US embassy cable - 05BOGOTA5795

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 05 BOGOTA 005795 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/07/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, SNAR, MASS, PREF, EAID, KJUS, CO 
SUBJECT: PLAN COLOMBIA IMPLEMENTATION ROUND-UP, MAY, 2005 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Milton K. Drucker for reasons 1.4 (b) 
and (d). 
 
1. (U) The following is an update of Plan Colombia activities 
reported during May, 2005. 
 
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DOJ/JSRP 
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2. (U) DOJ continued to provide training and technical 
assistance through the Justice Sector Reform Program (JSRP). 
DOJ sponsored a three-week visit to the U.S. for 13 evidence 
custodians to observe and experience evidence management 
procedures in three U.S. cities, to assist in the development 
of evidence custodial procedures in Colombia.  DOJ also 
donated forensic equipment and supplies to replenish 41 
mobile crime scene kits for the Fiscalia's National Human 
Rights Unit and its eleven regional units. 
 
3. (U) The following DOJ training programs also took place in 
May: 
 
-- The "Investigator as a Witness" course was offered in 
Bogota, Medellin, Cali, Bucaramanga, Villavicencio, Tunja, 
Ibague and Yopal to 780 Colombian National Police (CNP) 
investigators.  The course focused on crime scene management, 
report writing, and testimony in court. 
 
-- The "Instructor Development for Patrol Officer Training" 
course was offered in Tunja, Cali and Bucaramanga to 90 CNP 
officers.  This course focuses on developing trainers to 
instruct their colleagues on the new criminal procedure code 
and the accusatory system. 
 
-- The "Anti-Kidnapping" course was offered by the JSRP and 
the FBI in Bogota for 36 prosecutors and investigators from 
the National Anti-kidnapping Unit and regional units.  The 
course used classroom presentations, mock crime scene 
investigation and mock trials to focus on investigation and 
prosecution strategy, crime scene and evidence management, 
interview techniques, and presentation of evidence and 
testimony in court. 
 
-- The "Trial Advocacy Training" course was offered in Cali 
and Bucaramanga to 120 prosecutors and 60 CNP investigators. 
Assistant United States Attorneys assisted in these training 
sessions, which focused on the new criminal procedure code, 
the accusatory system, handling evidence, trial techniques 
and mock court proceedings and trials. 
 
-- The "Intellectual Property Theft Investigations" course 
was offered in Cali to 30 CNP investigators and forensic 
examiners.  The course focused on understanding the crime of 
intellectual property theft, investigation techniques and 
strategy, and practical exercises and court proceedings. 
 
-- The "Financial Analysis and Database Management" course 
was offered to 50 prosecutors and investigators from the 
National Anti-Corruption Unit and the Asset Forfeiture and 
Money Laundering Unit.  The course focused on conducting 
financial investigations under the new criminal procedure 
code, and analyzing financial documents and database 
information. 
 
-- The "Leadership Training for Police Commanders and Unit 
Chiefs" course was offered in Medellin to 30 CNP officials. 
The course focused on preventing corruption. 
 
-- The "Crime Scene Management Training" course was offered 
in Monteria to 25 CNP officers. 
 
-- The "Judicial Protection" course was offered by the U.S. 
Marshals Service in Bogota to 40 protection personnel.  The 
course focused on tactical firearms training, motorcade 
control, building searches, bomb detection, 
counter-surveillance, and personnel protection. 
 
-- The "Post-Blast Crime Scene" course was offered by DOJ and 
ATF in Bogota to 30 CNP investigators, bomb technicians and 
forensic experts, as well as members of the CTI, DAS and the 
Institute for Legal Medicine and Forensic Science (ILMFS). 
The course focused on explosive theory, investigative 
techniques, evidence and chain of custody, live fire 
explosive demonstrations, and post-blast crime scene 
reconstruction.  Five ATF explosives instructors from the 
U.S. provided instruction. 
 
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MILGROUP 
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4. (C) In April, the 12th Counter-Guerilla Brigade (BCG) was 
successful in an attack against FARC forces.  Elements of the 
12th BCG engaged a FARC element of 20 men en route to attack 
the Florencia airport, killing eleven.  In early May, 
Brigadier General Luis Alberto Ardila Silva, the Commander 
(CDR) of the 6th Division, and his officer corps, credited 
the success of the 12th BCG attack to the three months of 
training they received from U.S. Special Forces (USSF) during 
the second quarter of FY05.  Ardila also said the 12th BCG 
was showing more aggressiveness and confidence.  As a result 
of this action, Ardila has asked for more of his units to 
receive USSF training. 
 
5. (C) The Colombian Army (COLAR) staff plan to form a 14th 
Mobile Brigade (BRIM 14) in July.  The unit will be created 
in Tolemaida and trained there or in Popoyan.  Major General 
Hernan Cadavid Barco, the COLAR Director of Personnel (E-1), 
said the COLAR will probably not have sufficient personnel to 
organize a 15th Mobile Brigade (BRIM 15) this year as planned 
and authorized.  The COLAR still plans on forming three more 
mobile brigades during 2006 (BRIM 16, 17, and 18) if 
resources are available.  The new Rapid Deployment Force 
(FUDRA)-South will be established after these new units are 
organized.  FUDRA-South headquarters are being built in 
Larandia, while Caqueta and Putumayo will probably be the 
area of operations. 
 
6. (U) In light of the Colombian Air Force (COLAF) request to 
cancel acquisition of two C-130Es from Evergreen Air, the 
Foreign Military Financing (US $16 million) will be 
redirected.  The COLAF submitted a letter of request (LOR) 
for US $8.7 million to extend the logistics support contract 
for the C-130 fleet for an additional 3 years.  The current 
contract expires on September 30.  The LOR would include the 
costs of salaries, administration, and parts (US $1.5 
million).  The remaining funds may be used to acquire an 
additional aircraft.  USMILGRP Cmdr Embassy Quito, Col. Kevin 
Saderup, said that the Ecuadorian AF (FAE) may be interested 
in selling an L-100 aircraft to Colombia.  FAE is pricing the 
aircraft at US $6 million, and needs the money to invest in 
other needs of its C-130 fleet.  We will recommend that CDR 
General Edgar Alfonso Lesmez Abad (COLAF) call Brigadier 
General Edmundo Marcelo Baquero Madera, the new FAE 
Commander, to discuss. 
 
7. (U) The first night vision goggle (NVG) maintenance course 
was completed for technicians from the CNP and all Colombian 
Military (COLMIL) services.  The technicians will work in the 
national NVG lab.  Two labs were purchased with USMILGP Army 
Mission funds, and will be turned over to COLMIL as part of 
the national maintenance program and Colombian joint national 
maintenance center. 
 
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NAS 
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8. (U) During the month of May, OV-10s operating from Apiay 
sprayed approximately 1,604 hectares, while AT-802s operating 
from Caucausia sprayed approximately 8,508 hectares of coca. 
Meanwhile, T-65s, operating from Popayan and Valledupar, 
sprayed 45 hectares of poppy and 1,193 hectares of coca. 
This combined effort resulted in a total of approximately 
11,305 hectares of coca sprayed during the month of May, in 
addition to the 45 hectares of poppy sprayed.  This total 
surpasses the monthly goal by over 5,300 hectares for a 
yearly total of more than 85,620 hectares of coca sprayed. 
In addition, approximately 979 hectares of poppy have been 
sprayed to date. 
 
9. (U) Eradication and COLAR aircraft were involved in eight 
incidents involving hostile fire during May, resulting in a 
total of 18 impacts for the month.  Eradication AT-802s 
received one impact, while OV-10Ds accounted for eleven 
impacts.  In the Plan Colombia Helicopter Program, UH-1Ns 
received six impacts this month. 
 
10. (U) During the month of May, COLAR Plan Colombia 
helicopters continued to support CD Brigade troops and 
Eradication operations in Caucausia and Apiay, as well as 
training operations in Tolemaida.  This month saw Plan 
Colombia helicopters flying over 1,980 hours, while 
transporting 2,609 passengers and 151,665 pounds of cargo. 
This month 108 hours were dedicated to medical evacuation 
missions, resulting in the evacuation of 27 patients. 
11. (U) On May 31, the Plan Colombia helicopter program 
deployed five UH-1HII aircraft to Saravena, in support of the 
Infrastructure Security Strategy Program.  This project's 
primary mission is to protect 174 kilometers of petroleum 
pipeline in the department of Arauca.  The aircraft will 
support a quick reaction force trained to respond to attacks 
along the pipeline, as well as support operations directly 
related to the eradication and interdiction program. 
 
12. (C) On May 5, Plan Colombia helicopters conducted an air 
assault on two objectives with elements of the 1st Battalion, 
Counter-Narcotics Brigade, in the vicinity of Tumaco, in the 
department of Narino, in an effort to capture a suspected 
FARC leader.  The Plan Colombia support package consisted of 
three UH-60 Blackhawks, four gunships, and one Command and 
Control (C2) aircraft.  Due to the number of soldiers 
required for the operation, two trips were required to ferry 
the troops.  The operation was conducted without injuries or 
damage to aircraft.  As a result of the air mobility provided 
by Plan Colombia helicopters, seven prisoners were taken 
along with 32 kilograms of coca paste and several thousand 
gallons of precursor chemicals.  Due to the amount of 
material captured, personnel from the Office of the Fiscalia 
required an additional day to process the items, requiring 
the troops to stay on the ground an additional day as well. 
 
13. (U) The OV-10 package concluded a 10-day maintenance 
stand-down during the early part of May.  This stand-down was 
initiated in order to improve the availability rates of OV-10 
spray aircraft.  During this time period, refresher training 
in survival and evasion techniques was given to aircrews and 
search and rescue personnel, along with safety classes for 
all personnel.  Split operations will still be conducted due 
to major maintenance in San Jose and spray operations in 
Apiay.  In order to conduct more efficient operations, the 
Eradication package moved from Apiay Air Force Base to the 
civil facility in Villavicencio.  Plan Colombia K-MAX 
helicopters were a tremendous asset in assisting with this 
move. 
 
14. (U) Recently the MILGRP and the Training and Assistance 
Field Team, working in conjunction with the NAS Aviation 
Unit, have established a basic instrument course for all 
Colombian Army pilots that have not completed the basic 
instrument training included in the Initial Entry Rotary Wing 
courses at either Fort Rucker, Alabama, or in Melgar, 
Colombia.  This initiative is to ensure that every pilot 
operating Plan Colombia helicopters is trained in DOD/DOS 
standards.  Additionally, tower personnel -- specifically Air 
Traffic Controllers -- are included in the simulator training 
program.  They will be used along with instructor pilots, 
unit trainers, and console operators, in order to maximize 
the available hours in a collective training event. 
 
15. (U) An INL Air Wing Aviation Resource Management Survey 
was conducted in Colombia from May 2-16 to inspect Air Wing 
programs.  Areas inspected include safety, standardization, 
security, operations, administration, logistics, maintenance, 
training, armament, and non-rated crewmember personnel.  The 
Air Wing Contractor received many satisfactory and 
commendable ratings, with only a few minor discrepancies 
noted.  A final report is due in June. 
 
16. (U) The working relationship between the Colombian Army 
Foreign Military Sales(FMS) UH-60 Fleet and the Plan Colombia 
Fleet has significantly improved, as indicated by the recent 
events in support eradication operations in Apiay. 
Specifically, during the insertion of 500 troops from both 
the Counter-Narcotics and 4th Brigades into spray blocks to 
conduct security and interdiction missions, the Army 
helicopter battalion provided one FMS UH-60 to augment the 
Plan Colombia Helicopter Program (PCHP) UH-60s.  Upon 
extraction of these 500 troops the FMS provided three UH-60s 
to augment the one PCHP UH-60 available.  This is indicative 
of the growing relationship between the PCHP and the 
remainder of the COLAR aviation program, and demonstrates the 
success of using one aircraft as a standard for training and 
operations. 
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RSO 
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17. (SBU) Anti-Kidnapping Initiative (AKI):  The ninth Crisis 
Response Training (CRT) course will begin in mid-June and 
will be completed in late July.  Weapons have begun to be 
issued to AKI participants from the first four CRT courses 
conducted in 2003 and 2004.  All previously trained GOC 
Anti-Kidnapping Officers (Grupo de Accion Unificada para la 
Libertad Personal, or GAULA) will be issued weapons and 
equipment by the end of summer 2005.  In the future, all CRT 
participants will receive their weapons and equipment at the 
completion of the course.  Mr. Victor De Windt, a former DSS 
Special Agent and RSO, has arrived in country as the new 
Anti-Terrorism Assistance (ATA)/AKI country program manager. 
The GOC has shown much interest in assisting the Government 
of Paraguay with its anti-kidnapping program using the AKI 
program as a base.  Though not verifiable, official GOC 
kidnapping figures from January to May 2005 reflect 
approximately 297 cases, with an extrapolated comparison to 
approximately 800 registered cases from January to May 2003. 
 
 
18. (SBU) The AKI data base/data flow project known by the 
Spanish name of Sistema Integrada de Informacion de Extorcion 
y Secuestro (SIIES) will begin a pilot test session in 
mid-June connecting the GAULAs in Bogota and Cuindinamarca 
with various GOC entities. 
 
19. (SBU) VIP Personal Protection Training (PPT) Program: 
Ongoing and future training will be for the President's and 
Vice President's protective details.  PPT Instructors will 
continue to advise the Mayor's protective detail.  VIP 
Personal Protection advisors met with members of President 
Uribe's family and conducted separate briefings on their 
personal security profile and responsibilities. 
 
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USAID 
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20. (U) USAID's Agribusiness Partnership Program (CAPP) 
designed an innovative finance mechanism -- the first of its 
kind in Colombia -- which allows for public bonds to be 
issued to directly finance alternative development 
activities.  The mechanism will ultimately be used to 
establish 10,000 hectares of African Palm trees over a 
19-month period in five departments.  The first group of 
bonds, released on May 2 by the Promotora de Proyectos 
Agroindustriales de Palma de Aceite S.A., raised over US $6 
million from the bond investors.  USAID's contribution of 
nearly US $1.007 million (3 percent) to the overall US $34.2 
million project cost will leverage US $14.3 million (42 
percent of the total cost) from the owners/growers and US 
$18.9 million (55 percent of the total cost) from bond 
investors.  The project will provide licit employment 
alternatives to roughly 1,300 families. 
 
21. (U) On May 20, President Uribe signed a decree adopting 
the internal control standards model developed with the 
assistance of USAID's Anticorruption and Accountability 
program.  The decree makes the internal control standards 
mandatory for over 3,000 government entities nationwide. 
Since 2001, USAID has been working to strengthen the ability 
of GOC entities to develop and implement a National Internal 
Control System based on better public management.  The 
adoption of this decree will contribute to the improvement of 
the GOC's efficiency and establish the foundation necessary 
to evaluate its performance in achieving its management goals. 
 
22. (U) On April 14, USAID's Internally Displaced Persons 
Program, through its implementing partner CHF International, 
completed and delivered 100 houses to displaced families in 
the neighborhood of Villa Esperanza de Malambo (Atlantico). 
The beneficiary families, who were trained in construction, 
built the houses themselves.  USAID's contribution of roughly 
US $280,000 to the overall US $605,000 project cost leveraged 
55 percent in additional funding from the Governor of 
Atlantico, Children International, and the displaced families 
themselves. 
DRUCKER