US embassy cable - 04BOGOTA12602

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BOGOTA 012602 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/08/2014 
TAGS: PTER, PHUM, SNAR, PINR, CO, OAS, AUC 
SUBJECT: THREE MORE AUC DEMOBILIZATIONS 
 
REF: BOGOTA 12188 
 
Classified By: Ambassador William B. Wood for reasons 1.4 (b) 
and (d). 
 
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Summary 
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1. (C) The GOC continues to demobilize elements of the United 
Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC).  As of December 8, 510 
out of about 1,500 paramilitaries from the Catatumbo Bloc had 
registered in their demobilization zone in Norte de Santander 
Department.  They are scheduled to publicly demobilize on 
December 10.  On December 9, 147 paramilitaries in northern 
Cundinamarca Department demobilized, and on December 4, 47 
paramilitaries in southern Magdalena Department demobilized. 
If GOC plans to demobilize 700 members of the AUC's Northern 
Bloc in Cordoba Department succeed by the end of the year, 
the Government will have almost reached its goal of 
demobilizing 3,000 paramilitary fighters in 2004.  End 
Summary. 
 
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Catatumbo Bloc: Demobilization Almost Complete 
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2. (C) As of December 8, 510 out of nearly 1,500 members of 
the AUC's Catatumbo Bloc -- including AUC Commander Salvatore 
Mancuso -- had registered in their demobilization zone in 
Norte de Santander Department, received provisional 
identification cards, and completed a survey on demographic 
information and employment plans.  Mancuso and other 
paramilitaries facing criminal charges for serious crimes 
will remain in a concentration area, probably the principal 
zone surrounding the village of Santa Fe de Ralito, Cordoba 
Department.  Rank and file members accused only of membership 
in an illegal armed group will begin departing the Norte de 
Santander demobilization zone after a public demobilization 
ceremony currently scheduled for December 10.  Following 
their demobilization, former AUC fighters must report to a 
reinsertion center in the nearby town of Tibu to register for 
reinsertion benefits.  Contacts at the GOC's Office of the 
High Commissioner for Peace Office estimate bloc members will 
turn in approximately 900 weapons. 
 
3. (C) On November 29, the GOC issued a resolution creating a 
demobilization zone on the "Brisas del Sardinata" estate, 
located in the rural district of Campo Dos, in Tibu 
municipality.  Paramilitaries present within the zone cannot 
be arrested before December 30.  Police and military are 
responsible for security around the zone and in areas 
formerly dominated by the demobilizing AUC forces.  The Army 
transferred a counterguerrilla battalion from Arauca 
Department to Tibu to assist with security. 
 
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Cundinamarca Self-Defense Forces: Demobilization Complete 
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4. (U) One December 9, 147 paramilitaries from the 
Self-Defense Forces of Cundinamarca demobilized in a public 
ceremony at an agricultural institute in the rural district 
of Teran, Yacopi municipality, Cundinamarca Department, 
approximately 60 miles north of Bogota.  The demobilization 
zone will last until December 30.  On November 29, the GOC 
issued a resolution suspending arrest warrants nationwide 
against the group's commander, Luis Eduardo Cifuentes, aka 
"El Aguila," until December 30, so he could leave the 
concentration zone at Santa Fe de Ralito and manage the 
demobilization.  Group members turned in 137 weapons (mostly 
rifles and handguns), several dozen radios, and some 
explosives.  The police and military have a relatively strong 
presence in the region where the group operated in northern 
Cundinamarca, and the Peace Commissioner's Office has told us 
the possibility of a guerrilla resurgence in the aftermath of 
the paramilitary demobilization is not a serious concern. 
 
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Southern Magdalena Paramilitaries: Small-Scale and Simple 
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5. (C) On December 4, 47 paramilitaries demobilized in the 
rural district of Santa Rosa, Santa Ana municipality, 
southern Magdalena Department.  The GOC passed a resolution 
lifting arrest warrants nationwide against the group's 
commander, Jose Maria Barrera, aka "Chepe Barrera," until 
December 30.  The group was only loosely affiliated with the 
AUC, and its small size and secure area of operations made 
the demobilization relatively simple and straightforward. 
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Only Cordoba Remains for 2004 
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6. (C) The demobilizations of these three groups and the 
Bananero Bloc on November 25 (reftel) brings the total number 
of paramilitaries demobilized in 2004 to approximately 2,050. 
 About 700 paramilitaries from the AUC's Northern Bloc in 
Cordoba Department are scheduled to demobilize by the end of 
December, but protests from local cattle ranchers have 
complicated the effort.  If the 700 demobilize before the end 
of the year, the GOC will have almost reached its goal of 
demobilizing 3,000 paramilitary fighters in 2004. 
WOOD