Currently released so far... 5268 / 251,287
Articles
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Amsterdam
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lagos
Mission USNATO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Browse by tag
AF
ASEC
AR
AORC
AJ
AM
AMGT
AE
AU
AGMT
AG
AS
AFIN
APER
ABUD
ATRN
AL
AEMR
ACOA
AO
AX
AMED
ADCO
AODE
AFFAIRS
AC
ASIG
ABLD
AA
AFU
ASUP
AROC
ATFN
AVERY
APCS
AER
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
AEC
APECO
CU
CO
CH
CDG
CIA
CACM
CDB
CI
CS
CVIS
CA
CBW
CASC
CD
CV
CMGT
CLINTON
CE
CJAN
CG
CF
CN
CAN
COUNTER
CIS
CM
CONDOLEEZZA
COE
CR
CY
CTM
COUNTRY
CLEARANCE
CPAS
CWC
CT
CKGR
CB
CACS
COM
CJUS
CARSON
CL
COUNTERTERRORISM
EG
ECON
ETTC
EFIN
EZ
ETRD
EUN
ELAB
EU
EINV
EAID
EMIN
ENRG
ECPS
EN
ER
ET
ES
EPET
EUC
EI
EAIR
EAGR
EIND
EWWT
ELTN
EREL
ECIN
EFIS
EINT
EC
ECONEFIN
ENVR
ECA
ELN
EFTA
EXTERNAL
EINVETC
ENIV
EINN
ENGR
EUR
ESA
ENERG
EK
ENGY
ETRO
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ENVI
ESENV
ELECTIONS
ECUN
EINVEFIN
ECIP
EINDETRD
IV
IR
IS
IZ
IAEA
IN
IT
ICTY
IQ
ICAO
INTERPOL
IPR
INRB
IRAJ
INRA
INRO
IO
IC
ID
IIP
ITPHUM
IWC
ISRAELI
IRAQI
ICRC
IMO
IF
ILC
IEFIN
INTELSAT
IL
IA
IBRD
IMF
INR
IRC
ITALY
ITALIAN
KGIC
KDEM
KTIP
KOMC
KNNP
KWBG
KU
KPAL
KGHG
KAWK
KISL
KPAO
KHLS
KSUM
KSPR
KJUS
KCRM
KGCC
KPIN
KDRG
KTFN
KG
KBIO
KHIV
KSCA
KN
KS
KCOR
KZ
KE
KFRD
KIPR
KPKO
KNUC
KMDR
KPLS
KOLY
KUNR
KIRF
KIRC
KACT
KRAD
KCOM
KMCA
KV
KHDP
KVPR
KDEV
KWMN
KMPI
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KCFC
KTIA
KPRP
KAWC
KCIP
KCFE
KOCI
KTDB
KMRS
KLIG
KBCT
KICC
KGIT
KSTC
KPAK
KNEI
KSEP
KPOA
KFLU
KNUP
KNNPMNUC
KO
KTER
KHUM
KRFD
KBTR
KDDG
KWWMN
KFLO
KSAF
KBTS
KPRV
KNPP
KNAR
KWMM
KERG
KFIN
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KTBT
KCRS
KRVC
KSTH
KREL
KNSD
KTEX
KPAI
KHSA
KR
KPWR
KWAC
KMIG
KSEC
KIFR
KDEMAF
MOPS
MARR
MNUC
MX
MASS
MCAP
MO
MIL
MTCRE
ML
MR
MZ
MPOS
MOPPS
MTCR
MAPP
MU
MY
MA
MG
MASC
MCC
MEPP
MK
MTRE
MP
MDC
MAR
MEPI
MRCRE
MI
MT
MQADHAFI
MD
MAPS
MUCN
MASSMNUC
MERCOSUR
MC
OVIP
OPDC
OPRC
OIIP
OFFICIALS
OSAC
OAS
OEXC
ODIP
OREP
OFDP
OTRA
OSCE
OPIC
OECD
OPCW
OSCI
OIE
OIC
OTR
OVP
PARM
PREL
PTER
PHUM
PGOV
PINR
PINS
PREF
PK
PE
PBTS
POGOV
PROP
PINL
PL
POL
PBIO
PSOE
PHSA
PKFK
PO
PGOF
PA
PARMS
PORG
PM
PMIL
PTERE
PF
PALESTINIAN
PY
PGGV
PNR
POV
PAK
PAO
PFOR
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PRGOV
PNAT
PROV
PEL
PINF
PGOVE
POLINT
PRL
PRAM
PMAR
PGOVLO
PHUMBA
PHUS
PHUMPREL
POLITICS
PEPR
PSI
PINT
PU
POLITICAL
PARTIES
PECON
SOCI
SY
SENV
SA
SP
SNAR
SG
SCUL
SR
STEINBERG
SF
SW
SU
SL
SMIG
SO
SN
SHUM
SZ
SYR
ST
SANC
SC
SAN
SIPRS
SK
SH
SI
TS
TU
TX
TBIO
TW
TSPA
TH
TIP
TI
TRGY
TC
TR
TT
TERRORISM
TO
TFIN
TD
TSPL
TZ
TPHY
TK
TNGD
TINT
TRSY
TP
UK
UN
US
UNGA
UNSC
UNO
UNMIK
UV
UY
UP
UG
USEU
USUN
UZ
UNESCO
UE
UAE
UNEP
USTR
UNHCR
UNDP
UNHRC
USAID
UNCHS
UNAUS
UNCHC
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 06BOGOTA10596, ARRESTS OF PUBLIC FIGURES WITH ALLEGED
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.
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. #06BOGOTA10596.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
06BOGOTA10596 | 2006-11-17 21:09 | 2011-02-20 12:12 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Bogota |
VZCZCXYZ0029
PP RUEHWEB
DE RUEHBO #0596/01 3212129
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 172129Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0852
INFO RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 7277
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 8438
RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ NOV LIMA 4494
RUEHZP/AMEMBASSY PANAMA 9755
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 5157
RUEHGL/AMCONSUL GUAYAQUIL 3774
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHEHOND/DIRONDCP WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 010596
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/2016
TAGS: KJUS PGOV PINR PREL PTER CO
SUBJECT: ARRESTS OF PUBLIC FIGURES WITH ALLEGED
PARAMILITARY TIES; URIBE CALLS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTION
AND HARSH PUNISHMENT
REF: A. A) BOGOTA 8108
¶B. B) BOGOTA 9795
Classified By: Ambassador William B. Wood.
Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d)
-------
Summary
-------
¶1. (C) On November 17, President Uribe strongly supported
the recent law enforcement actions against several Colombian
Congressmen for alleged paramilitary ties, and said the State
had to proceed with "more severity" when public figures
violated the law. The Supreme Court of Justice ordered the
arrest on November 9 of three members of Congress from Sucre
Department for allegedly organizing paramilitary groups in
the region and, in one case, for instigating a massacre that
took 15 lives. Two of the three have turned themselves in;
one remains at large. We understand the Court has asked the
Congress to confirm whether an additional 90 individuals are
or have been members of Congress, apparently because those
individuals are also the subject of a Court investigation.
End summary.
-----------------------------------------
Uribe Urges Strict Application of the Law
-----------------------------------------
¶2. (C) At a November 17 event commemorating the 120th
anniversary of the Supreme Court, President Uribe strongly
supported recent Supreme Court actions against Colombian
Congressmen allegedly involved with paramilitaries, murder
and corruption, and said the State had to proceed with "more
severity" when public figures were accused of violating the
law. He stressed "where there are congressmen, political
leaders or Executive officials involved in crime, they must
go to jail." Uribe said the GOC supported the Justice
system's ongoing investigations "without hesitation," because
justice is a "fundamental element" of his democratic security
policy. He concluded that Colombia needed to be free of
guerrilla and paramilitary influence, and democratic
institutions must govern.
-------------------------------------------
Court Issues Arrest Warrants, More Expected
-------------------------------------------
¶3. (U) On November 9, the Supreme Court of Justice issued
arrest warrants for three members of Congress from Sucre
Department who are accused of having ties with paramilitary
groups. The three -- Senator Alvaro Garcia, Senator Jairo
Merlano, and Representative Erik Morris -- are charged with
aggravated conspiracy to commit criminal activity. Garcia is
also charged with aggravated homicide and embezzlement.
Morris and Garcia have surrendered to authorities, but
Merlano remains at large. The Court based its decision in
part on information the Fiscalia (Prosecutor General's
office) provided to it.
¶4. (U) The Court is investigating Garcia and Morris for
organizing, arming, and financing paramilitaries in Sucre
since 1997. Garcia is also being questioned about his
participation in the Macayepo massacre on October 16, 2000,
in which 15 people died, and in the murder of Georgina
Marvaez on November 19, 1997. He is also suspected of
embezzling COP 17 million (USD 8 million) from a 1998 public
works in Sucre Municipality. Garcia allegedly used the money
to finance a paramilitary group. Merlano was reportedly
involved with the Heroes of the Montes de Maria paramilitary
group.
¶5. (C) XXXXXXXXXXXX told us the Supreme Court's Criminal Chamber asked
Congress on November 16 to certify whether 80 individuals are
or were members of Congress to determine if they are subject
to the Court's jurisdiction over sitting members. House
Secretary General Angelino Lizcano told us the number was
SIPDIS
closer to 90. XXXXXXXXXXXX said the Supreme
Court would issue arrest warrants for possibly 12 additional
members of Congress for alleged paramilitary ties. She said
Zulema Jattin from the U Party, Dieb Maloof from Colombia
Viva, and David Char from Cambio Radical were expected to be
on the list of 12.
¶6. (C) XXXXXXXXXXXX said an arrest warrant has been issued for
Sergio Araujo, brother of Foreign Minister Maria Consuelo
Araujo, for money laundering. Sergio Araujo has also been
linked with gun-running for the AUC and to Jorge 40. Senator
Alvaro Araujo, also a brother of the Foreign Minister,
confirmed press reports that he had said at a private meeting
at Casa Narino that "if they come for me, they had better
come for Conchi (the Foreign Minister), the president, and
the procurador (Inspector General Edgardo Maya, formerly
married to an Araujo)." He admitted attending meetings at
which Jorge 40 was present prior to his demobilization, but
denied being associated with paramilitary political projects.
Araujo said his comments were not a threat, but were
intended to warn the Uribe administration about the political
fallout from arrests and investigations.
--------------------------
Other GOC Institutions Act
--------------------------
¶7. (C) The Fiscalia recently opened cases against prominent
former public figures and businessmen for alleged
paramilitary ties. The Fiscalia arrested former
Congresswoman from Sucre, Muriel Benito, for failure to
appear for questioning about her alleged links to
paramilitary groups. The Supreme Court asked the Fiscalia to
investigate five individual for alleged ties to
paramilitaries, including former Sucre governor and Colombian
Ambassador to Chile Salvador Arana, Sucre assembly deputy
Angel Daniel Villarreal, businessman Jose Joaquin Garcia,
cattle rancher Miguel Nule, and engineering contractor
Octavio Otero. The Inspector General's office (Procuraduria)
announced it would investigate former Administrative
Department of Security (DAS ) FBI equivalent) Director Jorge
Noguera for several alleged crimes, including collaboration
with paramilitaries.
--------
Why Now?
--------
¶8. (C) XXXXXXXXXXXX said Uribe's policy of disarming and demobilizing the
paramilitaries had undermined the groups' military capacity
and opened new spaces for public pressure to uncover the
truth about paramilitary activities. XXXXXXXXXXXX told
us the Sucre cases have come to light because the murder of
Sucre paramilitary leader Rodrigo Mercado (AKA "Cadena") by
other paramilitary leaders who feared Mercado would confess
para crimes had created room for people to speak out. In
addition, XXXXXXXXXXXX said the departures of former Supreme Court
President Carlos Isaac Nader, who had blocked previous
investigations to protect Sucre politicians, had also helped.
Lastly, XXXXXXXXXXXX said stories about Jorge 40's computer
sparked prosecutor interest in pursuing cases.
¶9. (U) See septel for the political implications of the
congressional investigations.
WOOD
=======================CABLE ENDS============================