VZCZCXYZ0002
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBO #0455/01 0432036
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 122036Z FEB 09
FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7002
INFO RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 8643
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY 1645
RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ FEB 9913
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA PRIORITY 6984
RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID PRIORITY 0543
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO PRIORITY 7692
RUEHSM/AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM PRIORITY 0373
RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAWJC/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/FBI WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY

UNCLAS BOGOTA 000455 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM KJUS PREL PTER CO
SUBJECT: THINK TANK "NUEVO ARCO IRIS" BRIEFS AMBASSADOR ON 
PARA-POLITICAL SCANDAL AND EMERGING CRIMINAL GROUPS 
 
REF: 08 BOGOTA 4430 
 
SUMMARY 
------- 
¶1.  (SBU) Center-left think tank Corporacion Nuevo Arco Iris 
(CNAI--"New Rainbow Corporation") leaders Leon Valencia, 
Claudia Lopez, and Mauricio Romero told the Ambassador on 
February 2 that the GOC has not done enough to break 
paramilitary ties with politicians, especially at the local 
level.  They agreed that the new criminal groups currently 
lack the military capacity and political agenda of the United 
Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC), but said the GOC needs 
to do more to combat this phenomenon.  Valencia outlined 
CNAI's 12 years of experience in investigating victims' 
issues, promoting citizen security, proposing democratic 
reforms, and exploring ways to achieve peace.  Valencia said 
Arco Iris wants to have a constructive relationship with the 
GOC, but finds it difficult due to GOC harassment of the 
group.  End summary. 
 
BEST KNOWN FOR PARA-POLITICAL WORK 
---------------------------------- 
¶2. (SBU) During a February 2 call on the Ambassador, CNAI 
leader Leon Valencia explained that CNAI is best known for 
its work outlining the links between former paramilitary 
groups and politicians.  Claudia Lopez asserted that while 
the parapolitical scandal has faded from the headlines, CNAI 
research shows that one-third of the congressional members 
elected in 2006 had paramilitary ties.  Lopez outlined her 
current research on parapolitical links at the local level, 
arguing that CNAI's findings show continuing efforts by 
regional elites--in conjunction with narco- and 
paramilitary-linked interests--to capture local government. 
Lopez said such corruption of local government poses as 
serious a threat to Colombian democracy as does the FARC, 
arguing that it is even more insidious because of its covert 
nature. Mauricio Romero described a separate CNAI project, 
which analyzes demobilized paramilitaries' testimony to 
identify the paramilitary groups' financial reach. 
 
WORRYING CLAIMS ON EMERGING CRIMINAL GROUPS 
------------------------------------------- 
¶3.  (SBU) Valencia highlighted CNAI's recent report on 
emerging criminal groups (ECGs) (see reftel) which reported 
that membership in the groups had reached 10,000.  (Note: 
The OAS Mission for Support of the Peace Process in Colombia 
most recently estimated approximately 3,000.  End note.) 
Valencia added that some local officials and public forces 
tolerate and/or are sometimes bribed by ECGs. Lopez said the 
ECGs do not currently have the command structure, military 
capacity, political agenda or legitimacy of the AUC, but 
argued that the rapid growth of these groups requires a more 
vigorous GOC response.  If the GOC allows the new groups to 
continue to expand, it will soon face a threat similar to 
that of the AUC. 
 
 
CNAI RECEIVES CRITICISM FROM ALL SIDES 
--------------------------------------- 
¶4. (SBU) Valencia said the CNAI receives criticism--and 
sometimes threats--from all sides.  Romero told the 
Ambassador that the Government of Sweden invited the group to 
Stockholm to give a presentation on the parapolitical 
scandal.  However, he asserted that the Colombian MFA had 
lodged a formal complaint to prevent it.  He alleged that the 
GOC has also encouraged donors not to support the group. 
Valencia added that CNAI researchers have been repeatedly 
criticized by top Uribe adviser Jose Obdulio Gaviria in 
personal, not substantive, terms.  He said CNAI wants to 
maintain a critical but constructive relationship with the 
GOC, complaining that such GOC actions make that difficult. 
Valencia noted that the FARC has also frequently lashed out 
at CNAI's work. 
 
SEEKING US ASSISTANCE 
--------------------- 
¶5.  (SBU) Valencia sought USG help advancing CNAI's aims in 
three ways.  First, they asked that the USG continue to speak 
out on the importance of civil society in promoting debate 
 
and diverse views in a democratic society.   Second, they 
voiced interest in obtaining funding for specific CNAI 
projects.  Lastly, they urged the USG to continue projects to 
promote institutional reform in the executive and legislative 
branches, which they claim are the most susceptible to 
corruption. 
 
¶6.  (SBU) The Ambassador replied that challenging government 
conclusions was an essential role for civil society He would 
continue to publicly stress the importance of civil society's 
work in a democratic society--even when the USG does not 
share the group's opinions.  The Ambassador said the USG 
would consider CNAI requests for funding for specific 
projects, and offered to help put CNAI in contact with other 
think tanks and foundations.  The USG would also continue to 
work to strengthen Colombia's democratic institutions. 
Valencia thanked the Ambassador for his support. 
BROWNFIELD