PARAGUAY: CONTROVERSY OVER OPERATION CONDOR RISES

UNCLAS ASUNCION 000828 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AINF PHUM PGOV PREL PTER PA SUBJECT: PARAGUAY: CONTROVERSY OVER OPERATION CONDOR RISES AGAIN ¶1. On 8/4, PolOff, representing the Ambassador, attended a presentation by Professor Marcial Riquelme, a Professor of Sociology at Kansas State University, held at the Committee of Churches for Emergency Assistance (CIPAE) but organized by the Truth and Justice Commission. Riquelme's presentation was entitled "The Fight for the Declassification of Operation Condor Documents from the U.S. National Archives." Many of the participants were members/employees of the Truth and Justice Commission, CIPAE, or descendents of victims of the Stroessner regime. (NOTE: Operation Condor was a jointly conducted intelligence operation by Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay in the mid-1970's to deter communist influence in the region as well as control dissenters against the governments of those countries. End Note.) ¶2. Riquelme began his presentation by outlining the process to acquire documents from the USG. For about 30 minutes he discussed the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) focusing on the exemptions therein (particularly exemptions related to the CIA) and the court system. For the ensuing 1 1/2 hours, Riquelme attacked the USG for not releasing more information. While he conceded that the USG had released more than 20,000 documents related to Condor, he insinuated that the information provided was insufficient to get to the truth and suggested that the USG was responsible for organizing and participating in violations of human rights. ¶3. In speaking to the underlying premises for Operation Condor, Riquelme stated that the USG had wanted Latin America free of communism and terrorism and had provided assistance to those governments involved in Operation Condor. He also suggested these same premises are the basis for the current U.S. policy toward Paraguay, particularly in view of U.S. claims that the Tri-border Area (Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay) is a center for terrorist sympathizers, financiers and international criminals. ¶4. COMMENT: Riquelme used innuendos to make sweeping conclusions with little attention to facts. Many of the participants appeared sympathetic to his charges with little attention directed towards the culpability of Paraguayan leaders at the time. One participant said that the group should consider consulting USAID to see if it would provide funding to establish an archive for Paraguay. (NOTE: Post appreciates background information provided by Department and will be following up with the Truth and Justice Commission to set the facts straight on U.S. cooperation to date in sharing information related to Operation Condor. End Note.) CASON