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