US embassy cable - 04BOGOTA4633

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BOGOTA 004633 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/06/2014 
TAGS: PHUM, PTER, PINR, ASEC, CO 
SUBJECT: SECURITY FORCES PLEDGE TO INVESTIGATE MISHAPS AND 
CORRUPTION 
 
REF: A. BOGOTA 3393 
 
     B. BOGOTA 3714 
     C. BOGOTA 3841 
 
Classified By: Ambassador William B. Wood, reasons 
1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
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Summary 
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1. (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 responded by, sometimes grudgingly, 
publicly admitting the mistakes, initiating investigations, 
and retiring officials.  End Summary. 
 
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A Bad Period for Security Forces: 
-------------------------------- 
 
2. (U) March and April have been difficult months for the 
security forces: 
 
-- On March 19, the Army killed seven anti-kidnapping (GAULA) 
police and four civilians in the municipality of Guaitarilla, 
Narino department.  There are numerous inconsistencies 
surrounding the event and suspicions of illicit activity and 
manipulation of evidence on the parts of both the police and 
military (ref A). 
 
-- On April 10, a battalion from the Army's 6th Brigade 
killed five civilians -- including a 6-month-old infant -- 
who they mistook for FARC guerrillas in the municipality of 
Cajamarca, Tolima department (ref B). 
 
-- On April 13, two Army units conducting counterparamilitary 
operations engaged in friendly fire in the municipality of 
Puerto Gaitan, Meta department.  Three soldiers were killed 
and one gravely wounded (ref C). 
 
-- On April 15, the CNP arrested Jaime Londono, the head of a 
gang that carries out assassinations and other criminal 
activity for drug trafficker "Don Diego," in a military 
officer's club in Bogota.  Londono was with a retired Navy 
officer and a civilian, who also were arrested. 
 
-- Over the weekend of April 16, the Navy found 16.5 kilos of 
heroin and 10 kilos of cocaine concealed in candy boxes 
aboard "La Gloria," the Navy's sail training "tall ship" 
stationed in Cartagena, Bolivar department.  The ship was 
bound for the U.S. 
 
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Public Admission of Errors... 
----------------------------- 
 
3. (C) In mid-April, both Minister of Defense (MOD) Uribe and 
Armed Forces Commander General Ospina gave interviews to the 
country's two leading newspapers in which they admitted their 
forces made serious mistakes and promised thorough 
investigations.  The MOD acknowledged that many new soldiers 
need better training but emphasized that the Armed Forces are 
capable of effectively confronting illegal armed groups. 
Similarly, Navy Commander Admiral Soto immediately announced 
the drug seizure on "La Gloria."  Army Commander Carreno 
visited Cajamarca and, on April 14, held an all day meeting 
in Cordoba Department with numerous brigade commanders to 
address how to prevent friendly fire and other errors. 
Although admissions were sometimes grudging, Colombian 
handling of these issues represents a step forward in 
transparency and public accountability. 
 
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... Followed by Legal Action 
---------------------------- 
 
4. (C) The GOC is taking steps to hold accountable those 
responsible: 
-- Although the case still is under investigation, both the 
CNP and Army punished officers for their failings in the 
Guaitarilla case.  The CNP dismissed the GAULA chief in 
Narino, Captain Jaime Yepes, for authorizing a poorly planned 
operation, and the Army relieved "Battle of Boyaca" Battalion 
Operations Officer Major Ernesto Coral of duty for 
"mishandling information" about the incident.  Immediately 
after the incident, President Uribe ordered an internal 
report, which was subsequently deemed to be unclear with each 
service accusing the other of wrongdoing.  Next, the 
Prosecutor General's Office (Fiscalia) initiated a criminal 
investigation and announced on April 27 that the case would 
be tried in military courts because the parties involved were 
on active duty.  So far, both the police and army stories 
seem to raise more questions. 
-- In response to the "La Gloria" drug seizure, President 
Uribe suspended the entire 75-member crew.  They will not be 
reinstated until they are cleared of any involvement.  The 
military justice system is investigating, and MOD Uribe and 
Admiral Soto have told U.S. officials they believe they have 
identified at least three guilty individuals.  President 
Uribe assured U.S. Coast Guard Commandant, whose visit to 
Cartagena coincided with the seizure, that he would punish 
those responsible. 
 
-- The Army may be able to clear itself of at least some 
responsibility for the civilian deaths in Cajamarca.  The 
area has long been controlled by the FARC, which had 
prohibited all road travel in the area where the civilians 
were killed.  The Ministry of Defense has provided the 
Fiscalia with evidence that the FARC forced the five 
civilians to leave their home in order to distract and 
confuse the Army unit operating nearby. 
 
-- The Puerto Gaitan case is a clear-cut friendly fire 
incident.  The military is conducting an internal 
investigation.  The military relieved the Battalion 
commander, Company commander, and Squadron leader of duty. 
 
-- The military has begun an internal investigation as to how 
Londono -- a wanted criminal -- was given access to an 
officer's club.  Initial findings suggest he used fake 
documents and was assisted by the retired Navy officer who 
accompanied him.  He was found in possesion of numerous cell 
phones, two handguns, and a large amount of cash, suggesting 
he was involved in conducting narcotics-related violence in 
Bogota.  Normally, his gang's center of operations is in 
Cali.  The Fiscalia has charged Londono with conspiracy to 
commit a crime, use of false documentation, and narcotics 
trafficking.  The event has received limited media attention, 
but a thorough investigation will be key to determining the 
extent of Londono,s connection to the military. 
 
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Souring Inter-Service Relations 
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5. (C) The Guaitarilla incident has further strained already 
tense Police-Army relations and highlighted coordination 
problems.  Army Commander General Carreno and CNP Commander 
General Castro, who have clashed on other occasions, have 
been personally involved in the internal investigations that 
seek to blame the other service.  Impartiality will be 
particularly important and equally difficult in this 
investigation.  The CNP's arrest of Londono in a military 
officer's club also has the potential to irritate 
police-military rivarly, although less so thanks to Soto's 
and Ospina's support for the arrest of the retired Navy 
officer who was caught with Londono. 
 
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Grist for Uribe Critics 
----------------------- 
 
6. (C) Uribe's critics in Congress used the events to 
question recently approved anti-terrorism legislation, 
asserting that the security forces are incapable of 
responsibly exercising expanded judicial powers granted them 
in the statute.  Human rights organizations have expressed 
concerns about poor training in the security forces and 
possible links to corruption by officials implicated in the 
incidents. 
 
 
WOOD