R 301935Z APR 08 FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2557 C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 001593 SUBJECT: ARRESTS IN URABA TACKLE FORMER PARAMILITARIES

BUT VIOLENCE CONTINUES REF: BOGOTA 1509 Classified By: Political Counselor John S. Creamer. Reason: 1.4(b,d) -------SUMMARY -------1. (C) The Colombian National Police (CNP) recently arrested a local Mayor--as well as a key businessman--for alleged paramilitary ties, but violence continues to plague the Uraba region in the northern part of Antioquia (reftel). Local San Jose de Apartado community leader Cesar Jaramillo fled Uraba in February due to threats against his life and is seeking GOC protection. His brother, Jhon Jairo Jaramillo, was killed on January 28, allegedly by demobilized FARC working with the 17th Brigade, but witnesses have not come forward due to fear of reprisals. End Summary.

--------------------FARC Killing in Uraba --------------------2. (C) Cesar Jaramillo, a community leader in San Jose de Apartado and President of the Antioquia chapter of the Federacion Nacional de Cacaoteros, told us he fled Uraba in February due to death threats. His brother, Jhon Jairo Jaramillo, was murdered on the road from San Jose de Apartado to the city of Apartado on January 28. Local residents told Jaramillo that demobilized FARC working with the 17th Brigade as guides/informants killed his brother. Jaramillo said none of the witnesses are willing to testify; most have fled the area for fear of reprisals. He added that local officials contacted him to identify his brother's body, but he has not heard further news about the case. Jaramillo participates in Accion Social programs in San Jose, and is not affiliated with the San Jose de Apartado Peace Community. 3. (C) Jaramillo said his brother and he had filed a complaint against Colonel Nestor Ivan Duque of the 17th Brigade in 2005 for stealing livestock from their farm and had also complained of receiving threats from Duque's troops. Jaramillo reported the recent threats to the Prosecutor General's Office (Fiscalia) in Apartado, but he told us the Fiscalia has not responded. Post advised we would contact the GOC to pursue the investigation. Duque commanded the 17th Brigade Cesar Bajarno Munoz engineering battalion that has been implicated in the La Resbaloza massacre of eight civilians, including three minor children, in

February, 2005. The Prosecutor General's office is questioning 69 soldiers of the engineering battalion about the massacre. To date, Captain Gordillo and 15 other members of the Velez infantry battalion of the 17th Brigade are under arrest for the murders. ------------------------------------More Arrests of former AUC supporters ------------------------------------4. (U) On April 7, the 29th Special Prosecutor's office ordered the arrest of Carepa Mayor Arnulfo Penuela Marin and four others for financially supporting the former United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) Bananero and Elmer Cardenas Blocks. Penuela was allegedly a member of the Papagayo security firm--which was allegedly controlled by the paramilitaries--and received funds from the Chiquita banana company to pay the AUC for security. The five were arrested based on the testimony of Ever Veloza (aka HH), former Bananero Block commander, in the Justice and Peace process. Veloza named Penuela as a "nexus point" for the AUC. Prosecutors have transferred the case to Medellin, the main Prosector General's office for Antioquia. On April 29, the CNP also detained Raul Hasbun, a businessmen who also allegedly helped set up the banana industry's payments to the AUC. BROWNFIELD (Edited and reading.) reformatted by Andres for ease of