INDEPENDENT NEWS

Cablegate: Year End Results of Auc Peace Process

Published: Tue 2 Nov 2004 06:31 PM
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BOGOTA 013216
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER PREL PHUM CO OAS AUC
SUBJECT: YEAR END RESULTS OF AUC PEACE PROCESS
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Summary
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1. (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 demobilizing
the rest of the AUC, facilitating its successful
participation in the government's reinsertion program, and
establishing a legal framework for those who are guilty of
serious crimes. End summary.
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Almost 3,000 Demobilized in 2004
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2. (U) In 2004, the GOC demobilized 2,627 members of the
United Self Defense Forces (AUC), including five separate
blocs and senior commander Salvatore Mancuso and bloc
commander Ever Veloza Garcia (alias Hernan Hernandez). The
OAS verification mission oversaw and inventoried the weapons
turned in to the GOC:
- November 25: 452 paramilitaries from the Bananero Bloc
turned in 245 rifles, 2 machine guns, 6 grenade launchers, 4
mortars, 4 semi-automatic machine guns, 2 carbines, 6 shot
guns, 38 pistols, 44 revolvers, 232 grenades, 1 flare gun,
41,016 bullets, 482 camouflage shirts, 439 camouflage pants,
147 travel supplies, 262 weapons carriers, 61 radios, 2 base
radios, and miscellaneous accessories.
- December 4: 47 paramilitaries from southern Magdalena
Department turned in 26 rifles, 3 semi-automatic machine
guns, 1 machine gun, 1 hand-made mortar, 6 pistols, 3
revolvers, 1 shot gun, and numerous rounds of ammunition,
grenades, and radios.
- December 9: 147 paramilitaries in Cundinamarca Department
turned in 104 rifles, 3 machine guns, 3 grenade launchers, 4
shot guns, 2 carbines, 18 pistols, 6 mortars, ammunition,
miscellaneous, radios, and explosives
- December 10: 1,425 paramilitaries from the Catatumbo Bloc
turned in 983 rifles and shotguns, 10 machine guns, 19
semi-automatic machine guns, 25 grenade launchers, 21
mortars, 47 pistols, and 15 revolvers, 556 hand grenades, 201
mortar grenades, 183 rifle grenades, 3 smoke grenades, 268
MGL grenades, numerous radios, and explosives
- December 18: 556 paramilitaries from the Calima Bloc turned
in 316 long arms, 62 short arms, 15 semi-automatic machine
guns, 14 pistols, 33 revolvers, 27 support weapons, 1,008
miscellaneous supplies, 2,500 chains, 83 hand grenades, 51
40mm grenades, 10 mortars, 2 rifle grenades, 51 radios,
uniforms, and travel supplies.
Total demobilized: 2,627
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2003: 1,000 Demobilized
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3. (U) The GOC held two small demobilizations in 2003. The
first, on November 25, involved 874 members of the AUC's
Cacique Nutibara Bloc in Medellin. Of the entire block, 17
have died, 34 are serving time in jail mostly for
non-pardonable crimes commited before demobilization, and the
government has lost track of four. The remaining 819 are
participating in the GOC's reinsertion program and being
tracked by the electronic monitoring and evaluation system.
Second, on December 7, 150 paramilitaries of the independent
Self Defense Forces of Ortega in Cauca Department
demobilized. They are not participating in the reinsertion
program, but instead the GOC is building roads in the region
and providing vocational training. These demobilizations
occured before the OAS agreed to verify the process. For
this reason, an inventory of weapons turned in is not
available.
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2005: A Bigger Challenge
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4. (U) The AUC agreed to demobilize its entire structure by
the end of 2005. The GOC has three important, costly tasks
to complete in 2005:
1. Demobilize the rest of the AUC: the AUC claims to have
20,000 members, and the GOC has based its budget needs on
this figure, which leaves approximately 16,000 paramilitaries
to be demobilized. Post estimates the AUC had between 12,000
and 15,000 before the demobilizations began, but paramilitary
family members and support networks will increase the number
to demobilize.
2. Reinsertion: paramilitaries who demobilize and are not
guilty of serious crimes join the GOC's reinsertion program,
which offers job training, basic humanitarian assistance, and
employment. The GOC is responsible for successfully moving
them through the program and turning them into productive
citizens. Otherwise, former paramilitaries are likely to
return to a criminal lifestyle.
3. Legal framework: the GOC needs to establish a legal
framework to hold accountable former paramilitaries guilty of
major crimes. It is considering calling an extraordinary
congressional session in February to debate the Law of
Justice and Reparations, which calls for -- among other
things -- mandatory jail time, confession, reparations to
victims, and cooperation with authorities.
WOOD
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