UNCLASSIFIED ell RELEASEDMF-U' LL PAGE 01 ACTION ARA-10 BOGOTA 09940 01 OF 06 132217Z SS-10 CIAE-00 INR-05 COPY-01 ADS-00 HA-02 MCT-02 SY-01 PM-03 NSAE-00 051 W ------------------337222 1416072 53 R 131936Z SEP 83 INFO OCT-00 NSC-01 SP-02 - EB-04 ACDA-10 FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA TO SECSTATE WASHDC 9509 INFO DIA WASHDC AMEMBASSY CARACAS AMEMBASSY PANAMA AMEMBASSY QUITO USCINCSO QUARRY HEIGHTS ECTION 01 OF 06 BOGOTA 09940 E O 12356 DECLz OADR PINS PTER MARK MOPS ASEC CO TAGS SUBJECT VIOLENCE IN THE MID-MAGDALENA REGION OF COLOMBIA 1 ' W ENTIRE TEXT 2 THE LARGE MID-MAGDALENA MAGDALENA MEDIO SUMMARY AREA IN CENTRAL COLOMBIA WHICH HAS HAD A LENGTHY HISTORY OF VIOLENCE IS CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING A REIGN OF TERROR LOCAL RANCHERS HAVE ORGANIZED VIGILANTE BANDS WHICH HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR SEVERAL HUNDRED DEATHS OVER THE LAST YEAR AND DRIVEN THOUSANDS OF CAMPESINOS FROM THEIR HOMES OSTENSIBLY THE VIGILANTES AIM TO ELIMINATE GUERRILLAS AND SYMPATHIZERS OF THE REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES OF COLOMBIA FARO WHICH HAVE LONG THERE ARE INDICATIONS HOWEVER INFESTED THE REGION PAGE 02 BOGOTA 09940 01 OF 06 132217Z THAT THE VIGILANTE GROUPS HAVE ALSO BEEN USED TO DRIVE PEASANTS OFF THE LAND PERMITTING THE MAJOR RANCHERS TO CONSOLIDATE AND EXPAND THEIR LANDHOLDINGS ARMY UNITS ARE ACTIVELY COOPERATING WITH THE VIGILANTES AND THE FARC SEEMS TO BE ON THE DEFENSIVE ALARMED BY THE SITUATION THE GQC HAS Page 1 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE REVIEW AUTHORITY DONALD A JOHNSTON DATE CASE ID 21 NOV 2001 200101367 UNCLASSIFIED 11 Y UNCLASSIFIED Page 2 APPOINTED A HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR THE AREA AND PROPOSED CREATION OF A MID-MAGDALENA REGIONAL AUTONOMOUS CORPORATION WITH A FUNDING OF U S DOLS 50 MILLION BUT ITS PLANS TO ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE VIOLENCE THE INEQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF LAND NATIONALLY THE MID-MAGDALENA SO FAR ARE INADEQUATE VIOLENCE IS HAVING SERIOUS POLITICAL REPERCUSSIONS FOR PRESIDENT BETANCUR AND HIS ADMINISTRATION WHILE LOCALLY THE VIOLENCE HAS BADLY DISRUPTED THE REGION'S POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC LIFE SO LONG AS THE MID-MAGDALENA AND SIMILAR AREAS LIE BEYOND THE EFFECTIVE CONTROL OF THE GOC AND THE GRIEVANCES OF THE CAMPESINOS ARE NOT ADEQUATELY ADDRESSED GUERRILLA INSURGENCY AND RURAL VIOLENCE IN COLOMBIA WILL CONTINUE END SUMMARY FOR 35 YEARS AND MORE THE MID-MAGDALENA REGION 3 OF COLOMBIA HAS BEEN THE SCENE OF VIOLENCE AND LAWLESSNESS THIS AREA HAS AT LEAST 200 000 INHABITANTS AND STRETCHES OVER 20 000 SQUARE KILOMETERS OF LOW COUNTRY AND UPLANDS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE MAGDALENA RIVER FROM ABOUT PUERTO WILCHES IN NORTHERN SANTANDER DEPARTMENT TO BELOW PUERTO BOYACA IN THE DEPARTMENT OF BOYACA THIS FERTILE AREA LIES BETWEEN THE CORDILLERA ORIENTAL TO THE EAST AND THE CORDILLERA CENTRAL TO THE WEST AND IS CHARACTERIZED BY LARGE CATTLE RANCHES AND LANDHOLDINGS WHICH ARE NOT FULLY UTILIZED ALTHOUGH PAGE 03 BOGOTA 09940 01 OF 06 132217Z ONLY A LITTLE OVER 100 MILES FROM BOGOTA AS THE CROW FLIES BUT ACROSS HIGH MOUNTAINS THE MID-MAGDALENA IS REMOTE FROM COLOMBIA'S POPULOUS AREAS THE INFLUENCE OF THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT AND THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN WEAK AN OFFICIAL ESTIMATE HAS 90 PCT OF THE AREA'S TOTAL OF 30 000 LANDHOLDINGS OCCUOF THE REGION'S LAND A LARGE PYING 30 PCT PART OF THE POPULATION INHABITS 10 PCT OF THE LAND MOSTLY LOCATED ON THE INFERTILE SPURS OF THE CORDILLERAS CLEARLY A COMPARATIVELY FEW PEOPLE OWN MUCH OF THE LAND IN THE MID-MAGDALENA AND THERE IS A LARGE POPULATION OF SHARECROPPERS SQUATTERS AND PERSONS LIVING ON MARGINAL LANDS ALTHOUGH THE MID-MAGDALENA IS PREDOMINANTLY A RURAL AREA COLOMBIA'S IMPORTANT PETROLEUM INDUSTRY IS LOCATED NEAR BARRANCABERMEJA THE REGION'S LARGEST CITY 4 THE MID-MAGDALENA HAS A LONG TRADITION OF Page 2 UNCLASSIFIED I UNCLASSIFIED 4 Page 3 RADICAL LIBERALISM BANDIT LEADERS PROMISING LAND REFORM AND WEALTH-SHARING WERE SIGNIFICANT THE FORCES IN THE AREA DURING THE 1950'S 4 000 PLUS PETROLEUM WORKERS AT BARRANCABERMEJA HAVE A TRADITION OF RADICALISM THE MOIR INDEPENDENT REVOLUTIONARY WORKERS MOVEMENT A NON-VIOLENT PRO-CHINA MARXIST-LENINIST POLITICAL ORGANIZATION HAS SOME STRENGTH IN BARRANCABERMEJA PUERTO BERRIO THE MID-MAGDALENA AND OTHER MID-MAGDALENA TOWNS HAS ALSO LONG BEEN A STRONGHOLD OF COMMUNIST GUERRILLA ORGANIZATIONS ESPECIALLY THE REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES OF COLOMBIA FARO WHOSE IV XI AND XII FRONTS WITH A TOTAL OF ABOUT 450 ARMED GUERRILLAS HAVE BEEN ACTIVE IN THE AREA FOR OVER 20 YEARS EXTORTING KIDNAPPING AND MURDERING PAGE 01 ACTION ARA-10 INFO BOGOTA 09940 02 OF 06 132025Z COPY-01 ADS-00 INR-05 SS-10 CIAE-00 MCT-02 HA-02 PM--03 NSAE-00 SY-01 051 W 141607Z 53 ------------------334414 R 131936Z SEP' 83 FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA TO SECSTATE WASHDC 9510 INFO DIA WASHDC AMEMBASSY CARACAS AMEMBASSY PANAMA AMEMBASSY QUITO OCT-00 NSC-01 SP-02 EB-04 ACDA-10 USCINCSO QUARRY HEIGHTS ECTION 02 OF 06 BOGOTA 09940 THEIR OPPONENTS COMMUNIST AND LEFTIST INFLUENCE ON LOCAL POLITICS HAS BEEN STRONG AND MANY IF NOT MOST OF THE INHABITANTS ESPECIALLY IN THE COUNTRYSIDE HAVE EITHER SUPPORTED THE COMMUNIST GUERRILLAS OUT OF CONVICTION OR HAVE COLLABORATED WITH THEM OUT OF FEAR IN PARTICULAR MANY LOCAL SCHOOLTEACHERS SEEM TO HAVE BEEN SYMPATHETIC TO THE COMMUNISTS FOR A LONG TIME THE RANCHERS IN THE AREA I E THE BETTER-OFF HAVE BEEN THREATENED WITH KIDNAPPING BY THE FARO UNLESS THEY Page 3 UNCLASSIFIED i UNCLASSIFIED Page 4 PAID TRIBUTE TO IT COLOMBIAN ARMY SOURCES HAVEINDICATED THAT LAST YEAR THE FARC WAS EXTORTING AS MUCH AS U S DOLS 300 000 FROM THE AREA EACH MONTH AS REPORTED BY THE EMBASSY'S DEFENSE ATTACHE 5 IN JUNE 1983 DURING THE PAST TWO YEARS NARCOTICS MANUFACTURERS HAVE INTRODUCED COCA TO THE LOWER SLOPES OF THE EASTERN CORDILLERA AND THE FARC PAGE 02 BOGOTA 09940 02 OF 06 132025Z HAS BEEN TAXING THESE CULTIVATIONS AS AN ADDITIONAL SOURCE OF REVENUE ACCORDING TO A RECENT ARTICLE IN THE WEEKLY BOGOTA MAGAZINE SEMANA NARCOTICS TRAFFICKERS HAVE INVESTED IN LARGE PROPERTIES IN THE MID-MAGDALENA AND HAVE BEENSUPPLYING THE MONEY TO VIGILANTE GROUPS ESTABLISHED BY THE RANCHERS DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPH 6 BELOW THE DRUG DEALERS ARE APPARENTLY WORKING BOTH SIDES IN THE MID-MAGDALENA REGION 6 IN 1982 THE VICTIMS OF FARC EXTORTION DECIDED TO TAKE MATTERS INTO THEIR OWN HANDS BY ORGANIZING ANTI-COMMUNIST VIGILANTE GROUPS - FIRST APPEARING IN JULY 1982 THE VIGILANTE MOVEMENT RECEIVED A STRONG IMPETUS IN DECEMBER OF THAT YEAR FOLLOWING THE MURDER BY COMMUNIST GUERRILLAS OF THE SON OF A PROMINENT RANCHER--THE FATHER HIMSELF HAVING BEEN KIDNAPPED BY GUERRILLAS AND RANSOMED SHORTLY BEFORE THERE ARE NOW AT LEAST FIVE IDENTIFIED HEAVILY-ARMED VIGILANTE BANDS THE MAS WHOSE ACRONYM STANDING FOR DEATH TO KIDNAPPERS LINKS IT TO SIMILAR VIGILANTE ORGANIZATIONS BEARING THE SAME NAME OPERATING ELSEWHERE IN COLOMBIA THE EMBRION EMBRYO THE MENUDO SMALL FRY THE TIZNADOS SMUDGED ONES AND THE COMITES DE DEFENSA CAMPESINA COMMITTEES FOR THE DEFENSE OF THE COUNTRYSIDE THE AVOWED PURPOSE OF THE VIGILANTE GROUPS IS TO CLEAN UP THE REGION BEFORE NEXT DECEMBER 7 ACCORDING TO A RECENT TWO-PART ARTICLE IN THE WEEKLY BOGOTA MAGAZINE CROMOS THE MAS APPEARED IN THE MID-MAGDALENA REGION IN JULY 1982 IT OPERATES IN GROUPS OF 20 OR 30 PEOPLE AND WITH AS MANY AS 5500 MEMBERS PAGE 03 BOGOTA IS THE LARGEST 09940 02'OF 06 MOST 132025Z 4_ dm w I EC UNCLASSIFIED Page 4 UNCLASSIFIED Page 5 ACTIVE AND MOST FEARED OF THE VIGILANTE BANDS IT OPERATES IN BOTH URBAN AND-RURAL AREAS IS WELL ARMED WITH LIGHT•WEAPONS AND USES CAMOUFLAGED CLOTHING THIS GROUP WARNS ITS INTENDED VICTIMS BY NOTE TO LEAVE THE AREA OR DIE FOR THE PAST SIX MONTHS THE MAS HAS CONCENTRATED ITS ACTIVITIES IN THE PUERTO BERRIO AREA IN THE CENTER OF THE MID-MAGDALENA AND IS BELIEVED-TO HAVE MURDERED AT LEAST 80 PERSONS 8 ALSO ACCORDING TO CROMOS THE EMBRION GROUP APPEARED ABOUT THREE MONTHS AGO AND HAS ABOUT 200 MEMBERS MEN AGED 25-35 IT OPERATES IN RURAL AREAS NEAR BARRANCABERMEJA SAN VICENTE DE CHUCURI PUERTO BERRIO LANDAZURI PUERTO BOYACA PUERTO WILCHES SAN RAFAEL DE CHUCURI VUELTA ACUNA AND PUERTO ARAUJO ITS MODUS OPERANDI IS TO SEIZE ITS VICTIMS IN DAYLIGHT ESPECIALLY ON SUNDAYS MURDER-THEM AND THEN THROW THEIR BODIES INTO THE MAGDALENA RIVER ITS PARTICULAR TARGETS' ARE LOCAL SCHOOLTEACHERS WHOM EMBRION ACCUSES OF HAVING CONVERTED THE SCHOOLROOMS INTO BARRACKS FOR SUBVERSION THE NUMBER OF EMBRION'S VICTIMS IS UNKNOWN THE MENUDO GROUP SO-CALLED BECAUSE THE 9 MEMBERS ALLEGEDLY ARE TEEN-AGERS WAS FORMED IN APRIL OR MAY 1983 ACCORDING TO THE SAME SOURCE IT NOW NUMBERS ABOUT 80 AND GOES AFTER INDIVIDUALS WITH HISTORIES OF LEFTIST INVOLVEMENT IT STRIKES WITHOUT WARNING AND AT LEAST 600 FAMILES HAVE LEFT THEIR SMALL HOLDINGS BECAUSE OF THIS GROUP'S THREATS AGAINST THEM AS SUPPORTERS OF OR COLLABORATORS WITH THE FARO THE VICTIMS OF THIS GROUP ARE SHOT IN THE CHEST OR HEAD OPERATES MAINLY AROUND PUERTO BERRIO PAGE 01 ACTION ARA-10 INFO BOGOTA 09940 OCT-00 COPY-01 ADS-00 NSC-01 NSAE-00 SY-01 03 OF 06 INR-05 HA-02 IT PUERTO OLAYA 132057Z SS-10 CIAE-00 PM-03 MCT-02 EB-04 ACDA-10 SP-02 051 W • ------------------334666 R 131936Z SEP 83 FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA TO SECSTATE WASHDC 9511 INFO DIA WASHDC 141608Z 53 Page 5 I UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED Page 6 AMEMBASSY CARACAS AMEMBASSY PANAMA AMEMBASSY QUITO USCINCSO QUARRY HEIGHTS 'SECTION 03 OF 06 BOGOTA 09940 PUERTO ARAUJO SAN JUAN- PUERTO CARARE AND SAN RAFAEL DE CHUCURI 10 ACCORDING TO CROMOS THE TIZNADOS OPERATE IN THE AREA ABOUT CIMITARRA IN THE SOUTHERN PART IT COMPRISES ABOUT 200 OF SANTANDER DEPARTMENT MEN WHO BLACKEN THEIR FACES BEFORE THEIR OPERATIONS AND BEARS THE SAME NAME AS A FAMOUS LIBERAL MILITARY FORMATION WHICH FOUGHT IN THE THOUSAND DAYS WAR BETWEEN THE LIBERAL CONSERVATIVE POLITICAL PARTIES AT THE BEGINNING OF IT FIRST WARNS ITS VICTIMS ALLEGEDLY THIS CENTURY USUALLY LEFTIST MILITANTS OR PERSONS WITH THIS GROUP REPORTEDLY HAS KILLED CRIMINAL RECORDS MORE THAN 80 PEOPLE BY SHOOTING THEM IN THE HEAD THE EMBASSY HOWEVER HAS INFORMATION INDICATING THAT THE TIZNADOS ARE NO MORE THAN COMMON CRIMINALS AND ARE NOT NECESSARILY ASSOCIATED WITH ANTI-COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES PAGE 02 BOGOTA 09940 IF SO THIS GROUP'S 03 OF 06 132057Z ACTIVITIES MAY BE SIMPLE BANDITRY OR AIMED AT DRIVING CAMPESINOS FROM THEIR LAND 11 FINALLY THE COMITES DE DEFENSA CAMPESINA ACCORDING TO CROMOS IS A-GROUP OF 120 MEN AND WOMEN ESTABLISHED IN APRIL 1983 WHICH OPERATES NEAR PUERTO BERRIO BARRANCABERMEJA SAN VICENTE DE CHUCURI MEMBERS DRESS IN GREEN PUERTO OLAYA AND YONDO IT WEAR CAPS AND WARN THEIR INTENDED VICTIMS HAS MURDERED AT LEAST 40 CAMPESINOS CONSIDERED TO BE GUERRILLA ALLIES IT LEVIES A MONTHLY MONEY TAX ON THOSE WHO LIVE IN ITS AREAS OF OPERATIONS AND RANCHERS SYMPATHETIC TO ITS OPERATIONS CONTRIBUTE TO ITS UPKEEP ITS MOTTO IS CLEAN UP THE SUBVERSIVES IN THE AREA COST WHAT IT MAY 12 THERE ARE AT LEAST TWO OTHER REPORTED VIGILANTE GROUPS IN THE AREA THE GRILLOS Page 6 UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED Page 7 AND THE ALFA 83 ABOUT WHICH CRICKETS THERE IS LITTLE INFORMATION 13 ACCORDING TO PRESS REPORTS THE MID-MAGDALENA IS CURRENTLY THE MOST DANGEROUS AREA IN COLOMBIA THE FARC CLAIMS THAT MORE THAN 226 PERSONS IN THE AREA HAVE BEEN KILLED SINCE DECEMBER 1982 AND JUSTICE MINISTER LARA STATED THAT 347 HOMICIDES HAVE BEEN REPORTED OFFICIALLY ALTHOUGH HE DID NOT GIVE A TIME FRAME THE TRUE FIGURE MAY BE MUCH HIGHER PERHAPS AS MANY AS 500 MANY OF THESE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN MURDERED WITH THE EXTREME BRUTALITY WHICH HAS TRADITIONALLY CHARACTERIZED RURAL VIOLENCE IN COLOMBIA TERROR REIGNS IN THE AREA AND HUNDREDS OF CAMPESINOS HAVE FLED THE LAND FEARFUL OF BEING MURDERED AS GU_E' LLA SUPPORTERS OR SYMPATHIZERS PUERTO PAGE 03 BOGOTA 09940 03 OF 06 132057Z BERRIO THE COMMUNITY HARDEST HIT BY THE VIOLENCE REPORTEDLY IS ALMOST A GHOST TOWN BETWEEN THE END OF JULY AND MID-AUGUST 1983 28 MURDERED PERSONS WERE BURIED THERE BUSINESS IS REPORTEDLY DOWN BY TWO THIRDS AND AT LEAST 500 PEOPLE HAVE LEFT THE TOWN MANY SCHOOLTEACHERS WIDELY BELIEVED BY THE CONSERVATIVES IN THE AREA TO HARBOR PRO-COMMUNIST SENTIMENTS HAVE BEEN WARNED TO LEAVE PUERTO BERRIO AND ELSEWHERE IN THE MID-MAGDALENA AND HAVE DONE SO CONSEQUENTLY SCHOOL ENROLLMENT IS DOWN A REPORTED 70 PCT IN PUERTO BERRIO AND IN SANTANDER DEPARTMENT 5 000 PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL CHILDREN ARE OUT OF SCHOOL THREATENED BY THE VIGILANTES AT LEAST 15 000 CAMPESINOS REPORTEDLY HAVE LEFT THEIR FARMS IN THE MID-MAGDALENA AND MANY HAVE HEADED FOR BARRANCABERMEJA THE LARGEST CITY IN THE AREA ONE GROUP OF CAMPESINOS IN EARLY AUGUST OCCUPIED A CHURCH IN BARRANCABERMEJA TO HIGHLIGHT THEIR PLIGHT THEY REFUSED TO SHOW THEIR FACES TO PHOTOGRAPHERS FOR FEAR OF REPRISALS FROM THE VIGILANTES 14 WHAT BEGAN AS A CLEAN-UP OF COMMUNIST GUERRILLAS THEIR SUPPORTERS AND THEIR SYMPATHIZERS BY THE VIGILANTES REPORTEDLY HAS BROADENED TO INCLUDE MEMBERS OF THE NON-VIOLENT MOIR CRIMINALS PETTY MALEFACTORS AND HOMOSEXUALS— EVERYONE IN FACT WHO IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO THE VIGILANTES IN ITS RECENT ARTICLE ON THE Page 7 UNCLASSIFIED I UNCLASSIFIED Page 8 MID-MAGDALENA THE MAGAZINE SEMANA DESCRIBED THE SITUATION AS A POLARIZATION OF SOCIETYGUERRILLAS AND CAMPESINOS ON ONE SIDE RANCHERS MERCHANTS AND PARAMILITARY GROUPS ON THE OTHER-WHICH ORIGINATED IN RIGID SOCIO-ECONOMIC STRUCTURES WHICH HAVE NOT RESPONDED TO THE GROWING PAGE 01 ACTION ARA-10 BOGOTA 09940 04 OF 06 132107Z CIAE-00 INR-05 SS-10 COPY-01 ADS-00 MCT-02 HA-02 PM-03 NSAE-00 SY-01 051 W 141608Z 53 ------------------334726 R 131936Z SEP-83 FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA TO SECSTATE WASHDC 9512 INFO OCT-00 NSC-01 SP-02 EB-04 ACDA-10 INFO DIA WASHDC AMEMBASSY CARACAS AMEMBASSY PANAMA AMEMBASSY QUITO USCINCSO QUARRY HEIGHTS SECTION 04 OF 06 BOGOTA 0994 0 NEEDS OF THE MARGINAL GROUPS THE REIGN OF TERROR HAS PROCEEDED LARGELY 15 UNIMPEDED BECAUSE THE SECURITY FORCES IN THE REGION DELIBERATELY HAVE NOT INTERFERED WITH THE VIGILANTE BANDS THESE FORCES CONSIST OF 1 THE COLOMBIAN ARMY -S'XIV BRIGADE ESTABLISHED IN APRIL 1983 AND HEADQUARTERED IN CIMITARRA WHICH IS COMPRISED OF THREE INFANTRY BATTALIONS AN ENGINEER BATTALION AND A SERVICE BATTALION WITH A TOTAL OF 3 000-4 000 MEN AND 2 A POLICE HEADQUARTERS UNIT RECENTLY REINFORCED BY COMPANY OF POLICE CARABINEROS ABOUT 100 PERSONS THE COLOMBIAN NAVY ALSO HAS SMALL PATROL BOATS ON THE MAGDALENA RIVER ACCORDING TO AN ARMY SOURCE EVEN 20 BATTALIONS COULD NOT PATROL THE AREA ADEQUATELY 16 THE CAUSES OF THE MID-MAGDALENA VIOLENCE ARE SEEN VERY DIFFERENTLY BY THE VARIOUS CONFIDENTIAL Page 8 UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED Page 9 PAGE 02 BOGOTA 09940 04 OF 06 132107Z THE COMMANDER OF THE XIV BRIGADE PROTAGONISTS GENERAL DANIEL GARCIA ECHEVERRY BRIGADIER DISINGENUOUSLY TOLD THE PRESS IN MID-AUGUST BEFORE THE PRESENT PUBLICITY ABOUT THE SITUATION THAT WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE IS A CONFRONTATION BETWEEN THE LIBERAL AND CONSERVATIVE PARTIES WHICH ARE DISARMED AGAINST THE COMMUNIST PARTY HE ADDED THAT WHICH IS ARMED THROUGH THE FARC OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS 453 CAMPESINOS HAD BEEN AN UNNAMED COMMUNIST SHOT BY THE FARO SPOKESMAN WAS QUOTED IN THE PRESS ABOUT THE SAME TIME AS CALLING THE SITUATION IN THE MID-MAGDALENA GENOCIDE PERPETRATED BY THE LANDHOLDERS HELPED IN SEPTEMBER BY THE FORCES OF THE GOVERNMENT DEFENSE MINISTER GENERAL FERNANDO LANDAZABAL ANSWERING CRITICISM IN THE CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES THAT THE ARMY IS PARTIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MID-MAGDALENA VIOLENCE TERMED IT SUBVERSION HE VIGOROUSLY DEFENDED THE AGAINST SUBVERSION ARMY'S ACTIONS THERE BUT DID ADMIT THAT HE COULD NOT DENY THAT THERE HAVE BEEN ARMY ELEMENTS WHICH COULD HAVE COMMITTED BLAMEWORTHY ACTS WHICH COULD BE PUNISHED 17 IN RECENT WEEKS THE TURMOIL IN THE MID-MAGDALENA HAS RECEIVED MUCH PUBLICITY WITH THE NATIONAL MAGAZINES CROMOS AND SEMANA CARRYING IN-DEPTH ARTICLES ON THE VIOLENCE AND WITH THE PRESS THE BETANCUR REPORTING ATROCITIES ALMOST DAILY ADMINISTRATION HAS RESPONDED TO THE AREA'S PROBLEMS WITH A VARIETY OF INITIATIVES ' IN LATE AUGUST DEFENSE MININSTER LANDAZABAL STATED THAT THE FORCES ARE GUARANTEEING OPERATION RETURN ARMED A CAMPAIGN TO INDUCE THE PEASANTS TO RETURN TO PAGE 03 BOGOTA 09940 04 OF 06 132107Z THE BETANCUR ADMINISTRATION AS THEIR LAND PART OF ITS NATIONAL REHABILITATION PLAN HAS ALSO EARMARKED OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS THREE BILLION PESOS ABOUT U S DOLS 36 7 MILLION TO INCORA THE COLOMBIAN AGRARIAN REFORM INSTITUTE FOR THE PURCHASE OF LAND TO BE DISTRIBUTED TO LANDLESS THE MID-MAGDALENA CAMPESINOS THROUGHOUT COLOMBIA IS SLATED TO RECEIVE 600 MILLION PESOS ABOUT U S DOLS 7 3 MILLION - FROM THIS AMOUNT AND PLANS TO Page 9 UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED Page 10 imiwmmol DISTRIBUTE 17 000 HECTARES ABOUT 42 000 ACRES ERNESTO TO LANDLESS PEASANTS IN THE REGION MUNOZ OROZCO THE INSTITUTE'S MANAGER HAS STATED THAT THE ZONE'S SOCIAL PROBLEM IS '180 PCT YET THE CAUSED BY THE POSSESSION OF LAND GOC'S PLANNED LAND REFORM IN THE MID-MAGDALENA SEEMS WHOLLY INADEQUATE GIVEN THE SIZE OF THE AREA AND ITS POPULATION AT THE END OF AUGUST MINISTER OF GOVERNMENT 18 ALFONSO GOMEZ DESIGNATED ANTONIO DUQUE CHIEF OF THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DIVISION OF THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE AS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR THE MID-MAGDALENA WITH BROAD POWERS TO COORDINATE ALL GOC ACTIVITIES IN REHABILITATING THE AREA SHORTLY AFTERWARDS DUQUE WAS QUOTED AS SAYING THAT ONE OF THE MID-MAGDALENA'S BASIC PROBLEMS IS THE COMPLETE LACK OF COOPERATION BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS CHARGED WITH CARRYING OUT THE OBJECTIVES OUTLINED BY THE CHIEF OF STATE IN EARLY SEPTEMBER THE BETANCUR ADMINISTRATION PROPOSED CREATION OF A MID-MAGDALENA REGIONAL AUTONOMOUS CORPORATION AND ANNOUNCED 4 BILLION PESOS ABOUT U S DOLS 50 000 000 WOULD BE PROVIDED TO FINANCE IT TO COME FROM GENERAL REVENUES AND SPECIAL NEW TAXES ON SEPTEMBER 6 THE PAGE 01 BOGOTA 09940 05 OF 06 132203Z ACTION ARA-10 1 CIAE-00 INR-05 SS-10 COPY-01 ADS-00 MCT-02 HA-02 PM-03 NSAE-00 SY-01 051 W 1416092 53 ------------------335636 R 131936Z SEP 83 INFO OCT-00 NSC-01 SP-02 EB-04 ACDA-10 FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA TO SECSTATE WASHDC 9513 INFO DIA WASHDC AMEMBASSY CARACAS AMEMBASSY PANAMA AMEMBASSY QUITO USCINCSO QUARRY HEIGHTS ECTION 05 OF 06 BOGOTA 09940 Page 10 1 UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED Page 11 CONGRESS BEGAN DEBATE ON THE MID-MAGDALENA CARLOS HOLGUIN PRESIDENT OF THE CONGRESS TOLD THE-REPORTING OFFICER SEPTEMBER 6 THAT THE DEBATE WOULD BE FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND WOULD NOT RESULT IN NEW LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS HE SAID IT WOULD BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT FOR THE CORPORATION TO FUNCTION EFFECTIVELY-BECAUSE OF THE NUMEROUS DEPARTMENTAL AND OTHER JURISDICTIONS HOLGUIN ADDED THAT THE REGION'S IN THE AREA PROBLEMS ARE SO DEEP--SEATED THAT THEY WOULD TAKE YEARS TO SOLVE EVEN WITH THE BEST OF EFFORTS CLEARLY PRESS AND PUBLIC ATTENTION TO THE REGION'S PROBLEMS HAS CAUSED THE GOC TO FOCUS ON THEM AS WELL BUT IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN IF THIS BELATED ATTENTION WILL PROVIDE ADEQUATE MEASURES TO RE-ESTABLISH PUBLIC ORDER AND ADDRESS THE BASIC PROBLEMS OF THE MID-MAGDALENA 19 MEANTIME AS REPORTED BY THE EMBASSY'S DEFENSE PAGE 02 BOGOTA 09940 05 OF 06 132203Z ATTACHE IN JUNE 1983 THE COLOMBIAN ARMY'S XIV BRIGADE HAS HAD SOME SUCCESS AGAINST THE FARO IN THE RANCHERS AND THE ARMY ARE RECENT MONTHS ACTIVELY COOPERATING WITH EACH OTHER AGAINST THE GUERRILLAS AND THE ARMY NO LONGER IS PENALIZING THE CAMPESINOS FOR HAVING COOPERATED WITH THE FARC THE REMOTENESS SIZE AND LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE MID-MAGDALENA REGION AND THE ARMY'S LACK OF MOBILITY HAVE SERIOUSLY HAMPERED THE ARMY'S OPERATIONS HOWEVER THAT THE FARC IN THE REGION IS BEING PRESSED BETWEEN THE ARMY AND THE VIGILANTE GROUPS IS EVIDENCED BY PUBLIC CALLS IN THE LATTER PART OF AUGUST FROM FARC AND COMMUNIST PARTY SPOKESMEN HOWEVER FOR A CEASE-FIRE IN THE MID-MAGDALENA THE EMBASSY HAS INFORMATION THAT THE FARC GUERRILLA SIMPLY MOVED TO MORE OUTLYING AREAS WHEN THE ARMY MOVEDNIN AND THAT THE FARC CONTINUES TO CONDUCT OPERATIONS IN THE MID-MAGDALENA 20 COMMENT WHILE THE EXACT SITUATION AT PRESENT IN THE MID-MAGDALENA IS CONFUSED AND IN FLUX WHAT DOES SEEM CLEAR IS THAT THE LOCAL RANCHERS HEAVILY ARMED SINCE THE END OF LAST YEAR HAVE BEEN WAGING AN ALL-OUT BLOODY WAR AGAINST THE FARC AND ANYONE THOUGHT TO BE SYMPATHETIC TO IT THAT THE COLOMBIAN ARMED FORCES ARE COOPERATING WITH THE RANCHERS AGAINST THE FARC AND THAT THE Page 11 I j i UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED Page 12 RESULTING VIOLENCE HAS CAUSED THOUSANDS OF CAMPESINOS GROUND BETWEEN•THE FARC AND ITS ENEMIES TO FLEE THE AREA 21 WHAT IS LESS CLEAR IS EXACTLY WHAT IS HAPPENING ACCORDING TO PRESS REPORTS TO THE CAMPESINOS THE VIGILANTE GROUPS IN SOME INSTANCES ARE INTIMIDATING CAMPESINOS INTO SELLING THEIR LAND PAGE 03 BOGOTA 09940 OS OF 06 132203Z TO THE RANCHERS AT LOW PRICES OR ELSE SIMPLY FORCING THE CAMPESINOS TO ABANDON THEIR LAND ACCORDING WHICH IS THEN TAKEN UP BY THE RANCHERS DEFENSE BY THE TO INFORMATION RECENTLY OBTAINED ATTACHE SOME ARMY UNITS OPERATING IN THE MID-MAGDALENA MAY HAVE ILLEGALLY ACCEPTED PAYMENTS FROM THE VIGILANTE GROUPS THUS GIVING SUBSTANCE TO THE DEFENSE MINISTER'S ADMISSION IT SEEMS LIKELY THAT THE PARAGRAPH 16 ABOVE RANCHERS VIA THEIR VIGILANTES ARE NOT ONLY SEEKING TO ELIMINATE THEIR OLD ENEMIES THE COMMUNIST GUERRILLAS AND THEIR ALLIES WITH THE FULL AND ACTIVE SUPPORT OF THE ARMY BUT ARE SEIZING THE OPPORTUNITY THUS AFFORDED TO AGGRANDIZE THEIR ECONOMICAL AND POLITICAL POWER IN THE AREA THE DEFENSE ATTACHE HAS REPORTED THAT THE ARMY IS FEARFUL THAT THE VIGILANTES MAY TURN ON THE ARMY IF AND WHEN THEIR COMMON ENEMY--THE FARC-THUS THE PRESENT MID-MAGDALENA IS DEFEATED TO BE IN PART THE LATEST APPEARS TURMOIL CHAPTER IN AN OLD HISTORY OF CLASS WARFARE BETWEEN LANDHOLDERS AND PEASANTS IN THE AREA 22 THE WIDE LOCAL PUBLICITY BEING GIVEN THE MID-MAGDALENA VIOLENCE WHICH REMINDS COLOMBIANS THAT LARGE AREAS OF THEIR COUNTRY ARE YET TO BE PACIFIED AND THAT SOMETHING IS TERRIBLY WRONG IN THE MID-MAGDALENA IS HURTING BETANCUR'S IMAGE AS A PEACEMAKER AND EMBARRASSING HIS ADMINISTRATION ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL THE MID-MAGDALENA VIOLENCE IS UNDERCUTTING THE GOC'S PRESTIGE AND AUTHORITY AS WELL AS DIVERTING SCARCE MILITARY AND CIVILIAN RESOURCES ON THE LOCAL LEVEL IT HAS DISRUPTED THE LIFE OF A FERTILE REGION RUINING THE LANDED AND SUBSISTENCE ECONOMIES r Page 12 UNCLASSIFIED i i UNCLASSIFIED Page 13 PAGE 01 ACTION ARA-10 INFO BOGOTA 09940 06 OF 06 132205Z OCT-00 NSC-01 SP-02 COPY-01 ADS-00 INR-05 SS-10 CIAE-00 NSAE-00 SY-01 HA-02 PM-03 MCT-02 051 W ------------------335652 1416092 53 R 131936Z SEP' 83 FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA TO SECSTATE WASHDC 9514 INFO DIA WASHDC AMEMBASSY CARACAS AMEMBASSY PANAMA AMEMBASSY QUITO USCINCSO QUARRY HEIGHTS EB-04 ACDA-10 SECTION 06 OF 06 BOGOTA 09940 OF THE MID-MAGDALENA AND DEPRESSING COMMERCE IN ITS CITIES AND TOWNS BUT WITHOUT HAVING MUCH-IMPACT ON THE NATIONAL ECONOMY AS A WHOLE REDUCING AVAILABLE FOOD SUPPLIES AND CAUSING SERIOUS SOCIAL DISLOCATIONS SUCH AS DEPOPULATED FARMS AND OVERCROWDED CITIES THE LAWLESSNESS CURRENTLY PREVAILING IN 23 THIS LARGE AREA OF CENTRAL COLOMBIA POINTS UP THE FACT THAT EVEN IN 19837-OVER THIRTY YEARS AFTER THE FAMOUS VIOLENCIA--LARGE PARTS OF THIS COUNTRY LARGELY BECAUSE OF GEOGRAPHIC FACTORS CAUSING REMOTENESS AND ISOLATION ARE STILL BEYOND THE REACH OF THE EFFECTIVE CONTROL OF THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT IN SOME OF THESE-AREAS AS IN THE MID-MAGDALENA E G CAQUETA DEPARTMENT WHERE THE FARC AND THE M-19 OPERATE AND HUILA DEPARTMENT WHERE THE FARO M-19 AND EPL ARE AT LARGE GUERRILLA INFLUENCE IS STRONG PAGE 02 BOGOTA 09940 06 OF 06 132205Z BUT OTHER HUGE AND REMOTE AREAS OF COLOMBIA SUCH AS THE EASTERN AND SOUTHERN LLANOS VICHADA AND AMAZONAS ARE SO FAR FREE FROM VIOLENCE AND GUERRILLA INFESTATION THIS IS MAINLY BECAUSE THEY ARE ALL BUT EMPTY IN THOSE INHABITED AREAS BEYOND THE GOC'S CONTROL CHARACTERIZED Page 13 UNCLASSIFIED I UNCLASSIFIED v Page 14 BY A RULING OLIGARCHY OF LARGE LANDOWNERS DOMINATING LARGE NUMBERS OF POOR LANDLESS THIS PEASANTS STRONG CLASS ANIMOSITIES RANKLE HAS BEEN AT THE ROOT OF COLOMBIA'S LONG HISTORY OF RURAL VIOLENCE - SO LONG AS THESE ANIMOSITIES ARE NOT RESOLVED AND LARGE AREAS OF COLOMBIA LIE OUTSIDE EFFECTIVE GOC CONTROL BEYOND JUSTICE LAW AND ORDER GUERRILLA INSURGENCY AND RURAL VIOLENCE IN THE MID-MAGDALENA AND ELSEWHERE END COMMENT IN COLOMBIA WILL CONTINUE TAMBS END OF DOCUMENT Page 14 UNCLASSIFIED I