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DE RUEHBO #2102/01 0881845
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P 291845Z MAR 07
FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3726
INFO RUEHSW/AMEMBASSY BERN PRIORITY 1269
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 7461
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY 8843
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA PRIORITY 4893
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 1550
RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO PRIORITY 0372
RUEHZP/AMEMBASSY PANAMA PRIORITY 0126
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO PRIORITY 5532
RUEHSM/AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM PRIORITY 0367
RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE PRIORITY 3350
RUEHGL/AMCONSUL GUAYAQUIL PRIORITY 3910
RUCNDTA/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1837

C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 002102 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR WHA/AND AND USOAS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/25/2017 
TAGS: AADP PGOV PREF PREL PTER CO
SUBJECT: ROBUST OBSERVATION MISSION REQUIRED FOR OCTOBER 
LOCAL ELECTIONS 
 
REF: BOGOTA 1390 
 
Classified By: CDA Milton K. Drucker 
Reasons: 1.4 (b,d) 
 
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Summary 
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¶1.  (C) On March 20, Foreign Minister Fernando Araujo 
formally requested an OAS electoral mission to observe the 
October local elections.  The request reflects 
concerns--heightened by recent revelations of paramilitary 
interference in the 2002 and 2006 legislative elections--that 
former paramilitary groups and leftist terrorists will try to 
influence the results through fraud and coercion.  Political 
parties and the key GOC electoral official agree such a 
mission should be larger than the typical OAS mission and 
stay on the ground longer.  The GOC is also seeking advance 
support to monitor the critical voter registration process 
culminating in May.  We welcome the prospect of an expanded 
OAS mission, which would complement GOC and civil society 
efforts to address electoral concerns, especially in rural or 
conflict areas.  End summary. 
 
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GOC Request OAS Assistance for October Elections 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
¶2.  (C) Foreign Minister Araujo formally requested an OAS 
observation mission for Colombia's October local elections 
during his March 20 meeting with OAS SYG Insulza.  Vice 
Foreign Minister Camilo Reyes and Secretary in the Presidency 
Bernardo Moreno also separately told us the GOC would welcome 
such assistance, but did not discuss the details of the size 
or scope of the mission.  National Election Registrar Juan 
Carlos Galindo--responsible for the integrity of the 
elections--told us he would be traveling to Washington the 
week of March 26 to meet with OAS SYG Insulza to reiterate 
the GOC's request to the OAS.  Galindo said the 45 
international monitors (15 from OAS) on the ground for the 
2006 elections were not nearly enough.  He will request at 
least 150 for October--on the ground in Colombia for at least 
a month, if possible, to reinforce the GOC's efforts. 
Galindo told us the close of voter registration rolls (May 
1-21) will be an especially critical period.  He would 
welcome any international support available between now and 
election day.   Galindo said he is taking actions to combat 
fraud, including randomly transferring local registrars 
(reftel). 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
Growing Consensus for Enhanced Election Observation 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
¶3. (C)  Recent revelations of paramilitary interference in 
the 2002 and 2006 congressional elections have created 
popular concern about Colombia's electoral process.  U Party 
President Carlos Garcia, Liberal Party President Cesar 
Gaviria, and POLO President Carlos Gaviria--along with 
numerous civil society leaders--tell us a robust 
international election monitoring effort will help to address 
any doubts about the results.  All support an OAS observation 
mission. They say it needs to  be larger than previous OAS 
efforts and to be on the ground for at least a month prior to 
the elections.   Threats to a free and fair process come from 
former paramilitaries and leftist terrorist groups.  Rural 
Security Police General Antonio Gomez Mendez told us new 
criminal groups (including some led by former paramilitary 
leader Vicente Castano) plan to interfere in the October 
elections through violence, intimidation and corruption.  As 
in the past, the FARC, and to a lesser extent the ELN, will 
also attempt to influence key races, mostly in the southern 
half of the country.  The FARC is also expected to attempt to 
use violence to suppress voter turnout in areas where their 
ability to determine the results is limited. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
International Community Supports Monitoring Efforts 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
¶4. (U)  The international community recognizes potential 
fraud and violence concerns, and is discussing efforts to 
assist the GOC in its election preparation and monitoring 
plans.  On March 20, Swedish Ambassador Lena Nordstrom hosted 
officials from interested G-24 embassies to discuss the 
October elections.  All acknowledged the threats posed by 
illegal armed groups, as well as the need to support the 
GOC's and local civil society's efforts to protect the 
integrity of the October elections.  Swedish, Dutch, 
Norwegian, Swiss, British, and EU officials stressed the 
importance of financial and other support to the local NGO 
"Electoral Observation Mission (MOE)," support/training to 
university and media groups, and aid to civil society groups 
working on an elections risk map.  UNDP representative Bruno 
Moro said his organization was preparing election reform 
proposals and would work through the G-24 to secure 
resources.  All agreed on the importance of local and 
national media in promoting public debate of key policy 
issues and in exposing armed groups' efforts to influence the 
results through fraud or violence.  Participants agreed to 
coordinate their efforts to support the electoral process. 
 
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USAID Programs in Place for October 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶5. (U)  USAID is considering several activities to promote 
electoral transparency in October, including a human rights 
violation/election risk mapping program, domestic 
observation, and voter education.  The National Democratic 
Institute (NDI) will conduct Party poll-watcher training for 
up to 20,000 people in prioritized regions.  USAID will also 
provide USD 300,000 to MOE to provide monitoring in the 
vulnerable Choco, Cesar, Magdalena, Guajira, and Norte de 
Santander Departments, and will also provide security 
training (and possibly equipment) to at-risk political 
leaders in critical regions.  We will work with our 
international partners to identify areas for further 
cooperation and reinforcement.  Linking international and 
domestic efforts will be crucial. 
 
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Comment 
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¶6.  (C)  We agree international observation would strengthen 
GOC and extensive local civil society efforts to address 
concerns regarding the October local elections, especially in 
rural areas.  The Department should support a robust OAS 
mission, including the presence of smaller OAS teams to begin 
the monitoring process as soon as possible. This would lay 
the foundation for a larger OAS mission that would arrive 
closer to the poll date.  Any enhanced election observation 
mission will carry a substantial cost, but we understand the 
OAS has funds available for this purpose.  End comment. 
Drucker