Cablegate: Ngos Share Concerns Over Justice and Peace Law And

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 010336

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINR PTER KJUS CO
SUBJECT: NGOS SHARE CONCERNS OVER JUSTICE AND PEACE LAW AND
TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS WITH WHA/AND DIRECTOR FRENCH

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SUMMARY
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1. (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 Law, while one NGO was cautiously optimistic. The NGOs
also addressed Plan Colombia, the Early Warning System, and
trafficking in persons issues. The meeting was cordial and
positive. End Summary

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NEITHER JUSTICE NOR PEACE, SAY SOME NGOS...
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2. (SBU) Gloria Florez of MINGA, Iris Marin Ortiz of Comision
Colombiano de Juristas, and Soraya Gutierrez of Colectivo de
Abogados criticized paramilitary demobilizations and the
Justice and Peace (J&P) law during an October 20 meeting with
visiting WHA/AND Director Philip French. Florez accused
demobilized paramilitaries of maintaining control over
municipal transportation and land ownership, and claimed they
exercised undue influence over elected representatives. She
singled out Cucuta, Catatumbo, Putumayo, Bolivar, and
Atlantico as Departments with worrisome paramilitary
influence. Ortiz questioned whether the J&P law could
effectively address impunity. Gutierrez expressed similar
concerns, arguing that the J&P law not only disenfranchises
the victims, but also that it "calls into question the very
definition of democracy in Colombia."

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...BUT OPINION NOT UNANIMOUS
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3. (SBU) Mario Gomez of Fundacion Restrepo Barco was more
supportive of the Uribe administration's implementation of
the J&P law, a position he has reiterated on a number of
occasions. However, Gomez said he was concerned about the
AUC's cease-fire violations.

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EARLY WARNING SYSTEM
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4. (SBU) Gomez said he supports the U.S.-funded Early Warning
System for potential human rights violations, but told French
that some of his NGO colleagues do not share this view.
According to Gomez, some NGOs believe that civilians should
not serve as informants because it would increase the risk
that they could become targets themselves. French questioned
this assertion, however, noting that the early warning system
was a legitimate way to involve civilians in preventing
massacres.

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FUMIGATION
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5. (SBU) Florez and Gutierrez criticized the fumigation
aspect of Plan Colombia, stating the policy has caused much
more harm to peasant workers and indigenous peoples than to
narcotraffickers. Florez claimed that a vicious cycle exists
whereby authorities spray and destroy cocoa plants, only to
have new crops planted shortly thereafter. She also claimed
that municipal and Departamental authorities do not agree
with the national government over the costs and benefits of
fumigation. Gutierrez called fumigation a failure, claiming
that only 13 Departments had cocoa plantations prior to Plan
Colombia fumigation in 2000, whereas 25 had them in 2005.
French defended the use of glyphosate, noting its widespread
use in the United States and in Latin America.

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TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS
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6. (SBU) Victoria Giraldo of Fundacion Esperanza explained
that while some progress is being made, daunting challenges
remain in combating trafficking in persons. She said her
group is providing training to Colombian diplomatic missions
in Europe to provide assistance to victims, as well as to
airport officials in Colombia in spotting travelers who fit a
victim profile. She also pointed out that ignorance is often
to be blamed in fueling the crisis, as many Colombians do not
know what a travel visa is or are too trusting of advertised
foreign marriages. In addition, many of the victims are
displaced persons from the armed conflict, which contributes
to their vulnerabilities. Giraldo praised the Government of
Japan for its increased cooperation in identifying Colombian
victims, as well as the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo for
facilitating their repatriation, but criticized the GOC for
not doing enough to prosecute the violators.

7. (U) WHA/AND Director French cleared this message.
WOOD

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