US embassy cable - 02BOGOTA11477

UNCLAS BOGOTA 011477 
 
S/CT FOR REAP 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PTER, CO 
SUBJECT: COLOMBIA: 2001 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT 
 
REF: STATE 201772 
 
SUMMARY 
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1. THIS IS POST'S RESPONSE TO REFTEL REQUEST FOR INPUT ON THE 
2001 TERRORISM REPORT FOR COLOMBIA.  AFTER MORE THAN 50 YEARS 
OF FIGHTING AMONG GOVERNMENT TROOPS, GUERRILLAS AND 
PARAMILITARIES, COLOMBIANS ARE INTIMATELY FAMILIAR WITH THE 
SCOURGE OF TERRORISM.  TWO COLOMBIAN TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS 
(THE REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES OF COLOMBIA OR FARC, AND THE 
NATIONAL LIBERATION ARMY OR ELN) HAVE BEEN ON THE FOREIGN 
TERRORIST LIST SINCE 1997.  IN 2001, THE USG ADDED A THIRD, 
THE UNITED SELF-DEFENSE FORCES OF COLOMBIA OR AUC.  THE GOC 
IS A WILLING AND COOPERATIVE PARTNER IN THE GLOBAL FIGHT 
AGAINST TERRORISM.  IN ADDITION, THE GOC IS RESPONSIVE TO 
INDIVIDUAL USG REQUESTS FOR EXTRADITION AND STATEMENTS OF 
SUPPORT.  END SUMMARY. 
 
2. THE FOLLOWING ADDRESSES REFTEL'S SPECIFIC QUESTIONS: 
 
A. THE GOC HAS BEEN VERY COOPERATIVE IN BLOCKING TERRORIST 
ASSETS.  IN 2001, THE GOC CREATED THE FINANCIAL INFORMATION 
AND ANALYSIS UNIT (UIAF), SIMILAR IN FUNCTION TO THE U.S. 
FINANCIAL CRIMES ENFORCEMENT UNIT (FINCEN).  UIAF HEAD 
RODOLFO URIBE COLLABORATES CLOSELY WITH EMBASSY'S OFAC OFFICE. 
 
B. NO INTERNATIONAL TERRORIST ACTS TOOK PLACE ON COLOMBIAN 
SOIL DURING 2002.  COLOMBIA'S JUDICIAL SYSTEM RESPONDED 
ADEQUATELY TO SIGNIFICANT ACTS OF DOMESTIC TERRORISM, 
CONSIDERING LACK OF FUNDING AND PERSONNEL, AND GIVEN SPECIFIC 
FARC THREATS AGAINST PROSECUTORS. 
 
C. THE GOC IS VERY RESPONSIVE TO U.S. REQUESTS FOR 
EXTRADITION.  AS OF DECEMBER 6, THE GOC HAS EXTRADITED 29 
COLOMBIAN CITIZENS TO THE U.S. DURING 2002, WITH 26 
ADDITIONAL CASES PENDING. 
 
D. THE GOC IS HAMPERED IN ITS EFFORTS TO PROSECUTE AND/OR 
EXTRADITE TERRORISTS (MAINLY NARCOTRAFFICKERS) BY BUDGETARY 
CONSTRAINTS AND SPECIFIC FARC THREATS AGAINST PROSECUTORS. 
GOC EFFORTS IN THE FACE OF THESE OBSTACLES ARE IMPRESSIVE. 
 
E. COLOMBIAN ELECTED OFFICIALS AND OFFICIAL NEWS AGENCIES 
CONTINUOUSLY AND PUBLICLY MAKE STATEMENTS DEPLORING TERRORIST 
INCIDENTS WITHIN COLOMBIA. 
 
F. THE GOC FOCUSES ITS COUNTERTERRORISM EFFORTS INTERNALLY. 
 
G. THE GOC DOES NOT SUPPORT TERRORISTS POLITICALLY OR 
FINANCIALLY. 
 
H. THE GOC HAS NOT MADE ANY STATEMENTS IN SUPPORT OF A 
TERRORIST-SUPPORTING COUNTRY. 
 
I. THE INAUGURATION OF PRESIDENT ALVARO URIBE ON AUGUST 7, 
2002 SET THE TONE FOR AN INCREASED GOC WAR ON DOMESTIC 
TERRORISM.  URIBE HAS PROPOSED PENSION AND LABOR REFORMS AND 
HAS IMPOSED A GOVERNMENT AUSTERITY PROGRAM AS WELL AS A 
ONE-TIME "WEALTH TAX" TO BETTER FUND THE WAR.  THE GOC'S GOAL 
IS TO INCREASE GOVERNMENT DEFENSE SPENDING FROM 3.2 PERCENT 
OF GDP TO MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT. 
 
J. THE USG AND GOC ARE WORKING COOPERATIVELY TO ATTACK 
FUNDING FOR NARCOTRAFFICKING AND ASSOCIATED TERRORISM THROUGH 
PLAN COLOMBIA.  SPECIFICALLY, EMBASSY'S OFAC OFFICE 
COORDINATES WITH THE GOC FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND ANALYSIS 
UNIT (UIAF) TO TARGET TERRORIST FINANCING. 
 
K. IN 1999, FARC INSURGENTS CAPTURED AND THEN KILLED THREE 
U.S. CITIZEN PEACE ACTIVISTS.  OF THE SIX FARC ACTORS 
INDICTED, ONE HAS BEEN CAPTURED.  THREE OTHER FARC MEMBERS 
NOT INCLUDED IN THE ORIGINAL INDICTMENT WERE ARRESTED IN 
NOVEMBER 2002 IN CONNECTION WITH THE MURDERS.  THE USG 
CONTINUES TO PUSH FOR RESOLUTION OF THESE CRIMES; HOWEVER, 
THE GOC HAS GENERALLY BEEN COOPERATIVE. 
 
L. THE GOC HAS CONSISTENTLY BEEN RESPONSIVE TO USG REQUESTS 
TO RAMP UP SECURITY AT THE EMBASSY COMPOUND AND OTHER USG 
INTERESTS FOLLOWING FARC THREATS. 
 
COMMENT 
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3. IN GENERAL, THE GOC IS SUPPORTIVE OF USG EFFORTS TO COMBAT 
TERRORIST ACTS AND TARGET TERRORIST FINANCES.  THE URIBE 
ADMINISTRATION HAS GIVEN EVERY SIGN THAT OUR COOPERATION WILL 
ONLY INCREASE OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS. 
 
BACA