US embassy cable - 05BOGOTA1728

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BOGOTA 001728 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM, PREL, PTER, PINR, KJUS, EAID, CO 
SUBJECT: U/S GROSSMAN MEETS WITH HUMAN RIGHTS NGOS 
 
1. February 14, 2005, 4:00-5:00 p.m., Ambassador's residence, 
Bogota 
 
2. Participants: 
 
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U.S. 
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Marc Grossman, U/S for Political Affairs 
Ambassador William B. Wood 
Jeffrey DeLaurentis, Political Counselor 
Baxter Hunt, P Special Assistant 
Kiersten Stiansen, notetaker 
Nohemy Kattan, interpreter 
 
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Colombia 
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Mario Gomez, Restrepo Barco Foundation 
Patricia Villaveces, Free Country Foundation 
Gustavo Gallon, Colombian Commission of Jurists (CCJ) 
Ana Maria Jimenez, Colombian Commission of Jurists (CCJ) 
Gloria Florez, MINGA 
Mauricio Gonzalez, Excellence in Justice Corporation 
 
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Summary 
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3. On February 14, U/S Grossman met representatives of five 
human rights organizations to discuss the human rights and 
humanitarian situation in Colombia.  U/S Grossman noted the 
importance of the advancement of a strong democracy to 
improve the human rights situation in Colombia, and the 
continued commitment of the USG to assist the GOC in reaching 
this goal.  All five organizations expressed their concerns 
regarding continued human rights violations by all actors, 
impunity, and the need for a truth, justice, and reparations 
law to govern the paramilitary demobilization process.  End 
Summary. 
 
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U/S Grossman Notes Importance of Human Rights 
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4. During his February 14 visit to Bogota, Under Secretary 
for Political Affairs Marc Grossman told human rights 
representatives that the USG considers the advancement of 
human rights and democracy to be fundamental to our policy in 
Colombia, and said we had seen improvements in these areas 
over the past four years.  He underscored full US engagement 
with the GOC on these issues.  U/S Grossman also praised the 
work of human rights organizations in Colombia as a important 
part of this effort. 
 
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Truth, Justice, and Reparations Law 
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5. Representatives of the organizations present expressed 
concerns about the current paramilitary peace process and the 
lack of a legal framework to govern demobilized 
paramilitaries accused of serious crimes.  The CCJ's Gustavo 
Gallon said that despite a so-called cease-fire called by the 
paramilitaries in December 2002, the CCJ had documented over 
1,800 paramilitary cease-fire violations.  Gloria Florez 
added that MINGA has seen evidence that the paramilitary 
infrastructure has not been completely dismantled in either 
Catatumbo and Valle del Cauca Departments, where the 
Catatumbo and Calima blocs demobilized late last year.  U/S 
Grossman said any law passed to govern the paramilitary 
demobilization process should serve as a model for all future 
demobilizations of illegal armed groups.  Noting that, 
ultimately, it is Colombians who must decide what the law 
will look like, he said that requirements for complete 
dismantling of paramilitary organizations, transparency, 
reparations for victims, and adequate punishment for 
criminals should be part of any final bill. 
 
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Human Rights Concerns 
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6. All five organizations had additional concerns.  Patricia 
Villaveces of the Free Country Foundation discussed a 
perceived increase in kidnappings for ransom committed by 
guerrillas, particularly the Revolutionary Armed Forces of 
Colombia (FARC).  She noted the need to devote more resources 
to the intelligence services and the creation of a more 
complete database to keep accurate statistics on kidnappings. 
 Gallon claimed the CCJ had seen an increase in political 
murders in the first 2 years of Uribe's Administration, 
although there has been a relative reduction in forced 
displacements and killings committed by paramilitaries.  He 
also said he remains concerned about the USG's repeated 
decisions to certify the Colombian Armed Forces in human 
rights compliance, despite derogatory information presented 
by NGOs. 
 
7. Florez noted MINGA's concerns about "arbitrary" and "mass" 
detentions of labor leaders and other trade unionists, 
particularly in Arauca Department.  She added that 
information used to justify these detentions often comes from 
unreliable informants or former members of illegal armed 
groups.  Ana Maria Jimenez discussed high levels of impunity 
in Colombia, particularly in cases involving sexual or 
domestic abuse against women.  U/S Grossman said sexual 
violence is a horrifying aspect of the conflict, and 
emphasized that the USG has always taken a strong stand 
against it.  Mauricio Gonzalez noted that the justice system 
had begun to improve with the adoption of the accusatory 
trial system, although he added that witness and judicial 
sector employee protection programs are still weak.  U/S 
Grossman agreed that the protection of witnesses and judicial 
system employees is key to a strong justice system, and that 
the USG had therefore increased its funding for the program. 
Mario Gomez expressed support for USG assistance to Colombia, 
including the Early Warning System and protection programs, 
but added that problems such as corruption and the presence 
of landmines continue. 
 
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USG Following Key Cases 
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8. U/S Grossman closed the meeting by reiterating the 
importance the USG places on human rights.  He added that he 
had just returned from a meeting with President Uribe 
(septel), where they discussed the truth, justice, and 
reparations law, the need to end all collaboration between 
military forces and paramilitaries, and the importance of key 
legal cases such as the ongoing Mapiripan massacre trial 
(including the charges against whistleblower Colonel Hernan 
Orozco) and the murders of three trade unionists in Arauca. 
He said we should find a way to coordinate our data on human 
rights in order to better assess and measure progress and 
reach similar conclusions. 
 
9. U/S Grossman has cleared this cable. 
DRUCKER