PARAGUAY'S LEFTIST PATRIA LIBRE SHOPPING FOR

S E C R E T ASUNCION 000325

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA, INL, S/CT
STATE PASS TO USAID LAC/AA
NSC FOR SUE CRONIN
SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD BARBARA MOORE
JOINT STAFF FOR J5 LTC SCOTT DAVIS
NAIROBI FOR MICHAEL FITZPATRICK

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/22/2016
TAGS: PREL PTER PINR PA CO VZ SP
SUBJECT: PARAGUAY'S LEFTIST PATRIA LIBRE SHOPPING FOR
POLITICAL ASYLUM

REF: A. ASUNCION 264 (NOTAL)

B. ASUNCION 210 AND PRECEDING (NOTAL)

C. 05 ASUNCION 1325 AND PRECEDING (NOTAL)

D. 05 ASUNCION 1119 AND PRECEDING (NOTAL)

E. 05 ASUNCION 1101 (NOTAL)

Classified By: PolOff Mark A. Stamilio, reasons 1.4(b) and (d).


1. (C) On 3/21, Spanish DCM Marta de Blas Mayordomo told
PolOff and Colombian PolCouns Raul Sanchez that a lawyer
representing the leftist Free Fatherland Party (Partido
Patria Libre, or PPL),whose military wing has ties to the
FARC and was responsible for the 2003 kidnapping and murder
of a former Paraguayan president's daughter, Cecilia Cubas
(ref C),and is tied to the more recent murders of two
policemen in Paraguay's interior (refs B and E),approached
the Spanish Embassy about the possibility of granting PPL
members political asylum. The lawyer told de Blas that PPL
was in no way involved in the kidnapping or murders, but
rather that the GOP was persecuting PPL members for their
political views. De Blas said the GOS had no intention of
entertaining or granting the request for asylum.


2. (C) As reported in ref A, Venezuelan Ambassador Huerta
recently told Colombian Ambassador Bernal that the GOV was
considering possible political asylum for PPL members,
following statements by President Duarte and others in his
administration that the GOP planned to "annihilate" the PPL.
Huerta noted that the PPL had legal standing as a political
party, and asserted that the GOP was persecuting PPL members
for their political views. Duarte reportedly took umbrage
with the Venezuelan Ambassador's remarks.


3. (S) Comment: The PPL is a registered political party.
However, its military wing is a band of criminals that
emulates the FARC and espouses the violent overthrow of the
government. Its principal leaders, Juan Arrom and Anuncio
Marti, were accused of orchestrating the 2001 kidnapping of
Maria Edith Bordon de Debernardi (ref D). They were later
granted refugee status in Brazil after they allegedly were
tortured by authorities in Paraguay. Sensitive reporting
indicates that Arrom continues to direct PPL activities from
Brazil, and continues to support violent struggle against the
state. The PPL members currently seeking political asylum
are attempting to avoid prosecution for their participation
in the aforementioned kidnappings and murders.
JOHNSON