PARAGUAY: BRIEFING PARAGUAY'S NEW AG ON U.S.

UNCLAS ASUNCION 001150

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/BSC
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR LAC/AA
NSC FOR SUE CRONIN
TREASURY FOR OSIA MAUREEN WAFER
TREASURY FOR OTA WARFIELD, VAN KOCH, MILLAR
SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD DAN JOHNSON

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID PGOV PREL KJUS PA
SUBJECT: PARAGUAY: BRIEFING PARAGUAY'S NEW AG ON U.S.
PRIORITIES AND ASSISTANCE



1. SUMMARY: ON SEPTEMBER 8TH, THE DCM, USAID/PARAGUAY
DIRECTOR AND USAID DEMOCRACY OFFICER MET WITH THE NEW
ATTORNEY GENERAL, DR. RUBEN CANDIA AMARILLA, TO DISCUSS USG
PRIORITIES ON MONEY LAUNDERING AND COUNTER TERRORISM
LEGISLATION AND PENAL CODE REFORM AS WELL AS TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE BEING PROVIDED BY USAID.


2. THE DCM STRESSED BROAD USG PRIORITIES, INCLUDING SUPPORT
FOR MONEY LAUNDERING LEGISLATION IN CONGRESS, REFORM OF THE
PENAL PROCEDURES CODE CURRENTLY BEING DISCUSSED IN A SPECIAL
COMMISSION IN CONGRESS, AND THE NEED TO SUPPORT COUNTER
TERRORISM LEGISLATION IN THE NEAR FUTURE. THE DCM EMPHASIZED
THAT THE PUBLIC MINISTRY CAN BETTER (COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS
ATTORNEY GENERAL) UTILIZE EXISTING CAPACITIES DEVELOPED IN
SEPRELAD AND SENAD TO PROSECUTE DRUG TRAFFICKING AND MONEY
LAUNDERING CASES. NEW SPECIALIZED, US-SUPPORTED
INVESTIGATIVE UNITS IN THE TAX OFFICE, TREASURY MINISTRY, AND
CUSTOMS ALSO OFFER EXCELLENT TOOLS FOR THE AG, AND CAN
ENCOURAGE HIM TO IMPROVE THEIR UTILIZATION.


3. THE NEW ATTORNEY GENERAL APPEARS TO BE TAKING A HANDS-ON
APPROACH AS PART OF HIS MANAGEMENT STYLE. HE EXPRESSED HIS
SUPPORT TO CONTINUE WITH A PROGRAM STARTED BY THE PREVIOUS
ATTORNEY GENERAL LOCATING PROSECUTORS IN HIGH CRIME
NEIGHBORHOODS. HE STATED THAT HE WANTS PROSECUTORS TO
IMPROVE THEIR RELATIONS WITH THE PUBLIC AND BETTER SERVE THE
PEOPLE. HE ASKED FOR ASSISTANCE IN HOSTING MEETINGS WITH ALL
PROSECUTORS IN A SERIES OF WORKSHOPS AND ALSO WANTS TO
INITIATE REGULAR PUBLIC HEARINGS WITH LAWYERS, PROSECUTORS
AND JUDGES. NOTING THAT MANY OF THESE ACTIVITIES MAY SOUND
"POPULIST" HE SAID HE WAS AFTER BETTER ACCOUNTABILITY. HE
ALSO EXPRESSED THE NEED FOR THE PUBLIC MINISTRY TO IMPROVE
COORDINATION WITH OTHER GOVERNMENT OFFICES, EMPHASIZING THE
POLICE AND THE MILITARY. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL DID VOICE HIS
SUPPORT FOR USG PRIORITIES AND USAID TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE,
STATING THAT WE SHOULD CONTACT HIM DIRECTLY REGARDING THESE
ISSUES.


4. USAID PROVIDED AN OVERVIEW OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE BEING
PROVIDED TO THE PUBLIC MINISTRY, INCLUDING UNDER THE
MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE ACCOUNT THRESHOLD COUNTRY PROGRAM (TCP)
SUPPORT TO THE ECONOMIC CRIMES UNIT AND ANTI-CORRUPTION UNIT
AND, PROVIDING TECHNICAL SUPPORT STAFF TO HELP REFORM THE
PENAL PROCEDURES CODE.


5. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR FORMING A
PROFESSIONAL INVESTIGATIVE BODY AND ESTABLISHING A NEW
LABORATORY TO ADDRESS CORRUPTION CASES AS PART OF THE TCP.
THIS IS OF SIGNIFICANCE BECAUSE A DAY EARLIER HE DISBANDED
THE ONLY INVESTIGATIVE UNIT IN THE PUBLIC MINISTRY, THE
JUDICIAL INVESTIGATIVE CENTER, WHICH HE STATED WAS
DISCREDITED DUE TO CORRUPTION. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
EXPRESSED INTEREST IN IMPROVING INTERNAL CONTROLS OVER
PROSECUTORS AND CIVIL SERVANTS IN THE THROUGH THE TCP.


6. HE AGREED TO CONTINUE WITH HIS PREDECESSOR'S UNIFICATION
OF THE ECONOMIC CRIMES UNIT, CURRENTLY LOCATED IN TWO
SEPARATE BUILDINGS, AND THE NEWLY ESTABLISHED ANTI-CORRUPTION
UNIT. THIS WILL IMPROVE THE EFFICIENCY OF THE UNITS,
FACILITATE SUPPORT FOR IMPLEMENTING A CASE TRACKING SYSTEMS,
AND IMPROVE COORDINATION WITH OTHER GOVERNMENT ENTITIES SUCH
AS SEPRELAD.


7. FINALLY, HE AGREED TO SIGN AN AGREEMENT TO IMPROVE
COORDINATION WITH THE CONTROLLER GENERAL'S OFFICE ON
CORRUPTION CASES. APPROXIMATELY HALF OF ALL ALLEGED
CORRUPTION CASES RECEIVED BY THE PUBLIC MINISTRY COME FROM
THE CONTROLLER GENERAL'S OFFICE. IMPROVING THE COORDINATION
BETWEEN THE TWO ENTITIES COULD SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE THE
PUBLIC MINISTRY'S EFFECTIVENESS IN PROSECUTING CORRUPTION
CASES.


8. COMMENT: THE DCM AND USAID REPRESENTATIVES RECEIVED BROAD
SUPPORT BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR USG PRIORITIES AND
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. FOLLOWING EARLIER SESSIONS BY THE AG
WITH DEA AND DOJ REPS, THIS SESSION GOT OUT OUR KEY
OBJECTIVES AND WAYS WE CAN HELP. THE AG DENIED RUMORS HE
WOULD EMPLOY A QUESTIONABLE RETIRED POLICE OFFICER AND
WELCOMED CLOSE COOPERATION WITH THE EMBASSY. POSTS
COORDINATED ASSISTANCE TO CANDIA AS HE LEARNS THE ROPES WILL
SEEK TO CONSOLIDATE SUPPORT FOR MAJOR U.S. GOALS AND DEVELOP
A KEY ALLY. END.
KEANE