ASSISTANT SECRETARY NORIEGA HEARS CONCERNS OF

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SANTO DOMINGO 007427 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR WHA, WHA/CAR, WHA/EPSC, WHA/PA, EB; DEPT PASS USAID E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL OVIP EAID DR SUBJECT: ASSISTANT SECRETARY NORIEGA HEARS CONCERNS OF DOMINICAN CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS REF: A. A) SANTO DOMINGO 7304 ¶B. B) SANTO DOMINGO 4249 ¶1. (U) Summary: WHA Assistant Secretary Noriega heard leaders of Dominican civil society groups express deep concern about weak institutions and the GODR's apparent disregard for law. They see risks in the presidential election process, especially given the politicization of the Elections Board and the pugnacious determination of President Mejia to be re-elected, perhaps at any cost. The Assistant Secretary stressed U.S. interest in clean elections and impartiality among the candidates. The civil society leaders requested continuing U.S. involvement before, during and after the May 16 election. End summary. ¶2. (U) On December 11, just before his departure to call on the Dominican Central Elections Board (JCE),Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs (WHA) Roger Noriega SIPDIS spent an hour with civic society leaders from the business community and NGOs. ¶3. (SBU) Speaking with the Assistant Secretary were: Monsignor Agripino Nunez Collada, Rector of the Catholic University (PUCMM),who heads the "Elections Follow-up Commission," a watchdog/mediation group of notables formed for every national election since 1994; Elena Viyella de Paliza, President of the National Council of Private Enterprise (CONEP),the leading private-sector association in the country and an incisive voice for business, often critical of the Mejia administration; Celso Marranzini, businessman, President of Action for Basic Education, Inc. (EDUCA) and former president of CONEP, associated with the PLD; Frank Castillo, CONEP Executive Vice President; Marisol Vicens, President of the National Association of Young Entrepreneurs (ANJE),an articulate, engaged young lawyer; her widely reported address the previous day to the AmCham presented a devastating "list of Christmas wishes" that advocated replacement of the entire economic team of the GODR and a "return to respect for the rule of law"; Miriam Diaz Santana, Coordinator General of Participation Ciudadana (PC),a 10-year-old NGO focused on citizen engagement and monitoring of political process and rule of law; Javier Cabreja, Executive Director of PC; Juan Bolivar Diaz Santana, Member of PC; Francisco Alvarez Valdes, Member of PC who raised the issue of bilateral cooperation in recovering illegally acquired assets transferred overseas (from Baninter, for example); Fausto Rosario, Member of PC who warned that there are many people who do not believe in the democratic process; and Jose Alfredo Rizek, Executive Director of the Foundation for Institutionalism and Justice (FINJUS),the NGO that monitors performance of the Dominican justice system and advocates reform; Rizek is a full partner in the firm that employs Marisol Vicens (above) and writes a weekly column on judicial matters in leading daily "El Caribe". THE LONG ROAD TO A FREE AND FAIR ELECTION ¶4. (U) Monsignor Agripino Nunez Collada, given the chance to open the discussion, launched into a history lesson on the positive effects of USG attention to the problematic elections of 1986, 1994, 1996 and 1998. He recalled USAID assistance in establishing the Central Elections Board (JCE). Mons. Nunez welcomed Ambassador Hertell's widely publicized message of USG neturality in the election. "It is evident, however, that political parties are using their power to influence the election outcome." The composition of the JCE was voted by the Mejia-dominated legislature and was heavily slanted in the President's favor. Of the 9 JCE judges, 6 belong to the ruling PRD party, 5 of them to President Mejia's PPH faction. The JCE's technical preparation should be a priority, said Nunez, but the JCE has not abided by certain terms of an agreement with the commission and the political parties on selecting technical directors of computer systems and identity card issuance. ¶5. (U) Participacion Ciudadana General Coordinator Miriam Diaz argued that the entire electoral process is weak and "the political framework in the Dominican Republic tends to breed dictators." Diaz found President Mejia's bid for a second term in keeping with this authoritarian tradition. The real challenge, she contended, was establishing sustainable commitment to democracy. Civil society needs international support to prepare for a "time of disequilibrium in the Dominican Republic". Civil society is exasperated and confused by the many dire institutional issues; the bank failures and scandals are only one aspect of irregularities which cause the citizens to trust no one -- not the JCE, not business, not political parties and certainly not the government. Mejia trails so far behind the front runner in the polls that many Dominicans expect his supporters to cheat. In these cirumstances, the prospect of a free and fair presidential election is in doubt. NEED FOR CIVIC EDUCATION ¶6. (U) CONEP President Elena Viyella, PC Executive Director Javier Cabreja and ANJE President Marisol Vicens each emphasized that most Dominicans do not understand their civic duties. Viyella suggested that civil society join forces to launch a public education campaign (which her organization would support) to explain citizens' rights, such as the right to vote and to be heard. Javier Cabreja echoed that suggestion. He noted a direct historical link between political contributions and bank scandals -- events to which most Dominicans have simply grown accustomed. Vicens lamented a lack of respect for the Constitution in a "culture of lawlessness". As a result, citizens accept corrupt behavior as the norm instead of pressing for change. IT'S THE ECONOMY ...OR IS IT? ¶7. (U) EDUCA President Celso Marranzini and FINJUS Executive Director Jose Rizek agreed that the overall crisis in the Dominican Republic arises from institutional problems, not just economic factors. Marranzini blamed the GODR economic team for lack of coordination (ANJE President Marisol Vicens made a similar point, noted in para 3). Congress got its share of the blame. Marranzini and Rizek cited the August 16 violence at the Chamber of Deputies (in which shots were fired to prevent a new speaker from taking office, ref B) as an example of weak institutions. Rizek stressed that to date, patronage has always won out over institution building. Social consciousness of and respect for institutions -- not corruption -- should be the basis on which to build a strong economy. But this message has not yet reached the masses. ¶8. (SBU) Assistant Secretary Noriega stressed that civil society participation is critical to development in any country, and all the more so in the Dominican Republic "where the United States wants to help create a society that is stable, transparent and ethical." The Ambassador welcomed ongoing collaboration with civic leaders and entrepreneurs. ¶9. (SBU) Comment. Civil society leaders spoke frankly and even harshly about the politicization of the JCE and clearly were worried about the potential for violence. They asked urgently for U.S. involvement before and during the election, and after the dust settles - - when a new president is elected and the real work of rebuilding a vulnerable society begins. ¶10. (U) This message was not reviewed by Assistant Secretary Noriega. HERTELL