memorandum of justification concerning human ... - Just the Facts

SECTION 7046(b)(2)
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Section 7046(b)(2) of the FY 2009 FOAA requires a determination that:
“[T]he Government of Colombia . . . is conducting vigorous operations to strengthen
civilian institutions and respect for internationally recognized human rights in areas
under the influence of paramilitary organizations or successor armed groups and
guerrilla organizations.”
The Colombian government continued to take steps to strengthen civilian
institutions and respect for internationally recognized human rights in areas under the
influence of illegal armed groups and criminal bands. Through the National
Consolidation Plan, the government has identified a methodology for clearing strategic
areas of the country of illegal armed groups, establishing a security presence to permit
civilian agencies to enter, and then bringing needed government services to those areas.
This approach, tested a few years ago through the Coordination Plan for Macarena
(PCIM), is just beginning to be implemented at the national level, with positive results.
However, implementation has been slow due to reduced budgets resulting from the global
recession.
CCAI and La Macarena: Proof of Concept
The Center for Coordinated Integral Action (―Centro de Coordinación de Acción
Integral‖), known by its acronym CCAI, is a civilian interagency body in the Office of
the Presidency tasked with coordinating the re-establishment of civilian government
presence in ―priority‖ zones just emerging from conflict. Until recently, the main focus
of the civil-military operation continued its work in the six municipalities in La Macarena
(Southwest Meta). In this initiative, called the Coordination Plan for Macarena (PCIM),
CCAI is working to coordinate all military and civilian operations in the area to secure
the former FARC stronghold and increase state presence in the region.
The PCIM is the Colombian government‘s first sequenced framework for
stabilizing conflict zones and ensuring the provision of social services by the
government. The actions of the military and police, coca eradication and interdiction,
and the provision of social services—especially economic opportunities— is better
sequenced in an intentional and coordinated way so that each builds on the other and
supports long-term stability in these post-conflict zones. Monthly CCAI coordination
meetings at the national level regarding the PCIM are co-chaired by the President‘s
Office of Social Action (Acción Social) and the Ministry of Defense. Acción Social, the
agency responsible for Colombian government‘s social assistance programs, is also the
parent agency of CCAI. At the local level, representatives from both civilian and military
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