Departamento Administrativo de Seguridad
Encyclopedia
The Administrative Department of Security was the Security Service
agency of Colombia
, also responsible for the immigration services. It was dissolved on 31 October 2011 as part of a wider Executive Reform, and it was superseded by the National Directorate of Intelligence, DNI.
Article 38 of Decree 218 from 2000 states that all employees of DAS have the function of intelligence agents. DAS works with the DEA
, an American agency against drugs. DAS currently is working against drug industry-related traffickers, guerillas and paramilitaries in Colombia.
's assassination provoked a violent riot in Bogotá, now known as the Bogotazo
, which also started a further ten years of violence in all of Colombia known in Colombian history as La Violencia
. This events also brought in a Military Government
headed by General Gustavo Rojas Pinilla
. Whitin the policies that were implemented by this Government was the creation, by means of Presidential Decree
2872 of 1953, of an administrative department known as the Colombian Administrative Department of Intelligence Services, (SIC). This department was in charge of Internal and External Intelligence and was created with the purpose of having an agency within the framework of the State to handle matters of intelligence, security and Constitutional enforcement.
President Alberto Lleras Camargo
changed the course of the SIC when he issued the Decree 1717 of 18 July 1960, substituting the SIC with the Departamento Administrativo de Seguridad (DAS), or Administrative Department of Security.
The functions of the DAS were laid out by means of Decree 512 of 1989, passed during the administration of President Virgilio Barco Vargas
. The DAS formally became the Security Organization of the State as an official, technical, professional and apolitical
institution during the administration of President César Gaviria Trujillo, by means of Decree 2110 of 1992.
During the administration of President Andrés Pastrana Arango
and in compliance with the State Reform brought on by Law 489 of 1998, the Decrees 218 of 2000, and 1272 of 2000 modified the structure of the DAS, giving the DAS the same parameters, privileges and flexibility of a State Government Ministry.
detonated a bus loaded with 1100 pounds (499 kg) of explosives directly in front of the headquarters building in downtown Bogotá
. The explosion left 49 dead, 600 wounded and hundreds of retail outlets completely destroyed. After the bombing of Avianca Flight 203
, it is considered to be the second worst terrorist act in the history of Colombia
. It was also the second time the cartel attempted to kill DAS director Miguel Maza Marquez using an explosive device; the first attack on May 30, 1989 left four dead and 37 wounded.
In October 2005 , the content of a tape arguably containing a conversation between Special Intelligence Group Director Enrique Ariza and other DAS members, apparently discussing plans to create an intelligence office with financing from illegal paramilitary groups, was published in the Colombian press. Unspecified sources accused Vice-Director José Miguel Narváez of allegedly leaking this tape as part of a setup in order to discredit DAS Director Jorge Noguera. Director Noguera resigned and Narváez was removed from command.
Subsequently, Andrés Peñate was selected as the new DAS Director, together with the announcement of polygraph
tests for DAS personnel and the creation of a commission tasked with proposing reforms and a restructuring of the DAS.
Between January and March 2006 , new allegations came to light about DAS-paramilitary relations and former Director Noguera's potential involvement.President Uribe publicly asked Noguera to appear before the Attorney General's office, but Noguera refused alleging economic and security reasons. Noguera was then acting Consul
in Milan
, Italy
. He later resigned, returned to the country and appeared before judicial authorities. On February 22, 2007 Noguera was arrested, accused of having ties to paramilitaries.
On June 11, 2008, the Colombian Supreme Court ordered the immediate release of Jorge Noguera. According to the José Alvear Restrepo Lawyers’ Collective, Noguera was only released to due to procedural defects; however the charges against him, conspiracy to commit a crime
, misuse of authority through an arbitrary and unjust act, and improper use of classified or secret information, may still be prosecuted.
On October 24, 2008 the head of the DAS Maria del Pilar Hurtado stepped down from her post after allegations that the agency had conducted surveillance on Senator Gustavo Petro
and other left-wing political opponents of President Álvaro Uribe Vélez. The incident has been dubbed The Colombian Watergate, in reference to the Watergate scandal
in the United States
involving President Richard Nixon
and wiretapping. The allegations were later admitted to be true after some internal memos were anonymously received by Senator Petro. One ordered that information be gathered on Petro's "contacts with people who offer to testify against the government.". Hurtado said that she at no time had received or given any instructions linked to the incidents that were made public, and that she was stepping down to preserve the honour of the agency.
President Uribe made Joaquín Polo Montalvo the subdirector of DAS the new acting
director.
At a meeting in Bogota with a Justice for Colombia (http://www.justiceforcolombia.org) delegation on 22 Jul 10, President-elect Santos said he would abolish the DAS.
Intelligence agency
An intelligence agency is a governmental agency that is devoted to information gathering for purposes of national security and defence. Means of information gathering may include espionage, communication interception, cryptanalysis, cooperation with other institutions, and evaluation of public...
agency of Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
, also responsible for the immigration services. It was dissolved on 31 October 2011 as part of a wider Executive Reform, and it was superseded by the National Directorate of Intelligence, DNI.
Activities
Its role is tasked in several areas, as it is responsible for providing security to state institutions and personalities, providing judiciary police services and serving as a counterintelligence service to both external and internal threats. DAS in addition has the purposes of immigration control including issuing visas.Article 38 of Decree 218 from 2000 states that all employees of DAS have the function of intelligence agents. DAS works with the DEA
Drug Enforcement Administration
The Drug Enforcement Administration is a federal law enforcement agency under the United States Department of Justice, tasked with combating drug smuggling and use within the United States...
, an American agency against drugs. DAS currently is working against drug industry-related traffickers, guerillas and paramilitaries in Colombia.
History
The events that followed Jorge Eliécer GaitánJorge Eliécer Gaitán
Jorge Eliécer Gaitán Ayala was a politician, a leader of a populist movement in Colombia, a former Education Minister and Labor Minister , mayor of Bogotá and one of the most charismatic leaders of the Liberal Party.He was assassinated during his second presidential campaign in 1948, setting off...
's assassination provoked a violent riot in Bogotá, now known as the Bogotazo
Bogotazo
El Bogotazo refers to the massive riots that followed the assassination in Bogotá, Colombia of Liberal leader and presidential candidate Jorge Eliécer Gaitán on April 9, 1948 during the government of President Mariano Ospina Pérez...
, which also started a further ten years of violence in all of Colombia known in Colombian history as La Violencia
La Violencia
La Violencia is a period of civil conflict in the Colombian countryside between supporters of the Colombian Liberal Party and the Colombian Conservative Party, a conflict which took place roughly from 1948 to 1958 ....
. This events also brought in a Military Government
Military government
Military government can refer to conditions under either Military occupation, or Military dictatorship.-Military Government:Military government is the form of administration by which an occupying power exercises governmental authority over occupied territory.The Hague Conventions of 1907 specify...
headed by General Gustavo Rojas Pinilla
Gustavo Rojas Pinilla
Gustavo Rojas Pinilla was a Colombian politician, military officer, General of the Army and President of Colombia between 1953 and 1957.- Biographic data :...
. Whitin the policies that were implemented by this Government was the creation, by means of Presidential Decree
Decree
A decree is a rule of law issued by a head of state , according to certain procedures . It has the force of law...
2872 of 1953, of an administrative department known as the Colombian Administrative Department of Intelligence Services, (SIC). This department was in charge of Internal and External Intelligence and was created with the purpose of having an agency within the framework of the State to handle matters of intelligence, security and Constitutional enforcement.
President Alberto Lleras Camargo
Alberto Lleras Camargo
Alberto Lleras Camargo was an important Colombian diplomat and political figure.He was a member of the Liberal Party of Colombia; he served as congressman , Minister of Education, Minister of the Interior and Minister of Foreign Affairs, during the governments of Alfonso López Pumarejo and Eduardo...
changed the course of the SIC when he issued the Decree 1717 of 18 July 1960, substituting the SIC with the Departamento Administrativo de Seguridad (DAS), or Administrative Department of Security.
The functions of the DAS were laid out by means of Decree 512 of 1989, passed during the administration of President Virgilio Barco Vargas
Virgilio Barco Vargas
Virgilio Barco Vargas was a politician and diplomat from Colombia. He was a member of the Colombian Liberal Party and served as president of Colombia from August 7, 1986 until August 7, 1990....
. The DAS formally became the Security Organization of the State as an official, technical, professional and apolitical
Apolitical
The state or quality of being apolitical can be the apathy and/or the antipathy towards all political affiliations. Being apolitical can also refer to situations in which people take an unbiased position in regard to political matters.-References:...
institution during the administration of President César Gaviria Trujillo, by means of Decree 2110 of 1992.
During the administration of President Andrés Pastrana Arango
Andrés Pastrana Arango
Andrés Pastrana Arango was the President of Colombia from 1998 to 2002, following in the footsteps of his father, Misael Pastrana, who was president from 1970 to 1974.-Early years:...
and in compliance with the State Reform brought on by Law 489 of 1998, the Decrees 218 of 2000, and 1272 of 2000 modified the structure of the DAS, giving the DAS the same parameters, privileges and flexibility of a State Government Ministry.
1989 Headquarters Bombing
On December 6, 1989, at 7:30 AM, the Medellín CartelMedellín Cartel
The Medellín Cartel was an organized network of "drug suppliers and smugglers" originating in the city of Medellín, Colombia. The drug cartel operated in Colombia, Bolivia, Peru, Central America, the United States, as well as Canada and Europe throughout the 1970s and 1980s. It was founded and...
detonated a bus loaded with 1100 pounds (499 kg) of explosives directly in front of the headquarters building in downtown Bogotá
Bogotá
Bogotá, Distrito Capital , from 1991 to 2000 called Santa Fé de Bogotá, is the capital, and largest city, of Colombia. It is also designated by the national constitution as the capital of the department of Cundinamarca, even though the city of Bogotá now comprises an independent Capital district...
. The explosion left 49 dead, 600 wounded and hundreds of retail outlets completely destroyed. After the bombing of Avianca Flight 203
Avianca Flight 203
Avianca Airlines Flight 203 was a Colombian domestic passenger flight from El Dorado International Airport in Bogotá to Alfonso Bonilla Aragón International Airport in Cali. It was destroyed by a bomb over the municipality of Soacha on November 27, 1989....
, it is considered to be the second worst terrorist act in the history of Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
. It was also the second time the cartel attempted to kill DAS director Miguel Maza Marquez using an explosive device; the first attack on May 30, 1989 left four dead and 37 wounded.
Scandals
Members of DAS have been previously accused of interacting with left-wing guerrillas, right-wing paramilitary, drug dealers and smugglers, among others.In October 2005 , the content of a tape arguably containing a conversation between Special Intelligence Group Director Enrique Ariza and other DAS members, apparently discussing plans to create an intelligence office with financing from illegal paramilitary groups, was published in the Colombian press. Unspecified sources accused Vice-Director José Miguel Narváez of allegedly leaking this tape as part of a setup in order to discredit DAS Director Jorge Noguera. Director Noguera resigned and Narváez was removed from command.
Subsequently, Andrés Peñate was selected as the new DAS Director, together with the announcement of polygraph
Polygraph
A polygraph measures and records several physiological indices such as blood pressure, pulse, respiration, and skin conductivity while the subject is asked and answers a series of questions...
tests for DAS personnel and the creation of a commission tasked with proposing reforms and a restructuring of the DAS.
Between January and March 2006 , new allegations came to light about DAS-paramilitary relations and former Director Noguera's potential involvement.President Uribe publicly asked Noguera to appear before the Attorney General's office, but Noguera refused alleging economic and security reasons. Noguera was then acting Consul
Consul (representative)
The political title Consul is used for the official representatives of the government of one state in the territory of another, normally acting to assist and protect the citizens of the consul's own country, and to facilitate trade and friendship between the peoples of the two countries...
in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. He later resigned, returned to the country and appeared before judicial authorities. On February 22, 2007 Noguera was arrested, accused of having ties to paramilitaries.
On June 11, 2008, the Colombian Supreme Court ordered the immediate release of Jorge Noguera. According to the José Alvear Restrepo Lawyers’ Collective, Noguera was only released to due to procedural defects; however the charges against him, conspiracy to commit a crime
Conspiracy (crime)
In the criminal law, a conspiracy is an agreement between two or more persons to break the law at some time in the future, and, in some cases, with at least one overt act in furtherance of that agreement...
, misuse of authority through an arbitrary and unjust act, and improper use of classified or secret information, may still be prosecuted.
On October 24, 2008 the head of the DAS Maria del Pilar Hurtado stepped down from her post after allegations that the agency had conducted surveillance on Senator Gustavo Petro
Gustavo Petro
Gustavo Francisco Petro Urrego is a Colombian politician of the Political Independent movement Progresistas . As a young man he fought with the 19th of April Movement, which later evolved into the Alianza Democrática M-19. He then became active in newly-established Alianza Democrática M-19...
and other left-wing political opponents of President Álvaro Uribe Vélez. The incident has been dubbed The Colombian Watergate, in reference to the Watergate scandal
Watergate scandal
The Watergate scandal was a political scandal during the 1970s in the United States resulting from the break-in of the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C., and the Nixon administration's attempted cover-up of its involvement...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
involving President Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
and wiretapping. The allegations were later admitted to be true after some internal memos were anonymously received by Senator Petro. One ordered that information be gathered on Petro's "contacts with people who offer to testify against the government.". Hurtado said that she at no time had received or given any instructions linked to the incidents that were made public, and that she was stepping down to preserve the honour of the agency.
President Uribe made Joaquín Polo Montalvo the subdirector of DAS the new acting
Acting (law)
In law, when someone is said to be acting in a position it can mean one of three things.*The position has not yet been formally created.*The person is only occupying the position temporarily, to ensure continuity.*The person does not have a mandate....
director.
See also
- National Intelligence Agency of Colombia
- List of intelligence agencies
- Colombian Armed ConflictColombian Armed ConflictThe Colombian armed conflict or Colombian Civil War are terms that are employed to refer to the current asymmetric low-intensity armed conflict in Colombia that has existed since approximately 1964 or 1966, between the Colombian government and peasant guerrillas such as the Revolutionary Armed...
- Para-political scandal
- List of terrorist incidents
At a meeting in Bogota with a Justice for Colombia (http://www.justiceforcolombia.org) delegation on 22 Jul 10, President-elect Santos said he would abolish the DAS.
External links
- DAS Website (in Spanish)