US embassy cable - 05BOGOTA1457

UNCLAS BOGOTA 001457 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR S, P, H AND WHA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, CO, Demobilization 
SUBJECT: INPUT FOR S TESTIMONY ON COLOMBIAN DEMOBILIZATION 
LAW 
 
 
MADAME SECRETARY: We understand that you will be testifying 
before Congress on the budget on February 16.  Knowing 
Congressional interest in the paramilitary demobilizations in 
Colombia, and following Marc Grossman's visit to Colombia on 
February 14, we offer the following Q&As.  The Colombian 
Congress will begin deliberations on the law in a special 
session beginning February 15. 
 
Question 1 
---------- 
 
What is your assessment of progress on the Colombian 
demobilization law? 
 
Answer 1 
-------- 
 
We recently received a letter from a number of Senators on 
the Colombian demobilization law. I want to assure them and 
you that we take this issue very seriously.  Our embassy has 
had extensive discussions about it. Under Secretary Grossman 
was in Colombia on February 14 and raised the demobilization 
law with President Uribe, as well as with Senator Pardo, who 
has led a group drafting an alternative to the government 
bill. 
 
Grossman made clear that the drafting and approval of the law 
was a matter for Colombians.  But, as a friend of Colombia, 
he also stressed the importance the U.S. places on a strong 
law that provides for peace with justice and that effectively 
serves to dismantle the paramilitaries, and the ELN and FARC 
if they ever declare a cease-fire and begin a peace process. 
 
President Uribe reaffirmed his commitment to achieve a law 
that meets these criteria before the end of June.  Senator 
Pardo said that the government had already accepted 80 
percent of his group's suggestions and that, although a few 
issues remained to be solved, he looked forward to the formal 
debate in the Colombian Congress that would begin on February 
15.  Grossman stressed the advantages of a joint 
Government-Pardo group text and urged that the remaining 
differences be resolved. 
 
Question 2 
---------- 
 
What do you mean by a law that reflects the need for peace 
with justice? 
 
Answer 2 
-------- 
 
We have made clear our hope that the law will provide for: 
(1) disclosure of past criminal or terrorist activities, a 
key step toward national reconciliation; (2) punishment for 
all those responsible for serious crimes; (3) dismantlement 
of these narco-terrorist organizations through seizure of 
property, and individual and collective reparations; (4) 
transparency; and (5) government monitoring and control to 
ensure that those demobilized do not return to crime.  We 
also have emphasized that the law should contain nothing that 
could prejudice Colombia's excellent cooperation on 
extraditions. 
WOOD