SECRET PAGE 01 ACTION SCT-00 El SECRET BOGOTA 09345 01 OF 02 PTQ9414 132228Z RELEASED IN PART B3 INA ACDA-08 ACDE-00 INLB-01 AID-00 ARA-01 INL-01 SRPP-00 DS-00 CA-02 CC0-00 FAAE-00 FBIE-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 L-01 ADS-00 MMP-00 M-00 DCP-01 PRS-00 SP-00 OIC-02 PM-00 P-00 STR-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 USSS-00 ASDS-01 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 PRM-01 DRL-04 ------------------5EF1B5 132244Z 38 0 132220Z AUG 98 FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4600 SECDEF WASHDC DIRONDCP WASHDC SECDEF WASHDC OCDEPS DEA WASHDC DIA WASHDC CIA WASHDC USCINCSO MIAMI FL SCJ2 SCJ5 POLAD NSC WASHDC INFO LOG-00 ACQ-01 OIG0-01 JUSE-00 OCS-03 SS-00 DSCC-00 A-00 EB-00 I0-00 NSAE-00 SS0-00 PMB-00 029W SECRET SECTION 01 OF 02 BOGOTA 009345 E O 12958 DECL 01 09 07 TAGS MARR PHUM SNAR PTER PINR CO SUBJECT GENERAL RAMIREZ LASHES OUT AT STATE DEPARTMENT TWO MORE GENERALS UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR PARAMILITARY LINKS REF A BOGOTA 292141Z MAY 98 B BOGOTA 071647Z APR 98 SECRET PAGE 02 U BOGOTA 09345 01 OF 02 132228Z CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR CURTIS W KAMMAN REASON 1 5 D SUM xtARY 1 C COLOMBIAN PRESS REPORTED AUGUST 12 AN ANGRY DENIAL BY APPARENTLY-EX ARMY INSPECTOR GENERAL IVAN RAMIREZ OF CHARGES CONTAINED IN AN AUGUST 11 WASHINGTON POST ARTICLE IN WHICH HE ACCUSED THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF BETRAYAL AND OF MALIGNING HIS HONOR 11 IN ADDITION TO REPORTING HIS FOMENTING OF ILLEGAL PARAMILITARY ORGANIZATIONS THE POST ARTICLE CHARGED RAMIREZ WAS A CIA INFORMANT AND LINKED HIM TO HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES AND UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE REVIEW AUTHORITY NORMAN M BOUTON DATE CASE ID 30 APR 2007 200604550 SECRET SECRET Nfffi COT' RAFFICKING ALSO IN THE NEWS ARE GENERAL' OFFICERS FERNANDO MILLAN PEREZ AND RITO ALEJO DEL RIO ROJAS BOTH OF WHOM ARE SUBJECTS OF FEDERAL PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE INVESTIGATIONS INTO ALLEGED LINKS TO ILLEGAL PARAMILITARY GROUPS THESE INVESTIGATIONS WILL SERVE AS A MARKER TO OFFICERS WHO CONTINUE TO ILLEGALLY ASSIST PARAMILITARY GROUPS END SUMMARY GEN RAMIREZ ANGRILY DENIES WASHINGTON POST'S ALLEGATIONS 2 U BOGOTA PRESS CARRIED AUGUST 12 ANGRY DENIALS BY MAJOR GENERAL IVAN RAMIREZ QUINTERO OF ACCUSATIONS CONTAINED IN AN AUGUST 10 WASHINGTON POST ARTICLE NOTE ALTHOUGH HE HAS NOT OFFICIALLY· RESIGNED BOGOTA PRESS REPORTS THAT HE WAS ARMY INSPECTOR GENERAL UNTIL AUGUST 10 AND THAT HE IS PACKING UP THE BOXES IN HIS OFFICE END NOT_E THE ARTICLE QUOTED U S AND COLOMBIAN INTELLIGENCE OFFICIALS AS SAYING THAT THE USG HAD BEGUN TO HEAR ·oF RAMIREZ'S TIES TO NARCOTRAFFICKERS AND SECRET 11 BOGOTA 09345 01 OF 02 132228Z PAGE 03 PARAMILITARIES AS WELL AS COMPLICITY IN HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN THE MID-1990'S AND THEREFORE TERMINATED ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM IN 1995 TO THE POST'S ACCUSATION THAT HE WAS A CIA INFORMANT RAMIREZ RESPONDED THAT HE NA URALLY HAD A WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH CIA AS HE WAS DIRECTOR OF ARMY INTELLIGENCE FROM 1991-1994 HOWEVER HE CLAIMED HIS WAS AN OVERT RELATIONSHIP AND THAT HE NEVER RECEIVED ANY PAYMENT FROM CIA 3 U THE INFURIATED RAMIREZ BLASTED THE POST'S ARTICLE AS INFAMOUS PERSECUTION YELLOW JOURNALISM AND SENSATIONALISM HE PUBLICLY ATTRIBUTED TO THE FARC AND CERTAIN _ I E LEFTIST NGO'S ACCUSATIONS AGAINST HIM OF INVOLVEMENT IN NARCOTRAFFICKING AND SUPPORT OF PARAMILITARY GROUPS HE ACCUSED THE USG OF ABANDONING THOSE WITH WHOM IT COOPERATED DURING THE COLD WAR REFERRING TO THE DEPARTMENT'S HAVING REVOKED HIS VISA IN MAY ON TERRORISM GROUNDS RAMIREZ SAID HE HAS II COME TO EXPECT ANYTHING FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT HE ALSO SAID HE IS IN POSSESSION OF PROOF OF HIS INNOCENCE BUT DECLINED TO DIVULGE THAT PROOF FOIAB3 FROM 1991-1994 AND RETAINED A GREAT DEAL OF INFLUENCE AMONG ARMY INTELLIGENCE OFFICERS AFTER HE LEFT THAT POST TO CO tv nv lAND THE 1ST BRIGADE DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE POST ARTICLE CITED ONLY PERSONS FROM THE UNITED STATES AND COLOMBIAN INTELLIGENCE SECRET SECRET C MMUN'ITIES RAMIREZ AGAIN PUBLICLY TRACED HIS DIFFICULTIES DIRECTLY TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT AFTER HIS VISA WAS REVOKED IN SECRET BOGOTA 09345 01 OF 02 132228Z PAGE 04 MAY HE SAID ON BOGOTA RADIO THAT HIS PROBLEMS EMANATED DIRECTLY FROM TWO MEMBERS OF THE EMBASSY POLITICAL SECTION TWO GENERALS UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR TIES TO PARAMILITARIES 5 U BOGOTA PRESS HIGHLIGHTED AUGUST 11 THE F EDERAL PROSECUTOR'S INVESTIGATIONS OF TWO GENERAL OFFICERS FOR ALLEGED LINKS TO PARAMILITARY GROUPS FEDERAL PROSECUTOR ALFONSO GOMEZ MENDEZ PUBLICLY CONFIRMED AUGUST 10 WHAT POLOFFS HAD PRIVATELY BEEN TOLD DAYS BEFORE THAT BRIGADIER GENERAL FERNANDO MILLAN PEREZ COMMANDER OF THE ARMY'S FIFTH BRIGADE WAS FORMALLY UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR PROVISION OF ARMS AND EQUIPMENT TO A PARAMILITARY GROUP IN LEBRIJA SANTANDER DEPARTMENT THE GROUP IS SUSPECTED OF COMMITTING ELEVEN MURDERS BETWEEN MARCH AND NOVEMBER 1997 THE PARAMILITARY UNIT HAD APPARENTLY APPLIED FOR A LICENSE AS A CONVIVIR COOPERATIVE ARMED GOVERNMENT-SANCTIONED COOPERATIVES WHICH ARE INTENDED TO PROVIDE INTELLIGENCE TO GOC SECURITY FORCES AND DETER GUERILLA INCURSIONS ALTHOUGH THE LICENSE WAS DENIED MILLAN IS ALLEGED TO HAVE PROCEEDED AS IF THE LICENSE HAD BEEN GRANTED AND ARMED THE MEMBERS REGARDLESS 6 U THE FEDERAL PROSECUTOR ALSO CONFIRMED THAT A PRELIMINARY SECRET END OF DOCUMENT SECRET PAGE 01 ACTION SCT-00 INFO BOGOTA 09345 02 OF 02 PTQ9415 132228Z ACDA-08 ACDE-00 INLB-01 AID-00 ARA-01 CA-02 CCO-00 INL-01 SRPP-00 DS-00 FAAE-00 FBIE-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 L-01 ADS-00 MMP-00 M-00 NSAE-00 PM-00 PRS-00 P-00 SP-00 SSO-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 USSS-00 ASDS-01 PMB-00 DRL-04 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 028W ------------------5EF1B8 132244Z 38 0 132220Z AUG 98 FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA TO SECSTATE WASHDC IJ v IMEDIATE 4601 SECDEF WASHDC LOG-00 ACQ-01 OIGO-01 JUSE-00 OIC-02 STR-00 PRM-01 SECRET A-00 EB-00 IO-00 OCS-03 SS-00 DSCC-00 lYd RONUCP WASHDC SECDEF WASHDC OCDEPS DEA WASHDC DIA WASHDC CIA WASHDC USCINCSO MIAMI FL SCJ2 SCJ5 POLAD NSC WASHDC SECRET SECRET SECTION 02 OF 02 BOGOTA 009345 E O 12958 DECL 01 09 07 TAGS MARR PHUM SNAR PTER PINR CO SUBJECT GENERAL RAMIREZ LASHES OUT AT STATE DEPARTMENT TWO MORE GENERALS UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR PARAMILITARY LINKS REF A BOGOTA 292141Z MAY 98 B BOGOTA 071647Z APR 98 SECRET PAGE 02 BOGOTA 09345 02 OF 02 132228Z INVESTIGATION OF GENERAL RITO ALEJO DEL RIO ROJAS COMMANDER OF THE ARMY'S 13TH BRIGADE BOGOTA IS ALSO UNDERWAY ACCORDING TO PRESS THE GENERAL'S ALLEGED LINKS TO ACCU PARAMILITARIES IN THE URABA REGION WHILE HE COMMANDED THE 17TH BRIGADE FROM DECEMBER 1995 TO DECEMBER 1997 ARE THE SUBJECT OF THE INVESTIGATION 7 S BIOGRAPHIC NOTE ALTHOUGH BRIGADE COMMANDS ARE GENERALLY 'ROTATED EVERY YEAR GENERAL DEL RIO WAS ALLOWED TO REMAIN IN COMMAND OF THE 17TH BRIGADE IN HIGHLY-CONFLICTIVE URABA REGION FOR TWO YEARS APPARENTLY BECAUSE HE HAD BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL IN BLOODYING THE FARC'S NOSE DURING THE PERIOD OF HIS COMMAND HIS SYSTEMATIC ARMING AND EQUIPPING OF AGGRESSIVE REGIONAL PARAMILITARIES WAS PIVOTAL TO HIS MILITARY SUCCESS AT THE TIME GENERAL DEL RIO HAS LONG BEEN ACCUSED OF LINKS TO PARAMILITARIES HE WAS INVESTIGATED FOR ALLEGEDLY DELIVERING 100 MPS SUBMACHINE GUNS IN 1985 TO PARAMILITARIES IN THE MAGDALENA MEDIO REGION HE IS REPUTED TO BE A PROTEGE OF MAJOR GENERAL IVAN RAMIREZ THANKS TO ACCUSATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES LEVELLED BY NGO'S CINEP RESEARGH AND POPULAR EDUCATION CENTER AND JUSTICIA Y PAZ PEACE AND JUSTICE DEL RIO'S RELATIONS WITH THOSE AND OTHER NGO'S ARE PARTICULARLY STRAINED END NOTE COMMENT 8 C AS DEMONSTRATED BY HIS INVECTIVE MAJOR GENERAL RAMIREZ TENDS TO SINGLE OUT THE STATE DEPARTMENT AS THE SOURCE OF HIS TROUBLES THE WASHINGTON POST ARTICLE PROVIDED HIM OCCASION TO MAKE A FINAL JAB AT THE DEPARTMENT BEFORE RETIREMENT WE ARE UNSURPRISED THAT HE DECLINED TO DIVULGE THE EVIDENCE OF HIS SECRET SECRET SECRET PAGE 03 BOGOTA 09345 02 OF 02 132228Z INNOCENCE THE DEPARTMENT FOUND THAT EVIDENCE OF HIS COMPLICITY IN REPEATED GRAVE HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS WAS SUFFICIENT TO REVOKE HIS VISA HIS APPARENTLY IMMINENT DEPARTURE FROM THE RANKS OF THE COLOMBIAN ARMY WILL CONTRIBUTE TO ITS ONGOING PROFESSIONALIZATION SEPARATELY WE ARE ENCOURAGED BY THE FEDERAL PROSECUTOR 1 S APPARENT DILIGENCE IN·INVESTIGATING LINKS BETWEEN SENIOR ARMY OFFICERS AND PARAMILITARIES THESE INVESTIGATIONS WILL SERVE AS A MARKER TO THOSE ARMY OFFICERS WHO CONTINUE TO ILLEGALLY ASSIST OR OTHERWISE WORK WITH PARAMILITARY GROUPS KAMMAN SECRET END OF DOCUMENT SECRET This document is from the holdings of The National Security Archive Suite 701 Gelman Library The George Washington University 2130 H Street NW Washington D C 20037 Phone 202 994-7000 Fax 202 994-7005 nsarchiv@gwu edu