US embassy cable - 05BOGOTA10399

C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 010399 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/01/2015 
TAGS: KJUS, PGOV, PREL, PTER, CO 
SUBJECT: PEACE COMMISSIONER ANNOUNCES GOC INTENTION TO 
STICK WITH DECEMBER 31 DEMOBILIZATION DEADLINE 
 
REF: BOGOTA 10060 
 
Classified By: Ambassador William B. Wood, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
 
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SUMMARY 
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1. (C) On November 1, in an official communique, Peace 
Commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo declared that the GOC 
intended to hold the United-Self Defense Forces of Colombia 
(AUC) to the December 31, 2005 demobilization deadline, or be 
met with military confrontation.  He also announced that no 
AUC member could participate in politics until their group 
had fully demobilized and cleared up any pending legal 
obligations with the State.  (On October 21, Restrepo told 
the Ambassador that he preferred extending the deadline; 
Uribe has over-ruled him.)  At the same time, according to 
the International Organization for Migration (IOM), whose 
personnel have participated in almost every demobilization 
thus far, the GOC has neither the personnel nor resources to 
complete the process if the AUC concedes to GOC demands. End 
Summary. 
 
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AUC RESPONDS TO GOC'S COMMUNIQUE 
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2. (SBU) In a November 1 communique, Peace Commissioner Luis 
Carlos Restrepo announced the following (begin unofficial 
translation): 
 
-- The demobilization timeline agreed upon with the AUC must 
be fully realized.  According to the July 15, 2003 Santa Fe 
de Ralito Accord, the final date for demobilizations will be 
December 31, 2005.  There is no valid reason for these groups 
to suspended demobilizations.  Those who decide not to 
demobilize voluntarily will be confronted militarily. 
 
-- AUC members must abstain from any participation in 
politics.  Only when these structures have been dismantled in 
their totality and their members have responded for crimes 
committed, can we establish whether they comply with the 
legal requirements to participate in political debate. 
 
End of unofficial translation. 
 
3. (SBU) AUC political chief Ivan Roberto Duque, AKA "Ernesto 
Baez," responded with surprise to the GOC's "ultimatum" in a 
radio interview later in the day.  Despite some difficulties, 
Baez said the peace process continued.  Nevertheless, he said 
if the GOC failed to extend the December 31 deadline, it 
would be detrimental to the completion of all demobilizations 
since it was unrealistic to think all demobilizations could 
be completed before the deadline.  He also announced that AUC 
negotiators have scheduled to meet with Restrepo on November 
3 to discuss the GOC's conditions in greater detail. 
 
4. (SBU) In an article in El Tiempo on November 2, Baez 
reiterated that completing the remaining demobilizations 
before the deadline would be impossible since it has taken 
over a year to demobilize 10,000 combatants.  He also warned 
the GOC not to threaten them with military force, since that 
force has been unable to solve the conflict in 40 years. 
 
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RESTREPO HAD INITIALLY EXPRESSED INTEREST 
IN POSTPONING DEMOBILIZATION DEADLINE 
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5. (C) On October 21 per reftel, Restrepo briefed Ambassador 
and WHA/AND Director Phil French on his views regarding why 
he thought extending the December 31, 2005 demobilization 
deadline would be necessary, but cautioned that he had not 
yet consulted President Uribe.  Restrepo explained that it 
was unrealistic to think they could demobilize the remaining 
10,000 paramilitaries in less than two months, and that 
holding to the deadline would hinder the GOC more than the 
AUC.  The Ambassador cautioned against allowing 
 
demobilizations to extend beyond the December 31 deadline 
since it would risk the credibility of and support for the 
process. 
 
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URIBE DID NOT WANT TO MOVE DEADLINE 
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6. (C) According to an official in the Peace Commissioner's 
Office, Uribe disagreed with Restrepo, decided that the GOC 
would not negotiate with the AUC beyond the agreed deadline, 
and insisted that the government's position be reiterated 
publicly.  RCN journalist Alfredo Bustillo, who follows the 
peace process and has covered the paramilitary phenomenon for 
several years, asserted to poloff that Uribe's decision is a 
rebuff to Restrepo.  Bustillo said the Peace Commissioner is 
increasingly tired, isolated, and frustrated with the 
President overruling his recommendations.  Nevertheless, 
Bustillo claimed that maintaining the deadline was a good 
move by the government since the last set of para groups need 
to be spoken to more forcefully. 
 
7. (C) In telephone conversations with the President and the 
President's chief of staff on other issues, the Ambassador 
expressed support for Uribe's decision not the extend the 
December 31 deadline. 
 
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NEAR-TERM FUTURE FOR DEMOBILIZATIONS UNCERTAIN 
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8. (C) There does remain concern that the GOC lacks the 
logistical capacity in personnel and resources to complete 
demobilization by December 31.  According to Camilo Legizamo 
from the IOM, whose organization has participated in almost 
every demobilization to date, even if the AUC were to attempt 
to meet the deadline with two or three demobilizations 
simultaneously over the next two months, the GOC does not 
have the resources to accommodate them.  The need for 
personnel on demobilization day as well as a complete 
security infrastructure in the areas where the groups have 
demobilized would overwhelm GOC capacity, says Legizamo. 
Moreover, he has heard through GOC officials that the next 
demobilization will not take place until November 11. 
According to RCN's Bustillo, the AUC will not reinitiate 
demobilizations until the GOC answers them on imprisonment 
conditions, justice and peace law eligibility, and security 
reassurances to their demobilized areas. 
WOOD