US embassy cable - 05BOGOTA4960

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BOGOTA 004960 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/24/2015 
TAGS: ASEC, PTER, MOPS, PREL, CO 
SUBJECT: COLOMBIAN ARMED FORCES CONTINUE TO PRESSURE 
PARAMILITARIES 
 
 
Classified By: Ambassador William B. Wood for reasons 
1.5 (b) and (d) 
 
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Summary 
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1. (C) According to government statistics, operations against 
self-defense groups have increased by 300 percent, and 9,804 
paramilitaries have been captured and 1,125 killed during 
Uribe's term.  In the first four months of 2005 alone, 4,231 
have been captured and 1,060 killed.  Press reports from 
January to April 2005 suggest approximately 13 paramilitary 
leaders had been killed or captured.  The GOC continues to 
target the self-defense forces in a variety of ways and has 
directed special attention to ending paramilitary presence in 
Bogota.  End Summary. 
 
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Positive Trend in Battling Paramilitaries 
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2. (C) The GOC continues to defend its response to violations 
of the paramilitary cease-fire and assert the military's 
commitment to keep the pressure on the self-defense groups. 
In response to recent criticisms made by UN Human Rights 
Commissioner Louise Arbour, Colombian Peace Commissioner 
Restrepo reported a significant increase in public force 
operations against paramilitaries over the last few years, 
claiming that operations have increased by 300 percent.  He 
noted that in 2002, the military captured only 312 
paramilitaries; however, 2004 saw 4,836 captures.  While not 
a single paramilitary was killed in action between 2000 and 
2001, Restrepo reported that 558 were killed last year. 
Weapons seizures have also risen, from 441 in 2000 to 3,792 
last year.  In a meeting with SouthCom Commander General 
Craddock and President Uribe, Minister of Defense Uribe said 
during Uribe's term, 9,804 paramilitaries had been captured 
and another 1,125 killed.  MOD Uribe also reported that in 
the first four months of this year, 1,060 paramilitaries had 
been captured and 132 killed. 
 
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GOC Efforts to Pressure Paramilitaries in Bogota 
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3. (U) In late April, President Uribe announced a 
strengthened Police and Army Presence in the Ciudad Bolivar 
section of Bogota in response to an increase in violence 
there, possibly at the hands of paramilitaries.  Bogota Mayor 
Luis Eduardo Garzon noted that homicides immediately dropped 
following the arrest in April of alias "La Arana," a 
paramilitary recruiter who had been operating in Bogota.  In 
addition, the Colombian National Police announced a rewards 
program for the capture of paramilitary leaders active in and 
around Bogota. 
 
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Variety of Operations Against Paramilitaries 
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4. (C) Based on an unofficial survey of press reporting from 
January to April 2005, Colombian government operations 
against paramilitaries were prevalent in a number of forms, 
including the capture or killing of leaders, the capture or 
killing of rank-and-file combatants, operations against 
financial assets, judicial actions, destruction of drug 
assets, property seizures, and weapons seizures.  The most 
common operations reported in the Colombian press were those 
involving the capture or killing of rank-and-file combatants, 
over 70 incidents in the four-month period.  A sampling of 
approximately 13 incidents involving paramilitary leaders 
were reported in the Colombian media. 
 
5. (U) Although the media sometimes exaggerates the 
importance of killed or captured commanders, the press 
reported the following operations against paramilitary 
leaders in the period of January 2005 to April 2005: 
 
--Juan Fernando Guerra Ochoa, "El Aguila," leader of AUC's 
Southeast Bloc operating in Antioquia Department, was 
captured in early January. 
 
--Jhon Wilber Rodriguez Osorio, "Chucho Mono" or "Pastor," 
chief of the Fidel Castano Gil Front of the Bolivar Central 
Bloc in Barrancabermeja, was arrested in January.  He was the 
highest-ranking AUC leader ever arrested in Santander.  The 
Prosecutor's Office had offered a 50 million peso reward for 
his arrest. 
--Elias Garcia Lora, leader of paramilitary group active in 
Bolivar and Sucre, was captured in January. 
 
--Teobaldo Jose Diaz Paternina, second in command of finances 
for the Elmer Cardenas Bloc operating in Uraba and commander 
of urban blocs operating in San Juan de Uraba, Antioquia 
Department, was captured in January. 
 
--Jesus Ramos Machado, "El Voluntario," head of the Alto 
Ariari Front of the Centauros Bloc, was captured in February. 
--Edwin Salazar, "Quemado," alleged head of the Pacific Bloc 
in the port city of Buenaventura, was captured in February. 
 
--Antonio Blanco Lobo, "Abelito," urban militia chief 
belonging to the Juan Andres Alvarez Front of the AUC's 
Northern Bloc in San Ramon Corregimiento, Codazzi 
municipality, was killed in March. 
 
--Ciro Antonio Diaz Amado, "Nicolas," commander of the Isidro 
Carreno Front, Middle Magdalena Peasant Self-Defense Groups 
operating in Simacota Municipality, was killed in March. 
 
--Miguel Rivera Jaramillo, "W" and "Wilson Barrera" 
coordinated the urban group of the Centauros Bloc based in 
Villavicencio and managed the enforcement offices for that 
group; he was arrested in March.  His capture is also noted 
in the Ministry of Defense's operations results document. 
 
--Heibe Perea, "Heyler," accused of leading paramilitaries in 
blocking food and medicine deliveries to four towns in Choco 
Department, was arrested in April. 
 
--Wilson Porras Ramirez, "Wilson," political and financial 
commander, was detained in April. 
 
--Hernando Sanchez Loaiza, "Comandante Dragon," commander of 
the AUC's Las Aguilas Counterinsurgency of the Cacique 
Pipinta Front operating in Aranzazu and Salamina 
Municipalities, was arrested in April. 
 
--Fernando Landazabal Hernandez, who manages the finances for 
the Fidel Castano Gil Bloc of the Central Bolivar Bloc, was 
arrested in April. 
 
--Additionally, the Ministry of Defense noted that Hector 
Julio Jimenez Reuta, head of finances for the Centauros Bloc, 
was captured in January. 
 
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Comment 
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6. (U) Although some cases of collaboration between 
individual elements of the Colombian military and 
paramilitaries persist, the armed forces continue to take 
measures to sever ties with paramilitary groups as required 
in the human rights certification language. 
WOOD