US embassy cable - 05BOGOTA7588

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BOGOTA 007588 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/10/2015 
TAGS: PTER, PHUM, SNAR, PGOV, CO, AUC 
SUBJECT: PARAMILITARY DEMOBILIZATION UPDATE 
 
Classified By: Ambassador William B. Wood for reasons 
1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
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Summary 
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1. (C) In early August, three more paramilitary blocs 
demobilized, bringing the total number of demobilized 
paramilitaries to over 8,700 since 2003.  The Liberators of 
the South demobilized 676 members, the Heroes of Granada 
demobilized 2,033, and the Self-Defense Forces of Meta and 
Vichada demobilized 200.  During the process, all 
paramilitaries from the three blocs went through the numerous 
mandatory registration steps, including being checked through 
the Department of Administrative Security (DAS, rough FBI 
equivalent) database for pending arrest warrants, giving DNA 
swabs, fingerprints, dental records, and photos to the 
Prosecutor General's Technical Investigative Corp (CTI), and 
being entered into the government's electronic tracking and 
monitoring system.  According to the GOC, senior AUC 
commander "Don Berna" has now demobilized all his troops, 
which he had pledged to do in June after turning himself in 
to authorities for murdering a local government official. 
Almost 6,000 members of the Central Bolivar Bloc (BCB), the 
largest and most powerful single AUC bloc, are scheduled to 
begin demobilizing in September, along with the remaining 
other blocs.  End Summary. 
 
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Liberators of the South 
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2. (U) On July 30, 676 members of the Liberators of the South 
demobilized in a public ceremony in a recreation center in 
Taminango municipality, Narino Department.  The bloc turned 
over 593 weapons total, including 419 rifles and 70 pistols. 
This was the first of several groups that make up the BCB, 
the single largest and most powerful paramilitary bloc left 
to demobilize.  The demobilization had been postponed several 
times because the local community reacted with strong fear of 
guerrilla attacks.  The Security and Democracy Foundation, an 
independent and well-respected think tank, has warned that 
the FARC will likely try to retake valuable drug cultivation 
and transportation areas lost to the AUC in 2000.  The 
Liberators of the South operated in prime drug trafficking 
territory and was involved in trafficking off the Pacific 
coast. 
 
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Heroes De Granada 
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3. (C) On August 1, 2,033 members of the AUC's Heroes of 
Granada demobilized in San Roque, Antioquia Department 
outside of Medellin.  This was the largest bloc 
demobilization ever.  Emboffs observed the concentration and 
registration phase prior to the ceremony, which was 
military-like in its organization.  All 2,033 paramilitaries 
fulfilled the mandatory registration steps, including being 
identified, photographed, fingerprinted, and entered into the 
tracking and monitoring system.  About two thirds of the 
troops had operated in rural areas outside of Medellin and 
appeared in uniform while the urban militia had operated in 
the city of Medellin and appeared in civilian clothes.  The 
bloc turned over 1,123 weapons total, including 454 rifles 
and five machine guns.  GOC officials present during the 
demobilization told emboffs the weapons were not nearly as 
high-quality as weapons turned in by other blocs. 
 
4. (C) Senior AUC commander Diego Murrillo ("Don Berna") 
controlled the bloc and was present during the demobilization 
under heavy government supervision.  His arrival was cheered 
and saluted by his troops.  The open allegiance shown to him 
suggests that the troops had not been recruited off the 
streets of Medellin to pose as paramilitaries, as speculated 
in the media.  Berna and Peace Commissioner Restrepo 
announced that the Heroes of Granada was Berna's last bloc to 
demobilize and that he no longer had any paramilitaries under 
his control.  Earlier, Berna was said to be in control of the 
still un-demobilized Pacific Bloc.  Now, however, government 
officials involved in demobilization report that the Pacific 
Bloc was demobilized piecemeal by sending members to other 
bloc demobilizations, such as the Liberators of the South. 
What remains of the Pacific Bloc is not under Berna's 
control, according to the government. 
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Meta and Vichada 
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5. (U) On August 6, approximately 200 members of the 
Self-Defense Forces of Meta and Vichada demobilized on a 
private farm in Puerto Gaitan municipality, Meta Department. 
The bloc is part of several paramilitary groups operating in 
the eastern plains, including the still active Centauros 
Bloc, which splintered when its commander, Miguel Arroyave, 
was killed last year. 
 
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More To Come 
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6. (C) Over 8,700 paramilitaries have demobilized 
collectively since 2003.  Several blocs still remain, 
including the BCB.  The BCB has between 5,000 to 6,000 
members and had originally demanded numerous concentration 
zones to demobilize all its units simultaneously.  After 
negotiating with the BCB commanders, the GOC now plans to 
demobilize the bloc in three zones on three different dates. 
Restrepo has repeatedly warned that the GOC will be hard 
pressed to complete all the upcoming demobilizations before 
the end of 2005 without additional resources for expanded 
logistical needs. 
WOOD