US embassy cable - 05BOGOTA6680

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BOGOTA 006680 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/05/2015 
TAGS: PTER, PHUM, KJUS, CO, AUC, Demobilization 
SUBJECT: FIVE MORE DEMOBILIZATIONS PLANNED 
 
Classified By: Ambassador William B. Wood for reasons 
1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
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Summary 
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1. (C) The GOC is preparing to demobilize at least five blocs 
in the coming weeks, including the last of senior AUC 
commander Don Berna's, and has expressed confidence that the 
rest of the AUC will be fully demobilized by the end of 2005. 
 The first of the five scheduled blocs, the Montes de Maria 
Bloc, formally demobilized on July 14.  In order to 
facilitate other demobilizations, the GOC temporarily 
suspended arrest warrants for six bloc commanders and 
identified three concentration zones.  The commanders of the 
several-thousand strong Central Bolivar Bloc and the other 
remaining AUC blocs published two communiques pledging to 
demobilize.  According to the government, this essentially 
would mark the end of the AUC as a major organization.  The 
OAS and the Peace Commissioner have expressed concern about 
resource shortages to orchestrate so many demobilizations in 
such a short time frame.  End summary. 
 
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A Flurry Of Demobilizations 
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2. (C) The GOC is pushing forward at least five paramilitary 
bloc demobilizations in the coming weeks.  The following are 
the blocs scheduled to demobilize by the end of August: 
 
-- The Self-Defense Forces of Montes de Maria began 
concentrating on July 7 in a seven-hectare farm specially 
designated as a concentration zone in the municipality of 
Maria La Baja, Bolivar Department.  The bloc had almost 600 
members and publicly demobilized on July 14.  Eduardo Cotes 
Tellez ("Diego Vecino") and Rodrigo Mercado Pelufo ("Rodrigo 
Cadena") are the bloc's commanders.  Both were permitted to 
leave the concentration zone in Ralito to lead the 
demobilization under heavy DAS security, but neither was 
eligible for pardon under Law 782 because they have pending 
arrest warrants.  Instead, they will return to Ralito to 
await processing under the Law for Justice and Peace.  The 
group was active in Sucre, Bolivar, and Cordoba Departments. 
 
-- The Heroes of Granada and the Pacific Bloc are the last 
remaining active blocs of senior AUC command Diego Murillo 
("Don Berna").  Murillo pledged to demobilize all of his 
troops after turning himself in to authorities in May for the 
murder of the local government official.  The Heroes of 
Granada are active in and around Medellin and have an 
estimated 2,000 members.  They will demobilize in a specially 
designated zone in San Roque, Antioquia Department.  Daniel 
Alberto Mejia Angel is the bloc's operational commander.  The 
GOC suspended his arrest warrant until the end of August to 
permit him to lead the bloc's demobilization.  The Pacific 
Bloc has between 200 to 300 members, is active on the coast 
of Cauca and Valle del Cauca, and involved in drug 
trafficking off the Pacific coast.  It will demobilize in a 
yet unidentified zone in Choco Department, south of the city 
of Quibdo.  The arrest warrant for its operational commander, 
Luis Eduardo Echavarria Durango, was also suspended until the 
end of August so he could lead the demobilization. 
 
-- The Liberators of the South will be the next bloc to 
demobilize, according to members of the OAS verification 
mission.  The group is part of the Central Bolivar Bloc 
(BCB), which totals several thousand members and has units 
throughout the country.  The Liberators of the South will 
demobilize in a yet unidentified concentration zone near the 
airport of Pasto, Narino Department.  The group has an 
estimated 100 or 200 members, operates in Narino Department, 
and is involved in drug trafficking off the Pacific coast. 
 
-- The Self-Defense Forces of Meta and Vichada are commanded 
by Jose Baldomero Linares, whose arrest warrant was suspended 
until the end of August.  The bloc has around 800 members. 
 
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And More On the Way 
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3. (C) The remaining AUC commanders with active blocs issued 
two communiques pledging to demobilize.  Peace Commissioner 
Restrepo is confident he will have demobilized all of the AUC 
by the end of 2005 (septel).  On July 7, BCB commanders 
Javier Montanez ("Macaco"), Julian Bolivar, Pablo Sevillano, 
and Ernesto Baez said they would demobilize all their troops, 
active in Santander, Norte de Santander, southern Bolivar, 
Vichada, Antioquia, Boyaca, Caldas, Risaralda, Caqueta, 
Narino, and Putumayo Departments.  They said they would begin 
concentrating their troops as soon as the government named 
concentration zones.  As a first step, the GOC suspended the 
arrest warrant for Rodrigo Perez Alzate ("Guillermo Alzate") 
for two months to allow him to represent the BCB during 
demobilizations.  According to the OAS, the BCB has 5,500 
members.  Other estimates indicate it has up to 7,000.  It is 
the single largest AUC bloc and one of the most powerful. 
OAS verification mission director Sergio Caramagna has 
expressed concern that neither his office nor the GOC have 
the resources to demobilize so many paramilitaries 
simultaneously (septel).  Restrepo has said he would need to 
triple his staff to carry out the demobilizations 
effectively. 
 
4. (U) On July 9, senior AUC commanders Ramon Isaza, Ramiro 
Vanoy Murillo ("Cuco"), Pablo Mejia, and Jorge Tovar ("Jorge 
40") pledged to demobilize the Middle Magdalena Bloc, the 
Miners' Bloc, the Vanquishers of Arauca, and the Northern 
Bloc.  These four blocs would be the final active AUC blocs. 
As a first step, the GOC suspended Isaza's arrest warrant for 
two months. 
WOOD