PARAGUAY POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC UPDATE, NOV. 20 -

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASUNCION 001457

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EB/IFD/OIA
STATE FOR G/TIP (ANTHONY ETERNO)
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR LAC/AA
STATE PASS TO USTR FOR LYANG
NSC FOR SUE CRONIN
TREASURY FOR OSIA MAUREEN WAFER
TREASURY FOR OTA WARFIELD, VAN KOCH, MILLAR
COMMERCE FOR ITA SARAH COOK
SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD BARBARA MOORE
NAIROBI FOR MICHAEL FITZPATRICK

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL ECON SMIG PA
SUBJECT: PARAGUAY POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC UPDATE, NOV. 20 -
26

REF: A. ASUNCION 1144


B. ASUNCION 883


1. (U) SUMMARY:
-- Just Can't Sniff Enough
-- Impeachment Talk
-- TIP Conviction Upheld
-- Truth, Justice and the Stroessner Era

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Just Can't Sniff Enough
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2. (U) On 11/20, Agents from the National Antinarcotics
Secretariat (SENAD),with the assistance of INL-funded canine

SIPDIS
dogs, apprehended Joaquin Emilio Taborda Pavon, a Colombian
citizen, in the Silvio Pettirossi airport and seized 3.188
kilograms (kg) of cocaine worth approximately USD 22,688.
Luis Rojas, Chief of the Antinarcotics Operation Directorate
(DOA),said the drugs were in Pavon's double-bottomed hand
luggage, which had been sprayed with dog repellent.
Apparently, this repellent prevented other canine units and
airport officials in Colombia and Buenos Aires, Argentina
from detecting the drugs. Pavon's final destination was
Santiago, Chile.

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Impeachment Talk
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3. (U) On 11/19, the Beloved Fatherland Party (PPQ) released
a statement indicating that they will promote the impeachment
of President Duarte, if he registers as a presidential
candidate for the ANR-Colorado Party internal elections. The
statement stated that Duarte would be in violation of Article
237 of the Constitution, which prohibits the Chief Executive
from holding public or private office during his tenure as
President of the country. On 11/23, Senators Miguel Abdon
Saguier of the Authentic Radical Liberal Party (PLRA),Miguel
Carrizosa of the Beloved Fatherland Party (PPQ),and Enrique
Gonzalez Quintana of the National Union of Ethical Citizens
(UNACE) submitted a draft declaration aimed at the
possibility of impeaching President Duarte for carrying out a
political campaign to become ANR president in the party's
upcoming internal elections. (NOTE: Duarte announced his
intention to run for the ANR presidency on 9/7. Duarte has
not officially registered his candidacy as of the submission
of this report. End Note.) COMMENT While this motion would
have symbolic import, it has no chance of being passed as it
lacks the 2/3 support it needs in both Houses of Congress.
End Comment. (ref A)

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TIP Conviction Upheld
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4. (U) On 11/23, the Supreme Court's Penal Court upheld the
convictions of Raul Antonio Maidana Duarte and Mario Ramon
Gonzalez Caceres for their involvement in the trafficking
case of Lurde Resquin to Spain. The conviction was
overturned in April 2005 by a vote of 2-1 on the grounds that
the defendants should be tried in Spain where the trafficked
woman suffered the ultimate effects of the crime. NOTE: Over
the past several months, the DCM and PolCouns engaged Supreme
Court Ministers Antonio Fretes and Alicia Pucheta, stressing
the importance of this case as a precedent. Both signaled
they appreciated the significance of this case. Pucheta made
a point of calling the CDA to inform the Embassy of the
Court's decision to overturn the appelate court decision. End
Note. (ref B)

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Truth, Justice and the Stroessner Era
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5. (U) The Truth and Justice Commission convened a three-day
symposium about the abuses of the state during the Stroessner
era and the need for justice for the victims, their families
and the country. The symposium included panel discussion
sessions with the sole purpose of generating more public
support for the Commission's work on behalf of victims.
Co-sponsors of the sysmposium included the Celestina Perez de
Almada Foundation and the Committee of Churches for Emergency
Assistance (CIPAE). International experts from organizations
such as DIAKONIA, the Human Rights International Institute,
Fundacion IDEA, UNESCO, the International Center of
Transitional Justice, and government officials from Chile,
Argentina and Costa Rica were also in attendance. NOTE: The
symposium took place in the midst of Stroessner's grandson,
Alfredo "Goli" Stroessner's run for the ANR-Colorado Party
Junta leadership.
JOHNSON