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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 |
| 05BOGOTA10377 | COUNTERNARCOTICS PROGRAMS UNDER PUBLIC ATTACK [...] (C) SUMMARY: Over the last few months our counternarcotics programs, particularly aerial eradication, have received substantial negative publicity and public comment. The discussion risks making the spray program even more of an issue in the upcoming Colombian elections than would normally b [...] |
2005-11-03 19:04:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL SNAR CO |
| 05BOGOTA10389 | NAS MONTHLY REPORT FOR SEPTEMBER 2005 [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. During the month, approximately 7,893 hectares of illicit crops were sprayed, giving a year-to- date total of 120,101 hectares of coca and 1,546 hectares of poppy sprayed. One contract spray aircraft pilot and a Counterdrug (CD) Brigade dog handler and his dog were killed duri [...] |
2005-11-04 11:49:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR SENV KCRM PTER CO |
| 05BOGOTA10390 | AUC LEADERS SEEK DEAL ON EXTRADITION [...] (C) Peace Commissioner Restrepo, para-friendly Senator Moreno de Caro, OAS Verification Chief Caramagna and National Commission on Reparations and Reconciliation member Jaime Jaramillo have all passed messages to the Ambassador suggesting that paramilitary leaders want to cut deals on extradi [...] |
2005-11-04 15:01:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KJUS PTER PREL PGOV CO |
| 05BOGOTA10391 | REPARATIONS COMMISSION MEMBER CRITICIZES HOSTILITY [...] (C) National Commission on Reconciliation and Reparations member Jaime Jaramillo said November 2 that the Commission's work is going well despite the frequent and transparent hostility of the Attorney General's office (procuraduria) representatives during Commission meetings. Jaramillo said [...] |
2005-11-04 15:06:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PTER CO |
| 05BOGOTA10392 | VICE PRESIDENT ON "POST-CONFLICT"; PROMINENT [...] (C) Vice president Francisco Santos said at a restorative justice conference November 2 that Colombia's paramilitary demobilization process was a "post-conflict situation" requiring deft management if Colombia was to avoid "the problems of Central America or the Southern Cone" on crime and hu [...] |
2005-11-04 15:09:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PTER CO FARC AUC |
| 05BOGOTA10396 | HISTORIC LOW TURNOUT FOR CARTAGENA MAYORAL [...] (C) On October 30, a record low number of Cartagena's residents voted to return controversial doctor-turned-politician Nicolas Curi to the mayor's office for a third, non-consecutive term. Seventy-eight percent of eligible voters stayed home during the special election. Curi's main opponent [...] |
2005-11-04 15:41:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KJUS PINR CO |
| 05BOGOTA10399 | PEACE COMMISSIONER ANNOUNCES GOC INTENTION TO [...] (C) On November 1, in an official communique, Peace Commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo declared that the GOC intended to hold the United-Self Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) to the December 31, 2005 demobilization deadline, or be met with military confrontation. He also announced that no AUC [...] |
2005-11-04 15:47:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KJUS PGOV PREL PTER CO |
| 05BOGOTA10419 | CD BRIGADE COMMANDER'S RECOMMENDATIONS ON [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: During a visit by NAS Bogota and INL personnel on October 27, the Counter Drug Brigade (CD BDE) Commander made twelve recommendations to improve the CD BDE's support to spray operations. His principal recommendations included standing up a fourth combat battalion with air asset [...] |
2005-11-04 20:05:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR PTER MOPS CO |
| 05BOGOTA10447 | ILO REGIONAL REPS REQUEST U.S. FUNDING FOR [...] (U) On October 26, Director of the Andean Subregional Office for the International Labor Organization J. Ricardo Hernandez met with Political Counselor to review ILO's Colombia program and solicit continued U.S. support. The program has sought to promote dialogue between enterprise and labor [...] |
2005-11-04 22:55:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ELAB PHUM PGOV CO ILO |
| 05BOGOTA10448 | ELN RELIGIOUS CEREMONY IN ECUADOR PREACHES [...] (U) On October 30, News Channel One (NoticieroUno) reported that several National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrillas had crossed the border into Ecuador to offer a Catholic mass to fellow Ecuadorian guerrillas. The footage showed ELN member alias "Diego Cristobal" preaching to roughly 30 people [...] |
2005-11-05 16:57:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PTER PREL SOCI CO EC |
| 05BOGOTA10497 | CONSTITUTIONAL COURT RULING EXPECTED NOVEMBER 11 [...] Colombia's Constitutional Court is expected to rule Friday, November 11 on the Electoral Guarantees law, which sets out the presidential campaign "rules of the game" for incumbents seeking second terms. A leading weekly newspaper, which accurately predicted the Court's recent reelection deci [...] |
2005-11-07 20:21:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV CO |
| 05BOGOTA10498 | COLOMBIAN THINK TANK SEEKS TO ADVANCE ELN PEACE [...] (C) The consultative process underway between the National Liberation Army (ELN) and Colombian advisors is unlikely to lead to substantive peace talks with the GOC unless the international community, especially the United States, nudges the parties forward, according to Ideas for Peace (Ideas P [...] |
2005-11-07 20:30:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV MARR MOPS PHUM SNAR CO |
| 05BOGOTA10565 | BODY OF AFRO-COLOMBIAN LEADER ORLANDO VALENCIA [...] (C) On November 2, a senior government official informed the Embassy that the GOC had positively identified the body of kidnapped Afro-Colombian leader Orlando Valencia, discovered on October 24 after a nine-day search (reftel). The GOC continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding hi [...] |
2005-11-09 13:42:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM CO |
| 05BOGOTA10640 | COLOMBIA LIKELY TO ABSTAIN ON UNGA THIRD COMMITTEE [...] No summary [...] |
2005-11-15 15:37:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PREL UNHRC CO |
| 05BOGOTA10641 | COLOMBIA: IRANIAN PRESIDENT'S INCREASING EXTREMISM [...] No summary [...] |
2005-11-15 15:57:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER PHUM IR CO |
| 05BOGOTA10642 | COLOMBIA: NO SAFE HAVEN FOR ALEMAN DEMARCHE [...] No summary [...] |
2005-11-15 16:39:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KCRM NU CO |
| 05BOGOTA10683 | MOD AND UN HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICE SIGN ACCORD; GOC [...] On November 8, Minister of Defense Camilo Ospina Bernal and Director of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Colombia (OHCHR) Michael Fruhling signed a cooperation agreement on human rights training for the Colombian military that meets another of the High Commissioner fo [...] |
2005-11-16 11:41:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | MARR PHUM PREL CO |
| 05BOGOTA10686 | COURT APPROVES ELECTORAL GUARANTEES LAW; NO [...] (U) Summary: As expected, the Constitutional Court approved the electoral guarantees law, the final remaining legal hurdle to President Uribe's running in the May 28, 2006 presidential election. The Court made some changes to the original law, toughening campaign finance rules and limiting [...] |
2005-11-16 14:46:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PINR CO |
| 05BOGOTA1070 | SCENESETTER FOR CARTAGENA DONORS CONFERENCE, [...] (C) Embassy Bogota welcomes the U.S. Delegation, led by USAID Administrator Andrew Natsios, to Cartagena for the Feb. 2-4 follow-up conference to the London Declaration of July 2003 on international support for Colombia. This is a GOC-hosted meeting for the 24 London Declaration signatories p [...] |
2005-02-01 22:46:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EAID PHUM CO |
| 05BOGOTA1071 | AUC'S SOUTHWESTERN ANTIOQUIA BLOC DEMOBILIZES [...] (U) The 126 members of the Self Defense Forces of Southwestern Antioquia demobilized on January 30, bringing the total number of the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) members to have demobilized since December 2003 to 4,699. Senior paramilitary commanders Salvatore Mancuso and Erne [...] |
2005-02-02 13:46:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PHUM KJUS CO OAS |
| 05BOGOTA1078 | DCM MEETS WITH VICE-MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS [...] (C) On January 31, DCM met with GOC Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Camilo Reyes. Reyes had asked for the meeting as the first of what he hopes will be regular monthly meetings to discuss key bilateral issues and areas of mutual concern. In response to questions from the DCM, Reyes touched [...] |
2005-02-02 15:50:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM ECON CO |
| 05BOGOTA1079 | 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, it has been ravaged by an internal armed conflict financed by drug trafficking and other criminal activities for over 40 year [...] |
2005-02-02 15:52:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PREL PGOV ELAB KDEM KPAO KSEP EAID CO |
| 05BOGOTA1081 | GOC LIKELY TO AUTHORIZE ELN MEETING WITH [...] (C) On January 29, GOC High Commissioner for Peace Luis Carlos Restrepo told Ambassador that the GOC was on the verge of an agreement with the National Liberation Army's (ELN) Central Command (COCE) to allow COCE representatives safe passage to Mexico to engage in face-to-face talks with Gover [...] |
2005-02-02 16:36:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PREL CO ELN |
| 05BOGOTA10845 | AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH PEACE BRIGADES INTERNATIONAL [...] (U) On November 4, the Ambassador met with four representatives of the human rights NGO Peace Brigades International (PBI). The Ambassador thanked PBI for its hard work and cooperation with the Embassy on relating sensitive human rights cases. PBI raised concerns about protection for labor l [...] |
2005-11-21 14:50:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM CO |
| 05BOGOTA10846 | DEMOBILIZATION TO RESUME; TIMETABLE UNDER [...] (C) The GOC and AUC negotiators have agreed to extend the December 31 deadline for the remaining demobilizations of approximately 10,000 paramilitaries for an additional period, expected to be no more than 60 days. Peace Commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo has reiterated that the new deadline mu [...] |
2005-11-21 15:25:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KJUS PGOV PREL PTER CO |
| 05BOGOTA10847 | DRUG CZAR WALTERS MEETING WITH MOD OSPINA AND [...] (U) November 10, 2005, 8:00-9:00, Ministry of Defense, Bogota 2. (U) Participants: U.S. ---- John P. Walters, Director ONDCP Patrick Ward, ONDCP A/D Richard O'Connor, ONDCP Julie Connor, Narcotics Affairs Section Director Col. Kevin Saderup, MilGroup Commander Col. Brian Butcher, D [...] |
2005-11-21 15:26:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | SNAR PREL PGOV EAID CO |
| 05BOGOTA10848 | COUNTER-DRUG BRIGADE CHANGE OF COMMAND [...] (U) The Colombian Army Counter- Drug Brigade (CD BDE) will be getting a new commander in mid-December. Brigadier General (BG) Jorge Octavio ARDILA Silva will replace outgoing CD BDE Commander BG Luis Felipe PAREDESParedes Cadena, who will assume command of the 2nd Brigade in Barranquilla. [...] |
2005-11-21 16:22:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR MOPS PINR CO |
| 05BOGOTA10889 | NEWS FROM THE FARC FRONT [...] (U) On November 20, President Uribe authorized Peace Commissioner Restrepo to organize an international commission to help facilitate a hostage exchange with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). Restrepo had earlier called on the FARC to commit itself to a cease-fire and peace ta [...] |
2005-11-22 15:04:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV MARR MOPS PHUM SNAR CO |
| 05BOGOTA10890 | DIAGNOSTIC RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL STOLEN FROM [...] Summary. Colombian state oil company Ecopetrol confirmed that a small container of diagnostic radioactive material was stolen from one of its facilities in early October. The material is used to measure flow rates through its oil pipelines and contains a very low concentration of Cesium-137 [...] |
2005-11-22 15:06:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PTER ENRG EPET CO |
| 05BOGOTA10891 | ONDCP DIRECTOR WALTER'S NOVEMBER 8 MEETING WITH [...] (C) SUMMARY. During his visit to Colombia, Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) Director John Walters met with the Director of Colombia's National Directorate on Dangerous Drugs (DNE), Juan Vives. Dr. Vives and his DNE colleagues briefed Director Walters on DNE activities, includi [...] |
2005-11-22 15:33:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV SNAR CO |
| 05BOGOTA10892 | ELECTORAL GUARANTEES DECISION BOLD BUT RISKY MOVE [...] (C) The Constitutional Court's ruling in favor of the Electoral Guarantees law was a bold but risky move that some say could call into question the court's legitimacy. The court essentially rewrote the law to avoid sending it back to the Congress for amendments. A Congressional rewrite would [...] |
2005-11-22 15:38:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KJUS PINR CO |
| 05BOGOTA10893 | GOC REQUESTS U.S. FUNDING OF ILO-SPONSORED [...] (U) The GOC has requested that the U.S. help finance the ILO's Special Program for Colombia, outlined in reftel. The Embassy supports the program and recommends funding at least three of the four projects because they assist in the demobilization and reinsertion process, address major concer [...] |
2005-11-22 15:38:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ELAB PGOV PHUM CO ILO |
| 05BOGOTA10895 | GOC REOPENS PEACE NEGOTIATION OPTION WITH ELN [...] (U) On November 13, in response to a letter from the guarantors group of the "Peace House" initiative with the ELN, Peace Commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo issued a call to the National Liberation Army's (ELN) Central Command leaders to begin negotiations with the government under the auspices [...] |
2005-11-22 16:34:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PREL PGOV CO |
| 05BOGOTA10949 | ARMED CONFRONTATION IN VICINITY OF SAN JOSE DE [...] (C) On November 17 the Embassy received reports from the NGO Fellowship of Reconciliation that there had been an attack by the military on residents of the Peace Community of Arenas Altas, in the municipality of Apartado, Antioquia Department. The Arenas Altas Peace Community is near the Peac [...] |
2005-11-23 18:51:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREF CO |
| 05BOGOTA10950 | COLOMBIA,S AIR SAFETY CONCERNS [...] (C) Summary. Troubling developments in Colombia,s civil aviation sector have brought to post,s attention that Colombia,s last FAA safety assessment took place in 1999. Recent plane crashes and questions concerning the integrity of the CAA,s safety oversight function suggest, at the least, th [...] |
2005-11-23 19:56:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | EAIR CO |
| 05BOGOTA10952 | COLOMBIA: 2005 COUNTRY REPORT ON TERRORISM [...] (U) The following is Embassy Bogota's submission to the 2005 Country Reports on Terrorism. Responses are keyed to questions in reftel's paragraphs 7-10. Embassy POC is Poloff Liliana Gabriel, unclass email gabriell@state.gov 2. (SBU) GENERAL ASSESSMENT: SUPPORT FOR THE GLOBAL COALITION [...] |
2005-11-23 20:36:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PTER PGOV KJUS MARR CASC ASEC CO |
| 05BOGOTA10953 | NOVEMBER 24 IAEA BOARD MEETING; IRAN NUCLEAR [...] (C) Poloff delivered the points contained in Ref A to Coordinator for the United States and Canada Francisco Gonzalez, stressing the need to make clear the international community's serious concerns about Iran's nuclear ambitions. Gonzalez promised to pass them to Diana Aguilar, Director of M [...] |
2005-11-23 22:55:00 | Embassy Bogota | SECRET | IAEA PARM PREL AORC KNNP KISL IR CO |
| 05BOGOTA10963 | MILITARY JUSTICE: REFORMS ON TRACK, BUDGET FALLS [...] (C) On November 17, Brigadier General Luis Fernando Puentes, Director of Colombia's Military Penal Justice system, noted that reforms were moving forward but budget constraints were becoming problematic. He hopes the Colombian Senate approves the first wave of Congressional reforms, introduce [...] |
2005-11-25 16:14:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV MARR MOPS PHUM SNAR CO |
| 05BOGOTA10967 | AVIAN AND PANDEMIC INFLUENZA INFORMATION - COLOMBIA [...] (U) In response to reftel, Embassy provides the following responses regarding avian and pandemic influenza preparedness in Colombia. -------------------------- PREPAREDNESS/COMMUNICATION -------------------------- 2. (SBU) DOES THE GOVERNMENT HAVE A PREPAREDNESS PLAN/STRATEGY FOR PREV [...] |
2005-11-25 16:30:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | TBIO SENV ECON EAGR EAID PREL CO |
| 05BOGOTA10990 | NATIONAL RECONCILIATION AND REPARATIONS [...] (C) National Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (CNRR) President Eduardo Pizarro Leongomez briefed Ambassador on November 10 on the commission's positive progress to date. Pizarro was highly encouraged by the support CNNR has received from the international community and the Catholic a [...] |
2005-11-28 15:38:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KJUS PGOV PREL PTER CO |
| 05BOGOTA10991 | DEVELOPMENTS IN CONGRESS AND THE LEAD-UP TO MARCH [...] (C) Summary: With less than a month remaining in the current session, the only major item to pass Congress thus far is the 2006 budget. A law aimed at approving Colombia's compliance with the Hague Convention on child abduction is pending conference committee approval. Opposition to Uribe [...] |
2005-11-28 15:42:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ECON PINR CO |
| 05BOGOTA10992 | ELN WARMING TO NEGOTIATION OPTIONS, FARC NOT MOVING [...] (C) Summary: On November 21, ELN Spokesperson "Francisco Galan" announced that the ELN was ready to begin establishing peace talks with the Colombian government. Civil society guarantor Alejo Vargas reported optimism that the ELN could be successful in this negotiation effort. At the same tim [...] |
2005-11-28 15:54:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PREL PGOV CO |
| 05BOGOTA10999 | COLOMBIA: OPPOSING ANTI-ISRAEL BIAS DEMARCHE [...] No summary [...] |
2005-11-28 19:40:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNGA CO |
| 05BOGOTA11044 | ONDCP DIRECTOR WALTERS MEETS WITH PRESIDENT URIBE [...] (C) Summary. During a two-hour meeting with President Uribe on November 9, ONDCP Director John Walters praised GOC efforts to reduce the supply of cocaine and reviewed ONDCP statistics reflecting U.S. consumption, Colombian cultivation (vs spray levels) and potential production, and Andean po [...] |
2005-11-28 16:04:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL SNAR CO |
| 05BOGOTA11058 | DRUG CZAR WALTERS DISCUSSES PEACE AND JUSTICE LAW [...] (SBU) Summary. On November 9, 2005, ONDCP Director John P. Walters met with Prosecutor General Mario Iguaran Arana and several members of his staff. During the hour-long meeting the two expressed their appreciation for the cooperation that both countries have shown each other in their mutu [...] |
2005-11-29 19:34:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | DOJ OPDAT PGOV PHUM SNAR CO |
| 05BOGOTA11084 | DIALOGUE ON A FRAMEWORK FOR A STRATEGIC DEFENSE [...] (S) Per reftel, Polcouns and DATT initiated dialogue on a framework for a strategic defense relationship with VMOD Andres Penate and COLMIL's General Padilla on November 22, and with MFA Vice Minister Reyes on November 23. The three officials constitute the internal GOC working group on the m [...] |
2005-11-30 15:56:00 | Embassy Bogota | SECRET | MARR MCAP PARM PREL CO US PGOV |
| 05BOGOTA11115 | COLOMBIA WILL CONSIDER OBSERVERS FOR BOLIVIAN [...] Poloffs delivered reftel demarche to MFA Coordinator for Latin America and the Caribbean Hector Arenas Neira and Bolivia desk officer Marcela Rodriguez on November 30, stressing the need for additional observers for Bolivia's December 18 general elections. Poloffs noted that the Government of [...] |
2005-12-01 16:46:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL CO |
| 05BOGOTA11123 | HUMAN RIGHTS DAY ACTIVITIES IN COLOMBIA [...] (U) Per reftel, in honor of Human Rights Day Ambassador Wood will deliver remarks on December 16 at the graduation of 80 public officials from a USAID-sponsored certification course on human rights. 2. (U) Two other organizations will also host events in honor of Human Rights day. On Satu [...] |
2005-12-01 20:57:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PREL ODIP PGOV APER KPAO CO |
| 05BOGOTA11182 | Colombia's efforts towards enhancing security of [...] The NNSA and the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) previously agreed to allocate USD 36,000 towards enhancing the radioactive material repository at the Colombian Institute of Geology and Mining (Ingeominas). The goal of the partnership is to improve Colombia's radioactive material security [...] |
2005-12-02 18:06:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PTER ENRG CO |
| 05BOGOTA11256 | G/TIP REPORTS OFFICER REVIEWS COLOMBIA'S EFFORTS [...] On November 6-7 G/TIP Reports Officer Linda Brown and Poloff conducted meetings with the GOC, international organizations and NGOs regarding trafficking in persons from and through Colombia. Colombia continues to prevent trafficking through programs with heavy involvement of NGOs, internation [...] |
2005-12-05 16:29:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PHUM ELAB CVIS CO |
| 05BOGOTA11257 | Colombia's Capital Control Regime - Ineffective and [...] SUMMARY: Colombia's Central Bank has used capital controls to provide macroeconomic stability both before and after the liberalization of the economy since 1967. The latest controls were enacted in late 2004 in hopes of stemming the flow of speculative capital as a response to exporter complai [...] |
2005-12-05 17:29:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON ETRD EINV CO SIPDIS |
| 05BOGOTA11290 | MILITARY JUSTICE REFORM BUDGET TO INCREASE [...] (C) During a meeting with Vice Minister of Defense Jorge Eastman on December 1, DCM raised the need for an adequate budget for military justice reform. Eastman said he had been speaking with Military Penal Justice director Puentes on the matter. The GOC believed this was a high priority and t [...] |
2005-12-05 22:19:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR MOPS PGOV PHUM SNAR CO |
| 05BOGOTA11357 | PLAN PATRIOTA PHASE 2B: STATUS REPORT [...] (C) President Uribe relieved Joint Task Force Omega (JTF-O) Commander General Fracica, who was in charge of carrying out Plan Patriota's Phase 2B in Southeastern Colombia, because he had failed to produce concrete results against high value targets (HVTs), Uribe's top security objective. Frac [...] |
2005-12-07 19:08:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KJUS PGOV PREL PTER MOPS FARC CO |
| 05BOGOTA11435 | ELN-GOC TALKS HAVE SOME CHANCE OF SUCCESS [...] (C) Summary: The meeting between the GOC and the ELN in Cuba next week is the first formal encounter between them in almost four years and should be considered a breakthrough, but few are optimistic success will come easily. The talks will be exploratory with an open agenda, assisted by Norway [...] |
2005-12-09 22:21:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER CO |
| 05BOGOTA11459 | GUARANTORS BRIEF AMBASSADOR ON GOC-ELN TALKS IN [...] (C) The five "Casa de Paz" initiative guarantors told the Ambassador December 9 they are moderately optimistic about the upcoming GOC-ELN talks in Cuba but have no false illusions. The ELN pushed for December talks when the guarantors would have preferred to wait until late January to prepar [...] |
2005-12-12 17:23:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER CO ELN |
| 05BOGOTA11460 | URIBE'S CAMPAIGN TEAM PREPARES TO LEAVE [...] (C) President Uribe's comunications advisor Jaime Bermudez said December 7 that Uribe advisor Fabio Echeverri would run the president's reelection campaign. He would be joined by Bermudez, Uribe private secretary Alicia Arango, spokesperson Ricardo Galan (all of whom would have to leave thei [...] |
2005-12-12 17:29:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV CO |
| 05BOGOTA11461 | GUARANTORS BRIEF AMBASSADOR ON GOC-ELN TALKS IN [...] (C) The five "Casa de Paz" initiative guarantors told the Ambassador December 9 they are moderately optimistic about the upcoming GOC-ELN talks in Cuba but have no false illusions. The ELN pushed for December talks when the guarantors would have preferred to wait until late January to prepar [...] |
2005-12-12 17:49:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER CO ELN |
| 05BOGOTA1159 | AUC'S LA MOJANA BLOC DEMOBILIZES AND MANCUSO STEPS [...] (U) Summary: 110 members of the La Mojana Bloc of the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) demobilized on February 2. They received Reincorporation Program IDs, took a demographic survey, and renounced AUC membership. Six members faced active arrest warrants. The bloc was active in [...] |
2005-02-04 15:04:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PHUM KJUS CO OAS AUC |
| 05BOGOTA11611 | PRESIDENT URIBE ACCEPTS "INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION" [...] (C) President Uribe announced late on December 13 that the GOC has accepted an "international commission" (representatives from France, Switzerland, and Spain) suggestion to establish a 65 square mile "security zone" in the Valle del Cauca to conduct hostage exchange talks with the FARC. The [...] |
2005-12-14 19:44:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER CO FARC |
| 05BOGOTA11615 | COLOMBIA'S REACTION TO U.S.-PERU FTA [...] Summary: GOC policy makers are putting a positive public spin on Peru's decision to sign a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the U.S. on December 7. With the Peru agreement, Colombia now has a clear understanding of the way forward to completion of its own FTA. Critics are suggesting the GOC [...] |
2005-12-14 21:00:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD ECON CO FTA |
| 05BOGOTA11620 | TEXT OF PRESIDENT URIBE AND PEACE COMMISSIONER [...] (U) President Alvaro Uribe Velez and Peace Commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo made the following statements at a press conference at the Presidential Palace on December 13, 2005, regarding the decision by the GOC to accept the international commission's proposal to create a 65 square mile "secur [...] |
2005-12-14 23:33:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL PTER CO FARC |
| 05BOGOTA11686 | DIPLOMATIC NOTE REGARDING GOC RESPONSE TO ORLANDO [...] (C) On December 12, 2005, the Ministry of Foreign Relations sent a diplomatic note to the Embassy regarding a November 22 meeting between Ambassador Wood and Foreign Minister Carolina Barco on the subject of murdered Afro-Colombian leader Orlando Valencia (copy faxed to WHA/AND). As reported [...] |
2005-12-16 12:07:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PTER CO |
| 05BOGOTA11700 | REGULATING MEDIA COVERAGE OF THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN [...] (SBU) Summary: On November 27, President Uribe announced his intention to run for reelection. Uribe's 90-minute radio interview on November 29 caused debate, as National Electoral Council (CNE) head Guillermo Mejia questioned equality of access for opposition candidates. A separate CNE magi [...] |
2005-12-16 20:13:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV KPAO CO |
| 05BOGOTA11742 | AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES PARAMILITARY ISSUES WITH [...] (C) Summary: On December 15, Ambassador hosted a breakfast for Senator Rafael Pardo, Liberal Party presidential nomination candidate, and prominent critic of the GOC on paramilitary (AUC) demobilization and the Justice and Peace Law. Pardo criticized the law as weak on justice, reparations, [...] |
2005-12-19 19:14:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KJUS PTER SNAR CO |
| 05BOGOTA11743 | SFRC STAFFER MEACHAM DISCUSSES DRUGS, [...] (C) SFRC staffer Carl Meacham discussed GOC counternarcotics efforts, paramilitary demobilization, extradition, and Venezuela with senior GOC figures during his December 11-14 visit to Bogota. (Meacham's meeting with President Alvaro Uribe is reported reftel.) Inspector General Edgardo Maya [...] |
2005-12-19 19:25:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER SNAR KCRM CO |
| 05BOGOTA11783 | ICRC REP ON INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION PROPOSAL FOR [...] (C) RefCoord met with International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Head of Delegation Juan Pedro Schaerer December 19. Schaerer (protect) expressed disappointment that the GoC immediately made public its acceptance of an international commission's plan on December 13 (see reftel) to conduc [...] |
2005-12-20 15:08:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PINS CO FARC |
| 05BOGOTA11786 | COLOMBIAN CERD CANDIDATE PASTOR ELIAS MURILLO [...] Post provides the following additional information about Pastor Elias Murillo Martinez, Colombian candidate for the Committee on Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD). 2. The Embassy, particularly the Public Affairs Section (PAS), has collaborated with Pastor Murillo on several cultur [...] |
2005-12-20 16:00:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | AORC PREL PHUM CO |
| 05BOGOTA118 | COLOMBIA: 2004 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT [...] (U) Embassy Bogota's contribution to the 2004 Patterns of Global Terrorism report follows. Responses are keyed to questions in reftel's paragraph 15. Embassy POC is Poloff Dana Brown, (phone) 571-315-2129, unclass email browndml@state.gov. 2. (SBU) (A) SUPPORT FOR THE GLOBAL COALITION AGA [...] |
2005-01-05 22:16:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PTER ASEC PBTS CO |
| 05BOGOTA11814 | DAS DIRECTOR PENATE MAY RESIGN OVER URIBE REPROACH [...] (C) On December 20, Departamento Administrativo de Seguridad (DAS) Director Andres Penate told polcouns that he was upset with President Uribe for excoriating him in public after he tried to correct the record regarding Venezuelan allegations that GOC military officials were working with forme [...] |
2005-12-20 22:51:00 | Embassy Bogota | SECRET | MOPS PINR PREL CO |
| 05BOGOTA11816 | AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES PARAMILITARY INFLUENCE, [...] (C) On December 17, Minister of Interior and Justice Sabas Pretelt and Prosecutor General Mario Iguaran met with the Ambassador to discuss the Ambassador's December 16 speech in which he urged that Justice and Peace law benefits be withdrawn from paramilitaries who interfered with a free and f [...] |
2005-12-21 15:12:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KJUS PGOV PREL PTER CO |
| 05BOGOTA11850 | 2006 HAGUE COMPLIANCE REVIEW -- COLOMBIA [...] Per reftel, paragraph 4, Bogota proposes the following text for use in compiling the next Hague Compliance Report on Colombia. The proposed language reflects significantly improved work on behalf of the Colombian executive and legislative branches on Hague issues, but continuing and serious [...] |
2005-12-21 22:19:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | CASC KOCI CO |
| 05BOGOTA11862 | ICRC CHIEF REVEALS FARC AND ELN CONTACTS ON POLICE [...] (C) International Committee of the Red Cros (ICRC) Colombia Head of Delegation Juan Pedro Schaerer said December 21 the FARC and ELN had called him the previous day to make arrangements to transfer 29 police hostages to ICRC custody. The army located the hostages before the ICRC could finalize [...] |
2005-12-22 16:59:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER SNAR CO |
| 05BOGOTA11901 | COLOMBIA: SECTION 1377 TELECOM TRADE AGREEMENTS [...] (SBU) Summary. Avantel, a U.S. affiliated telecommunications company in Colombia, continues to assert that Colombia has not been in compliance with its telecommunications trade agreements. According to Avantel, Colombia has not offered complete and fair access to and use of public telecommu [...] |
2005-12-23 15:12:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON ECPS ETRD CO |
| 05BOGOTA11926 | GOC-ELN TALKS: CIVIL SOCIETY GUARANTOR PROVIDES [...] (C) One of the five civil society guarantors for the GOC-ELN talks, Moritz Akerman, said December 26 the ELN wanted to end its insurgency and run candidates for mayoral offices in 2007. The ELN would like to participate in the 2006 Congressional and presidential polls but only by "consulting [...] |
2005-12-27 19:00:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER CO ELN |
| 05BOGOTA11952 | DUTCH MANUAL ERADICATION AND ALTERNATIVE [...] (SBU) According to the Dutch Embassy in Bogota, the Kingdom of the Netherlands is increasing its support to manual eradication and alternative development projects in Colombia's National Parks. The two new programs listed below will be started in CY2006: A. "Forced Manual Eradication o [...] |
2005-12-28 18:56:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR CO |
| 05BOGOTA11959 | MINI-DUBLIN GROUP MEETING HIGHLIGHTS [...] (SBU) Summary: On December 14, 2005, representatives from various European countries and the U.S. met to review the Group's annual report on Colombia and to solicit additional information from member countries. The report's main point is that eradication and interdiction numbers for Colombia [...] |
2005-12-28 21:04:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR PREL CO EC |
| 05BOGOTA11995 | MULTILATERAL STRATEGY ON AERIAL ERADICATION NEAR [...] (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 6. -------- Summary ------- 2. (C) The Government of Ecuador (GOE) has proposed a UN study on the alleged negative health effects associated with the Government of Colombia's (GOC) aerial spraying of glyphosate near Ecuador's northe [...] |
2005-12-29 18:30:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | SNAR PREL CO EC OAS UN |
| 05BOGOTA12022 | FARC ATTACK KILLS 29; MILITARY CONCEDES ERRORS [...] (C) The FARC killed 29 Colombian soldiers from the counter-guerrilla 12th Mobile Brigade in a December 27 attack about 105 miles south of Bogota, one of the highest casualty figures in a single attack during President Uribe's term. Colombian intelligence officials suggest the 12th Mobile Brig [...] |
2005-12-30 16:07:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PTER MARR CO |
| 05BOGOTA12023 | SPANISH CHARGE SAYS SPAIN OPPOSED TO MOVING ELN [...] (C) On December 29, Spain's Charge d'affaires in Bogota said it was not prepared to support moving GOC-ELN talks from Cuba to Europe and predicted the talks would have little substantive result before the May 2006 presidential elections. He said Norway and Switzerland, who are "accompanying [...] |
2005-12-30 16:17:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PREL PGOV CO |
| 05BOGOTA12024 | SPANISH CHARGE SAYS SPAIN OPPOSED TO MOVING ELN [...] (C) On December 29, Spain's Charge d'affaires in Bogota said it was not prepared to support moving GOC-ELN talks from Cuba to Europe and predicted the talks would have little substantive result before the May 2006 presidential elections. He said Norway and Switzerland, who are "accompanying [...] |
2005-12-30 16:34:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PREL PGOV CO |
| 05BOGOTA12031 | PEACE COMMISSIONER RECAPS YEAR-END STATUS WITH [...] (C) On December 28, the Ambassador reviewed all peace processes with Colombian Peace Commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo. Regarding the ELN, Restrepo told the Ambassador that he had successfully resisted ELN pressure -- abetted by the French and especially the Norwegian facilitators -- to move [...] |
2005-12-30 19:11:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KJUS PGOV PREL PTER CO |
| 05BOGOTA1296 | PRESIDENT URIBE MEETS WITH USAID ADMINISTRATOR [...] (C) SUMMARY: President Uribe expressed his gratitude for U.S. support of Colombia during his February 3 meeting with USAID Administrator Natsios, before the opening of the International Donors Conference on Colombia in Cartagena. In a wide ranging discussion, Uribe reviewed outstanding human [...] |
2005-02-09 18:41:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM PINR EAID CO |
| 05BOGOTA1297 | AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH UNODC DIRECTOR [...] (SBU) On February 3, Ambassador met with Antonio Maria Costa, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and local UNODC representative Ambassador Sandro Calvani on the margins of the international cooperation meeting in Cartagena. Ambassador expressed concern [...] |
2005-02-09 19:02:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | SNAR PTER PREL PINR CO |
| 05BOGOTA1306 | URIBE OPENS CARTAGENA COORDINATION AND [...] Summary: On February 3 in Cartagena, President Uribe addressed representatives of 28 nations and multilateral organizations (still termed the G-24) at the day-long International Coordination and Cooperation Conference for Colombia. Uribe stated that Colombia is not in conflict, but rather a [...] |
2005-02-09 21:53:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL EAID PTER KJUS CO |
| 05BOGOTA1397 | NAS Monthly Report January 2005: [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: In January, Colombian National Police (CNP) sprayed 15,723 hectares of coca and finalized plans for a large manual poppy eradication campaign to start in February in Narino. A Colombian Army helicopter carrying sixteen Counter-Narcotics (CD) Brigade soldiers and four crewmembers [...] |
2005-02-14 18:04:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR EFIN KCRM PTER CO |
| 05BOGOTA1457 | INPUT FOR S TESTIMONY ON COLOMBIAN DEMOBILIZATION [...] No summary [...] |
2005-02-15 19:23:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PGOV CO |
| 05BOGOTA1604 | PLAN COLOMBIA IMPLEMENTATION ROUND-UP, JANUARY, [...] (U) The following is an update of Plan Colombia-related activities reported during January, 2005. ---------- DOJ/ICITAP ---------- 2. (U) From January 25-28, the DOJ International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program (ICITAP) and U.S. Secret Service (USSS) presented a Fina [...] |
2005-02-18 19:48:00 | Embassy Bogota | SECRET | PREL PGOV SNAR MASS PREF EAID KJUS CO |
| 05BOGOTA162 | 2004 COUNTER-TERRORISM WRAP-UP [...] (C) In spite of limited air mobility and ground support/fixed wing aircraft and the challenge of supporting some 17,000 troops of Plan Patriota operating in hostile jungle, the security forces made great advances in 2004, re-taking 11 FARC-run villages and destroying over 400 FARC camps. Else [...] |
2005-01-06 20:25:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER SNAR PHUM ASEC CO |
| 05BOGOTA164 | CHEVRONTEXACO'S OUTLOOK ON COLOMBIA [...] (SBU) Summary. On December 22, Ambassador Wood met with ChevronTexaco's Chairman of the Board, David O'Reilly, and other ChevronTexaco executives to discuss oil and gas related issues in Colombia. O'Reilly was pleased with the relationship between Colombia and ChevronTexaco, and said his co [...] |
2005-01-06 20:28:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EPET ECON EINV CO |
| 05BOGOTA1660 | DEMOBILIZATION LAWS: COMPETING DRAFTS IN SPECIAL [...] (C) On February 9, the GOC formally presented to Congress its version of a law that would impose alternative sentences on members of illegal armed groups accused of serious crimes who demobilize and comply with specific conditions. A group of Colombian legislators led by Senator Rafael Pardo f [...] |
2005-02-18 22:35:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KJUS PHUM PTER PINR PGOV CO |
| 05BOGOTA1696 | SO FAR SO GOOD: BOGOTA MAYOR GARZON'S FIRST YEAR [...] (U) Bogota's left-of-center mayor, Luis Eduardo ("Lucho") Garzon, has avoided controversy and generally refrained from speaking out on national issues, particularly public security. Garzon has drawn relatively little criticism for his administration's management of the city, although his gove [...] |
2005-02-23 11:58:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV ECON CO |
| 05BOGOTA1705 | MILITARY JUSTICE TAKES FIRST STEPS TOWARDS REFORM [...] Summary: Director of Military Justice Brigadier General Puentes has proposed a two-phase reform strategy to present to Congress in March and July of this year. While the plan does not establish an independent body outside of the Ministry of Defense, it does attempt to overcome recurring compl [...] |
2005-02-23 13:26:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KJUS PHUM MOPS CO |
| 05BOGOTA1706 | PEACE COMMISSIONER'S CONCERNS ABOUT DEMOBILIZATION [...] (C) Summary: On February 17, President Uribe rejected Peace Commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo's offer to resign and authorized him to suggest changes to the GOC's draft demobilization law. Restrepo explained to the Ambassador that he fears the current GOC draft law would discourage demobiliza [...] |
2005-02-23 13:30:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PHUM KJUS PREL PGOV CO |
| 05BOGOTA1728 | U/S GROSSMAN MEETS WITH HUMAN RIGHTS NGOS [...] February 14, 2005, 4:00-5:00 p.m., Ambassador's residence, Bogota 2. Participants: ---- U.S. ---- Marc Grossman, U/S for Political Affairs Ambassador William B. Wood Jeffrey DeLaurentis, Political Counselor Baxter Hunt, P Special Assistant Kiersten Stiansen, notetaker Nohemy Katta [...] |
2005-02-23 18:59:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PREL PTER PINR KJUS EAID CO |
| 05BOGOTA1735 | U/S GROSSMAN AND SENATOR PARDO DISCUSS LEGAL [...] (C) Summary: On February 14, visiting U/S Grossman and Ambassador discussed the status of draft demobilization legislation with Senator Rafael Pardo. U/S Grossman expressed the U.S. desire that any legislation be transparent, workable, and put the paramilitaries out of business. Pardo worr [...] |
2005-02-23 19:53:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KJUS PTER CO |
| 05BOGOTA174 | FACILITATING GOC MEETING WITH UN HIGH COMMISSIONER [...] (U) This is an action request. Please see paras 7 and 8. 2. (C) Summary: Relations between the GOC and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Bogota, in particular with the approach of director Michael Fruhling, remain strained. Per ref a, the GOC views the OHCHR office he [...] |
2005-01-06 21:31:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL CO UNSC |
| 05BOGOTA1750 | UNDER SECRETARY GROSSMAN MEETS FOREIGN MINISTER [...] (C) SUMMARY. Foreign Minister Carolina Barco told U/S Grossman on February 14 that the GOC was satisfied with the international donors conference in Cartagena, in particular with USAID Administrator's speech and the NGO declaration. The latter would be a solid foundation on which to deepen GOC [...] |
2005-02-24 12:11:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL CO |
| 05BOGOTA1768 | PROCEDURAL ISSUES AND LEGAL QUESTIONS SURROUNDING [...] (SBU) Summary: Congress is gearing up to debate demobilization legislation in a special session convened by the GOC. In a meeting with U/S Grossman on February 14 (septel), President Uribe said the earliest possible resolution of the law would be mid-June. Our senior Congressional interloc [...] |
2005-02-24 15:26:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV KJUS PTER CO AUC |
| 05BOGOTA1775 | ELN PEACE TALK'S ADVANCES AND RETREATS [...] (C): Mexican facilitator for the peace process with the National Liberation Army (ELN) Andres Valencia met with the Ambassador on February 18 to report on progress this year. Although January saw positive commitments by both the ELN and GOC on negotiation pre-requisites (ref a), the process stalle [...] |
2005-02-24 16:09:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV PREL PTER CO MX ELN |
| 05BOGOTA1918 | MASSACRE OF 13 PERSONS IN URABA AREA [...] (C) On February 24, Embassy received reports that eight persons, including three members of the peace community of Apartado, had been killed, dismembered, and buried in two separate graves in the Uraba region of Antioquia Department. The Government of Colombia immediately sent members of the F [...] |
2005-03-01 17:45:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PTER CO |
| 05BOGOTA1928 | TAMPA AIRLINES REVISITED [...] (C) As stated previously in Reftel A, Post again has no objection to Ex-Im Bank's financing of a Boeing 767-300F cargo aircraft for Tampa Airlines based on currently available information. A noteworthy change in the last two months has been the involvement of Tampa Airlines' security offices [...] |
2005-03-01 20:01:00 | Embassy Bogota | SECRET | EAIR CO |
| 05BOGOTA1929 | GOC FIRES LEAD IPR NEGOTIATOR FOR THE FTA [...] (SBU) On February 24 Commerce Minister Botero and FTA chief negotiator Gomez announced that the GOC removed Colombia's lead intellectual property negotiator, Luis Angel Madrid. Javier Gamboa, Madrid's deputy, will now lead the Colombian IP team. Botero and Gomez fired Madrid after findin [...] |
2005-03-01 20:07:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ETRD KIPR CO FTA |
| 05BOGOTA1999 | PEACE COMMUNITY COMMISSION FINDS NO THIRD MASSACRE [...] (U) On March 1, local representatives from the Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR) told Embassy that no third massacre site had been found, as had been previously reported (reftel). Two separate commissions, each made up of members of the peace community, went to the towns of Las Nieves and La [...] |
2005-03-02 20:51:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PTER CO |
| 05BOGOTA2001 | COLOMBIA: SECTION 1377 TELECOM TRADE AGREEMENTS [...] Per reftel, Econoff met with appropriate Colombian government authorities, including the GOC's Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (CRT), and provides the following responses to complaints about excessive mobile to mobile termination rates, excessive fixed to mobile termination rates, an [...] |
2005-03-02 21:18:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD ECON ECPS CO |
| 05BOGOTA2011 | FARC REPEATS EXCHANGE TERMS AND ATTACKS [...] (C) On February 25, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) released a communique reiterating its interest in a humanitarian exchange of prisoners with the GOC. Such an exchange, according to the FARC leadership, would have to include Simon Trinidad (extradited to the U.S. in Decem [...] |
2005-03-03 13:46:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | CASC PGOV PHUM CO |
| 05BOGOTA2052 | COMBINED COLOMBIAN POLICE AND ARMY AVIATION [...] (SBU) Summary: Colombian Army (COLAR) helicopters recently supported a Colombian National Police (CNP) airmobile assault on cocaine hydrochlide (HCL) processing laboratories. The eight-day operation was notable not only for its operational results - three laboratories were destroyed and nearl [...] |
2005-03-03 19:16:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR MOPS MASS CO |
| 05BOGOTA2156 | REINSERTED GUERRILLA CLAIMS FARC RESPONSIBLE FOR [...] (S/NF) On March 2, Embassy officials met with reinserted FARC guerrilla member, Elkin Dario Tuberquia (strictly protect), and 17th Battalion Commander Lt. Colonel Nestor Duque Lopez. Tuberquia alleged that the FARC was responsible for the killings of the eight individuals as the three men, in [...] |
2005-03-04 21:49:00 | Embassy Bogota | SECRET//NOFORN | PHUM PTER CO |
| 05BOGOTA221 | COLOMBIA'S ECONOMY IN 2004 LOOKED STRONG, BUT... [...] (C) Summary: While the Colombian economy posted positive results in 2004, the sustainability of such performance is still in question. On the macroeconomic side, growth reached almost 4 percent; IMF targets for the budget deficit, inflation, and reserves were either met or exceeded; publi [...] |
2005-01-07 21:29:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ETRD EINV EAGR PGOV CO |
| 05BOGOTA2216 | LIBERAL PARTY LEADER ON PLANS FOR 2006 ELECTORAL [...] (SBU) Senator Juan Fernando Cristo, the President of the Officialist Liberal Party (PLC), told us that his party's planning for the 2006 electoral season is still in the early stages. Cristo believed that a nationwide party primary would be the vehicle to select its presidential nominee. He [...] |
2005-03-07 22:52:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV CO |
| 05BOGOTA2217 | TWO MAJOR LEFT PARTIES LIKELY TO FORM ELECTORAL [...] (C) In recent meetings with poloffs, Senators Samuel Moreno and Carlos Gaviria, heads of leftist parties Independent Democratic Pole (PDI) and Democratic Alternative (AD, Alternativa Democratica), respectively, confirmed the conclusion of negotiations to form an electoral alliance for 2006 Co [...] |
2005-03-07 23:02:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV CO |
| 05BOGOTA224 | TELECOMMUNICATIONS, THE FTA, AND THE NEED FOR [...] (C) Summary. While the telecommunications chapter in the Andean Free Trade Agreement (FTA) should conclude at the next round, Colombia will be unable to fully enjoy the benefits of the chapter without either privatization or joint ventures as well as more autonomy for the Colombian Regulator [...] |
2005-01-07 21:29:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ECPS CO FTA |
| 05BOGOTA2266 | COLOMBIA'S FIFTH ANNUAL ANTI-TRAFFICKING IN [...] (U) Embassy point of contact on trafficking in persons is human rights officer Kiersten Stiansen, phone number (571) 383-2122, fax number (571) 315-2163. Officer spent 55 hours preparing report. 2. (U) Responses are keyed to questions as noted in paragraphs 18-21 of reftel. --------- [...] |
2005-03-09 13:27:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KCRM PHUM KWMN SMIG KFRD ASEC PREF ELAB CO |
| 05BOGOTA2304 | OCCIDENTAL PETROLEUM: REDUCTION IN OIL EXPORTS DUE [...] (C) Summary: The Cano Limon pipeline has been hit eight times this year, generating losses of over USD 25 million (more than the losses in 2004). The area attacked has also changed, with half the attacks in the Catatumbo region of Norte de Santander Department, where repairs are more diffic [...] |
2005-03-09 22:08:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | ENRG EPET MCAP MOPS CO |
| 05BOGOTA2306 | GOC PRESENTS NEW DEMOBILIZATION LAW [...] (C) The GOC submitted to Congress on March 4, its revised Law for Justice and Peace, based on input from Peace Commissioner Restrepo, the Deputy Prosecutor General, "Uribista" congressmen, and others. Formal debate began in the Senate and House First Committees on March 8. The draft Law for [...] |
2005-03-09 22:12:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PHUM KJUS PREL CO |
| 05BOGOTA2348 | PBI REPRESENTATIVES CONFIRM PEACE COMMUNITY WILL [...] (C) On March 4, Embassy officials met with local representatives of Peace Brigades International (PBI), who described their visit to the massacre site of eight civilians in the Uraba region of Antioquia Department and confirmed that the "peace community" to which the victims belong will not co [...] |
2005-03-10 22:06:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PTER CO |
| 05BOGOTA2367 | COLOMBIAN TRADE MINISTER DISCUSSES NEXT STEPS IN [...] (C) Summary. During a March 9 meeting with the Ambassador, Trade Minister Botero and FTA chief negotiator Gomez emphasized the GOC's need to close FTA negotiations by June and the commitment of the Colombian negotiating team to do so. Botero and Gomez also expressed their desire to advance [...] |
2005-03-11 19:07:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD ECON EAGR ECPS EINV KIPR CO FTA |
| 05BOGOTA2505 | NAS MONTHLY REPORT FEBRUARY 2005 [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: The spray program eradicated 18,086 hectares of coca in February. Colombian Army (COLAR) and Colombian National Police Antinarcotics Directorate (DIRAN) units conducted joint interdiction operations (septel). Colombian Army Plan Colombia helicopters provided 1,993 hours of supp [...] |
2005-03-15 21:26:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | SNAR EFIN KCRM PTER CO |
| 05BOGOTA2526 | A CLOSER LOOK AT DEMOBILIZED AUC DEATHS [...] (C) Thirty-two out of 3,784 demobilized paramilitaries have been killed since the United Self Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) began demobilizing in 2004. This figure does not include the nineteen members of the Cacique Nutibara Bloc (BCN) killed in Medellin, whose demobilization was not held [...] |
2005-03-16 15:37:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PTER SNAR CO OAS |
| 05BOGOTA2555 | EMBASSY BRIEFS GOC ON USG EFFORTS ON TRAFFICKING [...] On March 11, Consul General, Fraud Unit Chief, and Political Officer briefed Government of Colombia (GOC) officials and representatives from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) on U.S. efforts to combat trafficking in persons. This was the fourth briefing IOM has organized betw [...] |
2005-03-17 17:43:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM KWMN KJUS KFRD CO |
| 05BOGOTA2561 | REGIONAL COLOMBIAN LIQUOR MONOPOLIES TARGET EACH [...] Summary. Emboffs made a recent visit to one of Colombia's regional "licoreras" to learn how these publicly held monopolies manufacture and distribute Colombia's favorite hard liquors, aguardiente (cane liquor) and rum. Emboffs also held a follow on meeting with the Executive Director of the N [...] |
2005-03-17 19:22:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON ETRD KIPR CO |
| 05BOGOTA2563 | Colombia's First Oral Trial [...] On March 11, the first trial under the new Criminal Procedure Code took place at "Paloquemao", the main local judicial district and courthouse in Bogota. A standing-room only crowd of about 60 people watched this historic event, including television and print media and the Deputy Prosecutor G [...] |
2005-03-17 19:24:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | KJUS KCRM SNAR PREL CO |
| 05BOGOTA2564 | UNHCHR RELEASES ITS 2004 HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT [...] (C) On March 11, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights released its 2004 human rights report on Colombia. The report once again characterized the human rights situation in Colombia as "critical," and noted an increased number of reports of State-sponsored extrajudicial killing [...] |
2005-03-17 19:25:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PINR PREL PGOV CO |
| 05BOGOTA2566 | AUC REJECTS LAW FOR JUSTICE AND PEACE [...] (C) The AUC publicly rejected the GOC's draft Law for Justice and Peace on March 15. They complained it did not provide genuine reinsertion benefits, generated too much legal uncertainty, should be a statutory law, and imposed unfair prison sentences. In response, the House and Senate first [...] |
2005-03-17 19:41:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER KJUS PHUM CO AUC |
| 05BOGOTA2577 | COLOMBIA'S CANDIDACY FOR UN SECURITY COUNCIL [...] No summary [...] |
2005-03-17 20:59:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL OPDC CO UNSC UNGA |
| 05BOGOTA2582 | LIVELY DEBATE UNDERWAY ON DEMOBILIZATION [...] (C) Summary: The week of March 8 saw heated public debate over important aspects of demobilization legislation. The three principal issues that captured attention were: (A) whether the GOC's bill could complicate the extradition of paramilitaries on drug trafficking charges; (B) the desirabil [...] |
2005-03-17 21:24:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KJUS PTER CO |
| 05BOGOTA2619 | AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH PEACE COMMUNITY ABOUT URABA [...] (C) On March 16, Ambassador met with representatives of the peace community of San Jose de Apartado, who reiterated their statements that the February 21-22 massacre of eight civilians in the area was the work of the Army's 17th Brigade. Ambassador expressed condolences to the community and r [...] |
2005-03-18 20:14:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PTER CO |
| 05BOGOTA2634 | UPDATED INPUT FOR ICRAS PROCESS [...] Summary: The 2005 ICRAS draft contains out of date information on the political, economic, and security situation in Colombia. Below, post provides an accurate update for input to the ICRAS process. End Summary. 2. Expected Payments Performance Overview: In 2003, the economy grew at 3. [...] |
2005-03-22 12:05:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | BEXP ECON EFIN CO |
| 05BOGOTA2649 | CONGRESS PASSES 29 ARTICLES IN DEMOBILIZATION LAW [...] (C) Before pausing for holy week, Congress passed 29 out of 67 articles in the draft Law for Justice and Peace. Disagreement over controversial issues, including confession, alleged extradition loopholes, and reduction of jail sentences for all prisoners remain unresolved. The GOC will propos [...] |
2005-03-22 18:31:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER KJUS PINR PREL PHUM CO |
| 05BOGOTA2650 | UNHCHR FRUHLING DISCUSSES HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT WITH [...] (C) On March 18, Michael Fruhling, Director of the Colombia Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR) briefed the diplomatic community on his recently released report on the human rights situation in Colombia. Fruhling gave a brief overview of the report and rec [...] |
2005-03-22 18:35:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PINR PREL CO |
| 05BOGOTA2674 | GOC OFFICIALS DISCUSS URABA MASSACRE CASE [...] (C) During her March 6-9 visit to Bogota, WHA/AND Director Lisa Bobbie Schreiber Hughes (LBSH) met with Vice-President Francisco Santos and Elba Beatriz Silva, Director of the Fiscalia's Human Rights Unit, to discuss the need to show progress in resolving outstanding human rights cases, as well [...] |
2005-03-22 21:19:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PTER CO |
| 05BOGOTA2728 | COLOMBIA: COCA CULTIVATION ESTIMATES [...] (SBU) Summary: The geographic expanse of Colombia, adverse meteorological conditions, relocation of cultivation to non-traditional growing areas, and the lag between the capture of overhead imagery and analysis combine to frustrate the estimation of coca cultivation in Colombia. Estimates prov [...] |
2005-03-23 21:44:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR KCRM PTER CO |
| 05BOGOTA2773 | COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR DEMINING PAV [...] Country clearance is granted for Allan Schnabel, John Jordan, Stephen Meyer, and Harry McCloy to travel to Bogota April 4-8 2005. Purpose of the visit is to assess the humanitarian demining situation in Colombia. Travelers are requested to advise control officer ASAP if visit is canceled or [...] |
2005-03-29 14:35:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | AMGT ASEC OTRA CO |
| 05BOGOTA2853 | INITIAL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW ACCUSATORY [...] ON JANUARY 1, COLOMBIA INTRODUCED ITS NEW CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CODE IN THE JUDICIAL DISTRICTS OF BOGOTA, ARMENIA, MANIZALES, AND PEREIRA. OTHER JUDICIAL DISTRICTS WILL MAKE THE TRANSITION TO THE NEW SYSTEM OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS. THE NEW CODE IMPLEMENTS AN ACCUSATORIAL JUSTICE SYSTEM SIMILAR [...] |
2005-03-30 18:10:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | KJUS KCRM PGOV CO |
| 05BOGOTA2854 | DUTCH-FUNDED COLOMBIAN ANTI-IMPUNITY PROJECT [...] (U) For the past six years, the Government of the Netherlands (GON) has supported GOC efforts to investigate and prosecute high-profile human rights cases. In June 2003, the GON agreed to donate 340,000 USD to finance a two-year Anti-Impunity Project focused on resolving prominent cases and d [...] |
2005-03-30 18:38:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KJUS CO |
| 05BOGOTA3040 | GOC "READY" TO SPRAY IN PARKS [...] (SBU) GOC Minister of Defense Jorge Alberto Uribe Echavarria informed the Ambassador on March 29 that the Government of Colombia is ready to initiate aerial eradication operations in Colombia's national parks and natural reserves. Spraying in the parks has been a particularly contentious coun [...] |
2005-04-04 17:53:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | SNAR KCRM PTER CO |
| 05BOGOTA3041 | AIR BRIDGE DENIAL: FEBRUARY 2005 PROGRAM UPDATE [...] (U) Summary: Following is the February 2005 Air Bridge Denial (ABD) activity report required by ref A. There were 5167 tracks noted, of which 16 were declared Unidentified, Assumed Suspect (UAS) Tracks, with one Phase III event/Law Enforcement End Game where an aircraft was destroyed and 600 [...] |
2005-04-04 20:10:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR PREL MOPS MASS PGOV CO |
| 05BOGOTA3052 | THE VOLUNTARY PRINCIPLES PROCESS IN COLOMBIA [...] Summary. On March 29, Vice President Santos hosted a meeting on the Voluntary Principles (VPs) process in Colombia. Present at the meeting were the Ambassador, members of the National Committee on Voluntary Principles, and representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Presidenci [...] |
2005-04-04 20:47:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ENRG ETRD PHUM PREL CO |
| 05BOGOTA3076 | COLOMBIA: CIVAIR'S RESPONSE TO TECHNICAL [...] Sensitive but unclassified. Please protect accordingly. 2. (U) Summary. Per ref A, post delivered talking points to Colonel Montealegre, acting director for Aeronautica Civil (CAA), and Carlos Salazar, CAA's Chief of Air Transport. The meeting focused on Avianca's waiver request to the [...] |
2005-04-05 17:39:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | EAIR CO |
| 05BOGOTA3217 | SCENESETTER FOR CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF [...] (C) With USG assistance, Colombian President Alvaro Uribe has made great strides in fighting drug trafficking and terrorism. A nation-wide, multi-phased offensive by the security forces has re-taken key territory from the FARC. The peace process with the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia [...] |
2005-04-07 17:21:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL SNAR PTER KJUS PHUM CO |
| 05BOGOTA3223 | DEMOBILIZATION LAW: THREE CONTROVERSIAL ARTICLES [...] (U) Summary: The Senate and House First Committees have voted on 63 out 67 articles (reftel). Several contentious articles -- to block drug traffickers from benefiting; to call for, but not require, an open statement on crimes and illicit assets by each beneficiary; to allow individual desert [...] |
2005-04-07 18:06:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER KJUS PINR PGOV PHUM CO |
| 05BOGOTA3224 | COLOMBIA OFFICE OF UNHCHR RELEASES HELPFUL [...] (U) On March 22, 2005, the Colombia office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR) issued a constructive statement on its website regarding the February 21 massacre of eight civilians in the Uraba region of Antioquia Department, including three members of the peace co [...] |
2005-04-07 19:21:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PTER CO |
| 05BOGOTA3235 | MILITARY JUSTICE REFORM MOVES FORWARD [...] (U) This is an action request. See para 8. 2. (C) Summary: Director of Military Penal Justice (MPJ) Brigadier General Luis Fernando Puentes told Emboff on March 16 that the "shock" reform package (reftel) would be submitted to Congress this week. In preparation for the rollout, Puentes an [...] |
2005-04-07 20:00:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | KJUS MOPS PHUM CO |
| 05BOGOTA3248 | AMBASSADOR COMMENTS ON DEMOBILIZATION LAW [...] (U) On April 7, the Ambassador was quoted in Colombia's leading daily newspaper El Tiempo about the Law for Justice and Peace. He said, "the Law for Peace and Justice is a matter for the Colombian Congress to decide. As we have said in the past, it is crucial that the Congress adopt a law qu [...] |
2005-04-07 20:52:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PTER SNAR KJUS PREL CO |
| 05BOGOTA3286 | PLAN COLOMBIA IMPLEMENTATION ROUND-UP, MARCH, 2005 [...] (U) The following is an update of Plan Colombia activities reported during March, 2005. ------- DOJ/DEA ------- 2. (SBU) To date US $11.3 million has been invested in the purchase of hardware, software, monitoring suites, the vetting process and maintenance for Operation Esperanza, Col [...] |
2005-04-08 19:30:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV SNAR MASS PREF EAID KJUS CO |
| 05BOGOTA335 | PLAN COLOMBIA/COLOMBIAN ARMY BLACKHAWK GOES DOWN IN [...] AT APPROXIMATELY 0020 ON JANUARY 13, A PLAN COLOMBIA/COLOMBIAN ARMY UH-60 BLACKHAWK HELICOPTER WITH 20 TROOPS CRASHED DUE TO BAD WEATHER APPROXIMATELY 36 MILES NORTHEAST OF TUMACO IN THE DEPARTMENT OF NARINO, ON COLOMBIA'S PACIFIC COAST. THERE WERE NO SURVIVORS. 2. THE HELICOPTER WAS CARRYI [...] |
2005-01-13 20:14:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | SNAR PTER MOPS CO |
| 05BOGOTA3361 | INTERNATIONAL DELEGATION VISITS SAN JOSE DE [...] No summary [...] |
2005-04-12 13:10:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PTER CO |
| 05BOGOTA3390 | VOA Delegation Strengthens Relations in Colombia [...] (U) SUMMARY: In a visit to Colombia March 15-16, Broadcast Board Governor (BBG) Blanquita Cullum, Voice of America (VOA) Director David Jackson, and VOA Director for Latin America Richard Araujo met with leading Colombian broadcast journalists and news directors to discuss VOA programming and [...] |
2005-04-12 17:41:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR KPAO OPRC PREL SNAR PGOV CO |
| 05BOGOTA3422 | ZAPATERO VISIT AFFIRMS SUPPORT FOR URIBE [...] (SBU) Summary: Spanish President Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero's March 31 visit to Bogota, as well as his participation in a March 29 four-party summit in Venezuela, produced positive results diplomatically for the GOC. Zapatero pledged support on the critical issues of terrorism and trade and [...] |
2005-04-13 14:23:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PTER PREL PGOV PINR CO |
| 05BOGOTA3438 | AUC CRITICIZES DEMOBILIZATION LAW AGAIN [...] (C) Several paramilitary commanders gave a press conference on April 10 to say they did not approve of the draft Law for Justice and Peace because it did not provide enough legal guarantees. They said they would break off talks if forced to do so. They did not directly threaten to end negoti [...] |
2005-04-13 20:07:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | KJUS PTER SNAR PHUM CO |
| 05BOGOTA3523 | EUROPEAN EMBASSIES UNHAPPY WITH CHR CHAIR [...] (C) Dutch Ambassador Frans B.A.M. van Haren told Ambassador on April 13 that he and other European chiefs of mission in Bogota were unhappy with the chair statement on Colombia, currently being negotiated between Luxembourg and Colombia at the CHR. van Haren, who serves as EU president here i [...] |
2005-04-14 17:31:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM CO |
| 05BOGOTA3528 | AVIANCA WANTS TO LOWER TRAVEL AGENT COMMISSION [...] Sensitive but unclassified. Business proprietary information--please protect accordingly. 2. (U) Summary. On April 5, econcouns and econoff met with Avianca's president, Fabio Villegas. According to Villegas, Avianca's new management supports efforts to lower travel agent commission ra [...] |
2005-04-14 19:20:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | EAIR CO |
| 05BOGOTA3555 | DEMOBILIZATION LAW APPROVED IN COMMITTEE [...] (C) On April 12, the Senate and House First Committees finished voting on the Law for Justice and Peace, including on the three most controversial articles (reftel). The changes made to the text provide added safeguards for our ability to extradite drug traffickers. Article 2 on the scope of [...] |
2005-04-14 22:57:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PTER KJUS PINR PGOV PHUM CO |
| 05BOGOTA3636 | APIAY DRUG SMUGGLING INCIDENT [...] (C) SUMMARY: On March 28 cocaine was discovered on a military aircraft arriving at Fort Bliss, Texas from Colombia. After initial investigation three soldiers were detained and returned to the US. Investigation is ongoing. End Summary. 2. (C) On March 28, 2005 law enforcement authoriti [...] |
2005-04-18 14:28:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR PREL SNAR CO |
| 05BOGOTA3691 | COUNTER DRUG BRIGADE SUCCESSES IN NARINO [...] (U) Summary: Counter Drug (CD) Brigade operations in Narino Department from January to March destroyed 13 HCL labs, captured over 1500 kgs of cocaine HCL and over 5000 kgs of explosives. The 1st and 2nd battalions of the Plan Colombia-supported CD Brigade have been conducting ongoing operatio [...] |
2005-04-19 18:04:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR PTER MOPS CO |
| 05BOGOTA3695 | SCENESETTER FOR CODEL BURTON'S VISIT TO COLOMBIA [...] (SBU) Post welcomes CODEL Burton's visit to Colombia. With USG assistance, Colombian President Alvaro Uribe has made great strides in fighting drug trafficking and terrorism. A nation-wide, multi-phased offensive by the security forces has re-taken key territory from the FARC. The peace proce [...] |
2005-04-19 18:50:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL CO CODEL |
| 05BOGOTA37 | COLOMBIA'S REACTION TO SINGLE MEMBER VETO AND ITU [...] Post delivered reftel demarche on December 21, 2004. On January 3, MFA Coordinator for U.S., Canada, and the Summit for Americas, Francisco Gonzalez, agreed with the Ministry of Communications' official reaction to reftel demarche. The Ministry of Communications' official reply states that [...] |
2005-01-04 16:34:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | AORC ECPS ECON CO |
| 05BOGOTA371 | PRESIDENT URIBE OFFERS REWARD FOR HOSTAGES AND [...] (U) President Uribe addressed the nation from Serrania del Chiribiquete, Guaviare Department, on New Year's Eve highlighting his plans for 2005, including initiating a bounty hunter price against two FARC leaders, and a reward for the release of 63 hostages. Uribe recognized the efforts of th [...] |
2005-01-14 16:43:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | CASC PREL CO FARC |
| 05BOGOTA3719 | DEMARCHE DELIVERED: COMMUNITY OF DEMOCRACIES [...] No summary [...] |
2005-04-19 20:17:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL KDEM CO |
| 05BOGOTA3726 | PEACE PROCESS WITH ELN STALLS [...] (C) On April 15, the Ambassador met with Mexican facilitator for the peace process with the National Liberation Army (ELN) Andres Valencia and Mexican Ambassador Chacon. Valencia said the peace process remained stalled due to the ELN's unwillingness to renounce kidnapping during talks. Neverthele [...] |
2005-04-19 20:39:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PTER PREL CO MX ELN |
| 05BOGOTA3747 | SCENESETTER FOR THE SECRETARY'S VISIT TO COLOMBIA [...] (C) President Uribe and the embassy welcome the visit of Secretary of State Rice with enthusiasm. Current hot topics SIPDIS include: --U.S. support in out years --Demobilization and reinsertion of almost 5,000 paramilitary terrorists and several thousand more expected --Extradition [...] |
2005-04-19 21:38:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL CO |
| 05BOGOTA382 | COLOMBIA: OVERVIEW OF MAJOR POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS [...] (C) Summary: Although the Uribe Administration can boast important victories in 2004, including Congressional approval of presidential reelection legislation and the introduction of an accusatory criminal justice system, President Uribe's popularity -- which never fell below 65 percent all year [...] |
2005-01-14 19:13:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM CO |
| 05BOGOTA3827 | AMBASSADOR'S COMMENTS TO THE AMERICAN BUSINESS [...] (U) On April 14, the Ambassador gave the following informal comment to the American Business Council of Colombia. 2. (SBU) Text: I asked Jaime for an opportunity to speak to you today because I believe something important is happening right now that affects all of Colombia, including the [...] |
2005-04-21 20:25:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PTER PHUM KJUS ECON ETRD CO |
| 05BOGOTA3842 | DECLINING OFFICIALIST LIBERAL PARTY LIKELY TO PIN [...] (C) Summary: The Officialist Liberal Party (PLC), Colombia's largest and oldest, has been declining nationally. Several dozen Congressional "dissident" Liberals are set to leave the party and formalize a new political movement, likely to be called Apertura Liberal (Liberal Opening), which p [...] |
2005-04-21 21:30:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR CO |
| 05BOGOTA3843 | FISCALIA CONTINUES ITS INVESTIGATION INTO URABA [...] (C) On April 18, Poloffs met with Fiscalia Human Rights Unit prosecutor Nelson Casas, who is leading the investigation into the February 21 massacre in Uraba of eight individuals, including three members of the peace community of San Jose de Apartado. Casas told Poloffs that investigators hav [...] |
2005-04-21 22:11:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PTER CO |
| 05BOGOTA3863 | COLOMBIA COPES WITH CHAVEZ [...] (S) This cable responds to Ref A taskings regarding Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's activities and Colombian responses. 2. (S) Summary: Border incidents, Venezuela's harboring of the FARC and ELN FTOs, and a potential arms race have done much to mobilize opinion leaders against Chavez. [...] |
2005-04-22 15:47:00 | Embassy Bogota | SECRET | PREL PTER MARR MASS VE CO PGOV |
| 05BOGOTA3914 | SWIFT RESPONSE REPELS FARC ATTACK ON TORIBIO, CAUCA [...] Summary: GOC forces repelled an attack by 300-400 members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) on the town of Toribio, Cauca Department. The early morning attack on April 14 was repelled initially by the 82-man Municipal Police detachment that had been armed and equipped with [...] |
2005-04-25 18:01:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | SNAR PTER MOPS CO FARC |
| 05BOGOTA3925 | MILITARY JUSTICE EXONERATES SOLDIERS INVOLVED IN [...] (U) On April 16, the Supreme Military Tribunal, an appellate court for all service-related crimes, exonerated members of the Army involved in an operation the night of March 19, 2004, near the village of Guaitarilla, Narino Department. The operation resulted in a friendly-fire incident that l [...] |
2005-04-25 21:12:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM MARR CO |
| 05BOGOTA3926 | MININSTER PRETELT DISCUSSES ASSET FORFEITURE, [...] (C) On April 20, Minister of Interior and Justice Sabas Pretelt requested a meeting with the Ambassador to discuss: (1) GOC frustration with U.S. delays in responding to a request for a percentage of assets seized from Colombian drug traffickers by the U.S; (2) paramilitary commanders' complai [...] |
2005-04-25 21:12:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER KJUS PREL PINR PGOV CO |
| 05BOGOTA3927 | UPDATE ON DEMOBILIZATION/REINSERTION PROCESS [...] (C) Since 2003, almost 5,000 members of the United Self Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) have demobilized. The last demobilization was the La Mojana Bloc on February 2, 2005. The GOC has begun to remedy the deficiencies in the reinsertion process. Almost 90 percent of demobilized paramilitar [...] |
2005-04-25 21:12:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PHUM ECON SNAR CO OAS |
| 05BOGOTA3928 | GENERAL MYERS MEETS WITH MOD AND HIGH COMMAND [...] (U) April 10, 2005, Ambassador's residence, Bogota. 2. (U) Participants: U.S. ---- Ambassador William B. Wood Gen Richard Myers, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) Mr. Milton K. Drucker (DCM) COL William G. Graves (Defense Attach) COL Simeon Trombitas (Military Assistance [...] |
2005-04-25 21:12:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER ASEC MOPS PREL CO |
| 05BOGOTA3929 | SENATE HEARING ON VENEZUELAN ARMS PURCHASES: [...] (U) Summary: On April 19, the Senate Second Committee (Defense, Foreign Relations, Trade, and Borders) conducted a public hearing on Venezuelan arms purchases (reftel details the purchases). Foreign Minister Barco and Minister of Defense Uribe were called to testify. Committee Chair Ramiro [...] |
2005-04-25 21:12:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PTER MASS VE CO PBTS |
| 05BOGOTA3937 | GENERAL MYERS MEETS WITH GENERAL OSPINA [...] (U) April 10, 2005, National Administrative Center (CAN), Bogota 2. (U) Participants: U.S. ---- General Richard B. Myers, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) Ambassador William B. Wood US Defense Attach, Colonel William Graves Military Group Commander, Colonel Sim [...] |
2005-04-25 22:03:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | ASEC PTER MOPS PREL CO |
| 05BOGOTA4050 | SCENESETTER FOR UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR [...] (C) The GOC and embassy welcome Under Secretary Feith's visit with enthusiasm. The Bilateral Working Group (BWG) will hold defense policy discussions on policy, modernization, and narcoterrorism. Colombia faces a four front war -- narcos, FARC, ELN, paramilitaries -- and a growing concern ab [...] |
2005-04-28 21:34:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MOPS ASEC PTER PHUM ECON CO |
| 05BOGOTA41 | PLAN COLOMBIA IMPLEMENTATION ROUND-UP, DECEMBER, [...] (U) The following is an update of Plan Colombia-related activities reported during December, 2004. ---------- DOJ/ICITAP ---------- 2. (U) On December 21, 2004, twenty-one judicial police investigators and forensic experts graduated from the 240-hour Forensic Linguistic Course taken at [...] |
2005-01-04 17:41:00 | Embassy Bogota | SECRET | PREL PGOV SNAR MASS PREF EAID KJUS CO |
| 05BOGOTA4101 | FUMIGATION IS WORKING: COM'S RESPONSE IN POLITICAL [...] (U) The Chief of Mission responded to press articles challenging the success of eradication efforts in Colombia, and calling for a change in policy in an article published by leading political weekly Cambio on its April 11-18 issue. 2. (U) BEGIN ARTICLE: "There has been a lot of discussi [...] |
2005-04-29 15:41:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR KPAO OPRC PREL SNAR PGOV PTER SENV CO |
| 05BOGOTA4131 | MOD MEMO ON VENEZUELAN ARMS PURCHASE [...] (C) A week after the Senate Second Committee conducted a public hearing on Venezuelan arms purchases (reftel), an undated memo from the Colombian Defense Ministry responding to congressional inquiries on Venezuelan arms purchases was leaked to the press. The secret memorandum was addressed to [...] |
2005-04-29 22:11:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | ASEC PTER MOPS PREL CO |
| 05BOGOTA4141 | CODEL BURTON MEETS WITH DEFENSE MINISTER AND NAVY [...] (C) CODEL Burton was briefed by Defense Minister Jorge Uribe and Naval Operations Commander Vice Admiral Guillermo Barrera on April 23. Uribe said President Uribe's Democratic Security Strategy was designed to combat drug trafficking and terrorism and provided statistics on growing amounts of [...] |
2005-05-02 15:27:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PREL SNAR PHUM CO OVIP |
| 05BOGOTA4146 | CODEL BURTON MEETING WITH PRESIDENT URIBE [...] (C) Summary: During a working lunch with CODEL Burton, President Uribe discussed the successes his government has achieved in security, economics, and the fight against narco-terrorists. He outlined broad, short-term goals in support of his current policies related to demobilization, drug e [...] |
2005-05-02 17:11:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV SNAR ETRD CO |
| 05BOGOTA4167 | MEDELLIN'S REINSERTION PROGRAM [...] (C) In December 2003, 874 members of the Cacique Nutibara Bloc (BCN) demobilized in Medellin. Since that time, the Mayor of Medellin's office has been implementing a reinsertion program that has provided education and unpaid employment for almost the entire bloc. Community outreach and psych [...] |
2005-05-02 21:45:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PHUM SNAR KJUS CO AUC |
| 05BOGOTA4204 | GOC URGES SECRETARY RICE TO LIFT TRAVEL ADVISORY [...] (U) On April 27, Commerce Minister Jorge Humberto Botero gave Secretary Rice a document explaining why the USG should lift the travel advisory for parts of Colombia (faxed to WHA/AND). The paper asserted that the travel advisory does not take into account decreases in murder and kidnapping and [...] |
2005-05-03 16:29:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PTER PREL PINS ASEC CO |
| 05BOGOTA4232 | CONTROLLED DELIVERY OF TWO KILOGRAMS OF HEROIN [...] (SBU) PRIOR TO APRIL, 2005, SAULO SALINAS-OSPINA HAD APPROACHED CONFIDENTIAL SOURCE 00-099625 (CS) WITH THE PROSPECT OF THE CS TRANSPORTING HEROIN FROM CALI, COLOMBIA TO CHICAGO, IL. 2. (SBU) ON APRIL 6, 2005, THE CS TELEPHONED SALINAS. SALINAS TOLD THE CS HE WANTED THE CS TO COME TO CALI [...] |
2005-05-03 21:38:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | SNAR CO |
| 05BOGOTA4301 | ILEA LATIN AMERICA FOR TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS [...] No summary [...] |
2005-05-05 18:06:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | SNAR ASEC ELAB KCRM KWMN EC CO |
| 05BOGOTA4303 | DEMARCHE DELIVERED: OAS WORKING GROUP ON RACISM [...] No summary [...] |
2005-05-05 20:29:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM AORC CO USOAS |
| 05BOGOTA431 | FISCALIA CLOSES CHENGUE MASSACRE CASE AGAINST [...] (C) The Fiscalia announced it has closed its criminal case against retired Rear Admiral Rodrigo Quinonez for his alleged complicity in the January 2001 paramilitary massacre at Chengue. The head of the Fiscalia's Human Rights Unit told Embassy officials that Quinonez's case was handled by a s [...] |
2005-01-18 18:51:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PTER KJUS PINR CO |
| 05BOGOTA4339 | GOC DELEGATION TO OAS GENERAL ASSEMBLY [...] FM Carolina Barco will lead the GOC delegation to the OAS General Assembly in Ft. Lauderdale. Other senior members will include Deputy FM Camilo Reyes and OAS Ambassador Alvaro Tirado. 2. Embassy Bogota lead POC is poloff Tom Keene (alternate: Brian Walch). WOOD [...] |
2005-05-06 20:42:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL AORC CO OAS |
| 05BOGOTA4342 | FY 2007 COUNTER NARCOTICS AND ANTICRIME ASSISTANCE BUDGET - (REVISED COPY - SEE USAID SECTION - PROMOTE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC PROGRESS) [...] No summary [...] |
2005-05-06 21:32:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ABUD CO PREL SNAR MASS |
| 05BOGOTA4360 | UNDER SECRETARY FEITH MEETS WITH PRESIDENT URIBE [...] (C) On May 3, 2005 Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Douglas Feith discussed Colombia's democratic security strategy and concerns about Venezuela with President Alvaro Uribe. Uribe described U.S. assistance as critical to counterterror and counterdrug successes. Feith assured Uribe that [...] |
2005-05-10 14:59:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PHUM PREL MOPS ASEC SNAR CO |
| 05BOGOTA4397 | AMBASSADOR TELLS TRADE MINISTER COLOMBIA NEEDS TO [...] No summary [...] |
2005-05-11 18:13:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD ECON EAGR KIPR CO |
| 05BOGOTA4466 | COLOMBIA: PEACE COMMISSIONER DISCUSSES PROCESS [...] (C) In a May 10 conversation with the Ambassador, Peace Commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo was pessimistic about re-starting a peace process with the ELN. He expressed concern that Cuba and the other "group of friends" countries continued to communicate with the ELN without GOC authorization, [...] |
2005-05-12 22:43:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PREL KJUS CO PHUH ELN |
| 05BOGOTA4467 | OVERVIEW OF COLOMBIAN FEDERAL ELECTORAL ISSUES [...] (U) Summary: This is the first in a series of cables on elections for Congress and President that will take place in March and May, 2006, respectively. The President is elected by nationwide vote. Much like the U.S., House seats are allocated to each department based on population, but the [...] |
2005-05-12 22:47:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV KJUS CO |
| 05BOGOTA4482 | OHCHR DELEGATION VISITS SARAVENA, ARAUCA [...] (U) On April 20, 2005, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) based in Colombia led an international delegation to Saravena in Arauca Department to meet with government officials, NGOs, the military, and religious groups on human rights issues. Local NGOs [...] |
2005-05-13 16:19:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PHUM PTER CO |
| 05BOGOTA4534 | U.S. SOLDIERS DETAINED IN MELGAR [...] (SBU) This is a summary account of events related to the discovery of U.S. manufacture munitions in a private apartment in Carmen de Apicala, Tolima Department. Although Post has attempted to make this cable accurate, there are still many facts surrounding this incident not yet known. Therefo [...] |
2005-05-13 21:32:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | ASEC PTER MOPS PREL CO |
| 05BOGOTA4541 | PEACE COMMISSIONER DISCUSSES AUC DEMOBILIZATION [...] (C) On May 10, Peace Commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo discussed with the Ambassador his plans to adopt a divide and conquer strategy to demobilize the rest of the AUC. He explained that the GOC would push for two key points in the Justice and Peace law being considered in Congress: (1) that [...] |
2005-05-13 21:58:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER KJUS PHUM PREL SNAR CO AUC |
| 05BOGOTA4563 | COLOMBIAN IMPUNITY PROJECT SUCCESSES [...] (U) The following is a response to ref A requesting additional information on the Dutch-funded Anti-Impunity Project. The Project continues to achieve notable successes, including bringing high-profile human rights cases to conclusion. The Project strengthens Government efforts to tackle co [...] |
2005-05-16 16:48:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM KJUS CO |
| 05BOGOTA4569 | PROPOSED REMINGTON SALE TO INDUMIL INTENDS [...] (U) Post closely examined the proposed sale of Remington munitions components to Industrias Militar (INDUMIL)(reftel). The components would be used for the production of 0.38 spl and 7.65 mm caliber ammunition. INDUMIL officials confirmed that this grade of ammunition is used only for self-de [...] |
2005-05-16 18:16:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ASEC PTER MOPS PREL CO ETRD |
| 05BOGOTA4570 | GENERAL CRADDOCK MEETS WITH PRESIDENT URIBE [...] (C) On May 11, President Alvaro Uribe discussed counterdrug strategy, guerrilla attacks in southern Colombia, the AUC peace process, and recent arrests of U.S. military personnel with SOUTHCOM Commander General Bantz Craddock. Uribe expressed concern that if the GOC did not significantly reduc [...] |
2005-05-16 18:25:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER ASEC PHUM KJUS SNAR CO |
| 05BOGOTA4571 | SERPA ON LIBERAL PARTY DYNAMICS AND UPCOMING [...] (C) Summary: Poloff met with two-time presidential candidate Horacio Serpa on May 11. Serpa is resisting the move by former President Cesar Gaviria to take over the Liberal Party (PLC), believing the party would need to form a center-left alliance to effectively challenge President Uribe in [...] |
2005-05-16 18:55:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR CO |
| 05BOGOTA4628 | BILATERAL WORKING GROUP JOINT STATEMENT [...] (U) On May 4 to 5, a U.S. delegation led by Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Douglas Feith held a SIPDIS Bilateral Working Group with Colombian military and government officials in Cartagena. During the conference, U/S Feith and Defense Minister Jorge Alberto Uribe signed a joint stat [...] |
2005-05-17 14:57:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ASEC PREL PTER MOPS CO |
| 05BOGOTA4640 | CONVICTION RATES AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM [...] Impunity is generally considered one of Colombia's most serious human rights problems. Defining and quantifying "impunity," however, is challenging. Several GOC entities have attempted to characterize impunity in ways that dismiss its severity. However, a careful analysis of the path a case [...] |
2005-05-17 17:45:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PHUM KJUS CO |
| 05BOGOTA4649 | COM'S RESPONSE TO EDITORIAL CHALLENGING AERIAL COCA [...] (U) In response to national leading daily El Tiempo's editorial May 16, "Not in the Parks," (Reftel) affirming that aerial eradication in national parks would lead to irreparable environmental and human damages, COM provided the following response published as a letter to the editor in the sa [...] |
2005-05-17 19:09:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR KPAO OPRC PREL SNAR PGOV CO |
| 05BOGOTA4806 | NAS Monthly Report April 2005: Aerial Eradication [...] (SBU) Summary: In April, the Colombian National Police (CNP) spray program eradicated 16,153 hectares of coca. The CNP destroyed 10 cocaine HCL labs and seized 10.5 metric tons of cocaine and coca base, and 94 kilos of heroin. U.S. and Plan Colombia assets assisted the police in heavy fighti [...] |
2005-05-19 22:54:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR SENV KCRM PTER CO |
| 05BOGOTA4808 | NGO ESTIMATES 10 PERCENT INCREASE IN NEW INTERNAL [...] (C) Summary. A respected Colombian NGO, the Consultancy for Human Rights and Displacement (CODHES) estimated that there were 61,996 new internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the first quarter of 2005, a 10 percent increase over the same period in 2004. CODHES attributed the rise to an incre [...] |
2005-05-20 12:57:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PGOV PHUM SOCI SNAR CO |
| 05BOGOTA4931 | MILITARY GRANT ASSISTANCE: LEGAL REQUIREMENTS [...] (U) Post delivered reftel amendment request to the Colombian government last year proposing to amend bilateral military grant assistance agreements. On April 20, the Colombian Foreign Ministry responded, accepting U.S. terms outlined in reftel. Acceptance brings US-Colombian grant assistance [...] |
2005-05-24 14:59:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | MASS MARR PGOV KTIA CO |
| 05BOGOTA4959 | INDIVIDUAL DESERTION PROGRAM CREATING CONCERN [...] (C) Over 7,000 deserters from the illegal armed groups have entered the GOC's reinsertion program since Uribe took office. The Ministry of Defense controls the first phase of reinsertion when deserters are debriefed for intelligence purposes and given basic humanitarian assistance. Intelligen [...] |
2005-05-24 20:12:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PTER SNAR KJUS PINR CO |
| 05BOGOTA4960 | COLOMBIAN ARMED FORCES CONTINUE TO PRESSURE [...] (C) According to government statistics, operations against self-defense groups have increased by 300 percent, and 9,804 paramilitaries have been captured and 1,125 killed during Uribe's term. In the first four months of 2005 alone, 4,231 have been captured and 1,060 killed. Press reports from [...] |
2005-05-24 20:20:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | ASEC PTER MOPS PREL CO |
| 05BOGOTA4961 | IDPS REPORT COLOMBIAN NGO COLLABORATING WITH THE [...] (C) On May 12-13, Human Rights Officer, Assistant Army Attache and British Embassy representative traveled to the highly conflictive Uraba region of northwestern Colombia. Internally displaced persons (IDPs) and business leaders reported that Justicia y Paz, a Colombian NGO working with commun [...] |
2005-05-24 20:22:00 | Embassy Bogota | SECRET | PHUM PTER CO FARC |
| 05BOGOTA4962 | COLOMBIA: UN HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS [...] (C) Summary: Louise Arbour, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, visited Colombia May 12-14 and briefed the diplomatic community mid-way through her trip, following meetings with senior GOC officials. Arbour and the GOC agreed to set a timetable by the end of June for the GOC to complete i [...] |
2005-05-24 20:32:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL CO UN |
| 05BOGOTA4973 | PEACE COMMUNITY CONTINUES PUBLIC RELATIONS OUTREACH [...] (U) Summary. NGO Redepaz organized a trip on May 5 for the international community to Apartado for meetings with the peace community, other NGOs and peace communities from other parts of the country. This was the second such visit to highlight peace community concerns over the February 21 ma [...] |
2005-05-24 21:32:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PTER CO |
| 05BOGOTA4998 | CONGRESS PREPARES TO DEBATE DEMOBILIZATION LAW [...] (U) Summary: Debate and article-by-article voting on the demobilization law is likely to begin the week of May 23 in the plenaries of both houses of Congress. The GOC sponsors have submitted a draft to Congress proposing several changes to what was passed in committee. Senator Rafael Pardo [...] |
2005-05-24 22:36:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KJUS PTER PGOV PHUM CO |
| 05BOGOTA5006 | MEDIA REACTION: ERADICATION [...] Op-ed in national daily El Tiempo (5/24) by environmentalist and priest Andres Hurtado entitled: "Colombia Needs to be Washed with Dirty Glypho-dirty," argues: "Besides poisoning the soil, glyphosate proves that the truth is modifiable and responds to power... Let us not lie to ourselves: g [...] |
2005-05-24 23:20:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR KPAO OPRC PREL SNAR PGOV CO |
| 05BOGOTA5017 | Details of Pension Reform Legislation [...] Background: Approximately 6.1 million Colombians receive some sort of public pension assistance. In 2003 COP 5.6 trillion (USD 2.4 billion) went towards the public pension system. In 2004 the number increased to COP 6.7 trillion (USD 2.9 billion). However, while GOC is forced to allocate m [...] |
2005-05-25 18:04:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV EFIN CO |
| 05BOGOTA5060 | PLAN COLOMBIA IMPLEMENTATION ROUND-UP, APRIL, 2005 [...] (U) The following is an update of Plan Colombia activities reported during April, 2005. -------- DOJ/JSRP -------- 2. (U) DOJ continued to provide training and technical assistance through the Justice Sector Reform Program (JSRP), in particular to develop the criminal justice sector dur [...] |
2005-05-25 22:32:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PGOV SNAR MASS PREF EAID KJUS CO |
| 05BOGOTA5083 | COUNTER DRUG BRIGADE OPERATION AGAINST DANIEL [...] (SBU) The 1st Battalion of the Plan Colombia supported Counter Drug Brigade (CD BDE) conducted operations in the department of Narino from January to May. On the last day of their deployment, May 5, the unit conducted an operation against the Colombian Revolutionary Front (FARC) Daniel Aldana [...] |
2005-05-26 17:58:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR PTER MOPS CO |
| 05BOGOTA5105 | COLOMBIAN INTER-FAITH MEETING FOR PEACE [...] (U) On May 19, heads of local religious groups met to launch a collective interfaith effort to help end the conflict in Colombia. The effort will include all major religious groups in the country. Part of the Interfaith Meeting for Peace, launched by His Holiness Pope John Paul II, has also [...] |
2005-05-27 12:02:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM CO PREL |
| 05BOGOTA5142 | FATHER ECHEVERRI DISCUSSES PEACE PROCESSES [...] (C) On May 26, poloffs met with Father Dario Echeverri (strictly protect), Secretary General of the National Conciliation Commission (CCN), which is authorized by the GOC to reach out to the illegal armed groups with the aim of starting peace talks. The CCN had met with the AUC negotiating te [...] |
2005-05-27 21:36:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PHUM PREL CO AUC |
| 05BOGOTA5143 | KIDNAPPED EU EMPLOYEE NOW FREE [...] (C) Summary: European Union (EU) Delegation employee Carlos Ayala reportedly escaped from captivity on May 23, crossed the border into Venezuela, and made contact with officials there. The next day, EU Delegation Chief in Bogota, Adrianus Koetsenruijter, fielded questions from local and inter [...] |
2005-05-27 21:43:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PBTS PTER CO VE EU |
| 05BOGOTA5167 | POST WELCOMES AUTHORIZATION TO SUPPORT [...] Post welcomes reftel and will use it as authorization to give support to specific aspects of the GOC's demobilization/reintegration program for former AUC members, including: (1) monitoring and evaluation, (2) Reference and Orientation Centers (CROs), and (3) judicial and inter-institutional [...] |
2005-05-31 15:15:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | EAID PTER PGOV PREL CO |
| 05BOGOTA5203 | DEPT OF ENERGY DEPUTY SECRETARY CLAY SELL [...] (C) Summary. The U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy, Clay Sell, met with President Uribe on May 20 during the Colombian Oil and Gas Investment Conference in Cartagena. President Uribe thanked the Deputy Secretary for U.S. support in fighting narcotrafficking and terrorism and asked him to rela [...] |
2005-05-31 19:23:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | SNAR ENRG PREL OVIP CO |
| 05BOGOTA5207 | PLAN PATRIOTA PHASE 2B UPDATE [...] (C) General Fracica took control of the Joint Task Force Omega (JTF-O), responsible for carrying out Plan Patriota's Phase 2B in Southeastern Colombia, in December 2004. Progress in the area of operations was slow in early 2005; changes by Fracica prompted some limited advancements but progres [...] |
2005-05-31 20:52:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER MOPS PREL CO FARC |
| 05BOGOTA5217 | THE FTA AGRICULTURAL NEGOTIATIONS AT THE CROSSROADS [...] (SBU) Summary. The GOC is now facing increasing opposition from the agricultural sector for the FTA as it becomes clearer that the agreement will negatively affect the interests of some groups. While these groups, interests are being challenged, potential winners are still not clearly iden [...] |
2005-05-31 21:28:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD EAGR CO FTA |
| 05BOGOTA5218 | LANDMINE CONCERT RAISES AWARENESS AND MONEY [...] (U) On May 23, the Vice President's office of Landmine Coordination (Observatorio de Minas) and the United Nations Fund for Children (UNICEF) co-sponsored a fund-raising concert to benefit the University Hospital Rehabilitation Center in Bucaramanga, Santander Department. The performance was [...] |
2005-05-31 21:49:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PREL KHDP CO |
| 05BOGOTA5222 | AGRICULTURE IN THE FTA RAPIDLY REACHING THE [...] (C) Unwillingness to provide a date for agricultural bilats and to exchange informal agricultural offers have brought the FTA negotiations to a crisis point here. The GOC is seriously considering dropping out of the upcoming Guayaquil FTA round (see septel). I recognize that we may not be [...] |
2005-05-31 22:25:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD EAGR CO FTA |
| 05BOGOTA5223 | MEDIA REACTION: FREE TRADE [...] Leading editorial in Medellin-based daily El Colombiano (5/31) entitled: "FTA Is A Priority," notes: "The negotiations on a free trade agreement with the U.S. are entering their final phase. We are starting to hear a few voices expressing a lack of enthusiasm due to an unhurried process, as [...] |
2005-05-31 22:35:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR KPAO OPRC PREL SNAR PGOV CO FTA |
| 05BOGOTA5272 | AMB WOOD MEETING WITH DUTCH HUMAN RIGHTS AMB PIET [...] (U) On May 13, the Ambassador discussed drug eradication efforts, demobilization and human rights with Dutch Ambassador At Large For Human Rights Piet de Klerk. AMB de Klerk acknowledged the need for international assistance to battle drugs, but asked if USG policies were making sufficient i [...] |
2005-06-01 21:05:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM CO |
| 05BOGOTA5276 | COLOMBIA WANTS TO JOIN IATTC - BUT WITH CONDITIONS [...] Summary: The GOC has decided to ratify the Convention on the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC), and will apply to join the Commission at the upcoming IATTC meeting in June. Colombia will ask the IATTC to grant certain conditions to "facilitate" Colombia's ratification of the [...] |
2005-06-01 21:22:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | EFIS SENV ETRD CO |
| 05BOGOTA5287 | COLOMBIA: GROUP OF FRIENDS FOR ELN PEACE PROCESS [...] (C) Summary. Norwegian charge Sigurd Endresen provided further details to polcouns about the December 2004 reactivation of the Group of Friends for the ELN peace process and deactivation four months later, as well as about Cuban efforts, via the group, to replace Mexico as facilitator. Endre [...] |
2005-06-01 21:54:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER CO ELN |
| 05BOGOTA5289 | COLOMBIA WILL SUPPORT PAOLO CAROZZA FOR THE [...] No summary [...] |
2005-06-02 13:24:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PHUM XM CO OAS |
| 05BOGOTA5301 | CY-2004 END USE MONITORING REPORT [...] (U) Summary: This End-Use Monitoring (EUM) Report summarizes support provided to the Colombian National Police (CNP), Colombian military (COLMIL) and other Government of Colombia agencies by the Narcotics Affairs Section (NAS) of Embassy Bogota during CY-2004. This support was provided unde [...] |
2005-06-02 21:44:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | SNAR CO |
| 05BOGOTA5305 | DEMOBILIZATION LAW: ARTICLE 61 AND 64 PASS [...] (SBU) On June 1, the Senate Second Committee and the House Third Committee approved re-inserting articles 61 and 64 into the text of the Justice and Peace Law, which could be debated in the full Congress as early as June 9. Article 61 allows all prisoners to be eligible to reduce their sentenc [...] |
2005-06-02 21:53:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PTER KJUS PHUM SNAR CO |
| 05BOGOTA5307 | AMBASSADOR VISITS OFFICE OF COLECTIVO DE ABOGADOS [...] On June 1, Ambassador visited the offices of local non-governmental organization, Lawyer's Collective ("Colectivo de Abogados"), to express USG support for the work of the Colectivo and of human rights defenders in Colombia. The Colectivo de Abogados "Jose Alvear Restrepo" is a NGO committed [...] |
2005-06-02 21:53:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PTER CO |
| 05BOGOTA5310 | DON BERNA TURNS HIMSELF IN [...] (C) Summary: Senior AUC commander Diego Murillo ("Don Berna") turned himself into authorities on May 27 and agreed to demobilize his several thousand paramilitaries. He is being held in a police-controlled confinement area in Cordoba Department, where he will be investigated and tried for the [...] |
2005-06-02 21:53:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER SNAR PHUM PREL KJUS CO AUC |
| 05BOGOTA5312 | ILO VOTE DEMARCHE [...] No summary [...] |
2005-06-02 21:53:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ELAB AORC CO PGOV |
| 05BOGOTA5395 | COLOMBIA: SA/LW NEGOTIATIONS ON MARKING AND TRACING [...] (C) Post delivered reftel demarche to MFA Disarmament Coordinator Diana Aguilar June 1. She said Colombia wants uniform standards for marking of weapons and ammunition, but would be flexible regarding a legally binding document. 2. (C) Trafficking in small arms and light weapons is a cruci [...] |
2005-06-03 22:09:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER CO MOPS |
| 05BOGOTA5497 | PRESIDENT URIBE AND COLOMBIA FACE UNCHARTERED [...] (C) For the first time in Colombian history, the sitting President is a potential candidate for re-election. The political landscape is new for the President, the Congress and the public. The script is being written as they go and the disquiet has been evident everywhere. Over the last few [...] |
2005-06-08 20:46:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL CO |
| 05BOGOTA5501 | SCENESETTER FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL ALBERTO R. [...] (U) Embassy warmly welcomes the visit of Attorney General Gonzales. The Colombian government is on our side on fighting terrorism, narcotics trafficking, and money laundering. The visit comes at an important time for our law enforcement and judicial efforts in Colombia. Embassy Bogota has t [...] |
2005-06-08 21:37:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON KCRM KJUS OVIP SNAR CO |
| 05BOGOTA5509 | PDI SELECTS ANTONIO NAVARRO AS PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE [...] (SBU) Summary: On June 2, the leftist Polo Democratico (PDI) selected former M-19 guerrilla and current Senator Antonio Navarro Wolff as its Presidential nominee at the party's national convention. Despite much-rumored tacit support of Bogota Mayor "Lucho" Garzon for second-place finisher S [...] |
2005-06-09 15:07:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR CO |
| 05BOGOTA5510 | FARC PROOF OF LIFE: MILITARY ATTACKS YIELD [...] (S/NF) Violence orchestrated by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) continues at increased levels in 2005 and aims to chip away at public support for President Uribe's tough stand against the guerrillas. The FARC's activities have not affected the COLMIL's military campaigns aga [...] |
2005-06-09 15:19:00 | Embassy Bogota | SECRET//NOFORN | MOPS PGOV PHUM PTER CO FARC |
| 05BOGOTA5564 | CUBA: NSC-DIRECTED REVIEW REGARDING SUSPENSION OF [...] (C) Concern over potential Cuban support for armed guerrilla groups affects Colombia's cautious Cuba policy. Cuban influence is assumed in the recently failed Mexican-brokered peace talks between the GOC and the National Liberation Army (ELN). Rumors of Cuban-sponsored campaign financing for [...] |
2005-06-10 13:17:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD ETTC PREL CO UN |
| 05BOGOTA5565 | CARTAGENA ENERGY CONFERENCE HUGE SUCCESS [...] Summary. Department of Energy Deputy Secretary Clay Sell and Assistant Secretary for International Policy Karen Harbert led a delegation to Cartagena May 19-22 to attend an oil and gas investment conference to promote foreign investment and participation in Colombia's energy sector, primaril [...] |
2005-06-10 13:27:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | SNAR ENRG PREL OVIP CO EINV |
| 05BOGOTA5566 | CODEL DAVIS: TERRORISM, DRUGS, FTA IN COLOMBIA [...] (U) Summary. Representative Tom Davis (R-VA), Chairman of the House Government Reform Committee, led a Congressional delegation to Colombia June 1 to June 3. Other Government Reform Committee members included Rep. Candice Miller (R-MI), Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD), and Rep. Carolyn Mal [...] |
2005-06-10 13:58:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ETRD OREP SNAR CO |
| 05BOGOTA5567 | DON BERNA'S BLOCS BEGIN DEMOBILIZING [...] (C) Summary: Following senior AUC commanders "Don Berna," Vicente Castano, and "Javier Montanez" agreement to demobilize at least six blocs, the GOC has been preparing by streamlining the concentration and demobilization process and reaching out to local officials in areas where the blocs domi [...] |
2005-06-10 15:38:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PHUM KJUS PGOV CO AUC |
| 05BOGOTA5569 | SUMMARY OF MAY 24-25 MEETING WITH COLOMBIA'S CIVIL [...] Summary. On May 24-25, officials from the Departments of State and Transportation (DOT) met with representatives from Colombia's Civil Aeronautics Special Administrative Unit and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bogota. The U.S. team raised travel agent commissions, internet fares, safety [...] |
2005-06-10 17:02:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | EAIR CO |
| 05BOGOTA5616 | ELN'S HEROES OF ANORI BLOC DEMOBILIZES [...] (U) Summary: Twenty-nine members of the National Liberation Army (ELN) in Antioquia surrendered to the Colombian Army's Fourth Brigade on June 1 and agreed to demobilize. The ""Heroes and Martyrs of Anori"" became the first ELN members to demobilize in a mass ceremony. Although the desertions wil [...] |
2005-06-13 15:12:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PTER PREL MOPS MX CO ELN |
| 05BOGOTA5619 | OBSERVATIONS REGARDING PARAMILITARY INFLUENCE OVER [...] (C) Summary: During the week of June 6, the press focused on the long-standing rumor that 30-35 percent of Congress is beholden to the paramilitaries. Our best and, in our estimation, "cleanest" Congressional interlocutors believe that figure is roughly on the mark. Overt support for the A [...] |
2005-06-13 16:53:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KJUS PHUM CO AUC |
| 05BOGOTA5657 | NAS Monthly Report May 2005: Aerial Eradication [...] (SBU) Summary: In May, the spray program eradicated 11,305 hectares of coca and 45 hectares of poppy. The Colombian National Police (CNP) and Colombian Navy accomplished the largest cocaine HCL fast boat seizure ever- over 15 metric tons. During May, the CNP seized over 18 metric tons of coc [...] |
2005-06-14 11:46:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR SENV KCRM PTER CO |
| 05BOGOTA5671 | LIBERALS SELECT GAVIRIA AS PARTY CHIEF; [...] (C) Summary: On June 11, the Liberal Party (PLC) national convention selected former President and OAS SyG Cesar Gaviria as its national party head. Gaviria denounced President Uribe for abandoning and attacking the PLC, wrongheaded policies (most notably an alleged failure to control the p [...] |
2005-06-14 18:41:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ECON PINR CO |
| 05BOGOTA5735 | AMERICAN MUSIC ABROAD [...] In response to Ref A, Bogota enthusiastically wishes to participate in the 2005 American Music Abroad program. In particular, we hope to receive a hip-hop group. We request four programming days at any time during the week other than Sunday. We would plan to take the group to two cities with [...] |
2005-06-15 20:26:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | OEXC SCUL KPAO CO |
| 05BOGOTA5752 | COLOMBIA: CODEL DAVIS MEETS WITH PRESIDENT URIBE [...] (C) Summary. CODEL Davis met with President Uribe on June 2 during a brief visit to Bogota (septel). CODEL Renzi, on a separate trip, also attended. Uribe thanked the group for U.S. support, outlined the improved security situation, and briefly described Venezuela's approach to the FARC. Uri [...] |
2005-06-16 16:07:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL CO PBTS CODEL |
| 05BOGOTA5753 | EMBASSY DELIVERS STERN MESSAGE TO GOC ON DON BERNA [...] (C) Summary. Charge delivered message to President Uribe on June 13 and Uribe advisers on June 14 that AUC commander Diego Murillo ("Don Berba") should not be released into the concentration zone for demobilized AUC leaders (as press reports were suggesting), should no longer participate in th [...] |
2005-06-16 16:07:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL PTER CO KJUS AUC |
| 05BOGOTA5762 | ATPDEA-RELATED INVESTMENT ACTIVITY DURING 2004 [...] (U) Below is Post's response to the U.S. International Trade Commission's request for information regarding Andean Trade Preferences and Drug Eradication Act (ATPDEA)-related investment in Colombia during 2004. 2. Over the past decade, ATPA/APTDEA has provided significant economic benefit [...] |
2005-06-16 18:10:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD OTRA ASEC CO |
| 05BOGOTA5794 | CIUDAD BOLIVAR VIOLENCE DECLINING [...] (SBU) Summary: "Ciudad Bolivar," a sector of underprivileged neighborhoods located in southeastern Bogota, has long been notorious for violence and disorder. In May, staffers from Mayor Garzon's office told Poloffs that the United Self Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) had infiltrated the area [...] |
2005-06-17 13:40:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ASEC PTER CO |
| 05BOGOTA5795 | PLAN COLOMBIA IMPLEMENTATION ROUND-UP, MAY, 2005 [...] (U) The following is an update of Plan Colombia activities reported during May, 2005. -------- DOJ/JSRP -------- 2. (U) DOJ continued to provide training and technical assistance through the Justice Sector Reform Program (JSRP). DOJ sponsored a three-week visit to the U.S. for 13 eviden [...] |
2005-06-17 13:56:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV SNAR MASS PREF EAID KJUS CO |
| 05BOGOTA5797 | "Don Berna" Stays in Detention: Extradition [...] (U) Summary. On Monday, June 13 the Office of the Attorney General (Fiscalia) determined that Diego Fernando Murillo Bejarano (a.k.a. "Don Berna") will remain in detention on the farm in Valencia (Cordoba Department). Don Berna will neither be moved to a civilian jail, nor served with any Col [...] |
2005-06-17 13:58:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KCRM PGOV PHUM PREL SNAR CO AUC |
| 05BOGOTA5802 | CLIPPED WINGS: COLOMBIA'S AIR ASSET LIMITS [...] (S) Colombia's size and terrain make military air operations vital to the nation's security. However, the Colombian Air Force (COLAF) accounts for less than 8 percent of the 2005 defense budget. The COLAF's primary offensive aircraft are based in Cundinamarca and Atlantico Departments, which [...] |
2005-06-17 18:02:00 | Embassy Bogota | SECRET//NOFORN | MARR MOPS PHUM SNAR CO ETRD |
| 05BOGOTA5880 | AIR BRIDGE DENIAL: MAY 2005 PROGRAM UPDATE [...] (U) This is the May, 2005, Air Bridge Denial (ABD) activity report required by reftel. There were no Phase I/II/III events during this period. 2. (SBU) In May, 2005, 3,011 tracks were noted over Colombia, of which 37 were declared Unknown, Assumed Suspect (UAS) aircraft. Five were eventua [...] |
2005-06-21 14:03:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SNAR PREL MOPS MASS PGOV CO |
| 05BOGOTA5888 | DRAFT AMENDMENT TO 2004 ANNEX: ACTION REQUEST [...] (U) As discussed Ref emails, following is the draft Amendment 1 to the 2004 Annex. This document, when signed, will obligate FY2005 INL funding for Colombia. Draft follows the model approved by the Department to obligate FY2003 funds. FY2004 funds were obligated by the 2004 Annex. Post w [...] |
2005-06-21 14:36:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | SNAR CO |
| 05BOGOTA5979 | DRUMMOND LTD. SITE VISIT - LA LOMA COAL MINING [...] Summary. In a recent visit related to the Cartagena Energy Conference (reported reftel), Department of Energy Deputy Secretary Clay Sell and the DCM conducted a site tour of one of the world,s largest surface coal mining operations in Cesar Department, northern Colombia. Mike Tracy, Preside [...] |
2005-06-23 14:35:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ENRG EMIN CO |
| 05BOGOTA5980 | AUC'S HEROES OF TOLOVA DEMOBILIZE [...] (U) Summary: Over 450 members of the "Heroes of Tolova Bloc of the United Self Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) demobilized on June 15. Both government and paramilitary speakers welcomed the move and encouraged demobilizing forces to return to a peaceful, civilian life. Diego Murillo ("Don B [...] |
2005-06-23 18:20:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PHUM KJUS CO OAS AUC |
| 05BOGOTA6013 | GOC LAYS GROUNDWORK FOR FURTHER DELAYS IN THE FTA [...] (C) Summary: Colombian Trade Minister Botero is preparing the domestic audience for further delays in the FTA. In public comments, Botero stated that the negotiations were at their darkest and later reversed the GOC,s long-standing public line by stating that he could not guarantee that th [...] |
2005-06-23 22:06:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD EAGR CO FTA |
| 05BOGOTA6056 | JUSTICE AND PEACE BECOMES LAW [...] (U) Summary: More than a year after the government introduced its first draft and after six months of intensive debate, the demobilization legislation commonly known as the "Justice and Peace" law was passed by the Senate and House plenaries on June 20 and 21, respectively, and the conference [...] |
2005-06-24 22:04:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV KJUS PHUM SNAR PTER CO |
| 05BOGOTA6057 | FOMER PRESIDENT CLINTON'S COMMENTS ON THE PEACE [...] (U) During former President Clinton's June 22 visit to Colombia, a reporter for national television network Caracol asked him if he supported the peace processes with the paramilitaries and the guerrilla groups. Clinton stated: "Of course, so long as they understand there will be zero toler [...] |
2005-06-24 22:05:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR KPAO OPRC PREL SNAR PGOV CO |
| 05BOGOTA6060 | CONGRESS PASSES PENSION REFORM [...] Summary: On June 20, the Colombian Congress sent pension reform legislation to President Uribe for his signature. The reform, which required a constitutional amendment, will save the GOC over USD 17 billion over the next 50 years. The Uribe administration originally proposed a reform packa [...] |
2005-06-24 22:10:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV EFIN CO |
| 05BOGOTA6089 | "COLOMBIA IS ON THE RIGHT PATH," FORMER PRESIDENT [...] (U) During a half-day visit to Colombia June 22, President Clinton expressed unequivocal support for President Uribe and his policies, as well as for the Colombian people. Speaking to a business and leadership forum (Expogestion) with an audience of over 2,000 people - including President Uri [...] |
2005-06-27 17:55:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR KPAO OPRC PREL SNAR PGOV CO |
| 05BOGOTA6141 | Proposed FY 2007 Demobilization Assistance [...] (U) Post has requested that a total of $476.753 million in FY2007 Andean Counterdrug Initiative funds be allocated for all Counter Narcotics and Anticrime Assistance programs (Ref A.) In view of the prospect that the GOC will negotiate the demobilization of large numbers of internal combatant [...] |
2005-06-28 19:36:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED | ABUD PREL EAID SNAR CO |
| 05BOGOTA6143 | HIGHLIGHTS OF CONGRESSIONAL SESSION [...] (C) Summary: Despite a slow start, Congress completed work on several major pieces of legislation, including the Justice and Peace Law (demobilization), pension reform, implementing legislation for presidential reelection and associated level-playing field guarantees, enhanced legal protecti [...] |
2005-06-28 20:56:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ECON KJUS CO |
| 05BOGOTA6208 | MASS GRAVE EXHUMATION UNCOVERS GROSS HUMAN RIGHTS [...] On June 22, the United Nations Human Rights Commissioner hosted an international delegation visit to Sucre Department. The group visited mass gravesites in San Onofre, met with victims' families and NGOs in Sincelejo, and spoke with local government and military officials about human rights c [...] |
2005-06-29 23:49:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PHUM PTER PGOV SNAR CO AUC |
| 05BOGOTA6222 | AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH ARCHBISHOP OF CALI [...] (C) Summary. During a trip to Cali on June 23-24, the Archbishop told the Ambassador that the Mayor's office was struggling with corruption l |