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### Viewing cable 09BOGOTA542, MILITARY'S HUMAN RIGHTS INITIATIVES MEET RESISTANCE

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Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
09BOGOTA542 | 2009-02-20 13:51 | 2010-12-08 21:30 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Bogota

`

    VZCZCXYZ0030
    PP RUEHWEB

    DE RUEHBO #0542/01 0511351
    ZNY CCCCC ZZH
    P 201351Z FEB 09
    FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7167
    INFO RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 8660
    RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY 1682
    RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA PRIORITY 7015
    RUEHZP/AMEMBASSY PANAMA PRIORITY 3036
    RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO PRIORITY 7723
    RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
    RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
    RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
    RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
    RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC PRIORITY
    RHMFIUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
    RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY

` `

    C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 000542

    SIPDIS

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/20/2019
    TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF PHUM MOPS MCAP KJUS CO
    SUBJECT: MILITARY'S HUMAN RIGHTS INITIATIVES MEET RESISTANCE

    REF: A. 2008 BOGOTA 4165
    ¶B. BOGOTA 0401

    Classified By: Political Counselor John Creamer
    Reasons 1.4 (b and d)

    SUMMARY
    --------
    ¶1. (C) The Defense Ministry (MOD) continues to step up
    investigations into reports of murders committed by Army
    personnel, and has fired fifty-one officers and enlisted men
    implicated in the incidents--including 27 dismissed as a
    result of the Soacha murders. The MOD is also working to fix
    breakdowns in intelligence, operational planning and
    logistics that contribute to human rights abuses, as well as
    to implement clearer rules of engagement. Still, some senior
    military officials continue to resist the MOD's efforts,
    arguing that human rights concerns are overstated and that
    the new policies are harming the war effort. Army Commander
    General Oscar Gonzalez has impeded investigations of abuses
    by limiting the mandate of the Army Inspector General. With
    Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos likely to depart soon to
    launch his presidential campaign, senior military and
    civilian officials say it is key that President Uribe appoint
    a Minister equally committed to human rights if the current
    progress is to be maintained. End Summary

    MOD IMPLEMENTS CORRECTIVE MEASURES
    ----------------------------------
    ¶2. (C) Since October 2008, the MOD has dismissed fifty-one
    officers and enlisted men implicated in extrajudicial
    killings: 27 Army personnel were fired in October 2008 for
    the Soacha killings; 13 more were dismissed in November 2008
    for murders in Cordoba; and 11 others were dismissed from La
    Popa Battalion in January 2009 for killings in Cesar. In
    addition to the investigations, the MOD is implementing the
    15-point plan announced by MOD Santos in November 2008 to
    improve the military's human rights record and deter abuses
    (see reftel A). The MOD is developing clearer rules of
    military engagement and is designating those criminal bands
    that are legitimate military targets and those that should be
    subject to law enforcement action. The GOC also modified an
    internal directive regulating rewards payments to informants
    to avoid situations such as the "Rojas" case where the GOC
    paid for FARC Secretariat member Ivan Rios' hand (and later
    his corpse).

    IG'S MANDATE LIMITED
    --------------------
    ¶3. (C) Army Inspector General (IG) Major General Carlos
    Suarez, who was made IG by MOD Santos with the specific
    mandate to investigate extrajudicial killings, told us on
    February 13 that he and two trusted members of his team are
    the only personnel who investigate alleged murders committed
    killings by Army personnel. The investigations follow the
    model used by Suarez in investigating the Soacha murders, and
    examine the operational, intelligence, logistical and
    administrative components of supposed military operations.
    Suarez clarified that his role is not criminal or
    disciplinary, but rather administrative. He cannot dismiss
    any personnel on his own, and can only make recommendations
    to the Army Commander, Armed Forces Commander, or the MOD.
    For example, he recommended that 28 Army officers and other
    personnel be dismissed from the Popa Battalion due to their
    alleged roles in killings in Cesar, but Army Commander Oscar
    Gonzalez approved the removal of only 11 officers.

    PROBLEM WIDESPREAD AND BAD TACTICS
    ----------------------------------
    ¶4. (C) Suarez said the extrajudicial execution problem was
    widespread. He stated that the Soacha phenomenon originated
    in the 4th Brigade in Medellin (commanded at one time by both
    former Army Commander Mario Montoya and current Army
    Commander Oscar Gonzalez). The practice later spread to
    other brigades and commands in the region, including the
    Joint Caribbean Command. Suarez said the insistence by some
    military commanders on body counts as a measure of success
    despite MOD directives to the contrary--coupled with some
    commanders' ties to criminals and narcotraffickers--led to
    the specific pattern of murders committed in the Soacha and
    other cases. He noted that the body count system--and the
    resulting murders--not only undermined the Army's legitimacy,
    but also created a false illusion of success. As a result,
    the "false positives" diverted resources and attention away
    from the main fight against the FARC.

    SENIOR LEVEL RESISTANCE TO CHANGE
    ---------------------------------
    ¶5. (C) Suarez said he continues to enjoy the support of MOD
    Santos, Vice Minister of Defense Sergio Jaramillo, and Armed
    Forces Commander Freddy Padilla. Still, he faces resistance
    from some active duty officers supported by a group of
    retired generals and right-wing politicians. Suarez noted
    that he was imposed on Army Commander Gonzalez by Padilla,
    and that Gonzalez opposes his work. He acknowledged that
    Gonzalez tried to intimidate witnesses not to testify about
    murders committed by the 11th Brigade in Sucre, and said
    Gonzalez tries to limit his office's resources.
    XXXXXXXXXXXX echoed Suarez's comments,
    noting that Gonzalez has transferred personnel from Suarez's
    office, reduced his bodyguard contingent, and tried to
    restrict the IG's mandate. Suarez added that his family has
    received indirect threats due to his work. His staff is
    searching for an email allegedly circulating within the
    military which shows photos of the members of the MOD
    Commission that investigated the Soacha murders with X's
    drawn through them.

    ¶6. (C) Beyond the military, Suarez said retired generals such
    as Montoya and former 17th Brigade Commander Rito Alejo del
    Rio are working with right-wing politicians like former
    Minister Fernando Londono to undercut Santos' human rights
    initiatives. He cited a February 12 "El Tiempo" Op-ed in
    which Londono complained that the dismissals over the
    so-called "false positives" had emasculated the military,
    leaving officers too scared to conduct operations and
    returning the tactical initiative to the FARC. Jaramillo
    told us that some officers are mounting a campaign involving
    legal action, intimidation, and slander to harass those
    officers and civilians committed to cleaning up the Army.
    Jaramillo noted that former Colonel Mejia--who faces criminal
    charges for his role in the La Popa murders--has filed
    complaints with the Inspector General's Office (Procuraduria)
    against him and Prosecutor General Human Rights Office
    director Sandra Castro for allegedly forcing witnesses to
    testify against him.

    BATTLE OVER URIBE'S EAR
    -----------------------
    ¶7. (C) Suarez observed that President Uribe continues to view
    military success in terms of kills, leaving him susceptible
    to the arguments of some military officers and politicians
    that the MOD's emphasis on human rights is overstated and is
    harming the war effort against the FARC. Jaramillo confirmed
    that the group's arguments are gaining some traction with
    Uribe. Suarez said the President needs to understand that
    the previous enemy combat death reports included many
    non-FARC, creating a misleading view of progress and
    promoting both bad tactics and officers.

    ¶8. (C) Suarez and Jaramillo discounted charges that the
    Soacha investigations and other MOD human rights initiatives
    are discouraging military operations against the FARC, noting
    that the Army units which have achieved the greatest results
    against the terrorist group were not involved in the murders.
    Suarez said Army Operations Chief Major General Carlos
    Saavedra agrees that the human rights impact on operations
    has been minimal (Embassy's own analysis supports Suarez and
    Saavedra's conclusions. See reftel B). Still, Suarez and
    Jaramillo said that with MOD Santos likely to depart soon to
    launch his presidential campaign, President Uribe's choice of
    the next MOD will be key. If the next MOD does not share
    Santos' strong human rights commitment, the progress achieved
    to date could be reversed.
    BROWNFIELD

`