US embassy cable - 05BOGOTA5272

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BOGOTA 005272 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM, CO 
SUBJECT: AMB WOOD MEETING WITH DUTCH HUMAN RIGHTS AMB PIET 
DE KLERK 
 
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SUMMARY 
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1.  (U) On May 13, the Ambassador discussed drug eradication 
efforts, demobilization and human rights with Dutch 
Ambassador At Large For Human Rights Piet de Klerk.  AMB de 
Klerk acknowledged the need for international assistance to 
battle drugs, but asked if USG policies were making 
sufficient impact.  He shared international community concern 
about a weakened draft Law for Justice and Peace currently 
before the Colombian Congress.  He inquired why Colombian 
President Uribe appeared reluctant to criticize the military 
in public.  On human rights, de Klerk expressed support for 
the tough chair statement on the situation of human rights in 
Colombia, recently adopted by the Commissioner on Human 
Rights, noting that the U.S. had joined consensus on it as 
well.  End Summary. 
 
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BACKGROUND 
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2.  (U) On May 13, the Ambassador met with Dutch Ambassador 
At Large For Human Rights Piet de Klerk to discuss drug 
eradication efforts, demobilization, and human rights 
concerns in Colombia.  Also present at the meeting were Dutch 
AMB to Colombia Frans van Haren, Dutch Ministry of Foreign 
Affairs South American Director Gertie Mulder, and Dutch and 
U.S. Embassy staff.  AMB Wood briefed de Klerk on the facts 
on the ground in Colombia and on U.S. policy. 
 
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WAR ON DRUGS 
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3.  (U) de Klerk recognized the importance of the war on 
drugs and how it affects the future political stability of 
Colombia, as well as the need for international assistance. 
He expressed an interest in details about USG assistance to 
Colombia and its perceptions on the handling of the drug war. 
 de Klerk also asked how the conflict with the illegal armed 
groups would be different if they were not involved in the 
drug trade.  de Klerk expressed concern that the draft Law 
for Peace and Justice before the congress had become too 
watered down and was being criticized by the international 
community. 
 
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EXTRADITION 
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4.  (U) AMB de Klerk indicated his concern that Article 64 of 
the Law for Justice and Peace regarding sedition might 
complicate extradition proceedings for the future.  AMB 
explained that, although it was rejected on April 12, the GOC 
was going to try to re-insert it.  AMB and de Klerk discussed 
briefly the visit to Colombia of UN High Commissioner for 
Human Rights Louise Arbour currently underway (septel).  The 
Ambassador stressed the importance of the OHCHR establishing 
better relations with the GOC. 
 
5.  (U) de Klerk noted that the High Commissioner's comments 
were compatible with the tough chair statement on Colombia 
recently adopted by the UN Commission for Human Rights, on 
which the Netherlands, the U.S. and Colombia had joined 
consensus.  AMB noted that, given all the other issues being 
addressed at the CHR, adequate time was not allotted to the 
issue of Colombia in Geneva.  Most EU Ambassadors resident in 
Colombia disagreed with the approach taken by their 
counterparts in Geneva.  There was no perfect solution to the 
human rights problems in Colombia, but incremental pressure, 
rather than ultimatums, remained the best solution to affect 
change. 
 
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URIBE AND COLMIL 
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6.  (U) de Klerk asked for the Ambassador's opinion on 
Uribe's relationship with the Colombian military, and why the 
president was reluctant to criticize COLMIL in public.  AMB 
said that, although Uribe was working hard privately to clean 
up the COLMIL, it was difficult for Uribe to "trash" them 
publicly since they play a critical role in the four front 
war against the FARC, ELN, paramilitaries and 
narco-traffickers and in ultimately securing the peace.  That 
said, while the military continues to make progress, it 
needed to do more to strengthen military justice, break ties 
to paramilitary groups, and investigate and prosecute human 
rights crimes in which it may have been directly or 
indirectly involved. 
WOOD