EL SALVADOR: HUMAN RIGHTS OMBUDSWOMAN ACCUSED OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L SAN SALVADOR 002542 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/12/2015 TAGS: PGOV PHUM ES SUBJECT: EL SALVADOR: HUMAN RIGHTS OMBUDSWOMAN ACCUSED OF FINANCIAL IRREGULARITIES REF: A. SAN SALVADOR 321 ¶B. SAN SALVADOR 547 Classified By: DCM Michael A. Butler, Reasons 1.4 (b, d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: The Ombudswoman for Human Rights (PDDH) Beatrice Carrillo stands accused of misspending up to US$26,000 of public funds. Carillo's eccentric history of inept leadership and alleged instances of malfeasance lend credibility to the accusations. There is little hope for improved accountability and credibility at the PDDH until the end of Carrillo's second term in 2007. (Note: The Office of the PDDH is filled by a two-thirds vote of the Legislative Assembly's 84 seats; the office's term is three years. End note.) END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) San Salvador daily El Diario de Hoy reported September 12 that Carrillo has been formally accused of misspending up to $26,000in public funds, and, although she has presented information to the Controller of the Court of Accounts, the case has moved to the second stage. The allegations include the assignment of six vehicles for her personal use, a gasoline subsidy of $2,800 per month (equivalent to approximately 800 gallons per month of premium gasoline),payment of insurance fees for out-of-service vehicles, and inappropriate payment of overtime, without any evidence that the staff members in question actually worked the overtime. In addition, on December 17, 2004, Carrillo's office paid $5,500 to publish a pamphlet which remains unprinted nine months later, pending action by the PDDH. ¶3. (C) The charges represent but the latest scandal in a long list of irregularities at the PDDH under Beatrice Carrillo's tenure. During the investigation of the November 2004 murder of American labor activist Gilberto Soto, the PDDH impeded progress in the case with unfounded and inflammatory allegations, as well as with attempts at supression of evidence that did not support the PDDH's pet theory that Soto's death was a politically-motivated "extrajudicial execution" (reftel A). Credible accusations surfaced of witness-tampering attempts by PDDH officers, who allegedly tried to bribe key witnesses in the case with cash payments, employment opportunities, and immigration benefits, if they would perjure themselves in support of the PDDH's agenda (reftel B). Since then, Carrillo's increasingly erratic behavior has included bizarre allegations that the Civilian National Police (which in poll after poll continue to enjoy citizens' highest confidence) represent a sinister threat to human rights, and that the administration's laudable efforts to prepare for Hurricane Adrian's landfall in May were "alarmist political grandstanding". Carrillo has also gone on record as opposing the upcoming installation in El Salvador of an International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA),which she characterizes as a "nefarious" threat to the nation's sovreignty. ¶4. (C) COMMENT: Although Carrillo will likely dismiss these new charges as merely the latest calumny in a vast conspiracy against her, poor stewardship of resources has been one of the hallmarks of her leadership at the PDDH. Carrillo hosts elaborate banquets at luxury hotels to mark the release of routine reports; the recent launch of her new "human rights network" included marching bands and miniskirt-clad dancing girls, although attendees were left in the dark as to the need, purpose, makeup, or mode of operation of the new network. Regardless of the outcome of the case involving her office's alleged financial improprieties, there would appear to be little hope of Carrillo's stepping down prior to the end of her term. END COMMENT. Butler