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### Viewing cable 05BOGOTA2582, LIVELY DEBATE UNDERWAY ON DEMOBILIZATION

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Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
05BOGOTA2582 | 2005-03-17 21:09 | 2011-04-29 00:12 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Bogota

`

    This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

` `

    id: 29078
    date: 3/17/2005 21:24
    refid: 05BOGOTA2582
    origin: Embassy Bogota
    classification: CONFIDENTIAL
    destination:
    header:
    This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

    ----------------- header ends ----------------

    C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BOGOTA 002582

    SIPDIS

    SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/17/2015
    TAGS: PGOV KJUS PTER CO
    SUBJECT: LIVELY DEBATE UNDERWAY ON DEMOBILIZATION
    LEGISLATION

    REF: BOGOTA 2306 AND PREVIOUS

    Classified By: Ambassador William B. Wood for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

    ¶1. (C) Summary: The week of March 8 saw heated public debate
    over important aspects of demobilization legislation.  The
    three principal issues that captured attention were: (A)
    whether the GOC's bill could complicate the extradition of
    paramilitaries on drug trafficking charges; (B) the
    desirability of across-the-board prison sentence reductions
    for paramilitaries already incarcerated; and (C) legal issues
    related to the concept of confession.  After criticism from
    several members of Congress, President Uribe made a radio
    address on March 10 defending his Administration's record in
    fighting drug trafficking and reiterating his commitment to
    extradition.  Peace Commissioner Restrepo refuted claims by
    Inspector General Maya and members of Congress that the GOC
    was going soft on the paramilitaries.  The start of
    article-by-article voting in the House and Senate First
    Committees, originally planned for March 14, was abruptly
    rescheduled for the following day.  Voting is expected to
    take several days.  End Summary.

    ¶2. (U) The First Committees of the House and Senate, which
    focus on constitutional and legal affairs, met in joint
    session for three days and roughly 20 hours of formal debate
    during the week of March 8 to discuss proposed demobilization
    legislation (reftel).  Voting on the 67-article GOC text,
    which will take place on an article-by-article basis (e.g.
    the Congress can modify any article in its entirety by
    majority vote), was scheduled to begin on March 14, but
    re-scheduled for the morning of March 15.  Three days of
    voting are expected.  Provided a bill passes both Committees,
    which vote separately, the full House and Senate could start
    debate in joint session eight calendar days after the final
    Committee vote.  (Note:  The President does not have a formal
    veto.  If he objects to a bill on constitutional grounds, and
    the Congress insists on approving it, the Constitutional
    Court has six days to rule.  If the Court declares the
    legislation constitutional, the President must promulgate it.
     The President may return a bill to Congress, noting his
    concerns, but if majorities of members of both houses insist
    on their version, the President must promulgate it.  End
    Note.)

    ¶3. (U) Media attention has focused on the differences between
    the GOC and its critics in Congress over various aspects of
    the Government's latest draft.  In most cases, the loudest
    critics have been members of the anti-Uribe Liberals, the
    "Officialist" Liberal Party (PLC), or leftist parties such as
    the Independent Democratic Pole (PDI).  However, some Uribe
    allies, including former Senate President German Vargas
    Lleras, have criticized some aspects of the GOC's bill.

    -----------
    EXTRADITION
    -----------

    ¶4. (U) The most high-profile debate centered around Article
    64 of the GOC bill, modifying the Penal Code to treat
    paramilitaries as guilty of "sedition," which carries the
    same punishment as "rebellion."  Several PLC senators
    suggested the language would impede the extradition of
    paramilitaries on drug trafficking charges, since the bill
    would broadly define paramilitary activities as political in
    nature.  Colombian law prohibits extradition for political
    crimes.  On March 10, President Uribe made a radio address in
    which he defended his commitment to extradition and combating
    drug trafficking.  Uribe categorically denied the existence
    of any potential extradition loophole for paramilitaries in
    the GOC's bill.

    ¶5. (SBU) On March 13, Inspector General ("Procurador")
    Edgardo Maya expressed concern about the alleged extradition
    loophole and questioned Peace Commissioner Luis Carlos
    Restrepo's commitment to impose significant punishments on
    the paramilitaries.  Restrepo later refuted Maya's
    allegations and questioned the bona fides of several members
    of Congress.  Representative Adalberto Jaimes, a 14-year
    House veteran and leading member of the First Committee, told
    poloff on March 11 that he expected the Article 64 language
    to be modified slightly to prevent any impression of a legal
    loophole on extradition.  In an expected move, Representative
    Rocio Arias, a known paramilitary sympathizer, announced
    plans to introduce a bill that would prohibit the extradition
    of any individual engaged in peace process negotiations with
    the Government.  Restrepo immediately dismissed the measure
    and said the GOC would reject it out-of-hand.  In a meeting
    with the diplomatic corps on March 14, Interior and Justice
    Minister Sabas Pretelt reiterated the GOC's commitment to
    maintaining the excellent U.S.-Colombian extradition
    relationship.

    ------------------
    SENTENCE REDUCTION
    ------------------

    ¶6. (SBU) A second major issue has been the GOC's proposal to
    reduce sentences for individuals currently incarcerated, an
    equity provision parallel to the eight-year maximum sentence
    under the GOC bill.  Detractors, including Senators German
    Vargas Lleras and Andres Gonzalez (a former GOC Justice
    Minister), have complained that such a reduction would send a
    negative message to Colombian society, and that it has
    nothing to do with demobilization.  However, prominent
    jurists in the Congress state that the Constitution requires
    equity in sentencing, and the measure is most likely designed
    to stave off legal challenges.  During debate, arguments for
    or against the measure appeared to be split.  The Ombudsman
    (Defensor del Pueblo) questioned the validity of the clause
    and Sabas Pretelt indicated the GOC was not wedded to it.

    ¶7. (SBU) Several members of Congress also continued to call
    for stronger language on truth and confessions.  The
    strongest voice on this remains Senator Rafael Pardo.  Both
    Senate President Luis Humberto Gomez Gallo and Senator Vargas
    Lleras have urged the GOC to include tougher language,
    although they generally support the GOC text.  The GOC
    continues to resist use of the term "confession," noting that
    the Constitution prohibits forced confession.  Again, the GOC
    appears to be attempting to avoid potential legal battles
    down the road, particularly with the politically-charged
    Constitutional Court.  Nevertheless, Pardo and Sabas Pretelt
    met at length over the March 12 weekend, a potential sign of
    an attempt to bridge differences.

    ---------
    PROSPECTS
    ---------

    ¶8. (C) As of March 14, many First Committee Congressional
    contacts and the Vice-Minister of Interior continue to tell
    us the committees will pass a bill before the start of Holy
    Week.  They are less confident regarding the full House and
    Senate.  Officialist Liberal Senator Rodrigo Rivera, who
    insists the GOC measure remains lax on drug trafficking, told
    poloffs on March 14 that the GOC nevertheless has majorities
    in both First Committees.  Even doctrinaire leftist and
    strong Pardo version supporter Senator Carlos Gaviria stated
    publicly that he is willing to compromise with the GOC in the
    search for peace.  There appears to be much less agreement on
    what the version coming out of the committees will look like.
     Many insist that Article 64 is still potentially problematic
    for extradition.  The GOC has not yet agreed to modify
    Article 64, and it appears ready to let the issue be decided
    by the votes of the First Committees.

    -------
    COMMENT
    -------

    ¶9.  (C) For now there seems to be no provision that would
    impede extradition, although the draft law's provisions could
    put a cap on sentencing.  Despite the apparent lack of
    opposition to extradition, we will be on the lookout for
    subtle changes or deletions in the text that would cloud
    Colombia's ability to extradite drug traffickers in a
    "sedition" mantle.
    WOOD

    =======================CABLE ENDS============================

`