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 08BOGOTA239, GOC READY TO RETURN AFRO-COLOMBIAN LANDS IN CHOCO

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. #08BOGOTA239.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
08BOGOTA239 2008-01-17 20:54 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Bogota
VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBO #0239/01 0172054
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 172054Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1012
INFO RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 9787
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 5789
RUEHZP/AMEMBASSY PANAMA 1091
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 6498
UNCLAS BOGOTA 000239 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PTER PGOV SOCI ECON POL CO
SUBJECT: GOC READY TO RETURN AFRO-COLOMBIAN LANDS IN CHOCO 
 
REF: 07 BOGOTA 3855 
 
 
1.  SUMMARY:  The GOC has resolved the legal issues 
surrounding the return of the Afro-Colombian communal 
territories of Curvarado and Jiguamiando to their rightful 
inhabitants.  The GOC determined that the communities, 
displaced by paramilitaries in the mid-1990s, own 29,300 
hectares of land occupied by African palm plantations. 
Still, security concerns have prevented most community 
members from returning to their land, and basic 
infrastructure will require work.  The Ministry of the 
Interior and Justice (MinInt) expects to resolve the security 
issues within the next two months, clearing the way for the 
communities' return.  END SUMMARY 
 
Background 
---------- 
 
2.  Conflict between paramilitary and FARC forces displaced 
about 8,000 members of the Afro-Colombian communities of 
Curvarado and Jiguamiando in the department of Choco in the 
mid-late 1990s.  The GOC had previously recognized the 
communities' right to their land pursuant to Article 55 of 
the Constitution of 1991 and Law 70 of 1993.  The GOC's land 
titling agency, INCODER, delineated the boundaries of 110,000 
hectares of "communal territories" for Curvarado and 
Jiguamiando between 2000 and 2001.  However, when community 
members tried to return to their lands in 2001-2002, they 
found 35,000 hectares, or roughly a third of the land, 
occupied by African palm plantations. 
 
Untangling the Mess 
------------------- 
 
3.  In 2006 the GOC began the process of untangling ownership 
of the disputed 35,000 hectares.  Lorena Garnica, a special 
advisor to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development 
(MinAg), said "buck passing" of responsibility between GOC 
agencies remained a problem until the MinAg agreed to 
coordinate the legal resolution of the cases.   The MinAg 
decided the most effective process would be to pursue 
administrative solutions through INCODER and the 
Superintendent of Notarization and Registration (as opposed 
to filing court cases which could take many years). 
 
4.  In July 2007 the Consejo de Estado (Colombia's highest 
administrative court entity) issued an advisory opinion 
invalidating the plantation companies' claims to 5,100 
disputed hectares because they were not registered on time. 
In September the Superintendent of Notarization and 
Registration revoked companies' claims to another 24,200 
hectares (6,500 hectares of claims based on false documents 
and 17,700 based on false claims that river movement had 
created new land).  In August and September INCODER also 
determined that the companies had legitimate claims to 6,400 
hectares. 
 
Legally Resolved, But Further Civil and Criminal Action Likely 
--------------------------------------------- ----------------- 
 
5.  Catalina Riveros of the MinAg's Office of Rural 
Development has coordinated the legal resolution of the 
cases.  Riveros said the MinAg's role ended in September with 
the decisions regarding ownership.  If plantations challenge 
the decisions by the Consejo de Estado and Superintendent of 
Notarization and Registration, which Riveros thinks likely, 
the Defensoria del Pueblo (National Ombudsman) will defend 
the decisions.  However, Riveros said such law suits should 
not legally prevent Afro-Colombians from taking possession of 
their lands.  Additionally, because the plantations' actions 
were determined to be in "bad faith," the communities own any 
African palm trees on their land. 
 
6.  MinInt Vice-Minister Maria Isabel Nieto, who has 
responsibility for coordinating security issues for the 
communities' return, noted that legally the communities still 
need to request local authorities to inspect the lands and 
formally hand the title over to them.  She described this as 
a simple administrative requirement that she anticipates will 
be accomplished imminently.  Nieto said that once the 
communities ask local authorities for the inspection-title 
handover, MinInt will help coordinate the delivery. 
 
7.  In addition, Prosecutor Hector Cruz said in the next six 
month he plans to file criminal cases against 20 plantation 
officers on charges of using false documents and forcing 
people off their land (in addition, he expects to bring 
charges against non-company individuals for eight murders 
related to the land takings).  Nieto noted that the 
government has reached out to other palm companies in the 
hope that arrangements could be reached to allow the 
communities to take advantage of the valuable palm trees on 
their property. 
 
Security Issues Remain 
---------------------- 
 
8.  GOC officials and local residents told us security 
remains a serious concern.  Nieto said the police and 
military currently provide protection to specific at-risk 
community members, but agreed that the communities need an 
overall security plan.  She is working with local 
authorities, the communities, police and the military to 
develop such a plan, and expects to finish it by March. 
Nieto is also coordinating the return with Sister Cecilia 
Naranjo, the director of the human rights group "Justice and 
Peace" which represents the communities.  Naranjo told us she 
is confident that residents will be able to return once the 
security plan is in place. 
 
Living Conditions Will Need Work 
-------------------------------- 
 
9.  Nieto and Naranjo agreed that even after security has 
been established, living conditions will be difficult.  Most 
homes have been destroyed or fallen into disrepair.  Public 
facilities for health, education and other social services 
are non-existent outside of two "humanitarian zones" where 
about 500 people live.  Nieto has begun working with Accion 
Social (the President's social program office) on improving 
living conditions.  Diego Molano, Accion Social's Deputy 
Director, told us the GOC's Centro de Coordinacion de Accion 
Integral (CCAI) would soon start working in Curvarado and 
Jiguamiando.  CCAI coordinates about eighty million dollars 
of GOC spending to develop social services in areas where 
security exists but state control remains shaky. 
 
Brownfield