US embassy cable - 04BOGOTA9519

C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 009519 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/20/2014 
TAGS: PREL, SNAR, PHUM, PINR, CO 
SUBJECT: POWERFUL PARAMILITARY COMMANDER KILLED 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Milton K. Drucker for reasons 
1.5 (b) and (d) 
 
 1. (U) On September 20, the Prosecutor General's Office 
("Fiscalia") publicly confirmed that United Self Defense 
Forces of Colombia (AUC) commander Miguel Arroyave Ruiz was 
killed.  Arroyave commanded the AUC's Centauros Bloc and was 
participating in peace talks with the government.  The 
reasons for his death are unknown.  He apparently died 
outside of the zone of concentration, where he was supposed 
to have been located. 
 
2. (C) Arroyave controlled several thousand troops in 
Casanare, Arauca, and Meta Departments and several hundred 
urban militia members in southern Bogota.  He was heavily 
involved in drug trafficking and was one of the most powerful 
regional AUC commanders.  For the past year or so, Arroyave's 
forces had been clashing with the independent Self Defense 
Forces of Casanare (ACC) for control over territory and drug 
trafficking routes, leading to a sharp spike in violence on 
Colombia's eastern plains.  On August 12, Arroyave agreed to 
begin demobilizing his troops.  The Peace Commissioner's 
Office had hoped to begin demobilization later this month, 
but had noted to us that the conflict between the Centauros 
Bloc and ACC was a major obstacle. 
 
3. (C) Little is known about Arroyave's subordinates, who 
will presumably take command of the Centauros Bloc.  It is 
not clear who will replace Arroyave at the negotiating table 
or if his successor will follow through on Arroyave's 
agreement to demobilize.  Post will follow up with septels. 
DRUCKER