RESPONSE TO BLUE LANTERN PRE-LICENSE CHECK

UNCLAS GUATEMALA 000773 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT PASS TO PM/DTCC- BLUE LANTERN COORDNIATOR TEL AVIV FOR M. KEAYS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC KOMC IS GT SUBJECT: RESPONSE TO BLUE LANTERN PRE-LICENSE CHECK 050107086 REF: STATE 63028 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Post has confirmed that the reftel arms purchase was ordered by the International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG) for the purpose of establishing an internal security force capable of providing protection for CICIG staff and investigators. Due to the high profile and sensitive nature of CICIG,s mandate, the organization has decided to create a 45-man security organization comprised of non-Guatemalan security professionals and donor country police officers. CICIG has a U.S.-standard storage facility for the weapons and is implementing a sensitive items inventory control regime modeled on the U.N. Security Office in New York. Local authorities responsible for weapons importation and control are aware of the planned shipment and will provide all documentation required. Post supports the approval of license 050107086 as soon as CICIG provides host country import approval documentation. End Summary. CICIG,s Plan to Create a Security Force -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Due to the general crime situation and the very real threat of reprisals by organized crime groups against the UN-led International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG) investigators, CICIG has decided to create a force of 45 non-Guatemalan agents that will work in concert with local police to provide physical security to CICIG employees. The security force is being created along the same lines as a traditional U.N. security force, with training and instruction provided by U.N. trainers, and will have weapon inventory and control protocols adopted from the New York Office of the U.N. The CICIG office occupies the former residence of the U.S. Marine Security Detachment, and as such contains a weapons room and gun safe that meet U.S. military specifications. ¶3. (SBU) Joe Leal, an AMCIT career U.N. security officer on loan to CICIG from U.N. New York, stated that he has been interviewing candidates for some time and hopes to have the unit up and running by the end of the year. He added that the two criteria he is focusing on are that applicants speak Spanish and have relevant international work experience (many of the unit members are coming from other UN missions, or have served as security contractors in Iraq or Afghanistan). He added that about half of the 45-man force will probably end up being members of donor countries' national police forces seconded to CICIG. He listed Chile, Uruguay, and Peru as countries that have already agreed to send security personnel for extended TDY assignments. CICIG Confirms Plans to Import Weapons -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Leal stated that he decided to import the weapons needed to arm the new security force due to the high local cost of firearms and the fact that 9mm Glocks (the standard issue weapon for U. N. security personnel) are not legally obtainable on the local market. He is focusing on recruiting current and former UN security personnel, who will expect to be armed with the same service weapons normally issued by the U.N. Leal readily admitted that when he started the process to import the reftel weapons he did not fully understand how the process worked, but has since discussed the process with the Guatemalan agency responsible for the importation and registration of weapons (DECAM) and Poloff. He now understands the steps he will need to follow to complete the process. Leal has received the proper forms from DECAM and Qprocess. Leal has received the proper forms from DECAM and stated that as soon as he receives the serial numbers of the weapons in question he will submit the import request to DECAM. Leal is familiar with U.S. non-transfer and resale provisions, and added that he also must abide by U.N. regulations regarding the transfer of weapons that in most cases mirror U.S. laws. ISDS's Involvement in the Transaction -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Leal stated that he has known the owner of International Security & Defense Systems (ISDS),Leo Glesier, for several years, but this is the first commercial transaction he has had with ISDS. He added that ISDS was the company recommended to him by the procurement officer for the U.N. New York office, and that ISDS has provided arms for other U.N. security offices. According to Leal, the U.N. maintains a list of acceptable arms import/export companies and that the U.N. has no derogatory information regarding ISDS. ¶6. (SBU) ISDS does not have an office or representation in Guatemala and at no time would take possession of the weapons after they entered the country, according to Leal. Upon arrival in Guatemala the weapons would be transferred from Customs to DECAM, who would perform the required ballistic testing. DECAM would then turn the weapons directly over to CICIG. Leal stressed that he has no plans to arm any Guatemalans, rather the weapons would be used by international security staff hired by CICIG and third country police seconded to CICIG by donor countries. DECAM Confirms Knowledge of Transaction -------------- ¶7. (SBU) On June 18, Poloff met with DECAM director Col. David Barrientos, who confirmed knowledge of CICIG,s intent to import weapons. He stated that DECAM had already approved a CICIG license request to purchase ten handguns locally, to allow CICIG,s security officers to operate until the reftel shipment arrives in country. He added that CICIG would need to follow the normal importation requirements and that his office had yet to receive the completed arms importation request. He stated that his office had provided the necessary paperwork to CICIG and had offered instruction on how to complete the process. CICIG will need two importation licenses to cover the weapons in question, one approved by DECAM to cover the 30 pistols and one approved by both DECAM and the Ministry of Defense to cover the six automatic rifles. Barrientos stated that once the paperwork was submitted it would be approved "in under two weeks," adding that he had been asked by the Minister of Defense to assist CICIG in any way possible. (NOTE: Barrientos stressed that the import license would be approved as soon as possible, but he wants to make sure that the proper procedures are followed. END NOTE.) ¶8. (SBU) COMMENT: The USG is the single largest donor to CICIG, and the Embassy has made every effort to ensure that it will succeed in its mission to combat organized crime and impunity in Guatemala. The proposed weapons sale will help CICIG provide needed security for its investigators, and as such will strengthen the organization's ability to fulfill its mandate. Post has every confidence that this is a legitimate transaction and recommends immediate approval of the export license as soon as CICIG provides host country import license for the reftel weapons. Derham