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DE RUEHBO #2529/01 1071754
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O 171754Z APR 07
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UNCLAS BOGOTA 002529 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KJUS PGOV PINR PREL PTER CO
SUBJECT: BACKGROUND ON THE "CONVIVIR" SELF-DEFENSE GROUPS 
 
REF: 02 BOGOTA 8317 
 
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Summary 
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¶1.  (SBU) The "Convivir" self defense groups were authorized 
by President Gaviria 1994 and abolished by President Samper 
in 1998.  Their original purpose was to enable citizens to 
defend themselves from terrorist attacks and to supply 
intelligence to the security forces.  During their brief 
existence, the Convivir were controversial due to their 
involvement in numerous human rights abuses.  Many human 
rights groups charge the Convivir fueled the growth of 
paramilitary groups.  President Uribe, who was Governor of 
Antioquia from 1995-97, strongly supported the Convivir, but 
dismantled two such groups due to alleged human rights 
abuses.  End summary. 
 
---------------------- 
1995, Convivir Created 
---------------------- 
 
¶2.  (SBU) In February 1994, former President Gaviria issued a 
decree that created the "Superintendent of Vigilance and 
Private Security" under the Ministry of Defense.  The 
Ministry of Defense was authorized to license private 
citizens to use firearms (pistols and revolvers) to protect 
themselves in high-risk areas.  In April 1995, the Samper 
Administration used the Gaviria decree as the legal basis to 
issue regulations creating Public Self-Defense Groups called 
"Convivirs."  The Convivirs were supposed to report 
counterinsurgency intelligence to local security forces, but 
some of the Convivirs were linked to gross human rights 
violations.  Many human rights groups charge the Convivirs 
quickly degenerated into paramilitary groups. 
 
------------------------ 
1997, Convivir Abolished 
------------------------ 
 
¶3.  (SBU) In October 1997, the Samper Administration issued a 
resolution abolishing the "Convivir," but did not take steps 
to dismantle them.  Also in October, the Constitutional Court 
upheld the legality of the Convivir, declaring citizens had 
the right to organize themselves in collective self-defense 
groups, but ordering the groups to give up all their heavy 
weapons, including machine guns and rifles.  The original 
1994 decree authorized the groups to use only small arms. 
Many groups ignored this restriction and acquired substantial 
arsenals. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) After the Constitutional Court's decision, the 
Samper Administration issued a decree and a resolution 
charging these groups with the responsibility to protect 
human rights.  Still, reports of Convivirs colluding with 
paramilitaries continued, and in July 1998, the Samper 
Administration began dismantling them.  Following his August 
1998 inauguration, former President Andres Pastrana completed 
this process as a peace gesture aimed at the FARC. 
 
---------------------------- 
Uribe's Role in the Convivir 
---------------------------- 
 
¶5.  (SBU) As Antioquia department Governor from 1995-97, 
Uribe actively supported the Convivir groups operating in 
Antioquia and put his Secretary of Government, Pedro Juan 
Moreno, in charge of overseeing them.  Uribe asked that the 
Convivirs be authorized to use heavier arms, but the national 
government rejected his request.  Uribe has publicly 
acknowledged that his request was a mistake in view of the 
human rights abuses later committed by some of the Convivirs. 
 He claims, however, that only two Convivirs in Antioquia 
cooperated with the paramilitaries.  He immediately 
dismantled them.  GOC sources report that 70 Convivirs, out 
of 400 nationwide, operated in Antioquia. 
 
-------------------------- 
2003, "Red de Cooperantes" 
-------------------------- 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Uribe admits that some of the Convivir grew out of 
control, but he sees citizen cooperation with Colombia's 
security forces as key to his democratic security strategy. 
In 2003, Uribe supported the creation of a network of 
informants, or "red de cooperantes," to provide information 
on suspicious activity or persons to the security forces. 
Participation in the program is voluntary.  Members are 
equipped with radios or cellphones, and are strictly 
prohibited from carrying arms.  The programs are administered 
and monitored by the Armed Forces and National Police. 
Drucker