US embassy cable - 05BOGOTA6508

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BOGOTA 006508 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NOFORN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/11/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, MARR, MOPS, PHUM, PINR, CO, Military Justice 
SUBJECT: NEW MOD CAMILO OSPINA DISCUSSES BILATERAL 
RELATIONSHIP 
 
REF: AMB WOOD E-MAIL JUL8 (NOTAL) 
 
Classified By: Ambassador William B. Wood; reasons 1.4 
(b) and (d) 
 
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Summary 
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1. (C) On July 9, the newly-appointed Minister of Defense 
Camilo Ospina visited the Ambassador to discuss bilateral 
military cooperation.  They discussed a range of issues 
including human rights, high value targets, funding for 
military assistance, and the Justice and Peace Law.  Ospina 
stated that capturing high value targets and reforming the 
military justice system by December were his top priorities 
as minister.  He agreed that human rights improvements were 
critical for ongoing bilateral cooperation.  End summary. 
 
2. (C) Camilo Ospina, the new Minister of National Defense 
(MOD) paid a visit to the Ambassador, DCM, and Emboffs from 
Political, the Defense Attache Office, and Military Group on 
July 9 to discuss bilateral military assistance and "receive 
a briefing on his new job."  Following the long-awaited 
resignation of Jorge Uribe as Minister of Defense on July 8, 
Ospina was selected to assume control over military and 
police policy and to leave his position as Presidential Legal 
Advisor.  This is Ospina's first ministerial position. He 
told the Ambassador that he did not intend to change the 
personnel who were working successfully at the ministry. 
Ospina is a close confidant of President Uribe and a favorite 
contact and problem solver for the embassy. 
 
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Military Justice Reform and Human Rights Improvements 
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3. (C) The Ambassador underscored the importance of military 
justice reform and human rights improvements.  He told Ospina 
that military justice had to become reliable and have 
trustworthy investigative and prosecutorial capabilities.  He 
raised the Cajamarca case as an example, which implicated 
seven Army officials in the murder of six civilians, yet was 
still pending resolution fifteen months later.  Ospina agreed 
and vowed to complete reforms by December.  He stated that he 
either had to fix military justice by the end of the year or 
temporarily turn it over to the Prosecutor General's Office 
(Fiscalia). 
 
4. (C) Respect for human rights and accurate military justice 
are cornerstones for our bilateral military cooperation, 
stressed the Ambassador.  He also stressed the importance, 
and binding nature, of the vetting process.  He requested 
Ospina's help in continuing to improve the Colombian 
military's (COLMIL) respect for human rights, starting with 
military justice reform and human rights certification. 
Ospina confirmed that human rights would be a key issue for 
him during his tenure. 
 
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High Value Targets 
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5. (S) Ospina expressed concerns about the terrorist groups' 
capabilities in Colombia and asserted that capturing a 
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) Secretariat 
member was his highest priority as Minister.  He asked to be 
notified directly if the Embassy noticed specific COLMIL 
shortcomings that allowed high value targets (HVTs) to evade 
authorities.  He requested an assessment on FARC 
communications and COLMIL communication capabilities.  Ospina 
underscored the need for a successful HVT mission soon, both 
to undermine FARC morale and to offset FARC actions in the 
run-up to elections. 
 
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Implementing Justice and Peace Law 
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6. (C) The Ambassador insisted that the Justice and Peace 
Law, once signed by President Uribe, be used to prosecute 
paramilitary criminals currently in Rialito.  The law should 
be implemented in such a way that beneficiaries would begin 
their prison terms within the next month and serve several 
years in prison for their crimes.  Ospina agreed and reported 
that President Uribe planned to sign the law on July 20. 
Ospina added that he was willing to travel to Washington DC 
sometime the week of July 11 to discuss the law with U.S. 
officials. 
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COLMIL Capabilities 
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7. (C) Ospina specifically asked about the COLMIL's 
capabilities to combat landmines, to secure replacement parts 
on aircraft, and to maintain bilateral cooperation funding 
levels.  The Milgroup Commander and Defense Attache responded 
that countermining teams were well trained and equipped, but 
that the increase in plastic landmines had made detection 
more difficult.  Parts for Blackhawk helicopters were in 
short supply, but the majority of Colombian helicopters would 
be serviceable since the COLMIL had mostly UH-1s.  The 
Ambassador said Colombia was a high priority for U.S. 
military assistance and that funding had remained constant 
over the last four years and would probably continue.  The 
Ambassador and the MilGrp Commander stressed the importance 
of joint training, logistics, and equipment maintenance. 
Further, they emphasized recent COLMIL/U.S. initiatives to 
reduce redundant training and maintenance programs across 
services. 
 
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Comment 
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8. (C) In his capacity as Presidential Legal Advisor, Ospina 
has been a close, good friend of the embassy and one of the 
President's problem solvers.  He will be in a good position 
now to focus on HVTs and human rights issues, especially 
military justice reform.  Ospina's limited English will 
change the way we deal with visitors. 
WOOD