Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 06BOGOTA3573, COLMIL: ABUSE CASES UNDER REVIEW; JUSTICE REFORM

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #06BOGOTA3573.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
06BOGOTA3573 2006-04-21 22:43 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Bogota
VZCZCXYZ0001
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBO #3573/01 1112243
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 212243Z APR 06
FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4356
INFO RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY 7597
RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ APR 7911
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA PRIORITY 3643
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO PRIORITY 4287
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS BOGOTA 003573 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PJUS MARR CO
SUBJECT: COLMIL: ABUSE CASES UNDER REVIEW; JUSTICE REFORM 
IN PROGRESS 
 
REF: A. 05 BOGOTA 1705 
     B. BOGOTA 1850 
     C. BOGOTA 1981 
 
------- 
Summary 
------- 
 
1. (U) By late April the military justice system expects to 
complete investigations of ten soldiers charged with abusing 
21 recruits in January at a military base in Tolima.  Final 
rulings are not expected until mid-summer at the earliest, 
with further delays possible at multiple stages in the 
process.  The lengthy procedures underline the need for 
military justice reform, which is underway albeit slowly.  A 
first phase of reform already approved by Congress will 
reduce case backlogs by fast-tracking minor cases.  A second 
phase to overhaul military justice more fundamentally is 
targeted for passage this summer.  Separately, the civilian 
justice system is proceeding with its own investigations of 
the Tolima cases, for charges over which it has jurisdiction. 
 Torture could be among them. 
 
 
--------------- 
The Allegations 
--------------- 
 
2. (U) On January 25, in an apparent hazing ritual, 21 new 
army recruits were allegedly subjected to beating, branding, 
and sodomy at a military base in Tolima Department.  Ten 
soldiers were implicated in the events, including the 
battalion commander, four lieutenants, four corporals, and a 
'career soldier' (of unknown rank).  The charges were split 
between military and civil judicial authorities, according to 
their respective jurisdictions.  The COLMIL retains authority 
over charges deemed to be specific to the armed forces -- 
attacks on inferiors (by corporals and the career soldier), 
prevarication by omission (by the lieutenants), and abuse of 
authority via omission of reporting (by the battalion 
commander).  The Fiscalia (civilian Attorney General) will 
rule on offenses of a human rights nature, specifically 
infliction of physical abuse and violent sexual acts.  The 
Fiscalia is also said to be weighing possible charges of 
torture.  Of the accused, the corporals and career soldier 
are in custody, while the lieutenants and commander have been 
released. 
 
 
-------------------------- 
The Military Investigation 
-------------------------- 
 
3. (U) According to the Executive Director of Military Penal 
Justice, Brigadier General Luis Fernando Puentes, the COLMIL 
began an internal investigation on January 27, two days after 
the alleged events.  The General says a formal investigation 
is essentially complete, awaiting only a psychiatric 
evaluation requested by the defense counsel that he hopes 
will be finished by the end of April.  However, there is a 
lengthy process ahead, comprising half a dozen stages of 
scrutiny from charging to judging to sentencing.  In the 
best-case scenario, according to General Puentes, final 
rulings may emerge by July or August, but objections or 
requests at any stage by the defense counsel could cause 
delays. 
 
 
------------------- 
The Need for Reform 
------------------- 
 
4. (U) The cases' slow progress underlines the necessity of 
military justice reforms now underway led by General 
Puentes, Military Penal Justice unit.  The reforms' first 
phase will cut case backlogs by enabling simpler cases to 
follow a shortcut process of fewer steps.  According to 
Puentes, this phase was recently passed by Congress and 
awaits the President's signature.  Moreover, local 
authorities from around the country have participated in 
training workshops and are ready to implement the new 
procedures as soon as they become law.  The second phase, 
transforming Colombia's military justice from an 
investigative to an accusatory model and thereby accelerating 
case turnaround times, will likely be enacted this summer 
(Refs A and B).  For cases as serious as the alleged abuses 
 
at Tolima, the reforms should reduce turnaround time from 6-7 
months to 2-3 months, says Puentes, while more minor offenses 
could be settled even more quickly. 
 
 
-------------------------- 
The Fiscalia Investigation 
-------------------------- 
 
5.  (U) The Fiscalia's separate investigations began on March 
6.  Puentes said the COLMIL supplied 1132 pages of 
documentary evidence to the Fiscalia on March 8.  A Fiscalia 
source is unable to estimate a target date for completion of 
its investigations.  By law, investigations of more than 
three persons cannot extend beyond 360 days, but sources 
indicate that those time limits are often not observed in 
practice.  Included in the Fiscalia's interrogations of the 
accused are questions pertaining to charges of torture. 
(Note: General Puentes claimed that torture would not be 
applicable to these cases, because the actions were not 
performed in a systematic way, but evidently the Fiscalia 
regards possible torture charges as worth investigating.) 
 
 
------------------------------------------- 
Comment: Opportunity to Demonstrate Changes 
------------------------------------------- 
 
6. (U) The Tolima abuse cases received ample coverage in the 
press, causing President Uribe to fire the COLAR's top 
commander (Ref C).  Inherent in this high-profile mess, 
however, is an opportunity for the COLMIL to begin to 
demonstrate that the military justice system can work better 
-- first by administering the cases quickly and efficiently, 
secondly by meting out suitable sentences to overcome a 
civilian perception of military impunity, and finally by 
instituting strict ethics and controls with respect to humane 
treatment of soldiers and civilians alike to ensure abuses 
will not recur. 
WOOD