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C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 001159SUBJECT: AUC'S LA MOJANA BLOC DEMOBILIZES AND MANCUSO STEPS DOWN
Classified By: Ambassador William B. Wood forreasons 1.4 (b) and (d)¶1. (U) Summary: 110 members of the La Mojana Blocof the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC)demobilized on February 2. They receivedReincorporation Program IDs, took a demographicsurvey, and renounced AUC membership. Six membersfaced active arrest warrants. The bloc was activein the swampy lowlands of Sucre, Bolivar, andCordoba Departments and had been relativelyisolated from the AUC central command. Since 2003,4,809 paramilitaries have demobilized in the peaceprocess. During the ceremony, it was announcedthat AUC commander Salvatore Mancuso stepped downas the AUC's military chief. He will continueparticipating in negotiations, but his demobilizedcivilian status prevents him from being an armedmilitary commander. End Summary.¶2. (U) On February 2, the La Mojana Bloc of theUnited Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC)demobilized in southern Sucre Department. Therewere 110 members, who turned in their weapons,received a Reincorporation Program ID, took a
demographic survey, and signed an individualrenunciation of AUC membership. The NationalRegistrar's Office began verifying, replacing, ornewly issuing national identification cards("
cedulas
") following the ceremony. Only sixparamilitaries claimed to not have anyidentification documents. Another six members hadactive arrest warrants; the GOC is verifying ifthese warrants are for pardonable crimes. If notpardonable, the individuals will be required to goto the concentration zone in Santa Fe de Ralito,Cordoba Department. The demobilization took placein a specially designated zone in a publicrecreation area in the rural district of NuevaEsperanza in the municipality of Guaranda. Thezone will be in existence until February 4, afterwhich time the paramilitaries will be required toreport to a reinsertion center within eight days.¶3. (C) The bloc was active in the La Mojanalowlands where Sucre, Bolivar, and CordobaDepartments meet. The area's swampy terrain madethe bloc generally autonomous from the AUC centralcommand. The more populated northern part of Sucrehas a heavy FARC presence in the mountainous regionof Montes de Maria, while the capital city and thecoast is dominated by a paramilitary strongmancalled "Ricardo Cadena." Cadena is looselyaffiliated with the AUC but has not participated inthe peace process.¶4. (U) The La Mojana Bloc's demobilization bringsthe total paramilitaries demobilized collectivelysince 2003 to 4,809.
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Cable 934: 2005 US Embassy Report on Demobilization of Paramilitary Group in Southern Colombia
This is a 2005 US embassy report on the demobilization of the La Mojana Bloc, a right wing AUC-Affiliated paramilitary group that was active in the departments of Sucre, Bolivar, and Cordoba in southern Colombia.
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