US embassy cable - 05BOGOTA10336

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BOGOTA 010336 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, PINR, PTER, KJUS, CO, Demobilization, Human Rts 
SUBJECT: NGOS SHARE CONCERNS OVER JUSTICE AND PEACE LAW AND 
TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS WITH WHA/AND DIRECTOR FRENCH 
 
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SUMMARY 
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1. (SBU) On October 20, representatives from five leading 
human rights NGOs met with WHA/AND Director Philip French to 
provide their assessments of human rights conditions in 
Colombia.  Three NGOs expressed concern over paramilitary 
demobilizations and the implementation of the Justice and 
Peace Law, while one NGO was cautiously optimistic.  The NGOs 
also addressed Plan Colombia, the Early Warning System, and 
trafficking in persons issues.  The meeting was cordial and 
positive.  End Summary 
 
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NEITHER JUSTICE NOR PEACE, SAY SOME NGOS... 
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2. (SBU) Gloria Florez of MINGA, Iris Marin Ortiz of Comision 
Colombiano de Juristas, and Soraya Gutierrez of Colectivo de 
Abogados criticized paramilitary demobilizations and the 
Justice and Peace (J&P) law during an October 20 meeting with 
visiting WHA/AND Director Philip French.  Florez accused 
demobilized paramilitaries of maintaining control over 
municipal transportation and land ownership, and claimed they 
exercised undue influence over elected representatives.  She 
singled out Cucuta, Catatumbo, Putumayo, Bolivar, and 
Atlantico as Departments with worrisome paramilitary 
influence.  Ortiz questioned whether the J&P law could 
effectively address impunity.  Gutierrez expressed similar 
concerns, arguing that the J&P law not only disenfranchises 
the victims, but also that it "calls into question the very 
definition of democracy in Colombia." 
 
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...BUT OPINION NOT UNANIMOUS 
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3.  (SBU) Mario Gomez of Fundacion Restrepo Barco was more 
supportive of the Uribe administration's implementation of 
the J&P law, a position he has reiterated on a number of 
occasions.  However, Gomez said he was concerned about the 
AUC's cease-fire violations. 
 
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EARLY WARNING SYSTEM 
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4. (SBU) Gomez said he supports the U.S.-funded Early Warning 
System for potential human rights violations, but told French 
that some of his NGO colleagues do not share this view. 
According to Gomez, some NGOs believe that civilians should 
not serve as informants because it would increase the risk 
that they could become targets themselves.  French questioned 
this assertion, however, noting that the early warning system 
was a legitimate way to involve civilians in preventing 
massacres. 
 
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FUMIGATION 
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5.  (SBU) Florez and Gutierrez criticized the fumigation 
aspect of Plan Colombia, stating the policy has caused much 
more harm to peasant workers and indigenous peoples than to 
narcotraffickers.  Florez claimed that a vicious cycle exists 
whereby authorities spray and destroy cocoa plants, only to 
have new crops planted shortly thereafter.  She also claimed 
that municipal and Departamental authorities do not agree 
with the national government over the costs and benefits of 
fumigation.  Gutierrez called fumigation a failure, claiming 
that only 13 Departments had cocoa plantations prior to Plan 
Colombia fumigation in 2000, whereas 25 had them in 2005. 
French defended the use of glyphosate, noting its widespread 
use in the United States and in Latin America. 
 
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TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS 
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6.  (SBU) Victoria Giraldo of Fundacion Esperanza explained 
that while some progress is being made, daunting challenges 
remain in combating trafficking in persons.  She said her 
group is providing training to Colombian diplomatic missions 
in Europe to provide assistance to victims, as well as to 
airport officials in Colombia in spotting travelers who fit a 
victim profile.  She also pointed out that ignorance is often 
to be blamed in fueling the crisis, as many Colombians do not 
know what a travel visa is or are too trusting of advertised 
foreign marriages.  In addition, many of the victims are 
displaced persons from the armed conflict, which contributes 
to their vulnerabilities.  Giraldo praised the Government of 
Japan for its increased cooperation in identifying Colombian 
victims, as well as the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo for 
facilitating their repatriation, but criticized the GOC for 
not doing enough to prosecute the violators. 
 
7.  (U) WHA/AND Director French cleared this message. 
WOOD