HUMAN RIGHTS REVIEW - UNITS OF PARAGUAYAN SECURITY

UNCLAS ASUNCION 000532 SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/BSC KBEAMER, WHA/AND, DRL/BA, AND INR/IAA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM MARR MASS PGOV SOCI PINS SNAR PA SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS REVIEW - UNITS OF PARAGUAYAN SECURITY FORCES REF: A. 07 STATE 110255 ¶B. 07 ASUNCION 560 ¶C. ASUNCION 400 ¶D. 05 STATE 225765 ¶E. 03 STATE 3491 ¶F. 99 STATE 103806 ¶G. 99 STATE 85377 ¶1. Embassy has reviewed its internal files and records in accordance with standardized vetting procedures and finds no derogatory information on the following unit commanders of the Riverine Customs Unit (DETAVE) of the Paraguayan security forces that are intended recipients of U.S. training. This cable requests that the Department re-vet DETAVE Operations Commander Epifanio Gonzalez Lopez, who was previously vetted on August 8, 2007 (refs A and B),and DETAVE Investigations Commander Alejandro Benitez Romero, who has never been vetted. DETAVE is scheduled to participate in a Joint Combined Exercise Training with USSOUTHCOM'S Naval Special Warfare Unit from August 20, 2008, until October 7, 2008 (ref C). ¶2. Candidate name: Epifanio Gonzalez Lopez DOB: April 1, 1959 POB: Isla Yacyreta, Paraguay Nationality: Paraguayan ¶3. Candidate name: Alejandro Benitez Romero DOB: April 24, 1960 POB: Asuncion, Paraguay Nationality: Paraguayan ¶4. Embassy requests State Department vetting of the above units (or person) so that the planned training and material support can move forward. ¶5. POC for this request is Embassy Asuncion Human Rights Officer Michael Edwards, telephone: 011-595-21-213-715, e-mail: edwardsmg@state.gov. Please visit us at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/asuncion Cason