwise suspected of corrupti [...] |
2004-04-29 15:25:00 | Embassy Bogota | SECRET//NOFORN | ASEC KCRM KJUS PGOV PHUM PINR PREL PTER SNAR CO |
| 04BOGOTA4448 |
U/S GROSSMAN'S MEETING WITH PRESIDENT URIBE [...] (C) On April 29, U/S Grossman and SOUTHCOM Commander met President Uribe, Minister of Defense Uribe, and the acting Foreign Minister. Ambassador also attended. U/S Grossman underscored continuing U.S. support for consolidation of Plan Colombia and for Plan Patriota. He expressed support for [...] |
2004-04-30 20:36:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PINR PTER PREL PHUM SNAR PINS CO |
| 04BOGOTA4475 |
INSURANCE ISSUES IN FTA NEGOTIATIONS WITH COLOMBIA [...] Following is post's response to REFTEL request for information on Colombia's insurance sector in preparation for FTA negotiations which begin on May 17. 2. Begin Questions and Answers: Q: Has the country engaged in any treaties in which they grant insurance-sector preferences to another [...] |
2004-05-03 18:09:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON BEXP ETRD CO FTA |
| 04BOGOTA4476 |
COLOMBIA HOPES TO INCREASE EXPORTS VIA [...] (U) SUMMARY: A liberalization trade agreement between trading blocks Mercosur and the Community of Andean Nations (CAN) will go into effect July 1. The deal gives Colombia increased market access to 216 million consumers in Mercosur countries. Key agricultural goods will receive 15 years of [...] |
2004-05-03 18:42:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON ETRD CO FTA |
| 04BOGOTA4483 |
COLOMBIA TAX REFORMS OF LIMITED BENEFIT [...] No summary [...] |
2004-05-03 19:36:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN ELAB PGOV CO |
| 04BOGOTA4506 |
U/S GROSSMAN MEETS WITH VICE-PRESIDENT SANTOS [...] (C) On April 29, U/S Grossman met Vice-President Santos. Grossman said that the USG supports Plan Patriota, and praised the GOC's accomplishments in combating narcotics and terrorism. The U/S stressed that the USG will insist on maintaining extradition as an effective law enforcement tool, a [...] |
2004-05-03 22:31:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PINR PREL SNAR CO |
| 04BOGOTA4507 |
U/S GROSSMAN'S MEETING WITH HUMAN RIGHTS NGOS [...] (U) April 29, 2004, 1:45-2:30pm, U.S. Embassy Bogota 2. (U) Participants: U.S. ---- U/S Marc Grossman Ambassador William B. Wood General James T. Hill, SouthCom Ambassador Daniel A. Johnson, POLAD Col. Napoli, Southcom Stewart Tuttle, Deputy Political Counselor Charles Barclay, WHA [...] |
2004-05-04 11:20:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL PINR PTER KJUS CO |
| 04BOGOTA4511 |
IMF VISIT TO COLOMBIA [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Commending the Government of Colombia (GOC) on its impressive growth over the last year, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) found that the short term outlook for Colombia is positive and expects the Colombian economy to meet revised macroeconomic targets. The positive macr [...] |
2004-05-04 15:30:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN ELAB PGOV CO |
| 04BOGOTA4534 |
ANDEAN FTA ANALYSIS: CUSTOMS ISSUES IN COLOMBIA [...] (C) SUMMARY: Despite previous reforms to Colombia's customs administration, more modernization is needed to fully support trade under an FTA. The customs bureaucracy itself hampers trade, lacking specialized staff and equipment, and suffering from high management turnover. Pilferage in customs [...] |
2004-05-04 20:26:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | ECON ETRD CO FTA |
| 04BOGOTA4632 |
PRESIDENTIAL REELECTION PASSES FIRST TEST [...] (SBU) Summary: Prospects for passage of legislation to permit immediate presidential reelection are mixed. As Constitutional reform, the proposal faces a challenging vote hurdle. Approval requires eight votes: committee and plenary, both chambers, this session and next. End Summary. 2. [...] |
2004-05-06 19:43:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR CO |
| 04BOGOTA4633 |
SECURITY FORCES PLEDGE TO INVESTIGATE MISHAPS AND [...] (C) Over the past month, the security forces have committed serious errors, including friendly fire events, accidental civilian killings, and incidents involving possible drug-related corruption. Once incident in particular has exacerbated already tense police-military relations. The GOC has [...] |
2004-05-06 19:59:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PTER PINR ASEC CO |
| 04BOGOTA4636 |
ASSET SEIZURE AND DEMOBILIZATION FUNDING [...] (U) This is an Action Request (please see paragraphs 2 and 12) in reply to reftel request for information about Colombian Law 793 of 2002, "La Ley de la Extincion de Dominio." ------- Summary ------- 2. (SBU) Colombia has two laws that address asset forfeiture and seizure, one criminal [...] |
2004-05-06 21:15:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | ECON KCRM PGOV PHUM PTER SNAR CO |
| 04BOGOTA4709 |
ANDEAN FTA ANALYSIS: FINANCIAL SERVICES ISSUES IN [...] (C) SUMMARY: Colombia's financial services sector is distinguished by a regulatory framework that restricts multi-banking and seeks to control money laundering and capital flight. International financial services firms are restricted to those with a subsidiary in the country, and use of forei [...] |
2004-05-10 14:41:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | ECON ETRD EFIN CO FTA |
| 04BOGOTA4820 |
COUNTER DRUG BRIGADE CAPTURES TWO HCL LABS IN [...] (SBU) ON APRIL 25 AND 28, THE 2ND BATTALION OF THE PLAN COLOMBIA SUPPORTED COUNTER DRUG (CD) BRIGADE SHUT DOWN TWO FARC COCAINE HYDROCHLORIDE (HCL) LABS DURING OPERATION ZEUS IN SOUTHERN NARINO DEPARTMENT. 2. THE FIRST LAB, NEAR THE MIRA RIVER AND LLORENTE, HAD FOUR CHEMICAL RECYCLING VATS [...] |
2004-05-11 20:41:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR PTER MOPS CO |
| 04BOGOTA4839 |
ANDEAN FTA ANALYSIS: TELECOMS AND NON-FINANCIAL [...] (C) SUMMARY: Telecoms and other non-financial services account for 59 percent of Colombia's GDP. Despite two waves of liberalization, regulatory barriers still protect state-owned service providers from private and foreign firms. Barriers to foreign providers of professional services are fa [...] |
2004-05-11 22:56:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | ECON ETRD CO FTA |
| 04BOGOTA4875 |
COLOMBIA HAS NO PLANS FOR REPRESENTATION IN IRAQ [...] No summary [...] |
2004-05-12 23:04:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | AMGT PREL IZ CO |
| 04BOGOTA4888 |
COLOMBIAN CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY TO VISIT FAA [...] (U) Summary. Sub-Director from Colombia's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) plans to visit FAA in Miami and Washington to discuss recent FAA inspection. The GOC was not pleased with the results of the inspection, and is taking steps to comply with FAA recommendations. End Summary. 2. (SBU) In [...] |
2004-05-13 16:28:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAIR CO |
| 04BOGOTA4947 |
GOC REACTION TO ARREST OF COLOMBIANS IN VENEZUELA [...] (C) Summary: The GOC has sought to calm passions following Venezuela's arrest of some 90 purported Colombian paramilitaries (Ref A). President Uribe called for a thorough investigation and welcomed the actions of neighboring countries to prevent illegal activities of Colombians abroad. A c [...] |
2004-05-14 21:42:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER CO VE |
| 04BOGOTA4950 |
SETTLEMENT OF ECOPETROL STRIKE HINGES ON [...] (SBU) Twenty-two days into the Syndicated Workers Union's ("Union Sindical Obrero," or USO) strike against Ecopetrol -- Colombia's state-owned oil company -- the lone issue remaining on the negotiation table is whether Ecopetrol will re-hire nearly 180 workers dismissed for their participation [...] |
2004-05-14 23:03:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ELAB EPET PHUM CO |
| 04BOGOTA4951 |
NEXT STEPS IN PARAMILITARY PEACE PROCESS [...] (C) Summary: On May 14, Ambassador and Peace Commissioner Restrepo discussed the paramilitary peace agreement. The paramilitary leaders have a month to concentrate. Restrepo speculated they agreed after almost destroying the talks because: (1) the government had followed a consistent line a [...] |
2004-05-17 12:28:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PHUM PGOV PINR PINS SNAR KJUS CO OAS ELN |
| 04BOGOTA5068 |
Bogota Mini Dublin Group Meeting [...] (SBU) Summary: The Bogota Mini Dublin Group held a biannual meeting on May 11 to discuss the ten recommendations for Colombia agreed upon in November, 2003. This session acknowledged the USG's leadership in counter-narcotics cooperation with the GOC. Several examples of bilateral programs were [...] |
2004-05-17 23:08:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | SNAR EFIN KCRM PTER CO UN |
| 04BOGOTA5077 |
GOC INITIATES INTERAGENCY SOCIAL ASSISTANCE [...] (U) Three months ago the GOC, with SOUTHCOM assistance, established the Coordination Center for Integrated Action (CCAI). The Center is directed by presidential adviser and International Assistance Coordinator Luis Alfonso Hoyos and is staffed by more than ten ministries and agencies. It will [...] |
2004-05-18 15:38:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PINR PTER PREL PINS CO |
| 04BOGOTA5234 |
LEGAL AUTHORITY FOR USG SUPPORT TO DEMOBILIZATION [...] (C) This is an Action Request: Embassy Bogota requests that the Department urgently work with both DOJ and USAID to resolve legal ambiguities that inhibit our ability to support aspects of desertion and demobilization programs in Colombia. In particular, we need a ruling on whether, and when [...] |
2004-05-22 20:19:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | EAID PHUM PREL PTER CO |
| 04BOGOTA5265 |
TAINTED RIME-5 OFFICERS DISMISSED [...] (S/NF) In January 2004, Colombian military officials provided Army Commander Major General Carreno with evidence that five officers from Army Regional Intelligence Center 5 (RIME-5), including its commander, were collaborating with paramilitary groups. The officers were suspected of sharing i [...] |
2004-05-24 20:58:00 | Embassy Bogota | SECRET | PGOV PHUM MARR MASS PINR PTER CO |
| 04BOGOTA5276 |
THE AUC PEACE PROCESS: AVOIDING ANOTHER CAGUAN [...] (C) In its negotiations with the paramilitaries the Uribe administration has avoided several mistakes the Pastrana administration committed during its fruitless peace process with the FARC. In contrast to talks with the FARC, the Uribe government has used public commentary sparingly and effec [...] |
2004-05-24 22:18:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PINR PREL PTER SNAR KJUS PINS CO OAS AUC |
| 04BOGOTA5282 |
PROGRESS IN CESAR DEPARTMENT [...] (C) Summary: Officials and residents of Cesar Department praise President Uribe's security improvements. The cities and highways of Cesar's central valley are far safer than they were a year ago, and the economy has grown slightly. However, guerrillas and paramilitaries find refuge in the hi [...] |
2004-05-24 22:19:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM PTER ECON SNAR VE CO FARC |
| 04BOGOTA5305 |
BOGOTA'S HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY FUND PROPOSAL [...] Background: Colombia remains embroiled in a prolonged internal armed conflict now involving three major narcotics-funded terrorist organizations. The conflict has fueled thousands of violations of human rights and international humanitarian law by the illegal armed groups and has led to a ser [...] |
2004-05-25 21:14:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | KDEM PHUM PGOV PINR PREL CO |
| 04BOGOTA5326 |
Update on Eradication in Colombian National Parks [...] (SBU) Summary: In an effort to dispel misinformation about the aerial eradication program and illicit coca cultivation in national parks, the Colombian National Police (CNP) recently hosted two over-flights of affected parks. Participants, including key legislators, opinion leaders, and the me [...] |
2004-05-26 20:18:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | SNAR SENV PREL CO |
| 04BOGOTA5327 |
GOC ORDERED TO COMPENSATE FAMILIES OF VICTIMS OF [...] On May 25, the Administrative Tribunal of Arauca department ordered the Government of Colombia to pay 2 billion pesos (approximately USD 770,000) to the families of 17 persons killed in an Air Force bombing of the village of Santo Domingo, Arauca department, in December 1998. The Tribunal rul [...] |
2004-05-26 20:51:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PHUM MARR MASS PTER PINR PREL CO |
| 04BOGOTA66 |
2003 REVIEW OF THE COLOMBIAN ECONOMY [...] (SBU) Summary: The Colombian economy performed well during President Alvaro Uribe's first year in office and will end 2003 on a positive note. A significant increase in exports to the United States helped stabilize an economy constrained by the internal armed conflict and challenged by a sign [...] |
2004-01-05 20:43:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN PGOV PREL CO |
| 04BOGOTA85 |
SENIOR FARC LEADER SIMON TRINIDAD IN CUSTODY: GOC [...] (C) On January 2, Ecuadorian authorities arrested Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) commander Ricardo Ovidio Palmera Pineda alias "Simon Trinidad." He is now in Colombia, where he faces over 50 counts of terrorism and other serious crimes. Palmera, who played a ke role in managing [...] |
2004-01-06 18:34:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PREL PHUM PINR PINS MOPS CO FARC |
| 04BOGOTA88 |
NAS BOGOTA MONTHLY REPORT [...] This is a summary of NAS Bogota activities for November 2003. Eradication and Interdiction ---------------------------- 2. Eradication: In November, the Colombian National Police (CNP) sprayed 6,268 hectares of coca. Spray aircraft and support helicopters took a total of six hits from [...] |
2004-01-06 20:35:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PTER SNAR MOPS CO |
| 04BOGOTA8898 |
MOD DEFENDS COLOMBIAN DEMOBILIZATION AND [...] (SBU) Foreign Minister Carolina Barco and Minister of Defense Jorge Uribe briefed foreign diplomats on individual demobilization, hometown soldiers, and the informants network. The event was a review of accomplishments that highlighted the GOC's successes and downplayed its challenges. Minis [...] |
2004-09-01 23:21:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV MOPS PHUM CO |
| 04BOGOTA8899 |
DRUG TIES RELATED TO GUAITARILLA POLICE DEATHS [...] (C) On August 30, the Inspector General's Office (Procuraduria) announced that it had closed the disciplinary investigation into the March 19 Army-Police clash in Guaitarilla, Narino Department. According to the televised announcement, the Procuraduria will press charges for alleged neglig [...] |
2004-09-01 23:23:00 | Embassy Bogota | SECRET//NOFORN | PGOV PHUM MOPS CO |
| 04BOGOTA8906 |
CONCERNS FROM THE U.S. FLAG CARRIERS [...] (SBU) Summary. At the midyear point, the three U.S. flag airlines, American, Continental, and Delta, all report higher earnings in 2004 than in 2003. All three managers voiced concerns over the civil aviation authority, Aeronautica Civil (CAA), the association of Colombian travel agencies (A [...] |
2004-09-02 14:00:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAIR CO |
| 04BOGOTA8907 |
OPEN SKIES AND THE BILATERAL AGREEMENT [...] (U) Summary. On 25 August 2004 DCM Milton Drucker and Econoff met with Aeronautica Civil (CAA) Director Juan Carlos Velez to discuss Open Skies. Velez requested another one year extension of the 2000 agreement because he said Colombia was not ready for Open Skies, specifically Open Skies for [...] |
2004-09-02 14:22:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | EAIR CO |
| 04BOGOTA9090 |
2004 FISHING CERTIFICATE UNDER VASQUEZ-SACCIO [...] EMBASSY HAS RECEIVED DIPLOMATIC NOTE DST No. 43972/805 DATED SEPTEMBER 2, 2004, TRANSMITTING FISHING AUTHORIZATIONS, ISSUED BY THE COLOMBIAN INSTITUTE FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT (INCODER) AND RESOLUTION NO. 0202 OF AUGUST 9, 2004 FROM THE DIRECTORATE OF MARITIME AFFAIRS (DIMAR), FOR FISHING VESSELS [...] |
2004-09-08 19:10:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | EFIS CO |
| 04BOGOTA9093 |
PLAN COLOMBIA IMPLEMENTATION MEETING ROUND-UP, [...] The following is an update of some Plan Colombia-related activities reported during the Embassy Plan Colombia Implementation Meetings of August, 2004. --- RSO --- 2. Anti-Terrorism Assistance (ATA) Program Managers Ed Lee and Jim Schnaible visited post from August 16-21. The purpose o [...] |
2004-09-08 19:13:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PGOV SNAR MASS PREF EAID KJUS CO KPRM |
| 04BOGOTA9117 |
13 THOUSAND HECTARES SPRAYED IN COLOMBIA: NAS [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Eradication aircraft sprayed a total of 12,959 hectares of coca and 658 hectares of poppy in August. Anti-Narcotics Police units captured and/or destroyed over 67 metric tons of cocaine, 1.2 metric tons of cocaine base, 10 tons of pressed marijuana, and 24 kilograms of heroin t [...] |
2004-09-09 15:44:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR KCRM PTER CO |
| 04BOGOTA92 |
AMBASSADOR DEMARCHES PRESIDENT AND FM ON SPECIAL [...] (C) As requested by reftel, Ambassador Wood demarched President Uribe on January 4, 2004 and Foreign Minister Carolina Barco on January 5, both in the company of Senator Bill Frist. In the meeting with Barco, Senator Frist himself urged Colombian support for USG proposals at the Special Summit [...] |
2004-01-07 11:25:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KSUM CO OAS |
| 04BOGOTA9200 |
COLOMBIA'S "HOMETOWN SOLDIERS" PROGRAM [...] (C) The GOC's "Hometown Soldiers" Program has become a hallmark of President Uribe's Democratic Security Policy. The program is designed to supplement regular military units with platoons of local soldiers that perform basic security functions. A valuable outcome of the program has been great [...] |
2004-09-13 15:31:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | EAID MOPS PINR SNAR CO |
| 04BOGOTA9206 |
DEMARCHE ON HUMAN RIGHTS CERTIFICATION DELIVERED [...] Embassy reiterated reftels demarche and explained the US human rights certification process and special cases of concern to Acting FM Jaime Giron on September 7. Giron expressed the GOC's commitment to facilitating the certification process and said he would pass our specific concerns to FM C [...] |
2004-09-13 16:29:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PHUM CO |
| 04BOGOTA9241 |
COLOMBIAN BANKING REGULATIONS STABILIZE SECTOR [...] (U) SUMMARY. Colombia's banking regulators aided struggling banks through the banking crisis of the late nineties and have continued this work by strengthening banks against risk. Colombia has implemented internal regulation to ensure against another banking crisis while also implementing Ba [...] |
2004-09-13 23:22:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON EFIN ELAB PGOV CO |
| 04BOGOTA9243 |
STRONG PERFORMANCE IN THE COLOMBIAN BANKING SECTOR [...] (U) SUMMARY. The Colombian banking sector appears to have finally recovered after struggling through a crisis from 1999 through 2003. Banks recorded record profits in the first semester of 2004 and the GOC continues to take steps to further strengthen the sector, such as fulfilling IMF comm [...] |
2004-09-14 13:20:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON EFIN ELAB PGOV CO |
| 04BOGOTA9311 |
ILO STUDY: REMOVING POLITICS FROM LABOR RELATIONS [...] (C) The relationship between labor violence and political activity is widely accepted by labor leaders and academics in Colombia. For many trade unionists, unions act as surrogate political parties and avenues for political activity. Because illegal armed groups perceive trade unionists, part [...] |
2004-09-14 21:51:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | ELAB PHUM PGOV ETRD PTER CO ILO |
| 04BOGOTA9325 |
PRESIDENT SIGNS REVISED CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CODE [...] (U) On August 31, President Uribe signed into law a new criminal procedure code consistent with Colombia's transition to an accusatory criminal justice system. Approval of the code by the Colombian Congress was a somewhat novel example of cooperative relations between the GOC and both houses o [...] |
2004-09-15 14:52:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV KJUS CO |
| 04BOGOTA9358 |
AUGUST AIR BRIDGE DENIAL UPDATE: ABD COMPLETES [...] (U) Summary: This is the August 2004 Air Bridge Denial (ABD) activity report required by ref A. This message also includes an overview of the program's achievements in its first year. During August, there were two Phase III events and two Phase I events, including one arrested pilot. There [...] |
2004-09-15 22:41:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR PREL MOPS MASS PGOV CO |
| 04BOGOTA9364 |
U/S GROSSMAN'S MEETINGS WITH PRESIDENT URIBE AND [...] (C) Summary. On September 9, Under Secretary for Political Affairs Marc Grossman had separate meetings with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe and Vice-President Francisco Santos in Cartagena. Grossman thanked Uribe and Santos for their efforts to secure the safe release of the three American [...] |
2004-09-16 15:07:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ECON SNAR KJUS CVIS CO |
| 04BOGOTA9437 |
ELN WILLING TO TALK BUT NOT MUCH [...] (U) On September 6, the Central Command (COCE) of the National Liberation Army (ELN) formally responded to the GOC's August 3 communiqu reported reftel. The ELN's written response criticized the GOC for its delay in responding to the ELN's June 4 negotiating proposal and for failing to addres [...] |
2004-09-16 21:58:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV PHUM EAID KJUS PINR CO ELN |
| 04BOGOTA9519 |
POWERFUL PARAMILITARY COMMANDER KILLED [...] (U) On September 20, the Prosecutor General's Office ("Fiscalia") publicly confirmed that United Self Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) commander Miguel Arroyave Ruiz was killed. Arroyave commanded the AUC's Centauros Bloc and was participating in peace talks with the government. The reasons [...] |
2004-09-20 21:44:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL SNAR PHUM PINR CO |
| 04BOGOTA9526 |
FISCALIA ISSUES PREVENTIVE DETENTION ORDERS IN [...] (S/NF) On September 16, the Office of the Prosecutor General ("Fiscalia") issued preventive detention orders against one officer, two enlisted men, and a civilian informant in the ongoing investigation of the killing of three trade unionists on August 5. The three soldiers had been in Fiscali [...] |
2004-09-20 22:44:00 | Embassy Bogota | SECRET//NOFORN | ELAB PHUM PGOV ETRD PTER KJUS CO ILO |
| 04BOGOTA9661 |
GOC DELIVERS BLOWS TO PARAMILITARIES [...] (SBU) Summary: GOC security forces dealt two major blows to paramilitary forces this month. In early September, elements of an Antinarcotics Police Airmobile Company ("Junglas") seized a large cocaine HCl laboratory believed to belong to the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) in Val [...] |
2004-09-22 22:57:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR KCRM PTER CO AUC |
| 04BOGOTA9676 |
VIOLENCE IN CALI ON THE RISE [...] (C) In mid September, Emboffs discussed security issues with local officials in Cali, capital of Valle del Cauca Department. Despite an overall improvement in most security indicators, the murder rate in the department has increased substantially this year. A combination of several factors h [...] |
2004-09-23 15:43:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | EAID MOPS PINR SNAR CO PHUM PREL |
| 04BOGOTA9686 |
SIGNIFICANT EVENTS IN COLOMBIA [...] (U) The following are short capsule overviews of significant political and human rights events in Colombia during the week of September 13. ---------------------- Meta Notables Murdered ---------------------- 2. (U) On September 14, the bullet-riddled bodies of former El Dorado (Meta [...] |
2004-09-23 18:07:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM SNAR ECON CO |
| 04BOGOTA9698 |
VISITING EMBASSY BOGOTA? [...] (U) Due to the large volume of visitors to US Embassy Bogota and due to the Congressional Capacity Count restrictions for US personnel in Colombia, Post is outlining requirements for country clearance approval for all official visitors. Except under very exceptional circumstances, Post requi [...] |
2004-09-23 21:29:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | AMGT APER KJUS MARR PREL CO |
| 04BOGOTA9699 |
COLOMBIA MILITARY PROGRESS: SLOW BUT STEADY [...] (S) The Colombian Military (COLMIL) continues to make progress combating illegal armed groups. The number of Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), National Liberation Army (ELN), United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC), and smaller illegal armed group members killed, captured, o [...] |
2004-09-23 21:35:00 | Embassy Bogota | SECRET//NOFORN | EAID MOPS PINR SNAR CO |
| 04BOGOTA97 |
RELEASED ELN HOSTAGE DISCUSSES KIDNAPPING [...] (C) On December 24, poloff met with Israeli citizen Ido Guy, who had been released by the National Liberation Army (ELN) two days earlier af over three months in captivity. Guy was accompanied by Israeli securit liaison Guy Ner, who had been posted at the headquarters of the Colombi military's [...] |
2004-01-07 12:57:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PREL PHUM PINR PINS CO ELN |
| 04BOGOTA9702 |
WHO ARE THE PARAMILITARY COMMANDERS? [...] (C) Paramilitary groups participating in peace talks in Santa Fe de Ralito submitted a list to the OAS of their 14-member negotiating team and 19 commanders who are present in the concentration zone. The largest paramilitary group represented in the zone is the AUC, which is commanded by thre [...] |
2004-09-23 21:50:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER SNAR KJUS PINR PHUM CO AUC |
| 04BRUSSELS4677 |
DRUGS TROIKA DISCUSSES EU DRUGS STRATEGY, [...] (U) Summary. The annual U.S.-EU Drugs Troika was held October 25 in Brussels. INL DAS Jonathan Farrar had wide-ranging discussions on trends in cocaine, heroin and synthetics production and trafficking. The USAID Office Director of South America Affairs gave a detailed presentation on U.S. [...] |
2004-10-29 13:46:00 | Embassy Brussels | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | AF BL CO EU KCRM SNAR XM EUN USEU BRUSSELS |
| 04BRUSSELS5216 |
EU COMMISSION AND COUNCIL SECRETARIAT RESPONSE ON [...] (SBU) We reviewed REF A points with Judith Gebetsroithner of Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner's cabinet and Margarita Comamala of the Council Secretariat on December 7 and 8, respectively. Neither had any specific comment or reaction on the Great Lakes, Middle East or Colombia (the latter of whic [...] |
2004-12-09 17:31:00 | Embassy Brussels | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ETTC KPAL UP CO HR CG TU RW EUN USEU BRUSSELS |
| 04BRUSSELS733 |
EU VISIT GIVES URIBE LITTLE [...] (C) SUMMARY: Colombian President Alvaro Uribe's February 9-10 EU visit resulted in a cooperation and information sharing agreement between Colombia and Europol. He got little from the Commission on an EU/Andean trade pact, or a 10 year GSP extension. EC officials said that they would have no [...] |
2004-02-20 11:37:00 | Embassy Brussels | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL SNAR PHUM EAID ETRD CO EUN USEU BRUSSELS |
| 04PANAMA1000 |
ANOTHER PANAMANIAN MADAM IN JAIL; IMMIGRATION [...] (C) According to GOP police reports, an alleged child prostitution ringleader, Elizabeth Archibold Diaz, surrendered herself to the Policia Tecnica Judicial (PTJ) on April 14, 2004. She was accompanied by her attorney and, to date, remains in custody. Archibold is alleged to be the masterm [...] |
2004-04-30 12:34:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL SMIG CO PM KTIP LABOR HUMAN RIGHTSPOLMIL |
| 04PANAMA1116 |
PANAMA: IMPLICATIONS OF THE TORRIJOS VICTORY FOR [...] (C) Martin Torrijos, a 40-year-old politician with little national policy experience, scored a crushing electoral victory on May 2, while his Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) is positioned to control Panama's unicameral legislature. After it takes office on September 1, the new governmen [...] |
2004-05-07 20:27:00 | Embassy Panama | SECRET//NOFORN | PREL PGOV ETRD EFIN EWWT PM CM CO TW POL CHIEF |
| 04PANAMA2923 |
PANAMA SEEKS SOLUTIONS TO ARMS-FOR-DRUGS TRADE [...] (C) Since the seizure of the "Otterloo" in 2001, a ship carrying about 3,000 weapons from Nicaragua through Panama to the AUC in Colombia, the Colombian armed groups (FARC and AUC) appear to be relying increasingly on smaller arms-for-drugs purchases, instead of purchasing large amounts of w [...] |
2004-12-03 21:08:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PINS SNAR PGOV PREL PARM PM NI CO CR LABOR HUMAN RIGHTSPOLMIL |
| 04PANAMA2937 |
PANAMA, THE G4 AND "PLAN PUEBLA" [...] (C) Mexican President Vicente Fox publicly endorsed Panama's inclusion in the G3 (Venezuela, Colombia and Mexico) during his November 2-3 visit to Panama. According to MFA Advisor Nils Castro and International Organizations Director Javier Bonagas, the GOP's primary interest in joining the G [...] |
2004-12-06 21:23:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV ETRD ECON ENRG PM CO VZ LABOR HUMAN RIGHTSPOLMIL |
| 04PANAMA2997 |
PANAMA REFUGEE NEWS: GOP COOPERATES, COMMISSION [...] (SBU) Since the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) established a permanent office in Panama in April (reftel), the GOP has cooperated increasingly with the UNHCR and other NGOs to assist the approximately 821 displaced Colombians in the Darien border area. Under the Torrijo [...] |
2004-12-16 18:54:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREF PHUM PGOV CO PM LABOR HUMAN RIGHTSPOLMIL |
| 04PANAMA548 |
PANAMA'S INPUT FOR FOURTH ANNUAL ANTI-TRAFFICKING [...] (SBU) While Embassy Panama believes that trafficking in persons (TIP) is a problem in Panama, it is still relatively small and manageable. Embassy has worked closely with the Government of Panama (GOP) to discover more about the extent of the problem in Panama and to encourage the GOP to wor [...] |
2004-03-05 16:08:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KCRM PHUM KWMN SMIG KFRD ASEC PREF ELAB CO PM LABOR HUMAN RIGHTSPOLMIL |
| 04PANAMA813 |
PANAMA REFUGEE NEWS--UNHCR PERMANENT OFFICE, [...] No summary [...] |
2004-04-06 21:56:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREF PHUM PGOV CO PM LABOR HUMAN RIGHTSPOLMIL |
| 04PANAMA823 |
PANAMANIAN SUPREME COURT THROWS OUT CHARGES [...] (C) Citing "lack of jurisdiction," by an 8-1 vote, Panama's Supreme Court has terminated Public Ministry investigations of all charges against Israeli national Shimon Yalin Yelinek, currently residing in Panama, for his alleged role in smuggling Nicaraguan military weapons to the paramilitary [...] |
2004-04-07 19:29:00 | Embassy Panama | SECRET | PARM PREL KCOR PTER KJUS PM NI CO GA POLITICS FOREIGN POLICY |
| 04ROME4682 |
ITALY ON EU GAERC/COUNCIL AGENDA: TURKEY WILL [...] (C) The MFA's Director for EU Integration, Michele Quaroni, told poloff that consensus was building around a Council conclusion with an unconditional date to begin Turkish accession negotiations. He was not sure whether the date would be during the first or second semester of 2005. France may [...] |
2004-12-10 08:59:00 | Embassy Rome | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ETTC KPAL UP CO HR CG RW IT EUN |
| 04ROME561 |
ITALY: COLOMBIA NEEDS TO BE BETTER UNDERSTOOD [...] (C) SUMMARY. IN THE ITALIAN MFA'S VIEW, COLOMBIA'S PRESIDENT URIBE RETURNED TO BOGOTA WITH MIXED RESULTS FROM HIS EUROPEAN VISIT. HIS ADDRESS TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT WAS NOT WELL RECEIVED DUE TO CONTINUED EUROPEAN INSISTENCE ON BETTER PERFORMANCE ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND RULE OF LAW ISSUES. [...] |
2004-02-13 16:24:00 | Embassy Rome | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL CO IT HUMAN RIGHTS |
| 04SANTODOMINGO796 |
GODR VOTES WITH US ON OAS COLOMBIA PEACE PROCESS [...] Poloffs delivered urgent request for GODR to vote for a resolution to establish an OAS mission to support the peace process in Colombia. Ambassador Rhadys Abreu de Polanco, deputy director of the International Organizations desk at the GODR Foreign Ministry, discussed the resolution with Dep [...] |
2004-02-09 11:21:00 | Embassy Santo Domingo | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PTER AORC CO DR |
| 04SAOPAULO493 |
SPECIAL ENVOY REICH'S MEETING WITH JOSE DIRCEU [...] (C) SUMMARY. White House Special Envoy for the Western Hemisphere Otto Reich met with President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva's Chief of Staff Jose Dirceu on Sunday, March 21 at a private residence in Sao Paulo. During the course of the relaxed and open 90-minute conversation, the two touched o [...] |
2004-03-26 12:12:00 | Consulate Sao Paulo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL CO BL CU VE BR UNHCR US |
| 04THEHAGUE2367 |
UNGA 59/COLOMBIA - COLOMBIA CORE GROUP MEETING [...] No summary [...] |
2004-09-17 15:09:00 | Embassy The Hague | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PTER CO NL UNGA |
| 05ACCRA829 |
REFUGEES IN GABON -- AN UPDATE [...] (C) SUMMARY: Ref Coord, PRM/A Program Assistant, and Poloff (Embassy Libreville) met with refugees in Libreville on April 14 to address resettlement, protection, and repatriation issues. In response to a small pro-settlement demonstration earlier in the week, we explained that the 41 cases [...] |
2005-05-04 07:11:00 | Embassy Accra | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF GB EG CO |
| 05ASUNCION1119 |
PARAGUAY: UPDATE ON CUBAS AND DEBERNARDI [...] (SBU) Summary: In recent months, Paraguayan authorities filed formal charges against 14 of 28 suspects in the kidnapping and murder of Cecilia Cubas and located the house where kidnappers held Maria Edith Bordon de Debernardi for 64 days in 2001. Members of the left-wing Patria Libre Party (P [...] |
2005-09-02 16:40:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PINR SNAR KCRM PA CO BR |
| 05ASUNCION1435 |
PARAGUAY AND COLOMBIA DISCUSS COUNTER-DRUG ISSUES [...] (C) Summary: An official Colombian counter-drug (CD) delegation traveled to Asuncion November 2-4 to hold bilateral CD discussions with the GOP. As a result of those discussions, the GOP and GOC established a bilateral, interagency CD commission and three working groups. Upon their arrival, [...] |
2005-11-22 13:39:00 | Embassy Asuncion | SECRET | PGOV PREL PINR PTER MARR SNAR PA CO |
| 05ASUNCION1440 |
PARAGUAY: SEEKING SUPPORT FOR THE OAS MISSION IN [...] No summary [...] |
2005-11-22 21:10:00 | Embassy Asuncion | UNCLASSIFIED | EAID PTER CO PA OAS |
| 05ASUNCION199 |
THE FARC AND PARAGUAY: ALLEGATIONS OF KIDNAPPING [...] (S) Summary: AG claims that FARC involvement in Paraguay is growing, asserting he has information from GOC sources to back his statement. AG has a history of exaggeration and his claims need to be verified, but it appears that the GOP is increasingly concerned about foreign leftist influence i [...] |
2005-02-08 19:08:00 | Embassy Asuncion | SECRET | PREL PTER KCRM KJUS PINR SNAR CO PA |
| 05ASUNCION211 |
COLOMBIAN EMBASSY URGING GOP TO GO PUBLIC ABOUT [...] (S) Colombian PolOff Raul Sanchez advised PolOff that the GOC wants the GOP to publicize as much information as possible regarding the FARC's involvement in the Cecilia Cubas kidnapping and other crimes in Paraguay, prior to President Uribe's meeting with President Chavez next week. The Colomb [...] |
2005-02-10 13:10:00 | Embassy Asuncion | SECRET | PREL PTER PINR KCRM SNAR CO PA |
| 05ASUNCION212 |
CUBAN MEDICAL SUPPORT TO PARAGUAY AND AN OPENING [...] (C) SUMMARY: The ending of the Cuban Doctor program by the GOP, and concurrent GOP fears of increased ominous leftist influence and activities, presents an opportunity for the USG to draw President Duarte farther away from the allure of Cuba and Venezuela. END SUMMARY. 2. (C) Reftel note [...] |
2005-02-10 17:05:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER PINR CU CO VE PA |
| 05ASUNCION403 |
PARAGUAY-COLOMBIA AGREEMENT ON SECURITY [...] (U) Summary: During President Duarte's March 7 visit to Bogota, he and Colombian President Uribe issued a Joint Declaration committing their respective countries to assist each other in the fight against organized crime, particularly kidnapping but also arms trafficking, drug trafficking, mone [...] |
2005-03-23 10:52:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PINR PTER MOPS SNAR KCRM PA CO |
| 05ASUNCION411 |
PARAGUAY ANNOUNCES PLANS TO INTRODUCE HUMAN RIGHTS [...] (U) On March 17, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Jose Martinez publicly announced the GOP's plans to introduce a Mercosur human rights protocol that would provide for the suspension of any member state that violates human rights. The GOP hopes to garner other members' support for the protocol [...] |
2005-03-23 20:22:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM PINR CU CO PA VE |
| 05ASUNCION416 |
PARAGUAY PETITIONS UNCHR FOR INTERNATIONAL [...] (U) On March 17, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Jose Martinez called on the members of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) meeting in Geneva to assist the GOP in prosecuting and punishing criminals responsible for kidnappings, such as in the recent case of former Paraguayan [...] |
2005-03-28 09:58:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM PTER KCRM CO PA |
| 05ASUNCION596 |
PARAGUAY-COLOMBIA SECURITY COOPERATION AND [...] (U) In furtherance of the Joint Declaration on security cooperation and assistance that Presidents Duarte and Uribe signed in Bogota on March 7 (ref A), Vice-Presidents Castiglioni and Santos signed an Action Plan on security, in Bogota, on April 19. In the Action Plan, the GOP and GOC agree [...] |
2005-05-03 12:17:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PINR PTER MARR SNAR KCRM CO PA |
| 05ASUNCION668 |
PARAGUAY: UPDATE ON CUBAS KIDNAPPING INVESTIGATION [...] (U) As reported in the press, a dissident Patria Libre party (PPL) member testified that a Colombian national who advised the PPL faction responsible for the kidnapping and murder of former President Raul Cubas's daughter, Cecilia Cubas (ref B), recommended that the group kill Ms. Cubas after [...] |
2005-05-18 20:43:00 | Embassy Asuncion | SECRET | PGOV PREL PINR PTER KCRM AR BO BR CO PA VE |
| 05ASUNCION815 |
PARAGUAY: KIDNAPPINGS AND THE FARC [...] (C) Summary. An individual arrested in connection to the Ceclia Cubas kidnapping led investigators to the site where Maria Edith Bordon de Debernardi was held after she was kidnapped in November 2001. A Paraguayan prosecutor confirmed press reports clearly linking the two kidnappings. He al [...] |
2005-06-24 17:13:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PINR PTER KCRM CO BR PA |
| 05ATHENS776 |
INFORMATION FOR CONGRESSIONAL REPORT ON EUROPEAN [...] No summary [...] |
2005-03-18 14:54:00 | Embassy Athens | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON EAID PREL CO EC PE BL VE GR |
| 05BOGOTA10027 |
STRONG ECONOMIC OUTLOOK [...] Summary: Public support for the re-election of President Uribe generally focuses on the administration's security policy. The recent performance of the macro economy, however, suggests the President's economic policies have been likewise successful. While significant improvements in macro i [...] |
2005-10-25 18:49:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON EFIN CO |
| 05BOGOTA10037 |
DEFINING JUSTICE AND PEACE LAW ELIGIBILITY [...] (C) In early October, Minister of Interior and Justice (MOI/J) Sabas Pretelt met with Minister of Defense (MOD) Camilo Ospina, Peace Commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo, and other high-level GOC officials to discuss the Justice and Peace (J&P) law eligibility of demobilized paramilitaries and ot [...] |
2005-10-25 21:04:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KJUS PTER PREL PGOV CO |
| 05BOGOTA10055 |
VICE PRESIDENT SANTOS ELATED ABOUT REELECTION; [...] (C) Director of Andean Affairs Philip French and DCM Drucker called on Vice President Francisco Santos and MFA Acting Vice Minister for Bilateral Affairs Mauricio Gonzalez separately on October 19. Santos, speaking minutes after the announcement that the Constitutional Court approved reelecti [...] |
2005-10-25 22:23:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM CO EC |
| 05BOGOTA10060 |
PEACE COMMISSIONER REPORTS ON DISCUSSIONS WITH AUC [...] (C) On October 21, Peace Commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo briefed Ambassador and WHA/AND Director Phil French on his discussions with AUC leaders regarding conditions for reinitiating negotiations on future demobilizations. AUC negotiators were skeptical of resuming negotiations if the GOC t [...] |
2005-10-26 11:47:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PREL PGOV CO |
| 05BOGOTA10061 |
VICE PROSECUTOR GENERAL OTALORA REPORTS ON JUSTICE [...] (C) WHA/AND Director Phil French met with Vice Prosecutor General Otalora on October 20 to discuss the status of the Justice and Peace (J&P) Unit, the new oral accusatory justice system, and extradition. French recognized the significant progress made in Colombia on various bilateral fronts, [...] |
2005-10-26 11:47:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KJUS PGOV PREL PTER CO |
| 05BOGOTA10062 |
COLOMBIA: WANTS CONSENSUS BUT NEEDS SECURITY [...] (C) Poloff delivered reftel demarches to Summit of the Americas Coordinator Francisco Gonzalez on October 24. Gonzalez agreed that much progress was made at the October 3-7 SIRG, but that more negotiation is needed before the Summit Declaration can be signed. He was confident, however, that [...] |
2005-10-26 14:01:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ECON KSUM CO OAS |
| 05BOGOTA10106 |
ELN PEACE HOUSE AT ONE MONTH: INTERNATIONAL [...] (C) The "ELN Peace House" was inaugurated one month ago after the GOC and National Liberation Army (ELN) leadership released imprisoned ELN spokesperson Gerardo Antonio Bermudez Sanchez, AKA "Francisco Galan," for three months to help establish peace talks. Galan has spent his first month unde [...] |
2005-10-26 22:28:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV MARR MOPS PHUM SNAR CO |
| 05BOGOTA10152 |
COLOMBIA SUPPORTS HOLOCAUST REMEMBERANCE [...] (C) Poloff delivered ref demarches to Coordinator for the U.S. and Summit for the Americas Francisco Gonzalez on October 18. Poloff thanked the GOC for its co-sponsorship of Israel's Holocaust Remembrance resolution (ref A) and asked the GOC to encourage other countries to join in co-sponsor [...] |
2005-10-27 22:38:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNGA CO |
| 05BOGOTA10157 |
UNHCR REPS CAUGHT IN FARC ATTACK ON VILLAGE IN [...] (C) UNHCR officials were caught in the crossfire of a Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) attack on a remote village in southern Putumayo Department near the Ecuador border October 23-24. UNHCR reps (none of whom were injured) were participating in a joint effort with the GoC to reg [...] |
2005-10-28 15:24:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREF PINS CO UN |
| 05BOGOTA10164 |
CARAMAGNA POSITIVE ON OAS VERIFICATION MISSION'S [...] (C) WHA/AND Director Phil French met with Organization of American States (OAS) Verification Mission Director Sergio Caramagna on October 21 to discuss financial and political support for the mission. Caramagna explained that a lack of resources had limited the mission's capacity to assist the [...] |
2005-10-28 17:22:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KJUS PGOV PREL PTER CO OAS |
| 05BOGOTA10167 |
Colombian Civil Aviation Response to Open Skies [...] No summary [...] |
2005-10-28 18:41:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | EAIR CO |
| 05BOGOTA10176 |
REQUESTS TO URGE EU TO TABLE MEANINGFUL [...] SUBJECT DEMARCHE WAS DELIVERED TO ANDRES ESPINOSA, TRADE ADVISOR TO THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, AND RAFAEL BARBOSA, ADVISOR FOR THE DIRECTORATE OF ECONOMIC INTEGRATION, MINISTRY OF COMMERCE. ESPINOSA NOTED IN HIS RESPONSE THAT AS A MEMBER OF THE CAIRNS GROUP, THE GOVERNMENT OF COLOMBIA IS SE [...] |
2005-10-28 20:38:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | EAGR CO |
| 05BOGOTA10178 |
VISA REVOCATIONS: A HARD HIT ON COLOMBIAN CRIMINALS [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. In recent months, the Consular Section's Fraud Prevention Unit (FPU) revoked a large number of non- immigrant visas (NIV) granted to Colombian nationals who are members of violent gangs and terrorist organizations, wanted and captured narcotics traffickers, family members benefi [...] |
2005-10-28 20:47:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | KFRD CVIS ASEC KCRM KWMN SMIG CO KHUM |
| 05BOGOTA10204 |
Colombian Civil Aviation Response to Demarche on [...] During an October 26 meeting with the Colombian Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Director General Fernando Sanclemente, DCM raised USG concerns regarding mandatory travel agent fees for airline ticketing. Sanclemente said he will be meeting with travel agency representatives next month, but du [...] |
2005-10-31 15:09:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | EAIR CO |
| 05BOGOTA10230 |
FORMER PRESIDENT GAVIRIA HIGHLIGHTS PARAMILITARY [...] (C) Former President Cesar Gaviria told Polcouns October 28 that paramilitaries are threatening and intimidating Liberal Party candidates and office holders, and claimed President Uribe's efforts to combat such activities are conspicuous by their absence. The Liberal Party would continue to [...] |
2005-11-01 13:28:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PTER VE CO ELN FARC |
| 05BOGOTA10231 |
URIBE'S PARTY CHIEF SAYS PRESIDENT NEEDS SOLID [...] (C) Juan Manuel Santos, President Uribe's hand-picked leader of the new Uribista political party ("Partido de la U"), told Polcouns October 28 it is imperative that Uribe win a solid working majority in March legislative elections. Only with an "ample and faithful" majority could Uribe pursue [...] |
2005-11-01 13:29:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PTER VE CO ELN |
| 05BOGOTA10232 |
CIVIL-MILITARY RELATIONS JUDGED TO BE IMPROVING [...] (U) Colombian government officials, academics, and international military speakers discussed civil-military interaction at an Embassy co-sponsored seminar on October 26. Vice Minister of Defense Andres Penate reported that the civilian-military relations were "mature" and improving under the [...] |
2005-11-01 13:51:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV MARR MOPS PHUM SNAR CO |
| 05BOGOTA10238 |
MANCUSO OUT, NEW SPOKESPERSONS FOR DEMOBILIZED [...] (C) Representatives of 11 demobilized Colombian United Self-Defense Groups (AUC) factions have removed Salvatore Mancuso as AUC spokesperson and replaced him with three leaders: Diego Murillo, AKA "Don Berna," Antonio Lopez, and Eduard Cobos, AKA "Diego Vecino." The AUC replaced Mancuso becau [...] |
2005-11-01 14:16:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KJUS PGOV PREL PTER CO AUC |
| 05BOGOTA10314 |
GOC WILL GIVE REPARATIONS TO VICTIMS OF 1997 [...] (U) ON OCTOBER 12, FOREIGN MINISTER CAROLINA BARCO SAID COLOMBIA WOULD GIVE REPARATIONS TO THE VICTIMS OF THE 1997 MAPIRIPAN MASSACRE AND IN GENERAL FULFILL ITS INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS IN THE CASE, FOLLOWING THE INTER AMERICAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS DECISION AGAINST COLOMBIA IN THE MATTER, RE [...] |
2005-11-02 15:04:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PHUM CO |
| 05BOGOTA10336 |
NGOS SHARE CONCERNS OVER JUSTICE AND PEACE LAW AND [...] (SBU) On October 20, representatives from five leading human rights NGOs met with WHA/AND Director Philip French to provide their assessments of human rights conditions in Colombia. Three NGOs expressed concern over paramilitary demobilizations and the implementation of the Justice and Peace [...] |
2005-11-02 19:31:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM PINR PTER KJUS CO |