US embassy cable - 04BOGOTA13087

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 07 BOGOTA 013087 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM, PREL, PTER, EAID, CO 
SUBJECT: GOC PRESENTS HUMAN RIGHTS STATUS REPORT TO G-24 
AND NGOS IN PREPARATION FOR CARTAGENA 
 
 
------ 
Summary 
------- 
 
1. (SBU) On December 15, President Uribe, Vice President 
Santos and several other GOC officials presented a human 
rights status report to the G-24 Ambassadors and NGO 
representatives in preparation for the London Declaration 
follow-up conference in Cartagena on February 3-4, 2005.  The 
proceedings were carried by local media.  The GOC reported 
that nearly all violence indicators, including murders, 
forced displacement, and kidnappings, had decreased 
significantly since 2002, and military operations against the 
illegal armed groups were working.  The GOC highlighted 
progress in key human rights programs, including efforts to 
develop a National Action Plan for Human Rights, expanding 
the early warning system and state protection for threatened 
individuals, and developing a national plan to address 
anti-personnel landmines.  It reported on the 45 hours of 
consultations conducted over the last couple of months with 
the NGO community on the 27 recommendations of the UN Office 
of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and announced an 
agreement to share intelligence files with NGOs.  Santos, who 
led the substantive part of the GOC presentation, said the 
Uribe administration plans to complete the National Action 
Plan for Human Rights and strengthen its human rights 
programs in 2005.  G-24 chair Ambassador Marina Celina 
Azevedo of Brazil read a statement on behalf of the group 
(see para 13).  Following the formal presentations, President 
Uribe conducted a spirited exchange with NGO representatives. 
 Santos and Foreign Minister Barco, who was also present, 
characterized the President's encounter with NGOs as much 
tamer than past ones.  However, several NGOs questioned the 
government's claims of progress and expressed doubt about its 
capacity to improve the country's human rights situation. 
End Summary. 
 
2. (U) President Uribe, Vice President Santos, Foreign 
Minister Barco, Presidential Advisor for Social Action Hoyos 
Aristizabal met with G-24 Ambassadors and representatives 
from eight NGOs on December 15.  Director of the UN Office of 
the High Commissioner for Human Rights Michael Fruhling also 
made a brief presentation.  NGOs represented were Alianza de 
Organizaciones Sociales y Afines, Confederacion Colombiana de 
Organizaciones No Gubernamentales, Secretariado Nacional de 
Pastoral Social, Dialogo Inter-Agencial en Colombia, Consejo 
Nacional de Planeacion, Federacion Colombiana de Municipios, 
Asociacion Nacional de Industriales and Fundacion Restrepo 
Barco.  The meeting lasted almost four hours. 
 
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Positive Statistics 
------------------- 
 
3. (U) Vice President Santos reported the following 
statistics on human rights indicators for 2002, 2003 and the 
first 11 months of 2004, respectively: 
 
- murders: 28,837, 23,031 and 18,579 (down 20 and 14 percent 
from the year before) 
- murders of labor unionists: 121, 54 and 37 (down 55 and 27 
percent) 
- murders of mayors: 13, 9 and 14 (down 31 and up 75 percent) 
- murders of councilmen: 80, 75 and 18 (down 6 and 73 percent) 
- murders of indigenous people: 180, 164 and 79 (down 9 and 
45 percent) 
- murders of teachers: 79, 41 and 57 (down 48 and up 39 
percent) 
- massacre victims: 680, 504 and 238 (down 26 and 48 percent) 
- massacres: 115, 94 and 43 (down 18 and 49 percent) 
- murders of journalists: 10, 7 and 3 (down 43 and 50 percent) 
- kidnapping victims: 2,986, 2,200 and 1,250 (down 26 and 41 
percent) 
- attacks on towns: 32, 5 and 15 (down 84 and up 200 percent) 
- attacks on infrastructure: 905, 494 and 264 (down 45 and 45 
percent) 
- forced displacement: 379,289, 219,431 and 124,284 (down 42 
and 41 percent) 
 
4. (U) Santos said security forces have killed and captured 
the following numbers of illegal armed group members in 2002, 
2003 and the first 11 months in 2004, respectively: 
 
- killed paramilitaries: 187, 346 and 533 (up 85 and 78 
percent) 
- captured paramilitaries: 1,356, 3,166 and 4,455 (up 133 and 
58 percent) 
- killed guerrillas: 1,690, 1,919 and 1,808 (up 14 and one 
percent) 
- captured guerrillas: 3,763, 6,967 and 5,872 (up 85 and down 
ten percent) 
 
------------------------------------- 
National Action Plan for Human Rights 
------------------------------------- 
 
5. (U) Of 171 countries that have pledged to develop a 
National Action Plan for Human Rights, Santos underscored 
that Colombia would be one of only 20 countries that had 
complied by 2005.  He reported that the Uribe administration 
has approximately USD 325,000 (880 million pesos) available 
for the plan, 60 percent of which is provided by Switzerland 
and UNHCHR.  In January 2005, the GOC will consult with civil 
society about the plan.  The GOC has incorporated human 
rights into departmental development strategies.  Thirty 
departments and 149 municipalities (equivalent to U.S. 
counties) have humanitarian action plans. 
 
--------------------------------------------- - 
Early Warning System and High Risk Communities 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
6. (U) In 2004, there were 83 risk reports and 58 follow-up 
investigations, which resulted in 36 early warnings.  The GOC 
established a regional risk report for the Sierra Nevada de 
Santa Marta region and is working on reports for Arauca and 
Valle del Cauca Departments.  Uribe and Santos credited the 
early warning system, increased state presence, and support 
from civil society with decreases in internal displacement, 
violence, and massacres.  The GOC has identified ten high 
risk areas in the country and will begin augmenting state 
presence there on January 15.  The Spanish Agency for 
International Cooperation and USAID are each providing 
approximately USD 132,000 (330 million pesos) to the 
initiative. 
 
---------------- 
State Protection 
---------------- 
 
7. (U) The GOC had USD 15,000 (37.2 million pesos) in 2004 
for protecting threatened individuals, seventeen percent of 
which was from USAID.  In 2004, 4,249 individuals received 
assistance from this program.  Since 1999, 17,738 people have 
been helped.  The GOC trained 204 individuals in preventative 
security and re-located more than 800 threatened teachers. 
 
------------------- 
Antipersonnel Mines 
------------------- 
 
8. (U) Working with NGOs and the international community, the 
GOC has developed a National Action Plan Against Landmines. 
The military destroyed its last arsenal of stored landmines 
on October 24. 
 
------------------------------ 
Cooperation with Civil Society 
------------------------------ 
 
9. (U) Hoyos stressed GOC efforts to expand its consultative 
process with civil society.  In 2004, the GOC held more than 
20 meetings with civil society representatives to discuss 
human rights, including a meeting between President Uribe and 
international NGOs on August 5 and between the Defense 
Minister and military high command with civil society. The 
Ministry of Defense agreed to share intelligence files with 
NGOs under supervision from the Inspector General's Office. 
The Police and military will each form special committees to 
review the files and share requested information.  The NGOs 
will request specific files, after which time the Defense 
Ministry will have two months to respond. 
 
------------------------------ 
Social and Economic Indicators 
------------------------------ 
 
10. (U) According to the GOC, GDP grew 3.7 percent in the 
first three trimesters of 2004.  Unemployment fell 12.4 
percent this year.  Since 2004, the GOC created 734,000 new 
spaces in public schools, and in 2004, 93,000 students 
received education assistance from royalties.  There are 
124,000 adults enrolled in literacy programs and 87,000 
at-risk individuals enrolled in education programs.  The GOC 
provided 35,154 scholarships for higher education and 77,000 
housing subsidies in 2004.  There are nine state-funded 
departmental medical missions. 
 
---------- 
2005 Plans 
---------- 
 
11. (U) Santos said the GOC has the following goals for 2005: 
 
- Complete the National Action Plan for Human Rights by June 
or July (On December 16, Santos and Fruhling signed a letter 
of understanding stating that the UN Office of the High 
Commissioner for Human Rights in Colombia will advise the 
Vice Presidency on the Human Rights Action Plan.) 
 
- Strengthen the culture of human rights 
 
- Develop a policy to fight impunity 
 
- Establish human rights programs in 350 municipalities 
 
- Expand state presence in the ten designated high-risk areas 
 
- Improve internal investigations of the armed forces 
 
- Complete review of intelligence files 
 
- Develop an information database on human rights 
 
- Achieve optimal functioning of the early warning system 
 
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NGOs Skeptical 
-------------- 
 
12. (SBU) NGO representatives peppered Uribe with questions 
and comments for almost two hours.  The exchange was 
spirited.  NGOs questioned GOC statistics and capacity to 
address the country's human rights problems.  The president 
of the Alliance of Social Organizations, referring to 
statistics from the Comptroller's Office, pointed out that 
Colombia continues to suffer from widespread poverty.  The 
Secretary General of the National Indigenous Organization 
 
SIPDIS 
walked out of the meeting, at one point, complaining that the 
Uribe administration was doing little to stop what he 
described as genocide against indigenous people.  Others 
questioned GOC implementation of the 27 recommendations of 
the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. 
Uribe responded that he respected the recommendations and 
wished to continue discussing their implementation with the 
OHCHR, but reiterated that they were recommendations and not 
the only way to measure GOC progress in human rights.  That 
said, he asked OHCHR director Fruhling how many 
recommendations the GOC had implemented.  Fruhling demurred, 
stating that implementation was a process, that there was a 
"positive dynamic," and that progress was being made.  He 
cited one area where more needed to be done: incorporating 
training in human rights and international humanitarian law 
for all members of the security forces.  (Fruhling said 
afterwards that giving a scorecard in a public forum in front 
of Uribe and NGO representatives would have been 
counterproductive.)  Still other NGOs questioned the GOC 
approach to the peace process, criticizing ongoing 
paramilitary demobilizations without a law in place to deal 
with those who are guilty of violent crimes beyond membership 
in an illegal armed group.  Uribe responded with a passionate 
defense of his democratic security policy and the 
paramilitary demoblizations underway. 
 
-------------- 
G-24 Statement 
-------------- 
 
13. (U) An unofficial translation of the G-24 statement 
negotiated by G-24 members in Bogota over the last month and 
delivered by outgoing G-24 President, Ambassador Maria Celina 
Azevedo follows: 
 
Begin Text: 
 
Mr. President, 
 
1. As you know, the G-24 was formed as an informal group of 
countries to support the Colombian Government to fulfill the 
principles and goals established in the London Declaration on 
July 10, 2003. 
 
2. In this sense, we want to underline the accomplishments 
achieved by the Colombian Government in the development of 
different themes related to the London Declaration and we 
invite the authorities to follow the aformentioned process. 
We would like to affirm our role as facilitators with respect 
to all the initiatives related to the London Declaration, and 
we consider dialog as the ideal path for the search for 
solutions to the country's internal issues.  We reiterate our 
commitment to continue looking for ways for the international 
community to contribute to the realization of the goals of 
the London Declaration. 
 
3. We support the deepening of mechanisms for dialogue 
between the Colombian Government and Civil Society, 
represented by different groups of NGOs, and with the 
international community, for better coordinated international 
cooperation, in such a way that the government can achieve 
its proposed objectives.  Considering the important role that 
civil society plays in an open and transparent democracy its 
participation during the meeting in Cartagena would be 
valuable. 
 
4. Although a long road is ahead, we take note of the 
different methods that have been and continue being taken by 
the Colombian Government with an eye towards fulfulling the 
recommendations of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for 
Human Rights.  The Colombian Government can continue counting 
on the support of our governments for this objective. 
 
5. We want to highlight the Colombian Government's decision 
to contribute to the cessation of anti-personnel mines, 
especially the destruction of military landmine reserves.  We 
recognize such an action as an important step forward and 
demonstration of commitment to the consolidation of 
International Humanitarian Law in Colombia, and we urge the 
illegal armed groups to follow the example, in such a way to 
protect the civilian population from the damage caused by the 
use of anti-personnel mines. 
 
6. We note that overcoming the conflict and realizing peace 
with the illegal armed groups requires a legal framework that 
emphasizes the principles of Truth, Justice, and Reparation 
and that respects Human Rights and International Humanitarian 
Law.  Likewise, we note that demobilization processes should 
make use of disarmament methods and clear strategies for 
reinsertion for the individuals that participate in 
demobilization.  In this sense, we invite the government to 
take the necessary measures. 
 
7. In this context, we reiterate our call to all the illegal 
armed groups to agree to a cessation in hostilities and move 
towards peace talks. 
 
8. We condemn the evil practices of kidnapping, forced 
disappearances, and extra-judicial executions.  We reiterate 
the need for all kidnapped persons in Colombia to be released 
immediately. 
 
9. We reaffirm our condemnation of drug trafficking and any 
form of violence and terrorist acts, of which, among others, 
the victims are the civilian population and especially the 
most vulnerable groups of civilians.  We therefore repeat the 
need for these acts to be prosecuted with full respect for 
Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law. 
 
10. We believe it is of extreme importance to reinforce the 
special mechanisms of support and protection for the most 
vulnerable segments of Colombian society, such as displaced 
persons, indigenous and afro-Colombian communities, union 
leaders, human rights defenders, and other members of civil 
society who have been threatened, and for their relatives, 
and for the women and children affected by the conflict and 
the humanitarian crisis. 
 
11. As a result, we support the Humanitarian Action Plan and 
the inclusive way in which the government is developing it, 
with support from the international community and civil 
society.  We hope the process will conclude soon. 
 
12. We cannot forget to recognize the important contribution 
of the United Nations, Organization of American States, 
International Organizations, and other actors in Colombia in 
the search for a solution to the grave problems of the 
population that is affected by the activities of the illegal 
armed groups.  In a very notable way, it is equally as 
important to underscore the efforts undertaken toward the 
search for a negotiated peace. 
 
13. Likewise, we reiterate our support for the fight against 
drug trafficking, for the elimination of violence that drug 
trafficking brings, and for the means to overcome these 
circumstances. 
 
14. Finally, we want to express our satisfaction with the 
high level meeting to follow up the London Declaration in 
February 2005.  We hope the meeting strengthens the efficacy 
and coordination of international cooperation, and can take 
note of the advances made in the implementation of the 
recommendations of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for 
Human Rights in Colombia.  We want to emphasize that 
accomplishments in this field are beginning to be noticeable. 
 The advances that can be seen should not impede recognition 
that much remains to be done to achieve difficult and 
sustainable progress in constructing peace. 
 
Thank you very much. 
 
End Translation. 
 
Begin Spanish Text: 
 
1.  Como es de su conocimiento, el G-24 fue constituido como 
grupo informal de paises para apoyar al Gobierno de Colombia 
en el cumplimiento de los principios y retos establecidos en 
la Declaracion de Londres, el 10 de julio de 2003. 
 
2. En ese sentido, deseamos subrayar los logros obtenidos por 
el Gobierno de Colombia en el desarollo de diferentes temas 
relacionadas a la Declaracion de Londres e invitamos las 
autoridades a seguir dicho proceso.  Quisieramos reafirmar 
nuestro papel de facilitadores en lo que se refiere a todas 
las iniciativas relacionadas con la Declaracion de Londres, y 
consideramos que el dialogo es el camino idoneo para la 
busqueda de soluciones a las cuestiones internas del pais. 
Reiteramos nuestro compromiso de seguir buscando formas para 
que la comunidad internacional pueda contribuir al 
cumplimiento de los objectivos de la Declaracion de Londres. 
 
3. Apoyamos la profundizacion de los mecanismos de dialogo 
entre el Gobierno de Colombia y la Sociedad Civil, 
representada por diferentes grupos de organizaciones 
no-gubermentales, y con la comunidad internacional, para una 
mejor coordinacion de la cooperacion internacional, de modo 
que el Gobierno pueda alcanzar los objectivos propuestos. 
Considerando el papel importante que juega la sociedad civil 
en una democracia abierta y transparente seria valiosa su 
participacion en la reunion de Cartagena. 
 
4. Si bien un largo camino por recorrer, tomamos nota de las 
distintas medidas que han sido y continuan siendo tomadas con 
miras a permitir el cumplimiento, por parte del Gobierno 
colombiano, de las Recomendaciones de la Oficina del Alto 
Comisionado de las Naciones Unidas para los Derechos Humanos. 
 El Gobierno de Colombia puede seguir contando con el apoyo 
de nuestros Gobiernos en este proposito. 
 
5. Destacamos la decision del Gobierno de Colombia de 
contribuir al cese del empleo de minas anti-personales, 
especialmente la destruccion de las reservas militares de las 
mismas.  Reconocemos tal medida como un importante paso y 
expresion del compromiso para la consolidacion del Derecho 
Internacional Humanitario en Colombia, y exhortamos a los 
grupos armados ilegales a seguir tal ejemplo, de modo que se 
proteja a la poblacion civil de los danos causados por el uso 
de las minas anti-personales. 
 
6. Senalamos que la superacion del conflicto y la obtencion 
de la paz con los grupos armados ilegales requieren un marco 
legal con enfasis en los principios de Verdad, Justicia, y 
Reparacion, que contemple el respeto a los Derechos Humanos y 
al Derecho Internacional Humanitario.  De igual modo, 
consideramos que los procesos de desmobilizacion deben 
abarcar mecanismos de desarme y estrategias claras de 
reinsercion de los individuos que se acojan a la 
desmovilizacion.  En ese sentido, invitamos al Gobierno a 
tomar las medidas necesarias. 
 
7. En este contexto reiteramos nuestro llamamiento a todos 
los grupos armados ilegales para que acuerden un cese de 
hostilidades y abran espacios a un dialogo de paz. 
 
8. Expresamos nuestra condena por las aberrantes practicas 
del secuestro, las desapariciones forzosas y las ejecuciones 
extra-judiciales.  Reiteramos la necesidad de que todas las 
personas secuestradas en Colombia sean liberadas 
inmediatamente. 
 
9. Reafirmamos nuestra condena al narcotrafico y a toda forma 
de violencia y todo acto terrorista, de los que, entre otros, 
son victimas la poblacion civil y especialmente los grupos 
mas vulnerables.  Recordamos entonces la necesidad de que 
tales actos sean juzgados con pleno respeto a los Derechos 
Humanos y al Derecho Internacional Humanitario. 
 
10. Creemos que es de extrema importancia reforzar los 
mecanismos especiales de apoyo y proteccion a los segmentos 
mas vulnerables de la sociedad colombiana, como son los 
desplazados, las comunidades indigenas y afro-colombianas, 
los lideres sindicales, los defensores de los Derechos 
Humanos y otros miembros de la sociedad civil que han sufrido 
amenazas, y en contra de sus familiares, y a las mujeres y 
ninos afectados por el conflicto y la crisis humanitaria. 
 
11. En consecuencia respaldamos el Plan de Accion Humanitaria 
y la forma participativa en que esta elaborando por el 
Gobierno, con el apoyo de la comunidad internacional y de la 
sociedad civil.  Esperamos la pronta conclusion del proceso. 
 
12. No podemos dejar de reconocer la importante contribucion 
del Sistema de las Naciones Unidas, de la Organizacion de los 
Estados Americanos, Organizaciones Internacionales y otros 
actores en Colombia en la busqueda de una solucion a los 
graves problemas de la poblacion afectada por las actividades 
de los grupos armados ilegales.  De modo muy especial, cabe 
igualmente destacar los esfuerzos emprendidos hacia la 
busqueda de una paz negociada. 
 
13. Igualmente reiteramos nuestro apoyo a la lucha contra el 
narcotrafico, a la eliminacion de la violencia que este 
conlleva y a las medidas para superar esta situacion. 
 
14. Finalmente, queremos expresar nuestra satisfaccion por la 
convocatoria a la reunion de alto nivel de seguimiento a la 
Declaracion de Londres, en Febrero de 2005.  Esperamos que la 
reunion fortalezca la eficacia y a la coordinacion de las 
actividades de cooperacion internacional, y pueda tomar nota 
de los avances de la implementacion de las Recomendaciones de 
la Oficina del Alto Comisionado de Derechos Humanos de las 
Naciones Unidas en Colombia.  Queremos resaltar que los 
logros en ese campo estan comenzando a constatarse.  Los 
avances que pueden ser vistos no deben impedir el 
reconocimiento de que aun hay que recorrer un largo camino, 
para que se puedan alcanzar conquistas duraderas y 
sonstenibles en la construccion de la paz. 
 
Muchas Gracias. 
 
End Text. 
WOOD