CON F IDENTiADNCLAS SIFIED - UNREDACTED · 3/16/1993 · con f identiadnclas sified page 01 bogota...

CON F IDENTiADNCLAS SIFIED

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STATE ALSO FOR ARA/PPC,*S/ILNSC ALSO FOR RICHARD FEINBERGLABOR ALSO FOR ILABDEA FOR OF, OFL, DO, AO, AX, OC, NKCINCSO AND CINCLANT ALSO FOR POLAR

E.O. 12356: DECL:OADRTAGS: KPRP, PINS, SNAR, PGOV, PHUM, ELAB, ASEC, COSUBJECT: TRIP REPORT: CAUCA -- INDIANS, AMAPOLA AND- THE CHRONIC CONFLICT OVER WHO OWNS THE LAND

REF: BOGOTA 2514-

SUMMARY

1. (C) POLOFF VISITED POPAYAN, THE CAPITAL•OF CAUCA,ONE OF COLOMBIA'S MOST CONFLICTIVE REGIONS, MARCH2-3. CAUCA ATTRACTED WORLD ATTENTION IN DECEMBER 1991WHEN 20 INDIANS WERE KILLED BY A PARAMILITARY SQUAD IN

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1UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATEREVIEW AUTHORITY: DAVID W COX

CLASSIFIEDDATE/CASE ID: 26 MAR 2009 200800720

UNCLASSIFIEDWF?XT WAS CALLED COLOMBIA'S FIRST AMAPOLA (HEROINPOPPY) MASSACRE. ONE OF COLOMBIA'S SMALLEST ANDPOOREST DEPARTMENTS, RURAL AND INDUSTRY-LESS CAUCA,WHERE LAND IS THE ONLY SOURCE OF WEALTH, IS HOME TOBOTH COLOMBIA'S LARGEST INDIGENOUS POPULATION AND ITSMOST INTRACTABLE LAND DISPUTES. IT WAS PRIMARILY TOWIN BACK LAND LOST TO LARGE LANDOWNERS THAT CAUCA'SINDIANS, WHO WIELD POWER OUT OF PROPORTION TO THEIRNUMBERS, FORMED THE REGIONAL INDIGENOUS COUNCIL OFCAUCA*(CRIC) IN 1971. BY ALMOST ALL MEASURES, CRICHAS SUCCEEDED, HAVING RECOUPED MORE THAN 80,000

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PAGE 03 BOGOTA 04154 01 OF 11 1618192HECTARES, WITH THE HELP OF INCORA, THE GOVERNMENT'SLAND REFORM AGENCY.

2 (U) CAUCA ALSO WAS HOME TO THE INDIGENOUS GUERRILLAGROUP, QUINTIN LAME, WHICH MADE PEACE IN 1991, AND NOWBELONGS TO THE AD/M-19 ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL. QUINTINLAME EX-COMBATANTS, HOWEVER, HAVE HAD MORE SUCCESSTHAN THEIR CAUCA M-19 COMRADES IN TURNING THEIR SWORDSINTO PLOWSHARES.

3. (C) WHILE CAUCA TRADITIONALLY HAS PRODUCEDMARIJUANA AND COCA., THE NEW SCOURGE OF AMAPOLA,PRIMARILY PRODUCED BY INDIANS, NOW IS CONSIDERED ITSPRINCIPAL SECURITY THREAT. TO ITS SURPRISE, HOWEVER,THE_ GOVERNMENT HAS:_ BEEN JOINED BY A WELCOME ALLY' IN' _THE FIGHT AGAINST AMAPOLA, THE INDIANS' OWN LEADERS,WHO FEAR AMAPOLA WILL FINISH THE DESTRUCTION, BEGUN BYCOLOMBUS, OF THEIR CULTURE. SINCE A MAY 1992INDIGENOUS/GOVERNMENT ACCORD KNOWN AS "LA MINGA,"INDIANS HAVE MANUALLY ERADICATED THOUSANDS OF HECTARESOF AMAPOLA WITHOUT VIOLENCE OR GLYPHOSATE. WHILECAUCA WAS UNDERGOING AERIAL SPRAYING AT THE TIME OF.POLOFF'S VISIT, INDIGENOUS AREAS, THANKS TO "LAMINGA," WERE NOT.

4. (U) FIRST AND FOREMOST OF CAUCA'S OTHER SECURITYCONCERNS IS THE GUERRILLAS, WHO BESIDES PLAYING ASIGNIFICANT ROLE IN POPPY PRODUCTION, ALSO AREINVOLVED IN RANSOM KIDNAPPING, EXTORTION AND ROADPIRACY. IN THE POLITICAL ARENA, CAUCA IS IN THE MIDSTOF A TRANSFORMATION, AS CIVIC MOVEMENTS BEAT THE TWO

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PAGE 04 BOGOTA 04154 01 OF 11 161819ZTRADITIONAL PARTIES IN THE 1992 MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.MEANWHILE, COLOMBIA'S NEW CONSTITUTION, UNDER THEBANNER OF "TERRITORIALITY," HAS CREATED A CONFLICTBETWEEN PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS AND THE INDIGENOUS'COMMUNAL OWNERSHIP TO USHER IN THE 21ST CENTURY. END

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s"T14MARY. UNCLASSIFIED

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PAGE 02 BOGOTA 04154 02 OF 11 161819ZC O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 11 BOGOTA 04154

STATE ALSO FOR ARA/PPC, S/ILNSC ALSO FOR RICHARD FEINBERGLABOR ALSO FOR SLAB

UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIEDDE-1 FOR OF, OFL, DO, AO, AX, OC, NKCINCSO AND CINCL_ziNT ALSO FOR POLAD

E.O. 12356: DECL:OADRTAGS: KPRP, PINS, SNAR, PGOV, PHUM, FLAB, ASEC, COSUBJECT:- TRIP REPORT: CAUCA --- INDIANS, AMAPOLA AND- THE CHRONIC CONFLICT OVER WHO OWNS THE LAND

5. (C) POLOFF VISITED POPAY.AN, CAPITAL OF CAUCADEPARTMENT, MARCH 2-3, WHERE HE MET WTTH,POPAYANARCHBISHOP AND EPISCOPAL CONFERENCE VICELPRESIDENTALBERTO GIRALDO JARAMTLLO; SECRETARY OF GOVERNMENT(THE DEPARTMENT'S SECURITY CHIEF) NELSON PAZ ANAYA;

NATIONAL REHABILITATION-PLAN (PNR; THE GOC'S CIVILCOUNTER-INSURGENCY AGENCY) REGIONAL DIRECTOR JUAN JOSEFERNANDEZ NIERA; COLOMBIAN AGRARIAN REFORM INSTITUTE(INCORA) REGIONAL MANAGER LARRY GUERRERO OLMEDO;EX-QUINTIN LAME GUERRILLA NOW INDIGENOUS SOCIALASSOCIATION (ASI) LEADER HENRI CABALLERO;REPRESENTATIVES OF THE REGIONAL INDIGENOUS COUNCIL OFCAUCA (CRIC) AND THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PEASANTS(ANUC); POPAYAN PERSONERO (HUMAN RIGHTS OMBUDSMAN)

MARIA C. BALDRICH; EX-M--19 GUERRILLA COMMANDER NOWEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE FOUNDATION FOR THEDEVELOPMENT OF DEMOCRACY (FUNDEMOS), THE M-191SREINSERTION ORGANIZATION IN CAUCA, EDGAR ZUNIGADOMINGUEZ; EX--M-19 INSURGENT NOW FUNDEMOS TREASURER

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PAGE 03 BOGOTA 04154 02 OF 11 161819ZAND POPAYAN DEPUTY PERSONERO AMADEO CERON CHICANGANO;AND OTHERS. `I

CALOTO --COLOMBIA'S FIRST AMAPOLA MASSACRE-------------------------------------------

6. (U) CAUCA ATTRACTED INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION INDECEMBER 1991 WHEN 20 PAEZ INDIANS WERE MASSACRED BY APARAMILITARY SQUAD ITT CALOTO IN NORTHERN CAUCA. THEVICTIMS BELONGED TO A COMMUNITY OF SQUATTERS OCCUPYINGA CORNER OF THE "EL NILO" ESTATE. AFTER YEARS PASSEDWITHOUT RESOLUTION OF THE DISPUTE, THE OWNERAPPARENTLY SOLD THE FARM (PROBABLY AT AN EXORBITANTPRICE THAT INCORA COULDN'T PAY) TO NARCOS APPARENTLYWANTING TO CULTIVATE AMAPOLA. AFTER THE INDIANSFAILED TO HEED SEVERAL WARNINGS, TIE NARCOS,- WITH THEAID OF LOCAL SECURITY FORCES (A POLICE MAJOR AND THECOMMANDER OF THE LOCAL POLICE ANTI-NARCOTICS UNIT FACEADMINISTRATIVE BUT NO CRIMINAL CHARGES; REFTEL), USEDVIOLENCE TO REMOVE THEM. A FEW MONTHS LATER, THEGOVERNMENT EXPROPRIATED AND DISTRIBUTED THE LAND TOTHE VICTIMS' FAMILIES. VARIOUS PERSONS WITH WHOMPOLOFF MET CITED CALOTO AS THEIR WORST FEARS COME TRUEOF WHA'T' COULD RESULT FROM A MIXING OF AMAPOLA ANDCAUCA'S TRADITIONAL LAND CONFLICTS.

WHAT IS CAUCA?

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UNCLASSIFIED7. (U) CAUCA DEPARTMENT IS LOCATED IN SOUTHWESTERNCOLOMBIA, AT THE BIRTHPLACE OF FOUR OF THE'COUNTRY'SMOST IMPORTANT RIVERS -- THE CAUCA, PATIA, CAQUETA ANDMAGDALENA (COLOMBIA'S MISSISSIPPI) -- KNOWN AS THE

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PAGE 04 BOGOTA 04154 02 OF 11 1618192MACIZO COLOMBIANO. POPAYAN '(FOUNDED IN 1535) WAS ONCETHE CAPITAL OF A SPANISH INTENDENCIA THAT STRETCHEDFROM ECUADOR TO THE CARIBBEAN, BUT SAW ITS TERRITORIESAND FORTUNES DIMINISHED TO THE EXTENT THAT IT'S NOWTHE CAPITAL OF ONE OF COLOMBIA'S SMALLEST AND POORESTDEPARTMENTS. POPAYAN HAS LONG BEEN SUPERSEDED BY CALI(CAPITAL OF NEIGHBORING VALLE DEL CAUCA DEPARTMENT) ASSOUTHERN COLOMBIA'S PRINCIPAL CITY.

8. (U) CAUCA'S ECONOMIC STAGNATION HAS CAUSED IT TOFALL BEHIND MOST OF THE REST OF COLOMBIA INSOCIO-ECONOMIC TERMS. FROM! 1950-88, CAUCA'S ECONOMYFAILED TO DOUBLE WHILE THE COUNTRY'S MULTIPLED BY*FIVE. WHILE COLOMBIA'S POPULATION GREW AN AVERAGE OF3.4 PERCENT A YEAR DURING THE SAME PERIOD.AND MADE THETRANSITION FROM PREDOMINANTLY RURAL TO PREDOMINANTLYURBAN, CAUCA'S GREW ONLY 2.4 PRECENT A YEAR ANDREMAINED RURAL. THE MAJORITY OF RESIDENTS IN 33 OF

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NSC WASHDCDEPTJUSTICE WASHDCDEPTLABOR WASHDCDEA WASHDCDIRFBI WASHDCAMEMBASSY CARACASAMEMBASSY GUATEMALAAMEMBASSY LA PAZAMEMBASSY LIMAAMEMBASSY MEXICOAMEMBASSY QUITOAMEMBASSY SAN SALVADORUSCINCSO QUARRY HEIGHTS PMUSCINCLANP NORFOLK VADIA WASHDCCIA WASHDC

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PAGE 02 BOGOTA 04154 03 OF 11 16182OZC O N F I'D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 11 BOGOTA 04154

STATE ALSO FOR ARA/PPC, S/ILNSC ALSO FOR RICHARD FEINBERGLABOR ALSO FOR ILABDEA FOR OF, OFL, DO, AO, AX, OC, NKCINCSO AND CINCLANT ALSO FOR POLAD

E.O. 12356: DECL:OADRTAGS: KPRP, PINS, SNAR, PGOV, PHUM; BLAB, ASEC, COSUBJECT: TRIP REPORT: CAUCA -- INDIANS,, AMAPOLA AND

THE CHRONIC CONFLICT OVER WHO OWNS THE LAND

THE CAUCA'S 37 COUNTIES (MUNICIPIOS) LIVE IN POVERTY.

9_ (U) WEALTH IN CAUCA HAS ALWAYS BEEN TN THE LAND,BUT WHILE THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR HAS MAINTAINED ITSPREMIER POSITION IN THE DEPARTMENT'S ECONOMY, ITCONTINUES TO BE BASICALLY LABOR-INTENSIVE; WITH ARELATIVELY LOW APPLICATION OF TECHNOLOGY, CAPITAL ANDAGGREGATE VALUE_ INDEED, CAUCA CONTINUES TO HAVE VERYLITTLE INDUSTRY, LIMITING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FORITS 800,000 RESIDENTS.

10. (U) WHAT HELPS DEFINE CAUCA IS ITS INDIGENOUSPOPULATION, 130,004, THE LARGEST OF ANY'COLOMBIANDEPAR'T'MENT, COMPOSED OF SEVERAL TRIBES, INCLUDINGPAECES (BY FAR TKE LARGEST), GUAMBIANOS, YANACONAS,COCONUCOS, TOTOROS, EMBERAS AND INGAS. WHILE CAUCAHAS MORE BLACKS AND ALMOST AS MANY NON-INDIANCAMPESINOS, ITS INDIGENOUS POPULATION HAS WIELDEDPOWER OUT OF PROPORTION TO ITS SIZE BECAUSE OF ITS

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UNITY OF PURPOSE AND COMMUNAL VALUES.

CRIC AND THE NON-VIOLENT INDIGENOUS MOVEMENT--------------------------------------------

11. (U) IN 1971, CAUCA'S EMERGING INDIAN MOVEMENT GAVE

BIRTH TO THE REGIONAL INDIGENOUS COUNCIL OF CAUCA

(CRIC). AMONG THE ORGANIZATION'S OBJECTIVES WERE TO

STRENGTHEN THE POSITION OF THE "CABILDOS" (INDIANCOMMUNITY GOVERNING COUNCILS), PRESERVE INDIGENOUSHISTORY, LANGUAGE AND CUSTOMS, AND END THE FEUDAL,SEMI-SERVILE "TERRAJE" SYSTEM, WHEREBY INDIANS PAID

TERRATENIENTES (LARGE LANDOWNERS) RENT IN THE FORM OFLABOR TO LIVE ON AND FARM A PARCEL OF THE ESTATE.

CRIC'S TOP PRIORITY, HOWEVER, WAS "TO RECUPERATE THE

LANDS OF THE ORIGINAL RESGUARDOS (RESERVATIONS),"ACQUIRED FROM THE SPANIARDS BUT TAKEN BY TERRATENIENTES.

12. (C) AS CRIC MARKS ITS 22ND BIRTHDAY., IT CAN ONLYBE TERMED A: SUCCESS, HAVING ACHIEVED ALL OF ITS

OBJECTIVES, INCLUDING THE "RECUPERATION" OF MORE THAN

80,000 HECTARES. TODAY, CAUCA'S INDIANS LIVE IN 48

RESGUARDOS OCCUPYING A SIXTH OF CAUCA.'S 29,000 SQUAREKILOMETERS. EVERYONE POLOFF SPOKE WITH SAID THE

HISTORICAL TERRATENIENTE/INDIAN LAND CONFLICT WAS

MOSTLY RESOLVED. REGIONAL INCORA (LAND REFORM AGENCY)

HEAD GUERRERO TOLD POLOFF HIS STAFF RECENTLY HAD

LISTED THE DEPARTMENT'S 10 TOUGHEST LAND DISPUTES;

ONLY.ONE WAS BETWEEN A TERRATENIENTE AND INDIANS.

MF_ANWHILE, CRIC'S SUCCESS HAS SPAWNED-COPYCAT REGIONAL

INDIGENOUS COUNCILS IN OTHER DEPARn4ENTS.

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PAGE 04 BOGOTA 04154 03 OF 11 161820213. (C) CRIC'S SUCCESS IN "RECUPERATING" LAND HAS NOT

BEEN WITHOUT STRUGGLE. FROM THE START, CRIC HAS

EMPLOYED A POLICY OF OCCUPYING PROPERTIES TO CREATE A

CONFLICT INCORA WOULD BE FORCED TO DEFUSE. ONE CRIC

REP SAID THAT EVERY TIME INCORA ANNOUNCES THAT IT HAS

DISTRIBUTED "X" NUMBER OF HECTARES TO "X" NUMBER OF

CAMPESINOS OR INDIANS, WHAT IT FAILS TO MENTION IS HOWMANY PEOPLE LOST THEIR LIVES TO GET INCORA TO ACT.

THE CRIC'REPS SAID THE GOC AT TIMES ACTS OUT OF

CONCERN FOR ITS IMAGE ABROAD. ONE CRIC REP SAID

" .I..NCORA. ALWAYS ACTS WHEN SOMETHING LIKE CALOTO

HAPPENS." WHEN POLOFF REPEATED CRIC'S CRITICISM TO

INCORA CHIEF GUERRERO, HE RESPONDED, "COLOMBIA IS LIKE

ANYWHERE.ELSE IN THE WORLD; NO ONE GETS ANYTHING

WITHOUT A STRUGGLE."

14. (U) WHILE CRIC'S ORIGINAL OBJECTIVES HAVE MOSTLY

BEEN MET, SOCIO-ECONOMIC INDICA'T'ORS FOR CAUCA'S

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PAGE 02 BOGOTA 04154 04 OF 11 1618212C 0 N F. I D E N T I A L SECTION 04 OF 11 BOGOTA 04154

STATE ALSO FOR ARA/PPC, S/ILNSC ALSO FOR RICHARD FEINBERGLABOR ALSO FOR ILAB ,DEA FOR OF, OFL, DO, AO, AX, OC, NKCINCSO AND CINCLANT ALSO FOR POLAD

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E . O . 123 56 : DECL : OADR UNCLASSIFIEDTAGS: KPRP, PINS, SNAR, PGOV, PHUM, FLAB, ASEC, CO

SUBJECT: TRIP REPORT: CAUCA --- INDIANS, AMAPOLA AND

- THE CHRONIC CONFLICT OVER WHO OWNS THE LAND

INDIANS LAG BEHIND THOSE FOR THE DEPARTMENT INGENERAL. ONE OF CRIC'S PRESENT FOCUSES IS TO PROVIDE

THE INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES WITH NEEDED SOCIALSERVICES, THUS FILLING THE VOID LEFT BY AN ABSENT

GOVERNMENT.

15. (U) MEANWHILE, CAUCA'S INDIGENOUS MOVEMENT IS NOTWITHOUT ITS DIVISIONS. CRIC IS DOMINATED BY CAUCA'S(AND COLOMBIA'S) LARGEST TRIBE, THE PAECES_ WHILE

SOME GUAMBIANOS (CAUCA'S SECOND-LARGEST TRIBE) LIVE ONPAEZ•RESGUARDOS, AND THUS BELONG TO CRIC, MOSTGUAMBIANO COMMUNITIES BELONG TO ANOTHER MOVEMENT, THE

INDIGENOUS AUTHORITIES OF COLOMBIA. PAECES ANDGUAMBIANOS HAVE_OFTEN COMPETED FOR THE SAME LAND.

QUINTIN LAME AND THE ARMED INDIAN MOVEMENT-------------- -----------------------------16.. (U) ANOTHER DIVISION IN THE INDIAN MOVEMENT WASOVER "FORMS OF STRUGGLE." CRIC HAD ALWAYS ADVOCATED

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PAGE 03 BOGOTA 04154 04 OF 11 1618212NON-VIOLENCE; HOWEVER, IT'S TACTIC OF OCCUPYINGPROPERTIES EARNED A VIOLENT RESPONSE FROMTERRATENIENTES, WHO•FORMED SELF-DEFENSE AND

PARAMILITARY GROUPS (SELF-DEFENSE GROUPS WITHGOVERNMENT SECURITY FORCE COLLABORATION) TO PROTECT

THEIR PROPERTY. INITIALLY, INDIANS SOUGHT THEPROTECTION OF THE GUERRILLA GROUPS OPERATING IN THEREGION -- THE FARC AND M-19. THE COMMUNITIES,HOWEVER, FOUND THE GUERRILLAS HIGH-HANDED, AND

CONFLICTS EVENTUALLY AROSE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE FARC,

MOTIVATING THE COMMUNITIES TO LOOK TOWARD A HOMEGROWNSELF-DEFENSE FORCE FORMED AND CONTROLED BY THE CABILDOS.

17. (U) WITH HELP FROM THE M-19, THE "QUINTIN LAMEARMED MOVEMENT" WAS BORN IN 1984, NAMED AFTER QUINTINLAME, AN INDIAN WHO FROM 1914-18 LED AN ARMED

RESISTANCE TO THE DISMANTLING OF CAUCA'S RESGUARDOS_THE NEW GUERRILLA GROUP WAS FORMED TO DEFEND THECOMMUNITIES AGAINST (1) THE TERRATENIENTES' VIOLENTRESPONSE TO THE LAND OCCUPATIONS, AND (2) THE FARC'SINCREASING ATTEMPTS TO PENETRATE AND DOMINATE THERESGUARDOS. WHILE THE INDIGENOUS LEADERS WITH WHOM

POLOFF MET ALWAYS SPOKE OF QUINTIN LAME IN ITS EARLYSTAGE AS BEING A PURELY SELF-DEFENSE GROUP, REGIONALPNR CHIEF FERNANDEZ SAID IT WAS CLEAR THE COMMUNITIES

FROM THE START HAD USED QUINTIN LAME AS AN OFFENSIVEWEAPON TO ASSIST THEIR PENETRATION AND OCCUPATION OF

ESTATES.

UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED18: (U) ANOTHER QUINTIN LAME FUNCTION WAS ACTING AS ANINTERNAL POLICE FORCE FOR THE RESGUARDOS, WHERE LAND

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PAGE 04 BOGOTA 04154 04 OF 11 161.8212DISPUTES ARE COMMON BETWEEN DIFFERENT INDIANCOMMUNITIES LIVING IN THE SAME RESGUARDO .(E.G., PAECESVS. GUAMBIANOS) AS WELL AS BETWEEN INDIVIDUALFAMILIES. COMMON CRIME AND PERSONAL CONFLICTS ALSOARE COMMON.

19. (U) WHAT INITIALLY DISTINGUISHED QUINTIN LAME .FROMCOLOMBIA'S OTHER INSURGENT GROUPS (BESIDES BEING

-COMPOSED ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY OF INDIANS) WAS.ITSLIMITED SCOPE, GOALS AND OBJECTIVES. QUINTIN LAMELACKED IDEOLOGY, NATIONAL OBJECTIVES AND OPPOSITION TOTHE POLITICAL/ECONOMIC SYSTEM AS A WHOLE.

20. (U) THOSE-DISTINCTIONS BEGAN TO BLUR IN THE LATE19805, HOWEVER, MUCH TO THE DISSATISFACTION OF THEINDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES THAT HAD CREATED THE ARMEDGROUP IN THE FIRST PLACE. QUINTIN LAME JOINED THEOTHER INSURGENT GROUPS IN THE GUERRILLA COORDINATING

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PAGE 02 BOGOTA 04154. 05 OF 11 1618222.C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 05 OF 11 BOGOTA 04154

STATE ALSO FOR ARA/PPC, S/ILNSC ALSO FOR RICHARD FEINBERGLABOR ALSO FOR ILABDEA FOR OF, OFL, DO, AO,CINCSO AND CINCLANT ALSO

AX, OC, NKFOR POLAD

E.O. 12356: DELL:OADRTAGS.:.._.KPRPr__P.INS,_._SNAR, ..PGQV; PHUM; ELAB, ASEC, COSUBJECT: TRIP REPORT: CAUCA -- INDIANS, AMA POL,A: AND


BOARD, OBLIGATING QUINTIN LAME TO SHARE THEIR IDEOLOGYAND GLOBAL OBJECTIVES. MEANWHILE, BACK HOME, QUINTINLAME INSURGENTS BEGAN TO SHOW ALMOST AS LITTLE RESPECTFOR THE CABILDOS AS HAD THE FARC_ AT THE SAME TIME,THE COMMUNITIES WERE COMING TO REALIZE MOST OF THEIRLAND DEMANDS THROUGH CRIC'S PEACEFUL ACTIVISM.EVENTUALLY, THE COMMUNITIES WITHDREW THEIR SUPPORTFROM QUINTIN LAME, ASKING THE ARMED GROUP TO DISBAND,WHICH IT DID.

21. (C) FORMER QUINTIN LAME GUERRILLA HENRI CABALLEROTOLD POL,OFF QUINTIN LAME HAD FAILED AT THE ONE TASKFOR WHICH IT MAS CREATEA -- TO DEFEND THECOMMUNITIES. CABALLERO kTTRIBUTED MUCH OF THE PROBLEMTO THE FACT THAT, AS A GUERRILLA GROUP, QUINTIN LAMEHAD TO STAY ON THE MOVE, WHEREAS TO BE EFFECTIVE, ASELF-DEFENSE AND/OR INTERNAL POLICE FORCE NEEDED TOMAINTAIN A PERMANENT PRESENCE.

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22. (C) CABALLERO RECALLED'FOR POLOFF A MEETING HE AND

OTHER QUANTIN LAME LEADERS ATTENDED WITH THE FARC'S

GENERAL SECRETARIAT IN LA URIBE, META DEPARTMENT, IN

LATE 1990 AT WHICH THEY EXPLAINED TO FARC HEAD MANUELMARULANDA AND THE REST WHY QUINT,IN LAME HAD DECIDED TO

CALL IT QUITS UNTIL RECENTLY, CABALLERO SAID. THE

FARC AND ELN HAD RESPECTED QUINT'IN LAME'S DECISION;

HOWEVER, SINCE PRESIDENT GAVIRIA DECREED A STATE OFINTERNAL DISTURBANCE IN NOVEMBER, ALLOWING HTM TOBEGIN AN ALL-OUT, INTEGRAL WAR AGAINST THEM, CABALLERO

SAIr 'EHE FARC AND ELN HAD INCREASINGLY MADE_li4CURSIONS

INTO CAUCA RESGUARDOS, AND HAD BEEN MORE ABUSIVE INTHEIR DEALINGS WITH THE COMMUNITIES AND THEIRCABILDOS.' r'ABALLERO BELIEVES THE PEACE TALKS AND THEINTERNATIONAL ATTENTION THEY"ATTRACTED HAD KEPT THE

GUERRILLAS ON THEIR BEST'BEHAVIOR, BUT THAT NOW WITHTHE PEACE PROCESS DEAD AND THE BATTLE FOR PUBLICOPINION LOST, THE GUERRILLAS HAVE NOTHING TO PURSUEBUT MILITARY AND'TERRITORIAL GAINS, AND NEED BE LESSCONCERNED ABOUT HOW THEY ACHIEVE THEM.

23. (C) THE FARO AND ELN ARE NOT.WITHOUT SUPPORT IN

THE COMMUNITIES,'!7ABALLER0 SAID. WHAT THEY OFFER IS

"JUSTICE." THE 'COLOMBIAN NATIONAL POLICE (CNP)

DOESN'T ENTER THE RESGUARDOS, AND THE UNARMED CABILDOS

ARE RELUCTANT TO GET INVOLVED. THE FARC AND ELN

PROVIDE A SOMETIMES WELCOMED POLICE PRESENCE AND

PRIVATE JUSTICE.

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24. (C) IN WHAT COULD BE TERMED A VICIOUS CIRCLE,

CABALLERO SAID'THERE RECENTLY HAD BEEN RENEWED CLAMOR

FOR AN TNDIGE&OUS SELF--DEFENSE FORCE. THE INDIGENOUS

SOCIAL ASSOCIATION (ASI),~OF WHICH HE IS NOW A LEADER

AND CRIC, HOWEVER, WERE ARGUING AGAINST, SAYING SUCH A

FORCE WOULD BE NO MORE SUCCESSFUL IN PROVIDINGPROTECTION THAN QUINTIN LAME, WHILE AN ILLEGAL ARMED

GROUP WOULD ATTRACT A VIOLENT RESPONSE FROM THOSE IT

WAS INTENDED TO DEFEND AGAINST AS WELL AS FROM THE

SECURITY FORCES. FURTHERMORE, HAVING ARMED MEN IN THE

COMMUNITIES WOULD BE A PROBLEM ITSELF; THEY WOULD

DISOBEY THE CABILDOS, AS WELL AS USE THEIR GUNS FOR

PERSONAL REASONS.

25. ( C ) (7, BALLERO AND OTHER. EX-QUINTIN LAME GUERRILLAS

NOW BELONG TO THE INDIGENOUS SOCIAL ASSOCIATION (ASI),

AN ORGANIZATION FORMED BY CRIC, QUINTIN LAME AND OTHER

CAUCA INDIAN GROUPS AFTER QUINTIN LAME DISBANDED. THE

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STATE ALSO FOR ARA/PPC, S/ILNSC ALSO FOR RICHARD FEINBERGLABOR ALSO FOR ILABDEA FOR OF, OFL, DO, A0, AX, OC,. NKCINCSO AND CINCLANT ALSO FOR POLAD

E.O. 12356: DECL:OADR

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DEMISE OF QUINTIN LAME RESOLVED THE DISPUTE INSIDE THEINDIAN MOVEMENT BETWEEN THOSE FAVORING AND OPPOSINGARMED STRUGGLE, AND THUS HAS ENABLED CRIC ANDEX-QUINTIN LAME GUERRILLAS TO NOW WORK TOGETHER.DESPITE'ITS NAME, ASI IS MORE THE POLITICAL ARM OF THEINDIGENOUS MOVEMENT, WITH CRIC PERFORMING THE SOCIALWORK.

26. (U) FORMER QUINTIN LAME GUERRILLAS HAVE HAD ARELATIVELY EASY TIME OF REINTEGRATION INTO CIVILIANLIFE. BECAUSE OF THE UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS OF THEINDIGENOUS CULTURE AND QUINTIN LAME AS A GUERRILLAGROUP, THE COMBATANTS NEVER WERE FULLY DIVORCED FROMTHEIR REGION, FAMILIES, COMMUNITIES AND LAND. BECAUSETHE COMMUNITIES HAD SUPPORTED THE INSURGENCY, THEEX-COMBATANTS WERE WELCOMED BACK.

REINSERTION HAS BEEN TOUGHER FOR THE-M-19-----------------------------------------

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PAGE 03 BOGOTA 04154 06 OF 11 161822227. (C) THE SAPS HAS NOT BEEN TRUE FOR AREA M-19EX-GUERRILLAS, ACCORDING TO ZUNIGA DOMINGUEZ, FORMERM.=-19- COMMANDER AND NOW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF FUNDEMOS,THE FOUNDATION FORMED BY CAUCA M-19 EX-COMBATANTS TOFILL THE VOID BETWEEN THEIR NEEDS AND WHAT THEGOVERNMENT IS DOING. ZUNIGA TOLD POLOFF THAT HISFORMER COMRADES, WHO HAD CONSTITUTED CAUCA'S LARGESTAND MOST COMBATIVE GUERRILLA FORCE, HAD SUFFEREDGREATER PROBLEMS (INCLUDING PSYCHOLOGICAL) IN MAKINGTHE TRANSITION. HE AND FUNDEMOS' TREASURER, AMADEOCERON•CHICANGA140, AN INDIGENOUS FORMER M-19 COMBATANT,SAID THAT SOME (RELATIVELY VERY FEW) CAUCA M-19ERS HADCONTINUED OR RETURNED TO LIVING BY THE G=, NOT FORPOLITICAL REASONS, BUT TO MAKE A LIVING-

NGOS GIVE GOC GOOD GRADES

28. (C) MOST NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION TYPES WITHWHOM POLOFF SPOKE GAVE THE RELEVANT NATIONALGOVERNMENT AGENCIES GOOD GRADES. INCORA, PNR AND THEINDIGENOUS AFFAIRS COMMISSION ALL HAD THE CONFIDENCEOF INDIAN AND CAMPESINO LEADERS. THEIR PERFORMANCEAND ACCEPTANCE SEEMED TO BE ENHANCED BY THE FACT THATALL THREE REGIONAL OFFICES WERE HEADED BY CAUCANS.

LAND CONFLICTS: IT'S EVERYONE VS. EVERYONE-------------------------------------------

29. (U) WITH LAND BEING CAUCA'S MAJOR SOURCE OF WEALTHAND EMPLOYMENT, THE CONFLICT FOR ITS OWNERSHIP ISEVERYONE VS. EVERYONE. IN ADDITION TO THE

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PAGE 04 BOGOTA 04154 06 OF 11 1618222TERRATINIENTES, THERE'S THE ALSO HISTORICAL CONFLICTBETWEEN FAECES AND GUAMBIANOS, AS WELL AS CONFLICTSBETWEEN INDIANS AND/OR CAMPESINOS AND/OR BLACKS.POLOFF WAS TOLD OF A RECENT DISPUTE WHERE INDIANS ANDBLACKS HAD OCCUPIED THE SAME ESTATE AT ABOUT THE SAME'TIME. INCORA WORKED OUT AN AGREEMENT WHEREBY EACHGROUP WOULD GET HALF THE PROPERTY. ADDED TO THESEOLDER, MORE TRADITIONAL CONFLICTS ARE THOSE INVOLVINGLARGE VALLE DEL CAUCA SUGAR CANE GROWERS, WHO HAVEBEEN BUYING UP LARGE TRACTS IN NORTHERN CAUCA, AND, ASIN THE CASE OF EL NILO, NARCOS BUYING PROPERTY TOCULTIVATE AMAPOLA.

30. (U) INCORA SEES AS ITS PRIORITY THE RESOLUTION OFCONFLICTS BEFORE THEY TURN VIOLENT, AND IT HAS BEENSUCCESSFUL. IT .IS NO SMALL FEAT THAT INCORA HASGREATLY RESOLVED THE MOST VIOLENT CONFLICT, THATBETWEEN INDIANS AND TERRATINIENTES OVER FORMER

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E.O. 12356: DECL:OADRTAGS: KPRP, PINS, SNAR, PGOV, PHUM, FLAB, ASEC, COSUBJECT: TRIP REPORT: CAUCA -- INDIANS, AMAPOLA AND

THE CHRONIC CONFLICT OVER WHO OWNS.-THE LAND

RESGUARDO LAND. CONFLICTS INVOLVING BLACKS, FOREXAMPLE, BECAUSE OF THEIR LESSER ORGANIZATION ANDMILITANCY, SELDOM TURN VIOLENT.

31. (C) WHILE EMPHASIZING THAT HIS OFFICE'S BUDGET HADBEEN SUFFICIENT TO MEET CAUCA'S LANDPURCHASE/DISTRIBUTION NEEDS, INCORA CHIEF GUERREROREGRETTED THAT INCORA NO LONGER WAS IN THE BUSINESS OFFUNDING AN INTEGRAL AGRARIAN REFORM, I.E., LOANS, ,TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, ETC., WHICH CAUCA SORELY NEEDS.

AMAPOLA AND LA MINGA

32. (U) BOTH THE NATIONAL AND DEPARTMENTAL GOVERNMENTSCONSIDER A NEW SCOURGE -- THE CULTIVATION OF AMAPOLA(HEROIN POPPIES) -- WHICH HIT CAUCA IN 1991, TO NOW BE

CAUCA'S PRINCIPAL SECURITY THREAT. CAUCA IS ONE OFTHE DEPARTMENTS WITH THE LARGEST NUMBER OF HECTARESUNDER AMAPOLA CULTIVATION. ONE GOVERNMENT STUDY

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PAGE 03 BOGOTA 04154 07 OF 11 161823ZREPORTS THAT AMAPOLA CULTIVATIONS HAVE BEEN FOUND IN

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to OF CAUCA'S 37 COUNTIES.UNCLASSIFIED

33. (U) WHILE AMAPOLA IS RELATIVELY NEW, CAUCA HASTRADITIONALLY PRODUCED PRIMARY MATERIALS FORNARCO-TRAFFICKING, FIRST MARIJUANA THEN COCA. WHAT'SDIFFERENT ABOUT AMAPOLA IS THAT WHILE MOST MARIJUANAAND COCA CULTIVATION IN THE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN BYCAMPESINOS, THE AMAPOLA IS OVERWHELMINGLY GROWN BYINDIANS. WHILE CULTIVATIONS ALSO EXIST AT LOWERALTITUDES (MOSTLY BELONGING TO CAMPESINOS), AMAPOLAA ISBEST GROWN ABOVE 2,000 METERS, WHERE THE VAST MAJORITYOF CAUCAS,INDIGENOUS RESGUARDOS AND COMMUNITIES AREFOUND, IN EASTERN CAUCA IN COLOMBIA'S CENTRALCORDILLERA (MOUNTAIN RANGE).

34. (U) POLOFF FOUND A CONSENSUS THAT INDIANS ANDCAMPESINOS HAD TURNED TO AMAPOLA BECAUSE TRADITIONALAGRICULTURE WASN'T PROFITABLE IN CAUCA EXCEPT FORLARGE SCALE LIVESTOCK RAISING OR THE SUGAR CANEPLANTATIONS IN THE NORTH, PARTLY DUE TO THE LACK OFCREDIT AND INFRASTRUCTURE, INCLUDING ROADS. WITH.AMAPOLA ON THE OTHER HANTS, THE NARCOS OFFER FREE SEEDSAND SOME OF THE MONEY UP FRONT.

35. (C) PAM DIRECTOR FERNANDEZ SAID-THE AMAPOLAPRODUCTIUN WAS CONTROLED~BY,THE URDINOLAS' NORTHERNVALLE DEL CAUCA CARTEL. HE..4PARTIALLY ATTRIBUTED ARECENT FALL IN PRICES TO THE SERIOUS DAMAGE DONE TOTHE MARKETING INFRASTRUCTURE BY THE.APRIL 1992 ARRESTOF CARTEL HEAD IVAN URDINOLA AND MORE RECENT ARRESTS

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PAGE 04 BOGOTA 04154' 07 OF 11 161823ZAND SURRENDERS OF OTHER KEY ORGANIZATION MEMBERS.

36. (U) WHILE THE ODDS WOULD SEEM AGAINST THEGOVERNMENT IN FIGHTING THE AMAPOLA SCOURGE IN CAUCA,IT HAS ACQUIRED A VERY IMPORTANT ALLY IN THE STRUGGLE,I.E., THE INDIANS THEMSELVES. NOT ONLY DOES THEGOVERNMENT VIEW AMAPOLA AS THE DEPARTMENT'S PRINCIPALSECURITY THREAT, BUT THE CABILDOS AND CRIC CONSIDER ITTHE PRINCIPAL THREAT TO THEIR POWER AND INFLUENCE ASWELL AS TO THE INDIGENOUS CULTURE AND WAY OF LIFE.

37. (U) WHILE THE INDIANS LIVE IN COMMUNITIES AND FARMCOMMUNALLY IN ACCORD WITH THE COLLECTIVE NATURE OFCULTURE, THE AMAPOLA USUALLY IS GROWN IN SMALL PRIVATEPLOTS. THE RELATIVE INDIVIDUAL WEALTH OF COMMUNITYMEMBERS CULTIVATING AMAPOLA HAS GENERATEDINDIVIDUALITY, MATERIALISM, NEGLECT OF FOOD CROPS,DISRESPECT FOR THE CABILDOS, AND VIOLENCE. CRIC,

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------------------A7D6CA 1620062 /45 ALR 161816Z MAR 93'FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTATO SECSTATE WASHDC 6061INFO DIRONDCP WASHDC//OR//NSC WASHDCDEPTJUSTICE WASHDCDEPTLABOR WASHDCDEA WASHDCDIRFBI WASHDC

•AMEMBASSY CARACASAMEMBA:SSY -GUATEMALAAMEMEASSY._.LA.__PAZAMEMBASSY LIMAAMEMBASSY MEXICOAMEMBASSY QUITOAMEMBASSY SAN SALVADORUSCINCSO QUARRY HEIGHTSUSCINCLANT NORFOLK VADIA WASHDCCIA WASHDC

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PAGE 02 BOGOTA 04154 '08 OF 11 161824ZC O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 08 OF 11 BOGOTA 04154

STATE ALSO FOR .ARA/PPC, S/ ILNSC ALSO FOR RICHARD FEINBERGLABOR ALSO FOR ILABDEA FOR OF, OFL, DO, AO, AX, OC, NKCINCSO AND CINCLANT ALSO FOR POLAD

E.O. 12356: DECL:OADRTAGS: 'KPRP, PINS, SNAR, PGOV, PHUM, ELAB, ASEC, COSUBJECT: TRIP REPORT: CAUCA -- INDIANS, AMAPOLA AND I

UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIEDTHE CHRONIC CONFLICT OVER WHO OWNS THE LAND

WHICH WAS FORMED TO ENHANCE THE AUTHORITY OF THECABILDOS AND DEFEND THE INDIGENOUS CULTURE, BEGAN TOSEE SOME OF THEIR HARD-WON GAINS GOING DOWN THETUBES. MEANWHILE, THE INDIGENOUS VALUE THE

ENVIRONMENT, BUT BECAUSE AMAPOLA GROWS BETTER INVIRGIN LAND AND BECAUSE GROWERS HAVE BEEN LOOKING TO

HIDE THEIR CULTIVATIONS FROM AUTHORITIES, A LOT OFAMAPOLA HAS BEEN GROWN IN ISOLATED, NOT PREVIOUSLYCULTIVATED AREAS, RESULTING IN A GREAT DEAL OFDEFORESTATION AND SUBSEQUENT RELATED ECOLOGICAL

PROBLEMS.

38. (C) THE RESULT OF THE INDIGENOUS LEADERS' FEARSWAS AN INITIATIVE BY THEM TO GET THEIR COMMUNITIES TOERADICATE THE AMAPOLA THEMSELVES, WITHOUT VIOLENCE ORGLYPHOSATE. IN MAY 1992, REPRESENTATIVES OF THENATIONAL GOVERNMENT, CRIC AND THE CABILDOS SIGNED ANAGREEMENT KNOWN AS THE "MINGA" (A TRADITIONAL 'INDIGENOUS CONFERENCE TO CONVOKE FORCES TO

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PAGE 03 BOGOTA 04154 08 OF 11 1618242COLLECTIVELY ACCOMPLISH A TASK), WHEREBY THE INDIANSPROMISED TO MANUALLY ERADICATE AMAPOLA IN THEIRCOMMUNITIES IN EXCHANGE FOR GOVERNMENT'DEVELOPMENTASSISTANCE, TO BE-ADMINISTERED BY PNR. THE GOC ISPRESENTLY- IN THE MIDST OF SPRAYING AMAPOLACULTIVATIONS IN CAUCA, BUT INDIGENOUS AND GOVERNMENTAUTHORITIES ALIKE TOLD POLOFF INDIGENOUS AREAS WERE

NOT BEING SPRAYED. WHILE THE INDIANS HAVE MANUALLYELIMINATED THOUSANDS OF HECTARES, CRIC LEADERS SAIDTHE MINGA WAS FALLING APART BECAUSE THE GOC HAD NOTCOMPLIED WITH ITS END OF THE DEAL.' PNR OFFICIALS TOLDPOLOFF THEY HAD JUST COMPLETED STUDY OF WHATASSISTANCE THE COMMUNITIES-NEEDED, AND THAT ITWOULDN'T BE LONG BEFORE THE AID BEGAN TO FLOW.

THE GUERRILLAS

39. (U) FIRST AND FOREMOST OF CAUCA'S OTHER SECURITYCONCERNS IS THE GUERRILLAS, WHO ARE INVOLVED INNARCO-TRAFFICKING (PARTICULARLY AMA,POLA PRODUCTION),RANSOM KIDNAPPING, ABDUCTION OF SECURITY FORCEPERSONNEL, EXTORTION, ROAD PIRACY, MURDERINGCAMPESINOS AND INDIANS BELIEVED TO BE COLLABORATINGWITH THE SECURITY FORCES, AMBUSHES AND ATTACKS ON THESECURITY FORCES, ASSAULTS ON TOWNS, AND FORCEDRECRUITMENT.

40. (U) FOUR FARC AND THREE ELN FRONTS (INCLUDING THEMANUEL VASQUEZ CASTANO, ONE OF THE ELN'S MOST RADICAL)OPERATE IN CAUCA. SINCE THE EPL, M-19 AND QUINTINLAME MADE PEACE IN 1990-91,- THERE HAVE FROM TIME TO

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PAGE 04 BOGOTA 04154 08 OF 11 1618242TIME BEEN REPORTS OF VARIOUS DISSIDENT BANDS OF THETHREE GROUPS OPERATING IN THE DEPARTMENT, BUT THEIREXISTENCE APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN SHORT-LIVED OR NEVERSUBSTANTIATED.

41. (C) AS IN THE REST OF COLOMBIA, THE FARC AND ELNHAVE MOVED INTO THE AREAS OF CAUCA VACATED BY THE NOWDISARMED M-19 AND QUINTIN LAME. THE FARO AND ELN HAVEDIVIDED UP CAUCA, WITH THE FARC TAKING THE NORTH ANDTHE ELN THE SOUTH. WHILE IT'S THE FARC THAT HAS MOVEDINTO MOST OF THE INDIGENOUS AND BEST AMAPOLA PRODUCINGTERRITORY, ELN FRONTS ALSO ARE INVOLVED IN POPPYCULTIVATION. THE GUERRILLAS GUARD AMAPOLA CROPS, ANDIN SOME CASES APPEAR TO HAVE THEIR OWN_ PNR CHIEFFERNANDEZ TOLD POLOFF AERIAL SURVEILLANCE HAD SPOTTEDPOPPY FIELDS ON RESGUARDO LAND, BUT HIGHER ("SEVERALDAYS WALK") THAN WHERE THE INDIANS LIVE OR FARM_AUTHORITIES BELIEVE THOSE CULTIVATIONS MUST BELONG TO

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STATE ALSO FOR ARA/ PPC , S / ILNSC ALSO FOR RICHARD FEINBERGLABOR ALSO FOR ILABbEA FOR OF, OFL, DO, AO, AX, OC, NKCINCSO AND CINCLANT ALSO FOR POLAR

E_O. 12356: DECL:OADRTAGS: KPRP, PINS, SNAR, PGOV, PHUM, ELAB, ASEC, COSUBJECT: TRIP REPORT: CAUCA -- INDIANS, AMAPOLA AND


GUERRILLAS.

42. (d) MEANWHILE, INDIGENOUS LEADERS REPORT THREATSFROM GUERRILLAS OVER THEIR EFFORTS TO ERADICATE THECULTIVATIONS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. THEY ALSO COMPLAINABOUT GUERRILLA RECRUITMENT (FORCED AND OTHERWISE) OFTHEIR COMMUNITIES, YOUTH. MEANWHILE, IN SOME LANDCONFLICTS.BETWEEN INDIGENOUS AND TERRATENIENTES, THEGUERRILLAS ACTUALLY PROTECT THE TERRATENIENTE BECAUSEHE'S BEEN SUCH A GOOD AND COOPERATIVE PAYER OFEXTORTION.

43. (C) VARIOUS SOURCES, HOWEVER, TALKED OF HOWCAUCA'S GUERRILLAS APPEAR TO HAVE LOST INTEREST INPOLITICAI;,WORK, AND THUS HAVE LOST"INFLUENCE AMONG THEPEOPLE. _PNR CHIEF FERNANDEZ SAID THAT IT USED TO BETHAT WHEN A PNR PROGRAM OFFICER VISITED A RURALCOMMUNITY, SOME RESIDENTS WOULD RAISEPOLITICAL/IDEOLOGICAL COMPLAINTS, AND AT TIMES ARMED

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PAGE 03 BOGOTA 04154 09 OF 11 1618242INSURGENTS WOULD ATTEND THE MEETINGS. FER.NANDEZ SAIDTHERE CONTINUE TO BE COMPLAINTS, BTTT NOW OF A MOREDOWN-TO-EARTH VARIETY_

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44. (U) CAUCA IS IN THE MIDST OF A POLITICALTRANSITION. THE DEPARTMENT SHARES WITH THE REST OFCOLOMBIA POLITICAL DOMINATION BY THE TWO TRADITIONALPARTIES, THE LIBERALS AND CONSERVATIVES, WHO ALONGWITH THE CATHOLIC CHURCH HAVE SUPPORTED THE INTERESTSOF THE DEPARTMENT'S ELITE, THE TERRITENIENTES, WHILEENGAGING IN A STYLE OF POLITICS CHARACTERIZED BYCLIENTALISM AND CORRUPTION.

45. (U) IN 1988, CIVIC MOVEMENTS COMPOSED OF INDIANS,CAMPESINOS, BLACKS, LEFTISTS AND OTHERS FORMED INVARIOUS COUNTIES TO COMPETE IN COLOMBIA'S FIRSTMAYORAL ELECTIONS. THEIR MODERATE SUCCESS WASEXTENDED IN 1990, AND IN THE MARCH 1992 BALLOTING,CIVIC.MOVEM.ENTS WON MOST OF THE DEPARTMENT'S MAYORALRACES.

46. (U) CRIC, ASI, THE M-19, AS WELL AS THE PATRIOTICUNION (UP; THE ELECTORAL FRONT OF THE COLOMBIANCOMMUNIST PARTY, THE POLITICAL SIBLING OF THE FAROGUERRILLAS) HAVE ALL PARTICIPATED. THE MIX ISDIFFERENT IN EACH COUNTY. THE BIGGEST MOVEMENT,MACIZO COLOMBIANO, HAS RUN CANDIDATES IN SEVERALSOUTHERN CAUCA COUNTIES. ELSEWHERE, EACH COUNTY MAYHAVE ITS OWN MOVEMENT.

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47. (U) MEANWHILE, THE CIVIC MOVES' SUCCESS HASLED TO & DIVISION IN THE DOMINANT LIBERAL PARTYBETWEEN "TRADITIONALISTS" AND "REFORMISTS." THETRADITIONALISTS (LED BY AMONG OTHERS SEN. AURELIOIRAGORRI) WANT TO CONTINUE POLITICS AS USUAL, WHILETHE REFORMISTS (LED BY GOV. TEMISTOCLES ORTEGANARVAEZ) BELIEVE THE CIVIC MOVEMENTS' SUCCESS SPELLSCONTINUED TROUBLE FOR THE LIBERALS UNLESS THEYREFORM. SOME REFORMISTS, STILL A MINORITY IN THEPARTY, SUPPORTED-CIVIC MOVEMENTS IN THE LAST MAYORALELECTIONS AGAINST TRADITIONALIST LIBERAL CANDIDATES.

48. (U) THE QUESTION FOR THE CIVIC MOVEMENTS IS WHERETO GO FROM HERE. SO FAR, THEY HAVE LIMITED THEMSELVESTO MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS. WHILE THERE'S BEEN TALK OFCOMPETING IN 1994 CONGRESSIONAL AND GUBERNATORIALELECTIONS, THAT WOULD REQUIRE A YET--TO-BE-CONSTRUCTED

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STATE ALSO FOR ARA/PPC, S/ILNSC ALSO FOR RICHARD FEINBERGLABOR ALSO FOR ILABDEA FOR OF; OFL; • DO, A0, AX, OC, NKCINCSO AND CINCLANT ALSO FOR POLAD

E.O. 12356: DECL:OADRTAGS: KPRP, PINS, SNAR, PGOV, PHUM, ELAB, ASEC, COSUBJECT: TRIP REPORT: CAUCA -- INDIANS, AMAPOLA AND


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1

LINK BETWEEN THE VA 1OU5 MOV Erz n FLASSIFIED

TERRITORIALITY

49. (U) THANKS TO COLOMBIA'S NEW 1991 CONSTITUTION,CAUCA`S CHRONIC LAND CONFLICTS ARE ABOUT TO ENTER THE21ST CEN'T'URY, UNDER THE BANNER OF "TERRITORIALITY-"TRANSITORY ARTICLES 329 AND 330 PROVIDE FOR"INDIGENOUS TERRITORIAL ENTITIES' (ETI), THE EXACTPOWERS-AND BOUNDARIES OF WHICH ARE STILL TO.BEDETERMINED BY THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT IN CONSULTATIONWITH THE INTERESTS INVOLVED. WHAT IS CLEAR IS THATETIS WILL BE COMPOSED OF THE AREAS SURROUNDING EACHRESGUA.RDO. THE INDIAN COMMUNITIES WILL HAVEYET-TO--BE-DEFINED POWERS OVER THEIR SURROUNDING ETI,INCLUDING "TO COLLECT AND DISTRIBUTE FUNDS" AND"ENSURE ENFORCEMENT OF THE LEGAL RULES CONCERNING LANDUSE AND SETTLEMENT."

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PAGE 03 BOGOTA 04154 10 OF 11 161825250. (U) ARTICLES 329 AND 330 HAVE SET UP A CLASSICCONFLICT BETWEEN THE COMMUNAL PROPERTY OWNERSHIP OFTHE INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES AND THE PRIVATE PROPERTYRIGHTS PRESENTLY ENJOYED IN THE EVENTUALLY ETIS. INCAUCA, SO FAR ONLY CRIC HAS PRESENTED TO THEGOVERNMENT A PROPOSAL FOR IMPLEMENTING THE ETIS. PNRDIRECTOR- FERNANDEZ AND ANUC CAMPESINO ACTIVISTS TOLDPOLOFF THE NEW INDIGENOUS TERRITORI=ALITY ALREADY HASLED TO VIOLENCE BY CAMPESINOS FUNDED AND ARMED BYNARCOS CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR OWN PRIVATE PROPERTYRIGHTS- MEANWHILE, WHILE THE POTENTIAL FOR CONFLICTIS LESS CLEAR, TRANSITORY ARTICLE 55 GIVES THE PACIFICCOAST'S BLACK COMMUNITIES THE RIGHT TO COLLECTIVEOWNERSHIP OF LANDS THEY HAVE SETTLED.

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51. (C) CAUCA SUFFERS FROM VARIOUS PERPETRATORS OFVIOLENCE: GUERRILLAS, NARCOS, SELF-DEFENSE ANDPARAMILITARY GROUPS, COMMON CRIMINALS AS WELL AS FROMABUSES BY SECURITY FORCES. THERE SEEMED TO BEAGREEMENT AS TO THE REASONS: (1) THE DEPARTMENT'SRURAL POVERTY AND SCARCITY OF URBAN EMPLOYMENT, (2)THE MULTI-ETHNICITY OF THE DEPARTMENT'S POPULATION(INDIANS, MESTIZOS, BLACKS AND WHITES), WHICH

COMPLICATES CONFLICTS, (3) THE SAME ABSENCE OF A CIVILSTATE PRESENCE (HOSPITALS, SCHOOLS, ROADS, ETC.) AND APERMANENT SECURITY FORCE PRESENCE SUFFERED BY RURAL,COLOMBIA IN GENBRAL, AND (4) -THE SAME IMPUNITYSUFFERED BY ALL OF COLOMBIA.

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PAGE 04 BOGOTA 04154 10 OF 11 161825Z52. (C) THAT SAID, POLOFF FOUND A CERTAIN OPTIMISMAMONG THE GOVERNMEN'T' AND NGO FIGURES WITH WHOM HEMET. COLOMBIA REALLY HAD CHANGED AND IT DID HAVE ANEW CONSTITUTION AND THOSE CHANGES HAD REACHED RURALCAUCA, THERE NOW ARE THREE INDIGENOUS SENATORS (TWOFROM CAUCA), INDEED, FOUR INDIANS HAD PARTICIPATED INTHE'CONSTITUTIONAL ASSEMBLY (THREE FROM CAUCA). THENEW CONSTITUTION'S PROVISIONS FOR "TERRITORIALITY"OFFERED CAUCA'S INDIANS AND BLACKS MORE CONTROL OVERTHEIR LIVES. MEANWHILE, THE POLITICAL SYSTEM WASEVOLVING, WITH THE TRADITIONAL PARTIES REFORMING INRESPONSE TO THE END OF THEIR HEGEMONY, AS THOSETRADITIONALLY EXCLUDED FROM POLITICS MADE INROADS_EVEN WHERE CAUCA'S MOST INTRACTABLE PROBLEM, LANDCONFLICTS, AND THE FRIGHTENING NEW SCOURGE, AMAPOLA,WERE CONCERNED, POLOFF FOUND BELIEF THAT THE WORST WASALREADY BEHIND THE DEPARTMENT, I.E., THAT INCORA, WITHA PUSH FROM CRIC, HAD THE MOST CONFLICTIVE LAND

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PAGE 01 BOGOTA 04154 11 OF 11 1618252ACTION ARA-01

INFO LOG-00 C-01 OASY-00 DS-00 EB-01 HA-09 H-01IM-02 INR-00 LAB--04 L-03 ADS-00 NSAE-00 OMB-01PA-01 PM-02 PRS-01 P-01 SIL-00 SNP-00 SP-00SS-00 TRSE-00 T-00 USIE-00 ASDS-01 /029W

------------------ A7D72D 1 620102 /45 , LR 1618162 MAR 93FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTATO SECSTATE WASHDC 6064INFO DIRONDCP WASHDC//OR//NSC WASHDCDEPT+7USTICE WASHDCDEPTLABOR WASHDCDEA SnTASHDCDIRFBI WASHDCAMEMBASSY CARACASAMEMBASSY GUATEMALAAMEMBASSY LA PAZAMEMBASSY LIMA

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AMEMBASSY MEXICOAMEMBASSY QUITOAMEMBASSY SAN SALVADORUSCINCSO QUARRY HEIGHTS PMUSCINCLANT NORFOLK VADIA WASHDCCIA WASHDC

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E.O_ 12355: DECL:OADRTAGS: KPRP, PINS, SNAR, PGOV, PHUM, ELAB,. ASEC, COSUBJECT: TRIP REPORT: CAUCA -- INDIANS, AMAPOLA AND


DISPUTES IN CHECK, AND THAT THE INDIGENOUS/GOVERNMENTALLIANCE AGAINST AMAPOLA MEANT THAT THATJOHNNY-COME--LATELY PROBLEM, WHILE FAR FROM FINISHED,NQWn LOOKED FAR LESS FRIGHTENING. END COMMENT.

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