US embassy cable - 05BOGOTA9269

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BOGOTA 009269 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/23/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, PTER, CO, VE, FARC, Demobilization 
SUBJECT: BOGOTA MAYOR SEEKS CLOSER RELATIONSHIP WITH EMBASSY 
 
Classified By: Ambassador William B. Wood; reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
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Summary 
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1. (C) Ambassador Wood met with Bogota Mayor Luis Eduardo 
(Lucho) Garzon on September 22, at the Mayor's request.  In a 
wide ranging discussion, Garzon requested more contact with 
the Ambassador and Embassy staff to improve information 
sharing, particularly on security issues.  He asked for 
assistance in establishing a better working relationship with 
the head of the Colombian National Police.  The mayor 
expressed concern about the existence of demobilized FARC 
members in Bogota as well as the growing number of displaced 
persons in the capital.  On recent press reports regarding 
French-FARC contacts on a  humanitarian exchange, Garzon 
speculated that the FARC was prepared to cut a deal with the 
French to release Colombian-French hostage Ingrid Betancourt, 
in an attempt to weaken President Uribe's political position. 
 Garzon also speculated that recent overtures received by the 
Mayor of Paris were an attempt to enlist his help.  He 
predicted that the Constitutional Court will approve 
Congressional legislation to permit presidential re-election. 
 Garzon was critical of Hugo Chavez and expressed concerns 
about the future of the left in Latin America if Chavez 
becomes its standard bearer. 
 
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Garzon Seeks Closer Relationship with Embassy 
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2.  (C) Garzon said he desired a close relationship with the 
Embassy, suggesting regular meetings with the Ambassador. 
The Ambassador and Garzon agreed on the need to be in closer 
touch to share information, particularly on security concerns 
in Bogota.  Garzon also requested Embassy assistance in 
making contact with the head of the Colombian National 
Police.  The Ambassador agreed to arrange a meeting between 
the two. 
 
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Increasing Numbers of Demobilized Fighters 
and Displaced Persons in Bogota 
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3.  (C) Garzon said he was concerned about the presence of 
four half-way houses for demobilized FARC members in Bogota. 
The lack of appropriate resources and few job opportunities 
for demobilized fighters put the citizens of Bogota at risk. 
The Ambassador reminded the Mayor that Bogota had to share in 
the responsibility of helping demobilized fighters return to 
society.  Garzon agreed but criticized GOC handling of the 
situation, saying that without additional investment, the 
reinsertion program would fail.  Garzon suggested that the 
GOC focus more on agricultural investment as a way to employ 
the growing number of demobilized fighters.  He added that he 
had no difficulty with demobilized fighters working in 
private security. 
 
4.  (C) Garzon noted that Bogota's improved economic 
situation had attracted not only people who were displaced as 
a result of the ongoing conflict, but also economic migrants 
from surrounding Departments.  Garzon lamented the lack of 
investment in Cundinamarca (where Bogota is situated) and 
Boyaca Departments.  He expressed concerned that Bogota did 
not have the resources to absorb the influx of people from 
surrounding areas.  The Ambassador suggested that Garzon work 
with the UN to assist with the displaced population.  Garzon 
responded that the UN was too bureaucratic and noted that 
some NGOs working these issues were completely politicized. 
 
 
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FARC Wants to Hurt Uribe with Release of Ingrid Betancourt; 
Increased FARC presence in Cundinamarca Department? 
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5.  (C) Garzon said it was a surprise to him to read in the 
press recently that he had invited the Mayor of Paris to 
Bogota to discuss the release of Ingrid Betancourt.  He 
denied extending the invitation and speculated that the Mayor 
of Paris and the former French Ambassador to Colombia Daniel 
Parfait (now MFA Director for Latin American affairs and the 
husband of Betancourt's sister) were looking for ways to 
legitimize French efforts to free Betancourt.  Garzon said 
the FARC wanted to cut a deal with the French to release 
Betancourt in an effort to weaken Uribe's political position. 
 He also believed the FARC have concluded that a freed 
Betancourt speaking out against Uribe from France could 
damage the president politically.  Garzon said that, while he 
supported Betancourt's release, he did not want to be used by 
the French in their efforts to free her. 
6. (C) Garzon also expressed concern about a growing FARC 
presence in Sumapaz, in southwest Cundinamarca Department. 
He said an "army to army confrontation" was a possibility. 
(Note. In the 1990s, the high plains of Sumapaz, connecting 
Cundinamarca with Meta and Huila Departments, was a FARC 
stronghold and a significant mobility corridor into Bogota. 
The Sumapaz region also controls an important regional 
transportation corridor.  The army has stationed a brigade 
there to obstruct FARC movements.  End Note.) 
 
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Garzon on Reelection 
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7.  (C) Garzon predicted that the Constitutional Court would 
rule in favor of reelection, but stressed that, in his view, 
it would not guarantee Uribe's reelection.  He claimed to 
have no opinion on the merits of reelection. 
 
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A Positive Agenda for the Region: Look to the Cities 
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8. (C) Garzon was openly critical of Venezuelan President 
Hugo Chavez and expressed concern for the left in Latin 
America if Chavez were to become its standard bearer.  In 
response to the Ambassador's query about how Garzon would 
create a positive agenda that would resonate in the region, 
Garzon said the way to shore up democracy was to focus on the 
development of cities (where 75 percent of Colombians live). 
This meant building fiscal accountability, expanding access 
to quality education, and improving health care.   This was 
his agenda, he said, and that of his party, the Independent 
Democratic Pole (Polo Democratico Independiente). 
 
9.  (C) Garzon noted that Chavez and his supporters here, 
such as Rep. Gustavo Petro, were trying to bring him into 
their orbit, which he has rejected.  He believes President 
Lula's troubles in Brazil have created a vacuum on the left 
in the region. 
WOOD