US embassy cable - 05BOGOTA4808

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BOGOTA 004808 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/16/2015 
TAGS: PREF, PGOV, PHUM, SOCI, SNAR, CO, Internally Displaced People 
SUBJECT: NGO ESTIMATES 10 PERCENT INCREASE IN NEW INTERNAL 
DISPLACEMENT IN FIRST QUARTER OF 2005 
 
Classified By: Ambassador William B. Wood Reasons 1.4 (b&d) 
 
1. (C) Summary.  A respected Colombian NGO, the Consultancy 
for Human Rights and Displacement (CODHES) estimated that 
there were 61,996 new internally displaced persons (IDPs) in 
the first quarter of 2005, a 10 percent increase over the 
same period in 2004.  CODHES attributed the rise to an 
increase in confrontation between Government security forces 
and the FARC, expansion of drug cultivation and aerial drug 
eradication, paramilitary ceasefire violations, and GoC 
detentions of alleged terrorists.  The International 
Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Head of Delegation 
privately questioned CODHES' figures based on the number of 
Colombians ICRC has assisted in the field.  Government IDP 
agency contacts said that while official tallies were not 
complete, 5653 new IDPs registered with the Government and 
25,000 applications are pending.  While all agree that there 
is a serious humanitarian situation in Colombia, the debate 
over figures on new internal displacement continues. END 
SUMMARY. 
 
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GoC Registers New IDPs, CODHES Estimates New Displacement 
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2. (C)  The GoC's IDP agency (Red de Solidaridad Social - 
RSS) reviews applications of individuals who apply for 
Government benefits because they have been internally 
displaced as a result of Colombia's long standing conflict. 
If approved, the RSS officially registers the individual and 
provides government assistance.  The RSS reported it 
registered 5653 new cases of IDPs and 25,000 applications 
were pending at the beginning of March 2005.  CODHES 
Assistant Director Marco Romero explained that CODHES 
estimates the number of new displacements based on 
information from the media, NGOs, the GoC, ICRC, the UN, the 
Catholic Church, local government, academic institutions, and 
through some field work.  Based on these trends, CODHES 
projects the number of new internal displacements. 
 
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The Difference? 
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3. (C) The difference between the two organizations is their 
methodology.  The GoC registers new IDPs and can provide 
detailed information on origin of displacement, current 
residence, occupation, and how many members in the family. 
CODHES has no capacity to track individual IDPs, but relies 
on open source materials to estimate new displacement. 
CODHES' Marco Romero told RefCoord that if there are 
conflicting reports on new displacement from equally 
reputable sources (i.e. the Prosecutor General's Office and 
an NGO), CODHES always uses the higher number. CODHES 
includes reports of internal displacement in its estimate 
regardless of whether the case is accepted by the GoC.  If an 
IDP registers with the GoC and displaces again, the 
Government does not register the new displacement since the 
IDP is already receiving GoC aid.  CODHES does include the 
new displacement. 
 
4. (C) GoC Rate of Refusal:  CODHES reported that the RSS 
refusal rate rose significantly and in some areas (Choco 
Department, and Bogota) was over 50 percent.  RSS contacts 
reported a 21 percent refusal rate nationwide but cautioned 
that the rate varied within the country.  The RSS 
acknowledged that there is an under registration of IDPs and 
launched an information campaign in early 2004 to reach 
populations in remote areas and to increase information about 
IDP rights under Colombian law. 
 
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Drug Eradication and Displacement 
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5. (C) The GoC does not/not approve applications of those who 
displace because of aerial drug eradication -- CODHES does. 
Romero said CODHES has no way of estimating how many displace 
as a result of aerial eradication.  CODHES reports cites 
"forced eradication" as a major cause of new displacement in 
early 2005, especially in Narino Department.  The Narcotics 
Affairs Section reported that the GoC sprayed 58,143 hectares 
of coca and 748 hectares of opium poppy in the first quarter 
of 2005 -- the vast majority in Narino (44,567 hectares of 
coca and 393 hectares of poppy).  While increased aerial 
eradication in Narino Department supports CODHES' conclusion, 
NAS notes that the rate of replanting of coca in Narino 
remains high despite several spray campaigns. 
 
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Population and New Census 
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6. (C) CODHES reported that much of the new displacement 
originated in southern Colombia (generally less populated 
areas) because of the GoC's Plan Patriota, drug eradication 
and confrontations between the FARC and GoC security forces. 
The RSS cited the highest number of newly displaced from 
Choco (1237) and Antioquia (905) -- both in northern 
Colombia.  Colombia's last nationwide census was done in 
1993.  The new census, which begins on May 22 will provide 
more clarity on actual population and demographics. 
 
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ICRC Assistance to New IDPs 
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7. (C)  ICRC's Head of Delegation Juan Pedro Schaerer 
(protect) told RefCoord he did not know how CODHES arrived at 
their estimate of nearly 62,000 newly displaced.  ICRC staff 
said ICRC figures historically represented between 40-50 
percent of official GoC numbers of IDPs.  The ICRC assisted 
11,549 newly displaced during the first 3 months of 2005 
which ICRC said tracks with RSS staff unofficial estimate of 
20,000 new IDPs in the first 2 months of 2005. 
 
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Massive Displacements Rise 
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8. (C) All sources agreed that massive internal displacements 
increased in early 2005.  Conflict between FARC and 
paramilitary groups battling for control over key narcotics 
cultivation and transit corridors in the Rio Atrato region of 
Choco Department resulted in the displacement of more than 
1500 persons on February 14.  ICRC reported that they have 
assisted 6,900 individuals in northern Cauca Department who 
displaced as a result of FARC attacks on Toribio, Jambalo, 
and other towns that began April 14.  Most of the IDPs are 
members of indigenous tribes. 
 
9. (C) COMMENT:  CODHES' recent report sharply criticized the 
Uribe Administration for rejecting the idea that there is an 
"internal conflict" in Colombia and predicted the GoC's 
statistics on new displacements will reach CODHES estimates 
by the end of the year.  Colombia's new national census, 
which begins May 22, will update official population figures 
from 1993.  GoC and ICRC contacts believe CODHES has 
overestimated the number of newly displaced in order to keep 
attention focused on IDPs.  As the paramilitary peace process 
has progressed, IDP advocacy groups have grown concerned that 
more GoC and international community funding will go to 
support the paramilitary demobilization and reinsertion 
process, leaving less for IDPs.  END COMMENT 
WOOD