VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEBO #4746/01 1812003
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 302003Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6711
INFO RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 9133
RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ JUL LIMA 5205
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 5803
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUETIAA/CSG SOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC//USDP ADMIN/CHAIRS//

C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 004746 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/22/2017 
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR PTER CO
SUBJECT: BUENAVENTURA: MILITARY AND CIVILIAN EFFORTS TO 
STEM THE CRISIS 
 
REF: BOGOTA 1836 
 
Classified By: Political Counselor John S. Creamer 
Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
------- 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶1. (C)  Marine and Police reinforcements in Buenaventura have 
cut homicides from last year's peaks, but violence has 
rebounded as FARC militias and criminal gangs launched a wave 
of bombings in response to the security crackdown.  In 
addition, drug traffic has shifted inland, and gangs have 
recruited minors to evade law enforcement.   Aside from 
battling crime, Marines and Police are promoting community 
projects to augment social services, create jobs, and help 
delinquent youth.  USAID officers met with military 
commanders, city officials, and community leaders to find 
ways to help address the city's socio-economic problems.  End 
Summary. 
 
---------------------------------------- 
Security: Progress Brings New Challenges 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (C)  Homicides and bombings, fueled by drug feuds among 
FARC militia, ex-paramilitaries, and other narco gangs spiked 
late last year in the primary port of Buenaventura (reftel), 
but an influx of security personnel cut the murder rate.  A 
Joint Task Force of Marines, Police, and other law 
enforcement (DAS, CTI) boosted their forces early this year, 
beefing up patrolling and detaining many gang leaders. 927 
criminals were captured by mid-May.  Murder rates fell to 
historical norms in the first quarter (see table), and 
intelligence indicated many coca shipments were blocked by 
coastal patrols.  Police data indicated the drug trade 
migrated from the city center to the mainland; they believe a 
continued heavy presence could drive out drugs in the long 
term.  Mayor Saulo Quinones told us 75 percent of 
Buenaventura's homicides were targeted hits among competing 
narcotraffickers. 
 
----------------------------- 
(C) Homicides in Buenaventura 
----------------------------- 
 
Month / year            Number 
---------------         --------- 
 
May '06                       26 
June '06                      33 
July '06                      32 
August '06                    31 
September '06                 31 
October '06             17 
November '06                  48 
December '06                  60 
January '07             41 
February '07                  25 
March '07                     28 
April '07                     40 
 
 
¶3. (C)  Still, the success in reducing homicides was 
shortlived, as security forces' actions prompted a violent 
backlash.  Large drug seizures and criminal captures sparked 
a wave of reprisal homicides in April, as gangs killed 
presumed informants.  The murder count for 2007 reached 230 
by late June.  Attacks with explosives and grenades 
continued, mostly targeted at the police but often injuring 
innocents.  Police Chief Moreno said a mid-April bombing that 
destroyed police headquarters in Cali was punishment for 
police actions in Buenaventura.  A total of 11 bombs exploded 
over the June 22-24 weekend, killing three and wounding at 
least 30.  These were attributed to either FARC retaliation 
for a key captured militia leader or to reconstituted 
paramilitary criminal networks.  No American citizens have 
been victims. 
 
¶4. (C)  Criminal groups have also adapted their tactics. 
Some gangs who could not move their coca out of Buenaventura 
hoarded it, and extortion rose as criminals sought 
alternative income.  FARC militias replaced arrested local 
leaders with experienced commanders from the interior.  Other 
gangs began recruiting more teens to attack Police.  Minors 
are harder to prosecute, and Police hesitate to return fire 
against them.  Marine commanders said their initial estimate 
that a three-month surge would be sufficient to bring order 
 
to Buenaventura was wishful thinking.  This will be a long 
deployment.  On June 19, DEA Regional Director met with Vice 
President Santos, who endorsed the establishment of a DEA 
supported cellular telephone intercept facility dedicated to 
interception of Pacific Coast drug trafficking groups. 
President Uribe held a communal council focused on security 
in Buenaventura on June 30. 
 
------------------------------------- 
Social Welfare: Military Fills a Void 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶5. (C)  Marines and Police have started community programs in 
some slum areas, providing some relief without waiting for 
longer-term urban renewal.  The Marines' 24 initiatives 
include civics lessons to youth, corporate sponsored aid to 
schools, and sports programs.  The Marines also support an 
association of outside companies that funds city projects 
like parks and libraries.  The Police are also focused on 
youth delinquency.  In addition to high school counseling 
programs, they proposed a juvenile shelter for 2,000-3,000 
minors at risk of joining criminal gangs.  The GOC is 
considering the proposal.  The city government plans to 
resettle residents living in the worst barrios to mainland 
public housing.  This idea, modeled on cities like Guayaquil, 
has been proposed to the World Bank, Andean Development 
Corporation (CAF), and GOC.  A shortage of local funding, 
endemic corruption, and a change of Mayor in October 
elections make it unlikely the plan will move ahead soon. 
 
------------------------------ 
Jobs: Seeding Small Businesses 
------------------------------ 
 
¶6. (U)  The Marines and the Mayor have also launched 
initiatives to support small enterprises.  The Marines 
arranged a meeting between supermarket chain Carrefour and 92 
small producers to generate supply contracts, but the family 
businesses were unable to meet demand.  The Marines will send 
50 young adults in 2007 to a national occupational training 
site (SENA) in Medellin to learn basic business skills, visit 
local industries, and gain exposure to Medellin's 
entrepreneurial culture.  Buenaventura is also a pilot city 
for the July start of the Network Against Extreme Poverty, a 
presidential micro-credit program.  The Mayor also has plans 
for a mainland business park, a platform for light industry 
and a transport hub.  The concept calls for construction to 
be funded by private sector tenants, but the city would have 
to make massive infrastructure upgrades.  Funds have not been 
identified. 
 
------------------------- 
The View from the Barrios 
------------------------- 
 
¶7. (U)  Community leaders from poor neighborhoods said most 
of their constituents were victims of narcotrafficking.  They 
were unfairly stigmatized by other Colombians, and their 
situation had deteriorated sharply over last 18 months.  The 
leaders supported the security forces but resented the 
"militarization" of their streets and criticized the police 
for timidity against gangsters and rough treatment of 
residents.  Citing quick releases of detained gang members, 
they questioned the ability of the legal system to prosecute 
criminals.  Many residents feared retribution for helping 
police.  Leaders supported the resettlement of residents of 
coastal slums on three conditions: provision of social 
services (especially utilities now denied to squatters), 
jobs, and estuary access to the sea for fishermen.  Community 
leaders have little faith the October municipal elections 
will help, calling local politicians self-serving and corrupt. 
 
----------------------- 
Embassy Looking to Help 
----------------------- 
 
¶8. (C)  On June 20 Embassy officers met with the city's 
Marines, Police, Mayor, and community leaders to discuss ways 
to extend US aid to Buenaventura in coordination with the GOC 
and other international donors.  Preliminary discussions 
suggested potential areas of cooperation could include aid to 
civil society and/or Afro-Colombian welfare, as well as 
alternative development and small business projects.  The 
U.S. Military Group will work with Marines and Police to fund 
small, direct-impact projects like water supply or schools. 
The USNS Comfort -- scheduled to visit Buenaventura in August 
-- will offer free medical care to thousands of residents and 
will repair the city hospital.  USAID will also hold a forum 
in Buenaventura to advise applicants on drafting project 
grant proposals.  Contractors' safety will be a critical 
consideration. 
 
 
Drucker