VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBO #0686/01 0531743
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 221742Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2982
INFO RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS
RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO
RUEHZP/AMEMBASSY PANAMA

UNCLAS BOGOTA 000686 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV EAGR EAID SNAR MARR CO
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S VISIT TO MEDICAL MISSION HIGHLIGHTS SECURITY 
GAINS IN LA MACARENA 
 
REF: 10 BOGOTA 264 
 
SUMMARY 
 
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¶1. (SBU) The Ambassador traveled to La Macarena, Meta, on February 
2 to tour a SOUTHCOM-sponsored humanitarian assistance mission 
supplying medical services to more than 5,000 Colombian citizens. 
The operation in the former guerrilla heartland underlined the 
security gains made under Colombia's National Consolidation Plan. 
Despite substantial security successes and other gains, the 
consolidation effort faces continuing challenges.  END SUMMARY. 
 
 
 
HUMANITARIAN MISSION PROVIDES FREE SERVICES TO LOCAL POPULATION 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------------------ 
 
 
 
¶2. (SBU) The Ambassador toured the annual bilateral U.S. Southern 
Command (SOUTHCOM) sponsored Medical Readiness and Training 
Exercise (MEDRETE) site at a local school in La Macarena, Meta 
Department.  The event, "Compromiso Colombia 2010," (Commitment 
Colombia 2010) was a nine-day exercise in San Vicente del Caguan, 
Caqueta, and La Macarena conducted by medical personnel from the 
U.S. Army, with support from the Colombian Army and local civilian 
personnel.  The MEDRETE addressed health needs of the local 
population and demonstrated U.S. commitment to the Government of 
Colombia's (GOC) consolidation strategy.  Medical services were 
provided under the Colombia Strategic Development Initiative, the 
Embassy's strategy to accompany the GOC's consolidation efforts. 
 
 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Accompanied by Colombian Military (COLMIL) Commander 
General Freddy Padilla, the Ambassador toured the working mission, 
observed the variety of treatments available, and talked to 
patients.  A total of 5,120 people were seen at the two sites 
combined during the nine days of operations, including 3,733 for 
general medical treatment up to the surgery level, 236 for dental 
procedures, and 1,141 for optometry services.  The Ambassador met 
some of the 35 U.S. medical providers giving treatment, part of the 
70 U.S. military personnel participating in the mission.  Free 
medications and 3,000 radios were provided to the local communities 
as part of the operation. 
 
 
 
¶4. (SBU) The Ambassador spoke to members of the mission and the 
Colombian press of the tangible benefits increased security has 
brought to the region.  The Ambassador acknowledged that a MEDRETE 
in this area, the former FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of 
Colombia) heartland, would have been impossible five years ago due 
to the presence of armed groups and the lack of either economic 
infrastructure or a viable state presence in the area.  The local 
population can now receive vital public health services, he said, 
largely due to the efforts of COLMIL and local authorities.  The 
Ambassador underscored that if this stability can be achieved in an 
area as remote as La Macarena, then it can be replicated in any 
part of Colombia. 
 
 
 
PROGRESS IN CONSOLIDATION PLAN MODEL, BUT CHALLENGES REMAIN 
 
--------------------------------------------- -------------- 
 
 
 
¶5. (SBU) The Ambassador was briefed on the advances and challenges 
facing the consolidation program by the civilian coordinator for 
the GOC's Plan for the Integrated Consolidation of the Macarena 
(PCIM).  The PCIM is the GOC's model program to increase state 
presence in priority areas under the National Consolidation Plan, 
in this case focusing on a former stronghold of the FARC in the 
Macarena region of Meta (see Reftel).  The Ambassador saw how 
 
 
territory previously under the control of guerrillas and used for 
the cultivation of illicit crops has been recuperated by COLMIL and 
police in many local municipalities.  He was also briefed on the 
challenges of 2010, including the consolidation of security and 
citizen protection, eradication of illicit crops, inefficient land 
titling, consolidation of economic development opportunities, and 
human rights abuses.  The Ambassador concluded by underlining the 
hope that the successes of the PCIM model can be applied to the 
rest of the country.  He urged progress in the land titling issue, 
increased tertiary road transport routes, and credit access to 
local farmers.  He also stressed the need for civil institutions to 
play a significant role in maintaining the National Consolidation 
Plan. 
 
 
 
NATIONAL AND REGIONAL PRESS COVERAGE 
 
------------------------------------ 
 
 
 
¶6. (U) The Ambassador's visit to La Macarena was covered by 
national and regional media, with most of the focus on remarks from 
the Ambassador on recently released figures of U.S. foreign 
assistance support to Colombia, but other media concentrating on 
the results of the services provided to the local population. 
Coverage included articles in Bogota's daily El Espectador 
(centrist, circulation:  264,000), Medellin leading daily El 
Colombiano (conservative, circulation:  290,700), Cali's leading 
daily El Pais (conservative, circulation:  210,600), Monteria's 
regional daily El Meridiano de Cordoba (circulation:  136,000), and 
national Todelar Radio (listenership:  150,000). 
 
 
 
BROWNFIELD 
BROWNFIELD