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 -------------- Just Can't Sniff Enough -------------- ¶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. -------------- Impeachment Talk -------------- ¶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) -------------- TIP Conviction Upheld -------------- ¶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) -------------- Truth, Justice and the Stroessner Era -------------- ¶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