Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 13307 / 251,287

### Articles

Brazil Sri Lanka United Kingdom Sweden 00. Editorial United States Latin America Egypt Jordan Yemen

### Browse latest releases

2010/11 2010/12 2011/01 2011/02 2011/03 2011/04 2011/05
2010/11/28 2010/11/29 2010/11/30
2010/12/01 2010/12/02 2010/12/03 2010/12/04 2010/12/05 2010/12/06 2010/12/07 2010/12/08 2010/12/09 2010/12/10 2010/12/11 2010/12/12 2010/12/13 2010/12/14 2010/12/15 2010/12/16 2010/12/17 2010/12/18 2010/12/19 2010/12/20 2010/12/21 2010/12/22 2010/12/23 2010/12/24 2010/12/25 2010/12/26 2010/12/27 2010/12/28 2010/12/29 2010/12/30
2011/01/01 2011/01/02 2011/01/04 2011/01/05 2011/01/07 2011/01/09 2011/01/10 2011/01/11 2011/01/12 2011/01/13 2011/01/14 2011/01/15 2011/01/16 2011/01/17 2011/01/18 2011/01/19 2011/01/20 2011/01/21 2011/01/22 2011/01/23 2011/01/24 2011/01/25 2011/01/26 2011/01/27 2011/01/28 2011/01/29 2011/01/30 2011/01/31
2011/02/01 2011/02/02 2011/02/03 2011/02/04 2011/02/05 2011/02/06 2011/02/07 2011/02/08 2011/02/09 2011/02/10 2011/02/11 2011/02/12 2011/02/13 2011/02/14 2011/02/15 2011/02/16 2011/02/17 2011/02/18 2011/02/19 2011/02/20 2011/02/21 2011/02/22 2011/02/23 2011/02/24 2011/02/25 2011/02/26 2011/02/27 2011/02/28
2011/03/01 2011/03/02 2011/03/03 2011/03/04 2011/03/05 2011/03/06 2011/03/07 2011/03/08 2011/03/09 2011/03/10 2011/03/11 2011/03/13 2011/03/14 2011/03/15 2011/03/16 2011/03/17 2011/03/18 2011/03/19 2011/03/20 2011/03/21 2011/03/22 2011/03/23 2011/03/24 2011/03/25 2011/03/26 2011/03/27 2011/03/28 2011/03/29 2011/03/30 2011/03/31
2011/04/01 2011/04/02 2011/04/03 2011/04/04 2011/04/05 2011/04/06 2011/04/07 2011/04/08 2011/04/09 2011/04/10 2011/04/11 2011/04/12 2011/04/13 2011/04/14 2011/04/15 2011/04/16 2011/04/17 2011/04/18 2011/04/19 2011/04/20 2011/04/21 2011/04/22 2011/04/23 2011/04/24 2011/04/25 2011/04/26 2011/04/27 2011/04/28 2011/04/29 2011/04/30
2011/05/01 2011/05/02 2011/05/03 2011/05/04 2011/05/05 2011/05/06 2011/05/07 2011/05/08 2011/05/09 2011/05/10 2011/05/11 2011/05/12 2011/05/13 2011/05/14 2011/05/15 2011/05/16 2011/05/17 2011/05/18 2011/05/19 2011/05/20 2011/05/21 2011/05/22 2011/05/23 2011/05/24 2011/05/25 2011/05/26 2011/05/27 2011/05/28 2011/05/29

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 96 97 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
1966/12
1972/02 1972/08
1973/04
1975/03
1979/08
1985/03 1985/05 1985/06
1986/05
1987/06
1988/01 1988/03 1988/07
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08 1990/10
1991/05
1992/01 1992/03 1992/06 1992/09 1992/12
1993/01 1993/10
1994/12
1996/07 1996/11
1997/06 1997/10 1997/12
2000/05 2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/06 2001/07 2001/09 2001/10 2001/11
2002/01 2002/02 2002/03 2002/04 2002/07 2002/08 2002/09 2002/11 2002/12
2003/01 2003/02 2003/03 2003/04 2003/05 2003/06 2003/07 2003/08 2003/09 2003/10 2003/11 2003/12
2004/01 2004/02 2004/03 2004/04 2004/05 2004/06 2004/07 2004/08 2004/09 2004/10 2004/11 2004/12
2005/01 2005/02 2005/03 2005/04 2005/05 2005/06 2005/07 2005/08 2005/09 2005/10 2005/11 2005/12
2006/01 2006/02 2006/03 2006/04 2006/05 2006/06 2006/07 2006/08 2006/09 2006/10 2006/11 2006/12
2007/01 2007/02 2007/03 2007/04 2007/05 2007/06 2007/07 2007/08 2007/09 2007/10 2007/11 2007/12
2008/01 2008/02 2008/03 2008/04 2008/05 2008/06 2008/07 2008/08 2008/09 2008/10 2008/11 2008/12
2009/01 2009/02 2009/03 2009/04 2009/05 2009/06 2009/07 2009/08 2009/09 2009/10 2009/11 2009/12
2010/01 2010/02

### Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Embassy Athens Embassy Asuncion Embassy Astana Embassy Asmara Embassy Ashgabat Embassy Apia Embassy Ankara Embassy Amman Embassy Algiers Embassy Addis Ababa Embassy Accra Embassy Abuja Embassy Abu Dhabi Embassy Abidjan Consulate Auckland Consulate Amsterdam Consulate Adana American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura Embassy Buenos Aires Embassy Budapest Embassy Bucharest Embassy Brussels Embassy Bridgetown Embassy Bratislava Embassy Brasilia Embassy Bogota Embassy Bishkek Embassy Bern Embassy Berlin Embassy Belmopan Embassy Belgrade Embassy Beirut Embassy Beijing Embassy Banjul Embassy Bangkok Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan Embassy Bamako Embassy Baku Embassy Baghdad Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen Embassy Conakry Embassy Colombo Embassy Chisinau Embassy Caracas Embassy Canberra Embassy Cairo Consulate Curacao Consulate Ciudad Juarez Consulate Chennai Consulate Casablanca Consulate Cape Town Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe Embassy Dublin Embassy Doha Embassy Djibouti Embassy Dili Embassy Dhaka Embassy Dar Es Salaam Embassy Damascus Embassy Dakar Consulate Dubai
Embassy Freetown Consulate Fukuoka
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone Consulate Guayaquil Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Ho Chi Minh City Consulate Hermosillo Consulate Hamilton Consulate Hamburg Consulate Halifax
Iran RPO Dubai Embassy Islamabad Consulate Istanbul
Embassy Jakarta Consulate Jerusalem Consulate Jeddah
Embassy Kyiv Embassy Kuwait Embassy Kuala Lumpur Embassy Kinshasa Embassy Kingston Embassy Kigali Embassy Khartoum Embassy Kathmandu Embassy Kampala Embassy Kabul Consulate Kolkata Consulate Karachi
Embassy Luxembourg Embassy Luanda Embassy London Embassy Ljubljana Embassy Lisbon Embassy Lima Embassy Lilongwe Embassy La Paz Consulate Lahore Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE Mission USNATO Mission UNESCO Embassy Muscat Embassy Moscow Embassy Montevideo Embassy Monrovia Embassy Minsk Embassy Mexico Embassy Mbabane Embassy Maputo Embassy Manila Embassy Manama Embassy Managua Embassy Malabo Embassy Madrid Consulate Munich Consulate Mumbai Consulate Montreal Consulate Monterrey Consulate Milan Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia Embassy Niamey Embassy New Delhi Embassy Ndjamena Embassy Nassau Embassy Nairobi Consulate Naples Consulate Naha
Embassy Ouagadougou Embassy Ottawa Embassy Oslo
Embassy Pristina Embassy Pretoria Embassy Prague Embassy Port Of Spain Embassy Port Louis Embassy Port Au Prince Embassy Phnom Penh Embassy Paris Embassy Paramaribo Embassy Panama Consulate Peshawar
Embassy Quito Consulate Quebec
REO Basrah Embassy Rome Embassy Riyadh Embassy Riga Embassy Reykjavik Embassy Rangoon Embassy Rabat Consulate Rio De Janeiro Consulate Recife
Secretary of State Embassy Suva Embassy Stockholm Embassy Sofia Embassy Skopje Embassy Singapore Embassy Seoul Embassy Sarajevo Embassy Santo Domingo Embassy Santiago Embassy Sanaa Embassy San Salvador Embassy San Jose Consulate Strasbourg Consulate St Petersburg Consulate Shenyang Consulate Shanghai Consulate Sapporo Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis Embassy Tripoli Embassy Tokyo Embassy The Hague Embassy Tel Aviv Embassy Tehran Embassy Tegucigalpa Embassy Tbilisi Embassy Tashkent Embassy Tallinn Consulate Toronto Consulate Tijuana Consulate Thessaloniki
USUN New York USEU Brussels US Office Almaty US Mission Geneva US Interests Section Havana US Delegation, Secretary UNVIE Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius Embassy Vienna Embassy Vatican Embassy Valletta Consulate Vladivostok Consulate Vancouver
Embassy Windhoek Embassy Wellington Embassy Warsaw
Embassy Yerevan Embassy Yaounde
Embassy Zagreb

### Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ASEC AEMR AMGT AR APECO AU AORC AJ AF AFIN AS AM AFFAIRS AID ADM ALOW ACOA AA AND APER ADANA APEC ADPM ADCO ABLD ASEAN AL AMED AO AADP AROC ATRN ARF AG AY AORG ABUD AE AGAO APCS AINF AODE ACABQ AX AMEX AZ ASUP ARM AQ ATFN AMBASSADOR ACBAQ AFSI AFSN AC ASIG ASEX AER AVERY AGRICULTURE ASCH AFU AMG ATPDEA ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG AORL AN AIT ANET AGMT ACS AGR AMCHAMS AECL AUC AFGHANISTAN ACAO
BR BB BG BEXP BY BA BRUSSELS BU BD BK BL BO BM BTIO BIDEN BP BE BH BILAT BC BX BF BBSR BT BMGT BWC BN BTIU
CPAS CA CASC CS CBW CIDA CO CODEL CI CROS CU CH CWC CMGT CVIS CDG CD CV CG CF CHIEF CJAN CBSA CE CY CM CONS CT CW CN CDC CONDOLEEZZA CR CICTE CYPRUS COUNTRY CBE COUNTER CARSON COPUOS CTR COM CIVS CFED CKGR CHR CVR CLINTON COUNTERTERRORISM CITEL CLEARANCE COE CARICOM CB CSW CIC CITT CAFTA CACM CDB CJUS CTM CAN CONSULAR CLMT CBC CIA CNARC CIS CEUDA CAC CL CACS CAPC
DR DJ DHS DAO DCM DA DEFENSE DOD DOMESTIC DO DK DE DPRK DEPT DEA DISENGAGEMENT DOE DTRA DS DEAX
ECON ETTC EFIS ETRD EC EMIN EAGR EAID EU EFIN EUN ECIN EG EWWT EINV ENRG ELAB EPET EN EAIR EUMEM ECPS ELTN EIND EZ EI ER ET EINT EXIM ENIV ECONOMIC ES ECONOMY ERNG ELECTIONS ENERG EFTA EK EPA ENGR ETRC EXTERNAL ENVI ELN EAIDS ECA EINVEFIN ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EUREM EFINECONCS ETC ENVR EAP EINN EXBS ENGY ECONOMICS EIAR EINDETRD ECONEFIN EURN EDU ETRDEINVTINTCS ECIP EFIM EREL EINVETC ECONCS ETRA ESA EAIG EUR EUC ERD ETRN EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ESENV ENNP ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN
FR FI FINR FAS FOREIGN FBI FTAA FREEDOM FINANCE FJ FDA FTA FAO FM FARC FAC FOR FOI FO FMLN FISO
GM GG GERARD GT GA GR GTIP GV GLOBAL GTMO GOV GH GOI GL GF GANGS GCC GAERC GE GZ GAZA GY GUILLERMO GASPAR
HR HO HA HYMPSK HK HUMAN HU HILLARY HI HURI HSTC HEBRON HUMOR
IZ IN IAEA IS IMO ILO IR IC IT ITU IV IMF IBRD IWC IRAQI ISRAELI ITALY ITPGOV ITALIAN IPR IO ICAO ITRA ICJ INMARSAT ID ICRC INTERNAL IIP IRS ICTY ILC IEFIN IQ IA INTERPOL IEA INR INRB IAHRC ISRAEL IZPREL IRAJ IF ITPHUM IL IACI INDO IDA ISLAMISTS IGAD ITF INRA INRO IBET INTELSAT IDP ICTR IRC
JA JO JM JP JOSEPH JUS JOHN JAMES JOHNNIE JIMENEZ
KOMC KNNP KFLO KDEM KSUM KIPR KFLU KPAO KE KCRM KJUS KAWC KZ KSCA KDRG KCOR KGHG KPAL KTIP KMCA KCRS KPKO KOLY KRVC KVPR KG KMDR KWBG KTER KSPR KV KTFN KWMN KFRD KSTH KS KN KISL KGIC KSEP KFIN KTEX KTIA KUNR KCMR KMOC KCIP KTDB KBIO KU KSTC KICC KCRCM KIRC KIRF KSEO KSAF KR KPRP KNUP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KTBT KOCI KBCT KMPI KNPP KSCI KIDE KPAONZ KNUC KHLS KHDP KCOM KAID KHIV KCSY KTRD KNAR KWAC KJUST KO KBTS KTLA KNNPMNUC KVRP KPRV KACT KCFE KNDP KAWK KHSA KMRS KERG KPOA KPWR KFSC KVIR KX KMFO KENV KRCM KCFC KNEI KCHG KPLS KREL KFTFN KTFM KLIG KDEMAF KRAD KBTR KGIT KGCC KICA KHUM KSEC KPIN KESS KDEV KPIR KWWMN KOM KWNM KRFD KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KRGY KREC KIFR KSAC KWMNCS KPAK KOMS KFPC KRIM KDDG KCGC KPAI KID KMIG KNSD KWMM
LY LE LABOR LO LI LTTE LH LG LAB LT LA LU LOG
MARR MX MASS MOPS MNUC MCAP MTCRE ML MR MRCRE MTRE MASC MY MK MAS MO MIL MP MTCR MAPP MZ MG MAR MD MU MA MOPPS MTS MLS MILI MEPN MEPI MEETINGS MERCOSUR MW MT MCC MIK MAPS MV MILITARY MARAD MDC MEPP MASSMNUC MUCN MEDIA MI MQADHAFI MPOS MPS MC
NZ NATO NI NO NG NL NU NPT NS NSSP NA NATIONAL NSF NDP NR NP NIPP NE NAS NGO NZUS NH NSG NAFTA NC NEW NRR NT NASA NAR NK NOVO NATOPREL NSC NV NPA NSFO NW NORAD NPG
OTRA OECD OVIP OREP OPRC ODC OPDC OAS OSCE OPIC OMS OIIP OPAD OEXC OPCW ODIP OFDP OIE OFFICIALS OSCI OHUM OTR OMIG OSAC OBSP OFDA OVP ON OCII OES OCS OIC
PGOV PREL PARM PINR PHUM PM PREF PTER PK PINS PBIO PHSA PE PBTS PL POL PAK POV PGOF PPA POLITICS POLICY PAS PCI PALESTINIAN PROP PTE PREO POLITICAL PA PAIGH PO PROG PJUS PMIL PRAM PAO PTERE PARMS PSI PDOV PG PRGOV PORG PP PS PKFK PSOE PEPR PINT PMAR PRELP PREFA PNG PFOR PUNE PGOVLO PHUMBA PNAT POLINT PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PDEM PECON PY PLN PHUH PEDRO PF PHUS PTBS PU PARTIES PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PHUMPREL POGOV PEL PINL PBT PINF PRL PSEPC POSTS PAHO PHUMPGOV PGOC PNR PROV
QA
RS RP RU RW RFE RCMP RIGHTSPOLMIL ROBERT RO RICE RM REGION ROOD RSP RF RELATIONS RIGHTS RUPREL REMON REACTION REPORT RSO
SZ SENV SOCI SNAR SY SO SP SU SI SMIG SYR SA SCUL SG SW SR SYRIA SPECIALIST SEN SC SCRS SF SL SAARC SNARIZ STEINBERG SWE SARS SN SAN ST SIPDIS SSA SPCVIS SOFA SENVKGHG SANC SHI SEVN SHUM SK SH SNARCS SPCE SNARN SIPRS
TRGY TBIO TSPA TU TPHY TI TX TH TIP TSPL TNGD TZ TC TF TN TW TL TV TS TT TK TD TERRORISM TP TO TRSY TURKEY TINT TFIN TAGS TR TBID THPY
UK UNSC UNGA UN US USTR UZ USEU UV UG UP UNAUS UNMIK USUN USPS UNESCO UNHRC UNHCR UY UNEP UNCHR USAID USNC USOAS UE UNVIE UAE UNO UNDP UNODC UNCHS UNFICYP UNDESCO UNC UNPUOS UNDC UNICEF UNCHC UNCSD UNFCYP UNIDROIT UNCND
VE VM VT VZ VTEG VTIZ VTPREL VENZ VAT VC VI VN
WHTI WIPO WTRO WHO WS WTO WZ WI WMD WBG WWARD WHA WITH WTRQ WEU WMO WA WFP WB
XA XR XW XX XK XL XM XS XF XG XT XH XY XV XB XU XD XC XE XZ XQ XI XTAG
YI YM YE YMCS
ZU ZI ZP ZR ZOELLICK ZF ZL ZJ ZO ZB ZEALAND ZN ZA ZK ZANU

### Browse by classification

CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN SECRET SECRET//NOFORN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

### Community resources

Follow us on Twitter Check our Reddit Twitter this Digg this page Contact us on IRC

courage is contagious

### Viewing cable 08BOGOTA1517, URIBE-SUPREME COURT TENSIONS RISE OVER

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:

- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.

To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #08BOGOTA1517.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
08BOGOTA1517 | 2008-04-23 21:03 | 2011-04-29 00:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Bogota
Appears in these articles: http://www.semana.com/wikileaks/Seccion/168.aspx

`

    VZCZCXYZ0012
    PP RUEHWEB

    DE RUEHBO #1517/01 1142103
    ZNY CCCCC ZZH
    P 232103Z APR 08
    FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2492
    INFO RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 8157
    RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY 0302
    RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA PRIORITY 6134
    RUEHZP/AMEMBASSY PANAMA PRIORITY 1573
    RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO PRIORITY 6786
    RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC PRIORITY
    RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
    RHMFIUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
    RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
    RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
    RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY

` `

    C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 001517

    SIPDIS

    SIPDIS

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/21/2018
    TAGS: KJUS PHUM PREF PREL PTER CO
    SUBJECT: URIBE-SUPREME COURT TENSIONS RISE OVER
    PARA-POLITICAL INVESTIGATIONS

    Classified By: Political Counselor John Creamer
    Reason 1.4 (b and d)

    SUMMARY
    -------
    ¶1. (C)  Preliminary investigations by the Supreme Court of
    Senate President Nancy Patricia Gutierrez and U Party
    President Senator Carlos Garcia for alleged paramilitary ties
    led President Uribe to call on April 17 for "objectivity" in
    the Court.  Uribe voiced "total support" for the judiciary,
    but urged the Supreme Court not to "open the door to
    institutional instability" through investigations based on
    weakevidence.  Casa de Narino Legal Advisor Edmundo del
    Castillo and opposition Liberal Party chief Cesar Gaviria
    told us some members of the Court harbor animosity toward the
    President and that may be influencing their decisions.  The
    Prosecutor General (Fiscalia) detained Uribe cousin and
    former Senator Mario Uribe on April 23--a move expected to
    heighten tensions between the executive and the judiciary.
    End Summary

    SENATE LEADERS INVESTIGATED
    ---------------------------
    ¶2. (U)  The Supreme Court has begun preliminary
    investigations of Senate President Nancy Patricia Gutierrez
    and U Party President Carlos Garcia for alleged paramilitary
    ties.  The Fiscalia also arrested former Senator Mario Uribe
    (President Uribe's distant cousin and long-time political
    ally) on April 23 for reported para links.  Mario Uribe
    unsuccessfully sought political asylum in the Costa Rican
    Embassy prior to his detention.  Gutierrez and Garcia voiced
    confidence that the investigations against them would be
    dropped with no charges filed.  Gutierrez said the Court
    appeared to be initiating investigations based on rumors or
    the testimony of single, unreliable, and politically
    motivated witnesses.

    URIBE CALLS FOR OBJECTIVITY
    ---------------------------
    ¶3. (U)  President Uribe reiterated his "total support" for
    the judicial system on April 17, but urged the Supreme Court
    to be "objective" in its decisions.  He highlighted the
    increased resources that the GOC has provided the Court to
    carry out the para-political investigations, but called on it
    "not to open the door to institutional instability."
    Minister for Interior and Justice Carlos Holguin elaborated
    on April 20 that the GOC wanted "clarity and certainty" in
    the Court's actions, adding that "in some cases the Court had
    acted based on weak evidence."  Uribe announced after a
    meeting with GOC coalition party leaders on April 20, that
    the GOC would set up a commission to study possible political
    and judicial reform proposals, likely including ideas to
    reform systems for investigating members of Congress.

    SUPREME COURT "VENDETTA" CLOUDS JUDGMENT
    -----------------------------------------
    ¶4. (C) Presidential Legal Advisor Castillo told us former
    Supreme Court President Cesar Julio Valencia Copete and
    Supreme Court Judge Yesid Ramirez have influenced the Court's
    judgment when dealing with GOC allies.  Valencia is the
    subject of a criminal libel complaint filed by Uribe over
    their differing accounts of a phone conversation in October,
    2007 in which Valencia alleges Uribe inappropriately raised
    the case of Mario Uribe.  Castillo claimed Valencia's recent
    calling of a former paramilitary as a witness in his dispute
    with Uribe was irrelevant to the case and designed only to
    damage the president.  Then Supreme Court President Ramirez
    publicly clashed with Uribe two years ago, when he accused
    the president of siding with the Constitutional Court in its
    dispute with the Supreme Court over jurisdiction.  Uribe's
    relations with the Supreme Court have been strained since.

    ¶5. (C) Castillo said Supreme Court Auxiliary Magistrate Ivan
    Velasquez also continued his "vendetta" against Uribe,
    offering juridical benefits to former-paramilitaries to
    testify against the president.  Uribe filed a criminal
    complaint with the Fiscalia against Velasquez, accusing him
    of illegally pressuring ex-paras to provide false testimony
    against the president.  Castillo added that jailed former
    para leader Diego Murillo's (Don Berna) lawyer recently told
    him that Velasquez had offered Berna "benefits" in exchange

    for testimony against Uribe.  Such accusations are aimed at
    undermining Uribe's credibility, Castillo said.

    ¶6. (C) Further complicating the picture are rumors that
    ex-paramilitary leader Carlos Mario Jimenez ("Macaco") bribed
    Supreme Court magistrates, including Ramirez, to elect Fiscal
    General Mario Iguaran.  GOC members of Congress have also
    considered whether an investigation is warranted to examine
    ties between some magistrates and Italian businessman Gorgio
    Sale, allegedly involved in narcotrafficking and other crimes
    with ex-paramilitary leader Salvatore Mancuso.  Several Court
    members believe Congressmen implicated in the scandal are
    behind the allegations of Court ties to paramilitaries.  The
    Congressional Commission of Accusations is responsible for
    investigations against the magistrates.  On April 23,
    presidents of the four high courts (Supreme, Constitutional,
    Judiciary Council, and State Council) jointly announced their
    backing for the Supreme Court and its decisions in the
    para-political scandal.

    FORMER PRESIDENT GAVIRIA FEARS FURTHER TENSIONS
    --------------------------------------------- --
    ¶7. (C) Opposition Liberal Party Chief and former-President
    Cesar Gaviria told us he is concerned over the rising
    tensions between the Supreme Court and Uribe.  Gaviria said
    the Supreme Court has done a good job overall investigating
    para-political scandal.  Still, he added that recent
    decisions on para investigations and the Macaco extradition
    reflected some Court members' "personal animosity" towards
    Uribe.Gaviria said evidence in the cases against Uribe
    confidants Gutierrez and Mario Uribe appears weak.  He
    predicted the Court's tensions with the GOC would deepen
    since Uribe believes (accurately or not) that some judges are
    out to get him and his political allies.

    BROWNFIELD

`