PARAGUAY: ANTI-DRUG CAMPAIGN STIRS THE WATERS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ASUNCION 001019

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/BSC AND INL ABBY SMITH
SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD DAN JOHNSON

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/09/2008
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL SNAR KCRM PA
SUBJECT: PARAGUAY: ANTI-DRUG CAMPAIGN STIRS THE WATERS

REF: ASUNCION 913

Classified By: Ambassador John F. Keane, For reasons 1.5 (b) and (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: With assistance from the Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA) and the DOD Military Information Support
Team (MIST),Paraguay's National Anti-Drug Secretariat
(SENAD) recently began using Wanted Posters and media spots
in the newspapers and on radio to obtain leads on their Most
Wanted Persons. These advertisements have produced many
calls and positive leads but have faced stiff resistance
reprisals in Pedro Juan Caballero where drug traffickers
exercise significant political influence. On August 9, the
Ambassador met with Carlos Bernal, Colombian Ambassador to
Paraguay, to discuss this program and to rebut Bernal's
objections to mention of a Revolutionary Armed Forces of
Colombia (FARC) presence in Paraguay. End Summary.


2. (C) The MIST program assists the interagency information
campaign to further the policies and objectives of the U.S.
and Paraguay. The MIST has three (3) core objectives: a)
decrease the operational effectiveness of criminal and
terrorist elements operating in country; b) increase the
professionalism of Paraguayan Security Forces; and c)
increase public trust in the GOP and its agencies. Recently,
the Director of Paraguay's Anti-Drug Secretariat Hugo Ibarra
told the DCM the ad campaign had produced many calls and
positive leads on their Most Wanted Persons. He said the
campaign has narcos hunkering down, possibly making them
easier to capture. (reftel).


3. (C) In the face of mounting pressure, the drug traffickers
seek to obstruct the program, including through intimidation.
Between 3 Aug and 5 Aug, the locally-contracted billboard
vendor in Pedro Juan Caballero, a city on Paraguay's northern
border with Brazil that serves as epicenter for much of
Paraguay's drug-related activity, reported three incidents
that resulted in the suspension of all postings in the region
until further notice. In each case, the contract employees or
the land owners supporting implementation of the program
received death threats. In one incident, a land owner who
had agreed to have a billboard posted on his property was
repeatedly harassed and ultimately died of a heart attack
after being confronted in person. In another case, local
government and law enforcement officials told a land owner
that there would be retribution if the billboard was put up.
The land owner allowed the vendor to post the billboards; the
next morning, however, the images of the Wanted Persons were
painted over with black paint.


4. (C) Recently, Ambassador Bernal of Colombia wrote to
SENAD Chief Hugo Ibarra expressing his concern about the
"stigma" the ad spots attached to Colombia with claims of a
FARC presence in Paraguay. In his meeting with the
Ambassador on August 9, Bernal expressed concerns that the
ads will contribute to a) distrust of Colombians in Paraguay,
one of the few countries in the world where Colombians remain
highly appreciated, b) the possible harassment of Colombians,
or c) introduction of a visa requirement for Colombian
travelers.


5. (C) In his response to Bernal, Ibarra identified the
objectives of the MIST program and the importance of this
operation to the security of Paraguay and the region. He
noted that many of the wanted traffickers in Paraguay are
tied to the FARC as are those implicated in the Cecilia Cubas
kidnapping.


6. (C) During his August 9 meeting with Bernal, the
Ambassador similarly identified some of the campaign
priorities which include a) gaining information against drug
traffickers, including specifically, many wanted Brazilian
traffickers, b) sensitizing the public about drug traffickers
in their midst and gaining public cooperation for the
anti-narcotics efforts, and c) noting the FARC links to drug
trafficking and other crimes in Paraguay. Colombia itself
had shared intelligence that spoke to FARC ties to
traffickers in Paraguay as well as the Cubas kidnapping.
Cultural activities that highlight Colombia's rich cultural
heritage were the best way to counter negative perceptions
about Colombia.


7. (C) COMMENT: Bernal took the Ambassador's point on board
and made clear he was not asking for the ads to be removed.
The Ambassador believes that Colombia will not go any further
in raising objections to the FARC radio ads. The reaction of
traffickers and attempts to intimidate those who cooperate
with it show they are having an effect. Seeking to build on
increased seizures and the extradition of Mendes Mezquita,
post will urge senior GOP authorities to publicly support
anti-narcotics efforts, denounce attempts at intimidation in
Pedro Juan Caballero, and declare that the efforts against
these criminals will continue and intensify.
KEANE