INDEPENDENT NEWS

Cablegate: Uribe On Paramilitary Demobilization

Published: Thu 5 Feb 2004 05:05 PM
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
id: 13754
date: 2/5/2004 17:15
refid: 04BOGOTA1198
origin: Embassy Bogota
classification: CONFIDENTIAL
destination: 04BOGOTA993
header:
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
----------------- header ends ----------------
C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 001198
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/05/2014
TAGS: PREL KJUS PTER SNAR PHUM CO
SUBJECT: URIBE ON PARAMILITARY DEMOBILIZATION
REF: BOGOTA 993
Classified By: DCM Milton Drucker, Reasons: 1.5 B & D.
1. (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
prosecution (e.g., jail or death on the battlefield).
Ambassador and DAS Peter DeShazo urged Uribe to neither lift
the arrest orders on top paramilitary leaders, including
Carlos Castano and Salvatore Mancuso of the AUC, nor attempt
to change extradition laws (see para 3 reftel). Uribe
stressed he would not modify extradition. Uribe added that
if demobilized paramilitaries were to be given a temporary
safe conduct in concentration zones they would need to be
engaged in social service type activities. Uribe noted that
since he took office (August 2002), 3908 paramilitaries had
been captured and an additional 435 had been killed.
2. (C) In a January 27 meeting with Ambassador and members
of the Core Group (reftel), Peace Commissioner Restrepo had
indicated that the GOC would not formally lift arrest
warrants for paramilitary leaders, but intended to allow them
freedom of movement in designated zones in order to
facilitate demobilization (and OAS observation efforts).
3. (C) Comment: Uribe is firm on his commitment not to
touch extradition in the event of a collective paramilitary
demobilization. We will continue to work with the Uribe
Administration to find a satisfactory way to deal with the
issue of AUC members who already have arrest warrants.
Additional items discussed in the February 4 meeting with
Uribe will be reported septel.
WOOD
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