http://nsarchive.wordpress.com/2012/09/06/colombias-peace-negotiators-the-view-from-the-united-states/ Colombias Peace Negotiators: The View from the United States September 6, 2012 tags: Álvaro Uribe <http://nsarchive.wordpress.com/tag/alvaro-uribe/>, bernardo moreno <http://nsarchive.wordpress.com/tag/bernardo-moreno/>, Carlos Castaño<http://nsarchive.wordpress.com/tag/carlos-castano/>, colombian national police<http://nsarchive.wordpress.com/tag/colombian-national-police/>, farc <http://nsarchive.wordpress.com/tag/farc/>, jorge mora<http://nsarchive.wordpress.com/tag/jorge-mora/>, jose obdulio gaviria<http://nsarchive.wordpress.com/tag/jose-obdulio-gaviria/>, Oscar Naranjo <http://nsarchive.wordpress.com/tag/oscar-naranjo/>, panama<http://nsarchive.wordpress.com/tag/panama/>, paramilitaries <http://nsarchive.wordpress.com/tag/paramilitaries/>, vicente castano <http://nsarchive.wordpress.com/tag/vicente-castano/>, wikileaks<http://nsarchive.wordpress.com/tag/wikileaks/> by Michael Evans <http://nsarchive.wordpress.com/author/mxvans/> <http://nsarchive.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/jorge-mora.jpg>
Former Colombian Armed Forces commander Jorge Enrique Mora was accused of looking the other way with respect to collaboration with illegal paramilitary forces. With great fanfare and even greater expectations, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos this week identified the people hes chosen to represent the government in peace negotiations with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), the leftist guerrilla group that has been at war with the Colombian government for nearly 50 years. Where the talks will lead is anybodys guess, but as the negotiations take shape, its worthwhile to review what declassified (and leaked) documents from formerly secret U.S. files reveal about two of the individuals selected to lead the process. As director of the Colombian National Police (CNP), *Óscar Naranjo Trujillo *was one of the most trusted members of former President Álvaro Uribes security team and gained the respect and admiration of U.S. officials through routine and frank engagements with them on a host of sensitive matters. Naranjo had a pretty good track record for success, according to U.S. Ambassador William Brownfields *account of an October 2009 meeting*<http://nsarchive.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/09bogota3271.pdf>, and was perhaps the smartest, best informed member of the [Government of Colombia], and someone whose views and observations are usually worth serious consideration. The National Security Archives declassified files include one especially interesting example of how Naranjo earned his reputation for blunt disclosures, although it does not reflect particularly well on the CNP as an institution. The *1996 cable*<http://nsarchive.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/1996bogota11841.pdf>reports that Naranjo, then director of police intelligence, admitted to U.S. diplomats that CNP forces do not act in the parts of Colombia under control of the countrys illegal militia forces, led by indicted paramilitary warlord Carlos Castaño. Thanks to Wikileaks, we now know that Naranjo continued to be an important source of information for the U.S. on political, criminal and security-related developments during the new century. Naranjos name appears in 76 of the leaked cables, many of which pertain to the most sensitive scandals of the Uribe presidency. In a *March 2007 cable*<http://nsarchive.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/2007bogota1925.pdf>published by Wikileaks, Naranjo is reported as saying that fugitive paramilitary chief Vicente Castañoolder brother of Carlos Castaño enjoys significant collaboration from elements of the police and military, despite the governments supposed efforts to dismantle the illegal groups. <http://nsarchive.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/oscar-naranjo.jpg> Former Colombian National Police director Oscar Naranjo told the U.S. that police forces do not act in areas controlled by illegal paramilitary forces. Wikileaks has also shown that Naranjo accused top Uribe advisers Bernardo Moreno and José Obdulio Gaviria of orchestrating a massive illegal wiretapping operation that targeted judges, journalists, human rights defenders and other presumed political opponentseven, in some cases, U.S. citizens. - In an *August 2008 cable*<http://nsarchive.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/08bogota3007.pdf>the U.S. Embassy reports that Naranjo said presidential advisor Jose Obdulio Gavaria was behind a recent attempt to discredit [Supreme Court magistrate Iván] Velasquez using former paramilitaries in Medellin. Naranjo said that former Senator Mario Uribe [cousin of President Álvaro Uribe] had orchestrated a similar effort involving a former paramilitary (Tasmania) who claimed Velasquez had offered him legal benefits to implicate Uribe in a murder, according to the cable. - In an *October 2008 cable*<http://nsarchive.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/08bogota3888.pdf>, Naranjo reportedly told the Embassy that Jose Obdulio Gaviria pushed the DAS [intelligence agency] to collect political intelligence. - A *May 2009 cable*<http://nsarchive.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/09bogota1506.pdf> published by Wikileaks notes that Naranjo had named José Obdulio Gaviria and Bernardo Moreno as the officials who had pushed DAS to spy on the GOCs domestic opponents. Similar accusations by Naranjo are included in an *October 2009 report*<http://nsarchive.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/09bogota3271.pdf> . Another *Wiki-leaked cable*<http://nsarchive.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/09panama889.pdf>indicates that Naranjo worked closely with the U.S. on planning for the possibility of politically-sensitive, cross-border military raids against FARC targets in Panama, according to another cable made available through Wikileaks. The cable said that the Embassy was grateful for Naranjos commitment to working in concert with the USG [U.S. government] on the matter. But while the U.S. seems to have viewed Naranjo as a trusted ally, former Colombian Armed Forces commander *Jorge Enrique Mora*, another member of the negotiating team, is a horse of a somewhat different color. While the U.S. viewed Mora as a capable and professional military officer, he was *sharply critical* <http://nsarchive.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/20000809.pdf> of civilian efforts to prosecute members of the Colombian military for human rights violations, and a fellow officer *privately told U.S. officials*<http://nsarchive.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/19971224_001.pdf>that Mora was one of those who looked the other way and did not interfere when members of the military collaborated with paramilitary death squads. In other words, according to the U.S. defense attaché report, Mora and other senior officers never allowed themselves to become directly involved in encouraging or supporting paramilitary activities, but they turned a blind eye to what was happening and felt the [Colombian Army] should in no way be blamed for any resulting human rights atrocities committed. The attaché added that the unnamed senior military officer was referring to the time when Mora was commander of the Colombian Armys 4th Brigade in Medellin, at a time when paramilitary forces were beginning to consolidate control over that region (1994-95). Stay tuned for more on Colombias peace process as it develops. -------------------- FARC announces representatives at peace talks <http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/25901-farc-announces-representatives-at-peace-talks.html> Thursday, 06 September 2012 09:00 Joey O'Gorman Tags: - Armed Conflict<http://colombiareports.com/component/tag/armed-conflict.html> - Farc <http://colombiareports.com/component/tag/farc.html> - Juan Manuel Santos<http://colombiareports.com/component/tag/juan-manuel-santos.html> - Peace Talks <http://colombiareports.com/component/tag/peace-talks.html> <http://digg.com/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fcolombiareports.com%2Fcolombia-news%2Fnews%2F25901-farc-announces-representatives-at-peace-talks.html&title=FARC announces representatives at peace talks> [image: mauricio_jaramillo] The FARC <http://colombiareports.com/component/tag/farc.html> on Thursday revealed the names of the members who will represent the guerrilla group at the peace talks announced this week by Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos<http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/profiles/9075-profile-juan-manuel-santos.html> . Luciano Martin Arango alias "Ivan Marquez<http://colombiareports.com/component/tag/ivan-marquez.html>" and Jesus Santrich were announced as the FARC members who will sit at the table with the Colombian government for the peace negotiations. - Peace talks news archive<http://colombiareports.com/component/tag/peace-talks.html> Arango, a member of the guerrilla group since 1977 has been associated with FARC splinter groups outside Colombia <http://colombiareports.com/> according to newspaper El Tiempo<http://www.eltiempo.com/politica/las-farc-revelan-el-nombre-de-sus-voceros-en-los-dialogos_12199203-4>, and his presence at public events in Venezuela allegedly contributed to the difficult relations between that country and Colombia. The guerrilla also participated in the La Uribe peace talks in the 80s. Santrich has also been a FARC member since the 70s and was Arango's deputy in the Caribbean Bloc. His name was among possible successors of guerrilla leader "Mono Jojoy" in the Eastern Bloc. At a press conference in Cuba, FARC member Hermes Aguilar thanked the representatives from Chile, Colombia and Venzuela who have accompanied the preliminary talks between the rebels and the Colombian government. In a televised press conference held at the same time, top FARC leader Timochenko <http://colombiareports.com/component/tag/timochenko.html> said: "These are vain pretentions from those who say we are coming to the table to disarm and surrender." "In tribute to the victims and their families, we make a commitment to fight relentlessly for peace," said Timochenko at the videoed press conference recorded in Colombia. "This new peace process represents the triumph of the winds of change in our America, it represents the triumph of Bolivarian chants," said the guerrilla leader at the conference which ended in chants and cheers from armed guerrillas watching by video link. President Juan Manuel Santos appointed former Vice-president Humberto de la Calle and Sergio Jaramillo as his representatives at the negotiations that will formally begin in Norway's capital Oslo on October 8th. Generals Jorge Enrique Mora Rangel of the army and Oscar Naranjo of the police along with former Environment Minister Frank Pearl and president of the National Business Council of the Andes, Luis Carlos Villegas were appointed as Commissioners for the Peace. ------------------- Colombia president won't 'veto' any FARC negotiator <http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/25906-colombia-president-wont-veto-any-farc-negotiator.html> Thursday, 06 September 2012 11:34 Joey O'Gorman Tags: - Farc <http://colombiareports.com/component/tag/farc.html> - Juan Manuel Santos<http://colombiareports.com/component/tag/juan-manuel-santos.html> - Peace Talks <http://colombiareports.com/component/tag/peace-talks.html> - Simon Trinidad<http://colombiareports.com/component/tag/simon-trinidad.html> <http://digg.com/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fcolombiareports.com%2Fcolombia-news%2Fnews%2F25906-colombia-president-wont-veto-any-farc-negotiator.html&title=Colombia president won't 'veto' any FARC negotiator> [image: Santos] Colombia <http://colombiareports.com/> President Juan Manuel Santos<http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/profiles/9075-profile-juan-manuel-santos.html>on Thursday said there is "no veto" on who the FARC <http://colombiareports.com/component/tag/farc.html> negotiators are but that the process has to "be realistic," according to newspaper El Espectador<http://www.elespectador.com/noticias/politica/articulo-372911-no-hay-veto-de-santos-ningun-negociador-de-farc> . Santos said he had total respect for the final decision on delegates to be sent by the FARC to the peace negotiations that will start in Norway on October 8th. - Peace talks archive<http://colombiareports.com/component/tag/peace-talks.html> The presidential statement came as the Colombian guerrillas announced their delegates <http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/25901-farc-announces-representatives-at-peace-talks.html>in Cuba's capital Havana on Thursday morning. "There is no type of veto for the negotiators," said the president. However in response to the FARC request that Ricardo Palmera, alias "Simon Trinidad," be one of the negotiators, Santos said the "process has to realistic and this is very important for there are things that we can do and others we can't." Palmera is currently serving a 60-year sentence in the U.S. for conspiracy and kidnapping<http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/fact-sheets/24638-colombia-kidnapping-statistics-1980-present.html>. The FARC leader was also allegedly involved in the 2002 murder of a young boy accused of being an informant for the army. According to reports the child's body, stuffed with explosives and gift-wrapped, was then delivered to Colombian police. In his statement, the Colombian president said that nothing had been mentioned about the releasing of the guerrilla chief in conversations with U.S. President Barack Obama. ---------------------- Colombia opens exploratory peace talks 2<http://www.bloggingsbyboz.com/2012/09/colombia-opens-exploratory-peace-talks-2.html> <http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=8381038&postID=1987317562562440797&from=pencil> President Santos set out the five key points<http://wsp.presidencia.gov.co/Prensa/2012/Septiembre/Paginas/20120904_01.aspx>for negotiation in the government's talks with the FARC. 1. Rural development including some sort of land reform. This has always been on the FARC's to-do list. While the FARC have become less ideological in recent years, placing this issue first suggests that Santos is talking directly to the ideologues within the group and trying to treat them with respect. 2. Guarantees for political participation by all citizens. One reason peace efforts failed in the 1980's was the slaughter of the UPP politicians. The FARC need guarantees that they won't be targeted once they demobilize and enter politics. 3. The end of armed conflict, including disarming and reintegrating FARC combatants into civilian life. This is what the government wants and insists must be the outcome of the negotiations. 4. Narcotrafficking. This is the least specific point and it's not clear where the government and FARC will take it. My feeling is that this is the government's attempt to get ahead of some of the problems in the previous FARC negotiations and in the paramilitary negotiations, where criminal groups gained ground. It does the government little good if the "FARC" demobilize, but several thousand of them remain as an armed drug trafficking cartel under a new name. 5. Victim's rights. This is always a touchy subject because in any peace negotiation, some impunity is inevitable. Victims families are an important interest group in Colombia and want guarantees that there will be truth and some punishment for severe violations of human rights. The FARC fear what they saw in the paramilitary negotiations, with some top leaders arrested and even extradited following successful negotiations. The government must balance the rights of victims against the fears of FARC leaders they will be prosecuted and punished. It's probably the toughest topic on the list. The government has also named<http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-19499469>a high level team of negotiators that includes some individuals who may be a bit more hardline than the president. That gives the government some leverage in the negotiations (the FARC certainly have their own hardliners) and will also help sell any agreement to the Colombian public should one pass. The Obama administration welcomed<http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/09/04/statement-press-secretary-government-colombia-s-peace-negotiations-revol>the peace talks by saying: "The Colombian governments conclusion of this framework for negotiations sets the stage for talks that hold out the promise of ending the 50-year conflict with the FARC, in order to permit all Colombians to live with greater peace, security, and prosperity." Whether the US sits at the table or watches from the sidelines, the US-Colombia alliance is undeniably a factor in these discussions. The early positive signals from the US government are necessary for the potential success of these talks. Previous post here<http://www.bloggingsbyboz.com/2012/08/colombia-opens-exploratory-peace-talks.html>. Posted 11 hours ago by boz<http://www.blogger.com/profile/13233148632004720002> Labels: latinamerica<http://www.bloggingsbyboz.com/search/label/latinamerica> conflict <http://www.bloggingsbyboz.com/search/label/conflict> Colombia<http://www.bloggingsbyboz.com/search/label/Colombia> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- LAAMN: Los Angeles Alternative Media Network --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe: <mailto:laamn-unsubscr...@egroups.com> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe: <mailto:laamn-subscr...@egroups.com> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Digest: <mailto:laamn-dig...@egroups.com> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Help: <mailto:laamn-ow...@egroups.com?subject=laamn> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post: <mailto:la...@egroups.com> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive1: <http://www.egroups.com/messages/laamn> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive2: <http://www.mail-archive.com/laamn@egroups.com> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yahoo! 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