Country Reports on Terrorism 2012 - Colombia

Overview: Despite significant successes in its campaign against the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the beginning of peace talks, Colombia experienced a year of increased terrorist activity in 2012. As was the case in 2011, the number of total terrorist incidents, casualties caused by acts of terrorism, and economic losses due to terrorism increased in 2012, albeit with a significant drop in attacks during the second half of the year. Unlike 2011, however, the number of members of the FARC and National Liberation Army (ELN) killed or captured in combat went up by 11 percent and 53 percent, respectively. The implementation of a new counterinsurgency plan in June and the announcement in September of peace talks between the government and the FARC, along with a FARC temporary unilateral ceasefire, may have contributed to this increase.

2012 Terrorist Incidents: Until the declaration of a unilateral cease-fire by the FARC in November, terrorist attacks were an almost daily occurrence in Colombia. The FARC's declaration of a unilateral ceasefire for the period November 20 to January 20 did not completely stop FARC attacks, and had no impact on the activities of the ELN. The most common forms of terrorist activity were the launching of mortars at police stations or the military, explosive devices placed near roads or paths, sniper attacks, and ambushes. There was an increase in infrastructure attacks, particularly on oil and gas pipelines and equipment, by both the FARC and the ELN. Security forces and government buildings were the most common targets, though civilian casualties occurred throughout the year. Attacks were most common along the Venezuelan border in the departments of Arauca and Norte de Santander, in the southwest region of the country in the departments of Narino and Cauca, and in the northwestern department of Antioquia.

As of October 31, Colombian government statistics showed a 52 percent increase in attacks over 2011, with 716 terrorist attacks around the country compared to 472 attacks over the same period in the previous year. There was a 173 percent increase in the number of attacks on oil pipelines. Among the over 700 terrorist attacks recorded in the first 10 months of the year, several were notable for their severity or significant press coverage:

• A January 20 attack by an estimated 100 FARC guerrillas against a radar station outside the village of El Tambo, Cauca Department, took the lives of two members of the Colombian National Police (CNP) and disrupted air traffic control service for flights into the nearby city of Cali.

• On February 1, a motorcycle bomb targeting the local police station exploded in the port town of Tumaco, Narino Department. The explosion killed seven and wounded more than 20. The explosion was the culmination of a period of violence in the region, and sparked a number of protests against the FARC and criticism of the government for its failure to provide security.

• On March 17, FARC forces ambushed a Colombian army patrol in the department of Arauca, killing 11 soldiers and wounding two others.

• On April 27, in a complex attack in the area of Puerto Rico, Caqueta Department, four soldiers and one police sergeant were killed in an ambush. In a separate attack on the police station in Puerto Rico, two civilian adults and their baby were killed when one of five improvised mortars fell short and landed in their house.

Legislation, Law Enforcement, and Border Security: Law enforcement cooperation between Colombia and the United States remained outstanding. Colombia extradited 183 individuals to the United States. Evidence sharing and joint law enforcement operations occurred in a fluid and efficient manner, with information gathered in Colombia contributing to hundreds of prosecutions of U.S.-based criminals and organizations.

In June, the Colombian Congress passed and President Santos signed the Legal Framework for Peace, a groundbreaking piece of legislation meant to lay the groundwork for future legislation on transitional justice. The legislation, which was facing a challenge in the country's constitutional court, will allow the Colombian justice system to prioritize the prosecution of key terrorist leaders.

Colombian border security remained an area of vulnerability. The CNP does not have uniform policies for vehicle or passenger inspection at land border crossings. Biometric and biographic screening is conducted only at international airports. Improved relations with neighboring Ecuador and Venezuela have led to increased cooperation from those countries on law enforcement issues. Colombia also continued cooperation and information sharing with the Panamanian National Border Service. The CNP does not currently utilize advance passenger name records, but was in the process of designing and procuring a system that will allow it to do so.

Colombian authorities arrested several important FARC members in 2012. Ruben Pena Santacoloma, alias "Ancizar," was arrested for his role in FARC takeovers of several small towns and his cruel treatment of kidnapping victims in his custody. In September, FARC member Angelo "Piloso" Caceres was sentenced to 40 years in prison for his role in the murder of three American citizen indigenous rights advocates in 1999.

Kidnappings as a whole have declined in recent years. In 2010, Colombia saw a 93 percent reduction in kidnappings from 2000. The CNP Anti-Kidnapping and Anti-Extortion Directorate (DIASE, also referred to as GAULA) has formed a four-man international kidnapping unit to address any kidnappings involving foreign nationals. This team primarily exists to investigate kidnapping and extortion matters involving U.S. citizens and entities. Additionally, the FBI and GAULA are working together to form a formal vetted team, consisting of 10 to 12 members, that will focus on kidnapping, extortion, and other terrorism-related matters of interest to the U.S. and Colombia.

Colombia continued to participate in the Department of State's Antiterrorism Assistance (ATA) program. ATA provided Colombia with instructor development and crisis response team training to enable it to expand its role both as a regional provider of counterterrorism training to other countries in the Western Hemisphere, and as a senior participant in joint trainings with other ATA partner nations.

Countering Terrorist Finance: Colombia is a member of the Financial Action Task Force of South America against Money Laundering, a Financial Action Task Force (FATF)-style regional body. Colombia stands out as a regional leader in the fight against terrorist financing and has become a key part of a regional Financial Intelligence Unit initiative aimed at strengthening information sharing among Latin American countries.

In September, the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Justice, and Finance signed an interagency memorandum of understanding (MOU), which gives legal authority to the Prosecutor General's Office to implement the necessary seizure orders under existing Colombian asset forfeiture law against the assets of individuals and entities on the UNSC 1267/1989 and 1988 Sanctions Committees' consolidated list, as well as to adhere to FATF recommendations to freeze the funds of designated terrorists, terrorist financiers, and terrorist groups. The Government of Colombia worked extensively with U.S. law enforcement agencies to identify, target, and prosecute groups and individuals engaged in financial crimes.

In November, the Prosecutor General's Office took steps to seize the property of retired General Mauricio Santoyo, head of security for former President Alvaro Uribe (2002-2010), due to his ties to the Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC). The Prosecutor General's Office seized property including nine farms, five vehicles, a commercial establishment, and a factory. The Prosecutor General's Office Justice and Peace Division developed a special asset forfeiture unit in May 2011 to identify and seize assets belonging to armed illegal groups, such as the AUC and the FARC (both U.S.-designated terrorist organizations). In 2012, this specialized unit of prosecutors seized 130 assets valued at approximately US $50 million; the money will be used for victim reparations in Colombia.

For further information on money laundering and financial crimes, we refer you to the 2013 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR), Volume 2, Money Laundering and Financial Crimes: http://www.state.gov/j/inl/rls/nrcrpt/index.htm.

Regional and International Cooperation: Colombia is actively involved in the UN, the OAS, the Pacific Alliance, the Union of South American Nations, and is a founding member of the Global Counterterrorism Forum. The Colombian government frequently integrates the recommendations of the UN and OAS into its security and human rights decisions. Colombia's term as a non-permanent member of the UNSC ended on December 31. The CNP operates an Interpol office of approximately 70 analysts, agents, and support staff. Colombia also led the creation of Ameripol, the American Police Community, and CNP Director General Jose Roberto Leon served as Ameripol's secretary-general in 2012. Colombia also maintained strong bilateral relations with the UK, Canada, and Spain, and coordinated arrests and deportations with those countries on a regular basis.

Colombia is becoming a key leader in providing security training and assistance to countries from around the world. It provided judicial training to judges and prosecutors in handling drug trafficking and terrorism cases, basic and advanced helicopter training to pilots from countries throughout Latin America, and frequently opened up its elite "Lancero" and "Jungla" special forces courses to students from other countries. In 2012, Colombia expanded its assistance to the instruction of better methods of strategic communications and civil-military relations. Officers from Brazil, Mexico, and Ecuador were invited to attend a training course in radio station and loudspeaker operations and community interaction. Colombia also dispatched a subject matter expert to Peru to provide instruction on the capabilities of the "radio-in-a-box," used to disseminate positive radio messages encouraging defections over guerrilla frequencies. Mexico remained the biggest recipient of Colombian counternarcotics and counterterrorism training.

Countering Radicalization and Violent Extremism: Colombia employed a robust and modern multi-agency approach to countering radicalization and violent extremism, with a focus on encouraging members and entire units of the FARC and ELN to demobilize and reintegrate with society. In October, with U.S. assistance, Colombia hosted a conference on ways to better counter FARC and ELN ideology and better focus demobilization efforts. The demobilization program provides medical care, psychological counseling, education benefits, job placement assistance, and periodic checks on demobilized former members of the FARC and ELN. Recidivism rates were low to moderate.

The Colombian armed forces and police employed a number of fixed and mobile radio transmitters to broadcast strategic messaging to potential deserters. Such messaging was also seen in print, television, and alternative media. The Colombian military employed the same media to counter FARC recruitment efforts.