EL SALVADOR: UPDATED ASSESSMENT OF CENTRAL

UNCLAS SAN SALVADOR 002402 SIPDIS SIPDIS WHA/CEN FOR HILLARY THOMPSON; WHA/FO FOR GIOVANNI SNIDLE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ES PINS PREL PTER SNAR EAID SUBJECT: EL SALVADOR: UPDATED ASSESSMENT OF CENTRAL AMERICAN SECURITY REQUIREMENTS REF: A. SECSTATE 163495 ¶B. SAN SALVADOR 1555 ¶1. (U) As requested ref. A, post has reviewed the security assessment contained in San Salvador 1555 (ref. B). We revalidate the original security needs identified in that cable as well as the priority focus areas for targeted U.S. law enforcement assistance and institution building in El Salvador. ¶2. (U) Post met with appropriate Salvadoran government officials and compiled a prioritized list of immediate police equipment needs, as well as out year security requirements. The lead Salvadoran law enforcement organization, the National Civilian Police (PNC),identified a wide range of priority equipment needs for FY2008. Post concurs in the PNC priority needs equipment list, and hopes that several of the top-tier items can be purchased with FY2008 Merida Initiative supplemental funding. Provision of the equipment listed below will go a long way towards addressing equipment and technological shortcomings in Salvadoran law enforcement organizations. -------------- FY2008 Supplemental Funding -------------- ¶3. (U) Begin prioritized non-lethal police equipment list. ¶A. Ion scanners for detecting drugs and explosives. Three units, with field deployable modules, total cost of USD 450,000. ¶B. Bullet-proof vests. One hundred units, total cost USD 50,000. ¶C. A network of twenty-five state-of-the-art booking stations to gather and forward fingerprints, photographs, and DNA samples. USD 750,000. ¶D. Upgrade for existing IBIS ballistics system. Two additional modules, total cost of USD 300,000. ¶E. Police lights for undercover cars used in preventive patrolling system. One hundred sets, total cost USD 100,000. ¶F. Crime scene evidence kits. Twenty kits, total cost USD 40,000. ¶G. Night vision goggles for Tactical Anti-Gang Unit (TAG) and Organized Crime Unit (DECO). Twenty units, total cost USD 20,000. ¶H. Digital cameras with night vision capability for TAG. Five units, total cost USD 7,500. ¶I. Technical surveillance kits with audio and photographic monitoring capability for TAG. Three kits, total cost USD 20,000. ¶J. Field-deployable laptop computers with wireless capacity for TAG. Ten units, total cost USD 15,000. ¶K. Field-deployable cell phone jammers for TAG and Anti-Narcotics Division (DAN). Two units, total cost USD 6,000. ¶L. Electron microscope for forensics lab. One unit, total cost USD 250,000. ¶M. Computer equipment for detecting counterfeit signatures. One unit, total cost USD 25,000. ¶N. Tow trucks for stolen vehicle recovery unit. Two vehicles, total cost USD 120,000. ¶O. Chevrolet Suburban vehicles equipped for SWAT operations. Four units, total cost USD 280,000 ¶P. Digital Motorola Radios. 1000 units, total cost USD 400,000 -------------- Out Year FY2009-FY2010 Needs -------------- ¶4. (U) As directed in ref. A., post examined host country security requirements in light of the three pillar framework developed for the FY2008 supplemental request. Close examination of Salvadoran security requirements through FY2010 yields five major priority areas of concern: criminal evidence analysis and handling; processing of criminal suspects and collection of associated information; maritime interception capability; prison management; and border security. The following proposed equipment purchases, law enforcement training, and institution building efforts suggested for out years FY2009-2010 would help Salvadoran authorities to address shortcomings in the aforementioned areas of concern. ¶5. (U) Pillar I: Counternarcotics and Border Security. El Salvador's border crossings are increasingly vulnerable to shipments of illicit narcotics, contraband, weapons, and bulk cash transiting over land. Provision of state-of-the-art x-ray machines to scan vehicles and containerized cargo transiting the border installations at El Amatillo (adjacent to Honduras) and La Hachadura (adjacent to Guatemala) would significantly increase Salvadoran ability to interdict contraband transiting Central America. The U.S.-funded border stations at El Amatillo and La Hachadura would be able to quickly make good use of USG-purchased x-ray equipment. Provision of two units would cost an estimated total of USD two million. ¶6. (U) Pillar I: Counternarcotics and Border Security. Maritime interception capability: Narcotics trafficking on the Pacific littoral adjacent to El Salvador is a major security concern. At present, the PNC has negligible ability to intercept suspect narcotics vessels, or prevent maritime smuggling of contraband, human beings, and weapons. Provision of three go-fast boats, equipped with state-of-the-art communications and satellite navigation gear, would enable the PNC to more aggressively react to a wide range of maritime smuggling activity in El Salvador's immediate coastline. Three suitable go-fasts would cost roughly USD 600,000. ¶7. (U) Pillar I: Counternarcotics and Border Security. DoD and the Salvadoran Ministry of Defense (MOD) have discussed support of DoD/SOUTHCOM regional initiatives Enduring Freedom (EF) and Regional Aircraft Modernization Program (RAMP). Both initiatives focus on countering all forms of illicit trafficking by providing regional security forces with patrol craft, aircraft, and communications capabilities. The GOES has repeatedly requested assistance in upgrading capabilities of the Salvadoran Navy and Air Force to support joint operations with the PNC to track and intercept traffickers. Embassy San Salvador strongly supports funding of at least a portion of the request: Four high-speed interceptor patrol craft and support packages; two Cessna Caravan aircraft outfitted with FLIR and support packages; Four refurbished Huey II helicopters with support package. ¶8. (U) Pillar II: Public Security and Law Enforcement. Criminal evidence analysis and handling: USG purchase of a state-of-the-art DNA criminal laboratory would significantly enhance the ability of Salvadoran investigators to analyze and process criminal evidence. This would in turn increase the effectiveness of investigations of activity ranging from common street crimes such as carjacking and violent assaults to more sophisticated crimes such as kidnappings and gangland killings. The GOES is also actively discussing the establishment of an independent forensics institute in San Salvador, as recommended by the National Commission on Public Safety, as well as two smaller units in Santa Ana and San Miguel. The cost to establish the DNA and forensics labs is estimated at USD 4 million. ¶9. (U) Pillar II: Anti-Gang Prevention: Community crime prevention. Continue support for a block grant program of grants for public-private programs for youth at risk of joining gangs, abuse of drugs, and other community-based initiatives. Estimated USG contribution to expand program in El Salvador: USD 2 million/year. (Comment: Post strongly encourages this be part of a larger region-wide program funded at USD 5-8 million per year.) ¶10. (U) Pillar II: Rehabilitation/Crime Prevention. Youth in prisons are particularly vulnerable and are prime targets for gang recruitment both in prison and upon release. To combat gang recruitment and recidivism among the intermediate prison population (prisoners who attained the age of majority while serving their sentences),fund a comprehensive education and vocational training program for this group which is currently housed in two separate, dedicated facilities. Estimated cost USD one million. ¶11. (U) Pillar II: Public Security and Law Enforcement/Pillar III: Community Policing. Support two full-time advisors for the National Civilian Police (PNC): one would focus on improving internal management and operations of the police force, including management of the local precincts (along the lines of INL Guatemala's model precinct program) and outreach to the private sector for cooperative projects, while the second would focus on strengthening the office of the inspector general. This technical support, combined with a fund to provide incentives for service on special task forces as was so successful in the anti/kidnapping unit and "seed money" to accelerate changes at the operational level and customer service (e.g., small equipment purchases),would greatly enhance responsiveness and performance of the police, improving citizen confidence. Total estimated cost: USD 3.5 million. ¶12. (U) Pillar III: Prison Management. MS-13 and M-18 street gang activity within the Salvadoran prison system is a major nexus of public security threats. Street gang members frequently use smuggled cell phones to orchestrate criminal activity in both El Salvador and the U.S., while the introduction of smuggled weapons and tools increases the possibility of successful escape attempts. Provision of security equipment such as x-ray machines, surveillance cameras, body orifice scanning systems, state-of-the-art central control consoles, long-range search lights and cell phone jammers would enable prison authorities to more effectively control the violent criminal street gang activity radiating out from Salvadoran prisons, as well as decrease the possibility that dangerous MS-13 and M-18 convicts will escape into the community at-large. An investment of roughly USD 500,000 would enable the Salvadoran prison system to install much-needed security equipment upgrades at two major prison facilities that house significant street gang populations. ¶13. (U) Pillar III: Improving the Criminal Justice System. Salvadoran officials expect a new criminal procedures code, including rules of evidence, as well as other legislation such as asset forfeiture, to be passed early in the next calendar year. To ensure rapid and effective implementation of the new criminal process, judges, court personnel, prosecutors, police and public defenders must be trained in new legislation, procedures, and importantly, rules of evidence. Additionally, law schools must quickly adapt their curricula to reflect new procedures and laws and equip new attorneys with basic skills and understandings required to appropriately advise and enforce the new laws. Technical assistance and financial support for the intensive training program will ensure high quality and rapid and broad delivery. Estimated cost USD 5 million. ¶14. (U) As discussed in ref. A., para. four, post categorizes El Salvador as strongly committed to the principals and goals of the Merida Initiative, and very strongly disposed towards coordinating aspects of regional security policy via SICA. ¶15. (U) The GOES provided additional input on priorities for regional initiatives. These include the establishment of a regional forensics training hub at the International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) in Santa Tecla, El Salvador. They also noted that as El Salvador assumes the SICA presidency they felt it was important to provide financial assistance to the SICA Secretariat to support security plan oversight on a regional level. ¶16. (U) As requested in ref. A., para. five, post met with SICA Secretariat on December 6, and informed same that U.S. embassies in Central America would be making bilateral approaches to host-governments in advance of the December 11-12 SICA meeting in Guatemala. Post also encouraged SICA Secretariat to work with the current and incoming President SIPDIS pro tempore in advance of the pending handover. The SICA Secretariat reacted positively to the above demarche, and SIPDIS offered assurances of cooperation. Glazer