US embassy cable - 04BOGOTA3096

UNCLAS E F T O SECTION 01 OF 04 BOGOTA 003096 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR INL 
 
SENSITIVE/NOFORN 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: SNAR, PTER, PREL, XM 
SUBJECT: INL A/S Charles Visit to Colombia 
 
REF: BOGOTA 2806 
 
1.  (U) Sensitive But Unclassified.  Please handle accordingly. 
 
2.  (U) Summary:  The March 12-15 visit to Colombia by INL A/S 
Robert Charles combined field visits to NAS-supported counter- 
narcotics and law enforcement programs and briefings and meetings 
hosted by key GOC leaders.  In his conversations with GOC 
leadership, A/S Charles noted the GOC's recent accomplishments in 
pursuit of important counter-narcotics, counter-terrorism, rule of 
law, and human rights objectives.  A/S Charles took advantage of a 
one-hour meeting with President Uribe to raise the issue of aerial 
eradication in Colombia's national parks and protected areas and 
President Uribe flagged several topics he hoped to explore with 
high-level officials during his planned March 22-24 visit to 
Washington (see septel).  End summary. 
 
Colombian National Police Training 
---------------------------------- 
 
3.  (U) On March 13, Ambassador accompanied INL A/S Robert Charles 
on an inspection of Colombian National Police (CNP) training 
facilities in Espinal, Tolima Department.  Escorted by CNP 
commander Major General Jorge Daniel Castro and CNP Antinarcotics 
Directorate director Brigadier General Luis Alberto Gomez, A/S 
Charles observed field demonstrations by Jungla (CNP Special 
Forces) units and Carabineros (Mobile Rural Police).  A/S Charles 
was guest of honor at ceremonies marking the graduation of three 
Carabinero companies that had completed an intensive seven-week 
training program.  In a prepared address, A/S Charles noted the 
significant role played by CNP units in completing the process of 
reinserting public security forces in all of Colombia's 1098 
municipalities (reftel).  A/S Charles also cited the training 
provided to Jungla and Carabinero units by US Special Forces as an 
indication of the USG's commitment to supporting and sustaining an 
effective bilateral partnership in pursuit of common goals: the 
defeat of international terrorism and narcotics trafficking and 
the establishment of stability and rule of law throughout 
Colombia. 
 
4.  (U) A/S Charles and Ambassador had further opportunity to 
engage PNC leaders on counter-narcotics and interdiction 
strategies and operations conducted by CNP elements.  In an 
interview with leading TV network, Caracol, arranged by PAS, A/S 
Charles commented on the objectives and successes of the Air 
Bridge Denial program and the importance of addressing the issue 
of coca cultivation in national parks and protected areas in the 
context of the growing severity of the problem and the constraints 
applicable to eradication in these areas.  He highlighted the 
successes in the drug war under the Uribe administration and 
emphasized the damage being done to Colombia's environment by the 
cultivation and production of narcotics.  The interview ran on the 
evening news nationwide.  Other Colombian media also covered the 
visit and several articles ran in the press the following day, 
characterizing the purpose of visit as a review of US assistance 
to Colombia.  In addition to the Ambassador, A/S Charles was 
accompanied by INL/LP Tom Martin, NAS Director, MilGroup 
Commander, and NAS Program Officers. 
 
Ministry of Defense Briefings 
----------------------------- 
 
5.  (SBU) On Sunday, March 14, A/S Charles, DCM, NAS Director, 
MilGroup Commander, and NAS Program Officers were briefed by 
Colombian Military (COLMIL) leaders on key missions and 
organizational objectives.  Colombian Army (COLAR) MG Reinaldo 
Castellanos, COLMIL Joint Task Force Commander for Plan Patriota 
Phase 2, provided an overview of GOC strategy for pacification of 
southern regions of Colombia.  COLAR Carlos BG Carlos Suarez 
briefed A/S Charles on the mission, deployment, and successes of 
the COLAR Counter-narcotics (CD) Brigade, which performs 
interdiction operations and provides critical support and 
defensive operations in conjunction with aerial eradication 
operations.  COLAR Colonel Rey and NAS Program Officer then 
briefed on the organization and mission of the COLAR Aviation 
program, which includes training and support for COLAR aviation 
assets that provide mobility and logistical support for 
eradication, interdiction and counter-terrorism operations.  The 
morning concluded with a briefing by NAS Program Officer and 
Colombian Air Force Colonel on the Air Bridge Denial program and a 
tour of the Colombian Air Force's Command and Control Center 
(CCOFA). 
 
Eradication/Colombian National Police Aviation 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
6.  (U) Afternoon activities featured a tour of the NAS-funded 
maintenance facilities at the CNP Aviation (ARAVI) base in 
Guaymaral, near Bogota.  A/S Charles examined a number of static 
displays and toured ongoing maintenance and repair activities 
being conducted at the facility.  DIRAN Director BG Gomez and 
ARAVI personnel then briefed A/S Charles on the CNP's aerial and 
ground eradication strategies, operations, and program results. 
This visit provide A/S Charles with an opportunity to discuss CNP 
needs and capabilities with CNP Aviation personnel and to 
reinforce their understanding of US objectives.  A/S Charles was 
accompanied by DCM, NAS Director, and NAS program officers. 
 
Ministry of Interior and Justice 
-------------------------------- 
 
7.  (SBU) On March 15, A/S Charles met with Minister of Interior 
and Justice Sabas Pretelt.  Pretelt stated that the GOC was moving 
aggressively on its asset forfeiture program, noting that 
approximately 200 assets, including farms and houses valued at 
approximately USD 10 million, had been seized the previous week 
from one narcotics trafficker alone (Luis Hernando Gomez).  The 
government intends to intensify its efforts in this area, 
conducting a thorough property registration and seizing land used 
to cultivate illicit crops, as well as other assets derived from 
narcotics trafficking.  Funds generated by this process will 
finance the prosecution of narcotics traffickers and the 
construction of new prisons.  Pretelt said that 64,000 inmates 
were now confined in prisons designed for 48,000 and that vigorous 
police and prosecutorial work was putting an additional 1,000 
criminals behind bars every month.  A/S Charles noted that the GOC 
had developed significant momentum in its campaign against 
narcotics traffickers and other criminal elements, and that asset 
forfeiture weakens these organizations even further. 
 
8.  (SBU) Pretelt said that the GOC's policy on extradition caused 
problems within Colombia, especially in the context of evolving 
policies regarding demobilization of paramilitary groups, but that 
the GOC had no intention of changing its extradition policy or 
practices at this time.  A/S Charles expressed the USG's 
appreciation for Colombia's cooperation and resolve on extradition 
of individuals indicted by US courts. 
 
9.  (SBU) Pretelt and A/S Charles agreed on the importance of 
aerial eradication as a means of cutting off funds to narco- 
terrorists and Pretelt pointed to the spraying of mixed 
coffee/coca plantations as an example of the GOC's resolve to 
press ahead aggressively on eradication.  He noted, however, that 
there would be significant political fallout attendant to spraying 
in national parks, protected areas, and indigenous zones.  A/S 
Charles underscored the importance of communicating and 
publicizing the environmental harm that drug cultivation and 
processing causes and that aerial eradication, properly conducted, 
is a safe, efficient, and effective means of protecting parks. 
Over all, A/S Charles noted, Colombia was to be commended for its 
progress on eradication of illicit cultivation.  A/S Charles was 
accompanied by DCM, INL/LP Tom Martin, and NAS Director. 
 
Colombian Legislators 
--------------------- 
 
10.  (U) A/S Charles and Ambassador met with Senators Alvaro 
Araujo (Senate Vice President), Jairo Clopatofsky (Chair, Defense 
and Foreign Relations), Carlos Garcia (former President), Habib 
Merheg (member, Defense and Foreign Relations), and Representative 
Telesforo Pedraza (member, Constitutional Affairs).  The 
discussion centered on the USG's counter-narcotics strategy, 
eradication efforts in national parks, money laundering and asset 
seizure, and the conditional parole bill for former paramilitary 
fighters. 
 
11.  (SBU) A/S Charles and Ambassador Wood praised bilateral 
counter-narcotics cooperation.  In response to a question 
regarding drug consumption in the United States, A/S Charles 
reviewed the five pillars of USG strategy--prevention, enforcement 
of laws, treatment, interdiction, and money laundering--and noted 
that roughly 50 percent of the counter-narcotics budget was 
devoted to prevention and treatment.  The Ambassador described the 
USG's push/pull strategy of exerting force against drug 
trafficking leaders while enticing the lower ranks into legitimate 
economic activity. 
 
12.  (SBU) Rep. Pedraza asked A/S Charles and the Ambassador about 
aerial eradication in Colombia's national parks.  The A/S and the 
Ambassador explained that coca cultivation itself was far more 
damaging to the environment than any possible USG-GOC eradication 
efforts inasmuch as coca processing entailed the indiscriminate 
use and disposal of much greater quantities of chemicals that are 
more harmful than those employed in eradication operations.  They 
urged those truly interested in protecting national parks to focus 
on the immediate threat: that the coca cultivation and processing 
industry is rapidly increasing its foothold in the only areas of 
Colombia where they are immune to aerial eradication, i.e., 
national parks and other protected areas. 
 
13.  (SBU) A/S Charles noted significant USG progress on fighting 
money laundering, including closure of a substantial number of 
bank accounts worldwide, and the Ambassador praised the recent 
multimillion-dollar asset seizure.  Senator Merheg expressed 
concern that military and police battlefield successes against the 
guerrillas and paramilitaries might motivate the two groups to 
join forces with traditional drug traffickers. 
 
Ministry of Defense 
------------------- 
 
14.  (U) Minister of Defense Jorge Alberto Uribe noted that 
Colombia was engaged in a war against "multinational criminal 
organizations," not "guerrillas" or "insurgents."   With USG 
assistance, he said, Colombia has now "turned the corner of a very 
long block."  A/S INL Charles noted the coincidence of US and GOC 
national interests, including the campaigns against narcotics 
trafficking and international terrorism.  He praised GOC's 
remarkable results on these fronts and cited President Uribe's 
inspiring leadership as a critical factor.  He said that he was on 
solid ground when testifying before the US Congress in support of 
Colombian programs, adding that "we must continue, not stop after 
we have turned the corner."   Minister Uribe said the recent 
improvement in security and increased stability were having a 
positive effect on trade and investment.  He cited the increase in 
cultivation of African oil palm, a crop that requires five years 
to show a return on investment, as an indication of growing 
confidence by investors in Colombia's future. 
 
15.  (SBU) The MOD said he had met in February with his 
counterparts from Peru and Brazil to discuss closer cooperation on 
intelligence sharing, and aerial, coastal, and riverine 
interdiction operations.  Minister Uribe characterized the talks 
as productive and said that follow-on discussions with Peru are 
scheduled to take place this June in Bogota.  These discussions 
will include officials from the Peruvian Ministry of Interior, 
under which the Peruvian Police are organized, and will involve 
counter-terrorism information sharing. 
 
16.  (SBU) Minister Uribe stressed the importance of regional 
planning and cooperation on interdiction, noting that a cocaine 
HCl shipment from Peru was recently seized on a Mexican fishing 
vessel.  Colombian Navy (COLNAV) Admiral Soto added that the USG- 
GOC Maritime Agreement was working well, with the COLNAV seizing 
more than 20 metric tons of cocaine in the first ten weeks of CY 
2004 (Note: All Colombian Public Forces seized a combined total of 
120 MT in the 12 months ending February 29, 2004.)  Ambassador 
Wood stressed that the significance of Colombia's Pacific coast as 
the source of narcotics shipments--and the success of maritime, 
coastal, and riverine operations-argued for more balance in the 
deployment of interdiction resources between Pacific and Caribbean 
operations. 
 
17.  (U) Minister Uribe called attention to the progress Colombia 
has made in combating money laundering, adding that Colombia would 
be willing to share its experiences with other countries.  A/S 
Charles concluded the conversation by praising the GOC for its 
eradication and interdiction program results and noting the 
coincidence of US and GOC interests.  A/S Charles was accompanied 
by the Ambassador, INL/LP Tom Martin, NAS Director, and MilGroup 
Commander. 
 
President Uribe 
--------------- 
 
18.  (SBU) A/S Charles opened a one-hour conversation with 
President Alvaro Uribe by praising Uribe's leadership, his 
commitment to our bilateral agenda, and the GOC's impressive 
results in combating narcotics trafficking and international 
terrorism.  President Uribe responded by thanking A/S Charles for 
USG assistance, but noted that the task remains incomplete and 
continued effort is required.  President Uribe, Minister of 
Foreign Affairs Carolina Barco, MOD Uribe, and Plan Colombia 
Coordinator Luis Alfonso Hoyos then engaged A/S Charles and 
Ambassador Wood in a discussion of a wide range of issues, 
including possible topics for meetings with USG officials during 
President Uribe's planned March 22-24 meetings in Washington (See 
Septel.) 
19.  (U) A/S Charles did not have an opportunity to clear this 
message. 
 
WOOD