Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MANAGUA32
2006-01-06 16:49:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Managua
Cable title:
RAMIRO CONTRERAS ESCOBAR: RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHMU #0032 0061649 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 061649Z JAN 06 FM AMEMBASSY MANAGUA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4845 INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS MANAGUA 000032
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KIDE CVIS ECON EINV NU
SUBJECT: RAMIRO CONTRERAS ESCOBAR: RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RE SECTION 2225 VISA INELIGIBILITY.
REF: A. SECSTATE 219874
B. MANAGUA 00877
C. MANAGUA 2945
UNCLAS MANAGUA 000032
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KIDE CVIS ECON EINV NU
SUBJECT: RAMIRO CONTRERAS ESCOBAR: RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RE SECTION 2225 VISA INELIGIBILITY.
REF: A. SECSTATE 219874
B. MANAGUA 00877
C. MANAGUA 2945
1. (SBU) The following comments are submitted in response
to A EB/IFC/OIA request for additional details to supplement
previously submitted Reftel C.
2. (SBU) Composition of Magnum Company: Corporacion
Nucleos Urbanos Magnum, S.A. ("Magnum") ownership is divided
equally among Barreto's father, mother and six adult
brothers, according to mother Ligia Chamorro de Barreto and
son Samuel Barreto. Brother Juan Diego Barreto is the only
American citizen. Magnum created the Serranias housing
development that was taken over by the Army in 1979.
3. (SBU) Abuse of Position: Ref B) page 13 describes how
Contreras signed property documents on behalf of the Army.
In a handwritten note to the Consulate dated November 2,
2005, Contreras states that his actions were performed in the
service of the Army and not for individual gain. He "affirms
and reaffirms" ("afirmo y reafirmo") that he never occupied,
rented, possessed, or appropriated any property belonging to
U.S. citizens. He adds that (property) claim resolution
requests are not within his portfolio and should be made
instead to the appropriate Nicaraguan authorities.
4. (SBU) In conversations with the Property Office on
December 21, 2005, and January 3, 2006, Samuel Barreto
stated that to his knowledge, Contreras' involvement with Lot
62 was as the representative who signed documents for the
Army, and that Contreras did not benefit personally.
5. (SBU) Importance of Contreras in the Army: The January
1988 Revised Edition of Nicaraguan Biographies: A Resource
Book. Special Report No. 174 (State Department Publication)
characterizes Contreras as the "right-hand man" of Humberto
Ortega. Contreras' influence during the takeover of the
Serranias property would have derived from his relationship
with Ortega and/or the FSLN's National Directorate's
Tercerista faction circa 1979. The group advocated immediate
violence in the framework of a broad tactical alliance with
all anti-Somoza sectors of Nicaraguan society. In other
words, while downplaying his own importance, Contreras
appears to have enjoyed significant influence during the
1980s.
6. (SBU) Proximity, continued: While conferring with
Property Office staff, Samuel Barreto Googled an article
entitled "Notifax, The News of Nicaragua in Synthesis" for
Monday June 9, 1997. The Notifax online compendium at
notifax@ibw.com.ni (page 2 of 7 pages in both Spanish and
English versions) sources El Nuevo Herald de Miami as the
origin. The March 12, 1990 article describes a six-million
dollar bank account deposit, with money allegedly divided
among the following persons: Humberto Ortega's wife, Ligia
Trejos; the ex-Ambassador of Costa Rica in Nicaragua, Carlos
Aguilar; Ortega assistant, Ramiro Contreras; assistant of
General Joaquin Cuadra, Elizabeth Pinell; Caribbean Fruits
Investment and an unnamed Honduran money exchange company.
7. (SBU) On December 21, 2005, Econoff, two Property
Section lawyers and Samuel Barreto visited the Las Serranias
development and inspected the properties (from the street),
including Cuban, Russian and Magnum-controlled lots.
Although valuable real estate, the houses are not luxurious
and some have been abandoned. Maturing trees grow inside
roofless rooms in one building. The property is no longer
secured or fenced by the Army or anyone else. The complex is
open to the public, includes a restaurant and has
appreciation potential. Magnum has placed "For Sale" signs
outside the lots it still owns. A "For Rent" sign is
promiV:v|V;Lzobiliaria de Ahorro y Prestamo, a privately-owned savings
and loan. Nationalized by the Sandinistas, it was converted
into the Banco de la Vivienda de Nicaragua (BAVINIC),an
FSLN-controlled housing bank. Although Magnum eventually
paid off its outstanding property loans in full in the 1990s,
the Army still retains 29 properties in the Serranias complex.
TRIVELLI
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KIDE CVIS ECON EINV NU
SUBJECT: RAMIRO CONTRERAS ESCOBAR: RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RE SECTION 2225 VISA INELIGIBILITY.
REF: A. SECSTATE 219874
B. MANAGUA 00877
C. MANAGUA 2945
1. (SBU) The following comments are submitted in response
to A EB/IFC/OIA request for additional details to supplement
previously submitted Reftel C.
2. (SBU) Composition of Magnum Company: Corporacion
Nucleos Urbanos Magnum, S.A. ("Magnum") ownership is divided
equally among Barreto's father, mother and six adult
brothers, according to mother Ligia Chamorro de Barreto and
son Samuel Barreto. Brother Juan Diego Barreto is the only
American citizen. Magnum created the Serranias housing
development that was taken over by the Army in 1979.
3. (SBU) Abuse of Position: Ref B) page 13 describes how
Contreras signed property documents on behalf of the Army.
In a handwritten note to the Consulate dated November 2,
2005, Contreras states that his actions were performed in the
service of the Army and not for individual gain. He "affirms
and reaffirms" ("afirmo y reafirmo") that he never occupied,
rented, possessed, or appropriated any property belonging to
U.S. citizens. He adds that (property) claim resolution
requests are not within his portfolio and should be made
instead to the appropriate Nicaraguan authorities.
4. (SBU) In conversations with the Property Office on
December 21, 2005, and January 3, 2006, Samuel Barreto
stated that to his knowledge, Contreras' involvement with Lot
62 was as the representative who signed documents for the
Army, and that Contreras did not benefit personally.
5. (SBU) Importance of Contreras in the Army: The January
1988 Revised Edition of Nicaraguan Biographies: A Resource
Book. Special Report No. 174 (State Department Publication)
characterizes Contreras as the "right-hand man" of Humberto
Ortega. Contreras' influence during the takeover of the
Serranias property would have derived from his relationship
with Ortega and/or the FSLN's National Directorate's
Tercerista faction circa 1979. The group advocated immediate
violence in the framework of a broad tactical alliance with
all anti-Somoza sectors of Nicaraguan society. In other
words, while downplaying his own importance, Contreras
appears to have enjoyed significant influence during the
1980s.
6. (SBU) Proximity, continued: While conferring with
Property Office staff, Samuel Barreto Googled an article
entitled "Notifax, The News of Nicaragua in Synthesis" for
Monday June 9, 1997. The Notifax online compendium at
notifax@ibw.com.ni (page 2 of 7 pages in both Spanish and
English versions) sources El Nuevo Herald de Miami as the
origin. The March 12, 1990 article describes a six-million
dollar bank account deposit, with money allegedly divided
among the following persons: Humberto Ortega's wife, Ligia
Trejos; the ex-Ambassador of Costa Rica in Nicaragua, Carlos
Aguilar; Ortega assistant, Ramiro Contreras; assistant of
General Joaquin Cuadra, Elizabeth Pinell; Caribbean Fruits
Investment and an unnamed Honduran money exchange company.
7. (SBU) On December 21, 2005, Econoff, two Property
Section lawyers and Samuel Barreto visited the Las Serranias
development and inspected the properties (from the street),
including Cuban, Russian and Magnum-controlled lots.
Although valuable real estate, the houses are not luxurious
and some have been abandoned. Maturing trees grow inside
roofless rooms in one building. The property is no longer
secured or fenced by the Army or anyone else. The complex is
open to the public, includes a restaurant and has
appreciation potential. Magnum has placed "For Sale" signs
outside the lots it still owns. A "For Rent" sign is
promiV:v|V;Lzobiliaria de Ahorro y Prestamo, a privately-owned savings
and loan. Nationalized by the Sandinistas, it was converted
into the Banco de la Vivienda de Nicaragua (BAVINIC),an
FSLN-controlled housing bank. Although Magnum eventually
paid off its outstanding property loans in full in the 1990s,
the Army still retains 29 properties in the Serranias complex.
TRIVELLI