US embassy cable - 04BOGOTA5077

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BOGOTA 005077 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/18/2014 
TAGS: PHUM, PINR, PTER, PREL, PINS, CO 
SUBJECT: GOC INITIATES INTERAGENCY SOCIAL ASSISTANCE 
PROJECTS 
 
Classified By: Ambassador William B. Wood, reasons 
1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
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Summary 
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1. (U) Three months ago the GOC, with SOUTHCOM assistance, 
established the Coordination Center for Integrated Action 
(CCAI).  The Center is directed by presidential adviser and 
International Assistance Coordinator Luis Alfonso Hoyos and 
is staffed by more than ten ministries and agencies.  It will 
design and direct interagency social and economic assistance 
programs in areas where the armed forces are re-establishing 
security.  Although still in its early stages, the CCAI has 
identified five target areas -- the former FARC safehaven 
(despeje) in southern Colombia, the Sierra Nevada, Catatumbo, 
Arauca Department, and Tumaco -- and begun important social 
assistance projects in some of the highly conflictive areas. 
End summary. 
 
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Objective: Coordinated, Sustained State Presence 
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2. (U) Recognizing that stability and state presence will not 
be established with military and police operations alone, the 
GOC created the Coordination Center for Integrated Action 
(CCAI) with SOUTHCOM assistance in early 2004.  It is staffed 
with representatives from the Office of the President, the 
Ministry of Defense, National Police, Military, Ministry of 
Interior and Justice (MOI/J), Social Solidarity Network 
(RSS), Ministry of Education, Ministry of Social Protection, 
Family Welfare Institute (ICBF), and Registrar's Office.  The 
Prosecutor General's Office (Fiscalia), Inspector General 
(Procuraduria), Human Rights Ombudsman, and other agencies 
will play an auxiliary role.  Presidential adviser and 
International Assistance Coordinator Luis Alfonso Hoyos is 
the director.  Vice Minister of Defense Andres Penate, Chief 
of the Joint Staff General Freddy Padilla, and Plan Colombia 
Director Diego Molano are on the board of directors. 
President Uribe and his cabinet are strong proponents of the 
program and have been actively involved in its creation. 
 
3. (U) The CCAI will design and implement interagency social 
and economic projects in areas that the security forces have 
secured under Uribe's Democratic Security Strategy.  SOUTHCOM 
provided funding for training and office space.  The CCAI has 
designated five priority areas where they have begun 
assessing the humanitarian needs and designing appropriate 
projects.  The criteria for these areas were on-going 
security operations, a traditionally limited state presence, 
strategic importance, and a heavy presence of illegal armed 
groups: 
 
-- The former despeje (Cartagena del Chaira and San Vicente 
del Caguan in Caqueta Deparment and Miraflores, Calamar, and 
La Macarena in Guaviare Department) is the focus of Plan 
Patriota Phase 2B and is FARC-dominated.  The National Police 
recently established a presence in Miraflores and Calamar. 
One assessment visit was made to Caqueta but the Guaviare 
assessment trip was cancelled for security reasons. 
 
-- Catatumbo region of Norte de Santander Department is 
traditionally dominated by the ELN but also has a FARC and 
paramilitary presence.  One assessment trip has been taken. 
 
-- Sierra Nevada region in Magdalena, Cesar, and La Guajira 
Departments has a heavy paramilitary and ELN presence and 
some FARC units.  It received widespread public attention in 
late 2003 when the ELN demanded a GOC-sponsored investigation 
into the "humanitarian crisis" there in exchange for 
releasing several foreign hostages.  Four assessment trips 
have been taken. 
 
-- Arauca Department was a former "rehabilitation and 
reconciliation zone," where President Uribe declared a state 
of emergency and granted the police and military some 
extended powers early in his term.  The Constitutional Court 
shot down this policy several months later.  Arauca is 
contested by the FARC, paramilitaries, and, less so, the ELN. 
 The Cano Limon oil pipeline has long been an ELN and FARC 
target and the department is plagued by 
narcoterrorist-related corruption and violence.  U.S. Special 
Forces help train the 18th Brigade, which is headquarted 
there. 
 
-- Tumaco, Narino Department is on the Pacific Coast and a 
FARC-dominated haven for drug trafficking. 
 
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Early Progress 
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4. (U) Working in coordination, the CCAI has begun key 
projects: 
 
-- Resource allocation: The RSS has budgeted approximately 
USD 24,000 to the Sierra Nevada, USD 54,000 to Catatumbo, USD 
131,000 to San Vicente del Caguan, and USD 296,000 to 
Cartagena del Chaira for reconstruction programs.  The Social 
Protection Ministry has allocated USD 123,000 for the Sierra 
Nevada and USD 106,000 for Caqueta Department. 
 
-- Return of Displaced families: 49 families have been 
returned to Catatumbo, 350 to La Guajira, and 36 to Cesar. 
 
-- Infrastructure: Renovation of six roads, two bridges, and 
several schools and hospitals has begun in the Sierra Nevada. 
 Four roads, a water treatment plant, and health clinic are 
being built in Catatumbo.  Four community housing centers are 
planned for Catatumbo. 
 
-- Health: 750 people have been vaccinated in the Sierra 
Nevada. 
 
-- Documentation: 149 people in Magdalena Department have 
received identification cards. 
 
-- Education: 190 new school spaces will be created in 
Catatumbo. 
 
5. (C) Establishing a state presence in newly secured areas 
is central to making the security forces' successes 
permanent.  The CCAI will play an important role in ensuring 
that state services are provided in a well-coordinated 
manner.  Although it was only created three months ago, the 
CCAI already has begun showing results. 
WOOD