VZCZCXYZ0008
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBO #2472/01 2151907
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 031907Z AUG 09
FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0066
INFO RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 2571
RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ AUG PANAMA 3983
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 8565
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 9054
RUEHGL/AMCONSUL GUAYAQUIL 4943
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEAWJC/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC

UNCLAS BOGOTA 002472 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM PGOV KJUS PTER CO
SUBJECT: JULY HUMAN RIGHTS UPDATE 
 
REF: BOGOTA 1369 
 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
¶1.  The GOC launched its administrative reparations program; 
President Uribe issued reparations to victims of 
paramilitary, FARC and ELN violence in Popayan, Monteria and 
Medellin.  To date, 230,000 individuals have registered to 
receive administrative reparations.  United Nations Special 
Rapporteur on indigenous issues applauded recent GOC efforts 
to protect indigenous rights, but noted the situation of 
Colombia's indigenous remains "precarious."  The GOC reported 
an alarming increase in murders of indigenous leaders -- 56 
in the first five months of 2009.  The Fiscalia issued 
preventive detention orders for 9 soldiers implicated in the 
1998 murder of an indigenous activist, and 15 members of the 
Armed Forces were sentenced to between 5 and 30 years 
imprisonment for "false positive" killings in 2006.  End 
Summary. 
 
GOC BEGINS ADMINISTRATIVE REPARATIONS 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  The GOC launched its administrative reparations 
program--signed a decree on April 22, 2008--to victims of the 
paramilitary, FARC, and ELN on July 5 (REFTEL).  President 
Uribe made the first payments in Popayan (Cauca) to 300 
victims.  Later in the month, the President participated in 
events in Monteria (Cordoba) and Medellin (Antioquia). 
Approximately 4,500 individuals received reparations 
payments.  Since the program's creation, 230,000 individuals 
have registered to receive administrative reparations. 
Eduardo Pizarro, President of the National Reparations and 
Reconciliation Commission, announced the GOC will pay 12,000 
victims in 2009 and all registered victims by 2019.  Victims 
receive between $4550 and $8500 depending on the type of 
crime they experienced.  Victims have until April 22, 2010 to 
register. 
 
INDIGENOUS SITUATION "PRECARIOUS" 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶3.  United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of 
human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people 
James Anaya issued his preliminary findings at the conclusion 
of his July 22-27 visit, noting the situation of Colombia's 
indigenous remains "precarious" despite GOC efforts.  Anaya 
signaled illegal armed groups, particularly the FARC, as the 
principle violators of indigenous human rights, particularly 
for murder, forced recruitment of children and the use of 
mines.  Anaya recognized efforts by the military to respect 
indigenous rights, but noted allegations of abuse still exist. 
 
¶4.  Unknown actors murdered Changarra indigenous reserve 
governor Hector Betancur Domico on July 6 in Tierralta 
(Cordoba).  According to the Presidential Human Rights 
Program Office, in the first five months of 2009, 56 
indigenous leaders were murdered--more than double the 25 
killed in the same period 2008. 
 
¶5.  Paez indigenous marched on July 24 to Corinto (Cauca) to 
protest violence against the Corinto Paez community.  The 
Association of Indigenous Leaders of Northern Cauca called it 
a "march against violence" and announced 10,000 indigenous 
participated. 
 
FISCALIA ADVANCES CASES 
----------------------- 
 
¶6.  The Prosecutor General's office (Fiscalia) issued 
preventive detention orders for nine former members of the 
San Mateo Battalion, who are implicated in the 1988 death of 
19-year old indigenous activist German Escue Zapata in Cauca. 
 In 2008, three additional members of the military were 
sentenced to 18 years each for their involvement in Escue's 
death.  On July 31, a judge in Medellin sentenced 15 members 
of the Armed Forces to between 4 and 30 years imprisonment 
for the murder of two brothers on May 25, 2006.  The military 
members had presented the victims as guerrillas killed in 
combat ("false positives"). 
 
¶7.  The Prosecutor General's office issued a preventive 
detention order for former paramilitary leader Alcides Mattos 
Tabares, alias "El Samario," for his alleged involvement in 
the March 2001 murders of two Drummond unionists, Locarno 
Rodriguez and Orcasita Amaya.  The Fiscalia is also 
investigating extradited former AUC leader Rodrigo Tovar, 
alias "Jorge 40," and Jairo Jesus Charris Castro. 
Brownfield