US embassy cable - 04BOGOTA5265

S E C R E T BOGOTA 005265 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/AND AND DRL, 
GENEVA FOR JEFF DELAURENTIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/23/2014 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, MARR, MASS, PINR, PTER, CO 
SUBJECT: TAINTED RIME-5 OFFICERS DISMISSED 
 
Classified By: Ambassador William B. Wood for reasons 1.4 (b) 
and (d). 
 
1. (S/NF) In January 2004, Colombian military officials 
provided Army Commander Major General Carreno with evidence 
that five officers from Army Regional Intelligence Center 5 
(RIME-5), including its commander, were collaborating with 
paramilitary groups.  The officers were suspected of sharing 
intelligence, coordinating operations, and providing supplies 
to paramilitary elements in the Army 5th Division's area of 
operations, which includes Bogota and the surrounding 
department of Cundinamarca.  According to DAO reporting, 
Carreno considered the evidence, which came from a former 
Army officer working with the paramilitaries, credible enough 
to order the five officers' immediate transfer to other units 
in March 2004. 
 
2.  (S/NF) Embassy approached the Minister of Defense on this 
issue asking that a more careful investigation be carried out 
and more definitive action than mere transferal be taken.  On 
May 20, Minister of Defense Uribe told Ambassador that, after 
further investigation, he had used his discretionary 
authority -- which does not require formal explanation or 
justification -- to order the dismissal of all five officers. 
 Vice-Minister of Defense Andres Penate told PolCouns on May 
21 that the administrative outprocessing of the officers will 
take approximately three weeks.  Embassy will continue to 
monitor the case and follow-up as appropriate. 
WOOD