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DE RUEHBO #0794/01 0631933
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 031933Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1637
INFO RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY 0037
RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ MAR 9266
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA PRIORITY 5968
RUEHZP/AMEMBASSY PANAMA PRIORITY 1333
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RUEHGL/AMCONSUL GUAYAQUIL PRIORITY 4311
RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA PRIORITY 0020
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UNCLAS BOGOTA 000794 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PTER OAS CO
SUBJECT: POPULAR WOMEN'S ORGANIZATION MEMBERS ALLEGE 
SECURITY REMAINS CONCERN IN BARRANCABERMEJA, BUCARAMANGA 
 
 
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SUMMARY 
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¶1. (SBU) Polcouns visited a Popular Women's Organization 
(OFP) office in Barrancabermeja and also made remarks at the 
inauguration of a new OFP office in Bucaramanga on February 
¶13.  Members of the group told Polcouns about the threats 
against their group by so-called "paramilitaries" and other 
criminal groups, their concerns about the new Barrancabermeja 
Mayor's "militarized" approach to address the city's 
increasing violence, and the need for more social programs in 
the region. OFP appreciated the visit, stating international 
recognition of the OFP helps their security.  END SUMMARY. 
 
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THREATS AGAINST OFP 
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¶2.  (SBU) At the OFP office in the northeastern, 
working-class neighborhood of Barrancabermeja (Barranca), 
PolCouns met with twenty women to hear their account of life 
in Barranca.  The women reviewed the OFP's history, noting 
that paramilitaries targeted OFP offices and members during 
the paramilitary "taking" of Barranca in December 2000 and 
early 2001.  Prior to the paramilitary operation, the ELN and 
FARC controlled the city's working class areas.  The women 
said OFP has 3000 active members, and provides food, 
counseling, vocational training, and legal services to women 
in Barranca and rural municipalities in the Medio Magdalena 
region. The women thanked Polcouns for the visit, stressing 
that international recognition is important to ensure the 
OFP's security. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Polcouns gave three interviews with local radio and 
television, stressing the importance of the OFP's work. OFP 
President Yolanda Becerra left Barranca in November after two 
armed men broke into her apartment and threatened her life, 
as well as that of her family.  Becerra receives protection 
from the Ministry of Interior and Justice's protection 
program for human rights activists, journalists, unionists, 
and other at-risk individuals. She now splits her time 
between Bogota and Bucaramanga. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) The women claimed the paramilitary demobilization 
changed little in Barranca.  Several said so-called 
"paramilitaries" continue to patrol openly on motorcycles in 
the city's poorer neighborhoods despite heavy police and 
military presence.  The criminal groups run extortion and 
loan sharking operations, and also engage in "social 
cleansing." The women acknowledged that new mayor Carlos 
Contreras lacks ties to traditional, corrupt  politicians, 
but voiced skepticism that he would improve the city's 
security. They said Contreras has held two municipal security 
meetings in response to a recent increase in murders, 
promising to build two new police stations and to increase 
the number of police. (Note: President Uribe held a National 
Security Council meeting in Barranca on February 25.) The OFP 
leaders expressed concern that Contreras considers 
"militarization" to be the solution to the city's problems. 
They believe better social programs would be more effective 
in improving the city's security. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) At Becerra's invitation, Polcouns also made remarks 
at the inauguration of a new OFP office in Bucaramanga--a two 
hour drive from Barranca.  The local UN High Commission on 
Human Rights representative also attended.  Becerra said 
Bucaramanga is where Barranca was two years ago in terms of 
security.  She noted the active presence of the Aguilas 
Negras, a criminal group that runs drugs, loan shark 
operations, and extortion rackets in the city.  The local OAS 
Mission in Support of the Peace Process in Colombia 
(MAPP/OAS) representative agreed that GOC security operations 
in Norte del Santander have forced narcotraffickers to shift 
their activities to Bucaramanga, leading to an increase in 
crime.  Still, the representative said the Aguilas Negras and 
other criminal groups focus on narcotrafficking and do not 
exercise the political control held by the old paramilitary 
groups. 
 
 
 
Brownfield