CHILE: MILGP REQUEST FOR HUMAN RIGHTS VETTING FOR ADVANCE

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000742 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR WHA/BSC, DRL, INR, PPC, PM, CD1D FOR BROWN, JOHNS SOUTHCOM FOR EVANS, FINLAY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MARR MASS PREL PHUM CI SUBJECT: CHILE: MILGP REQUEST FOR HUMAN RIGHTS VETTING FOR ADVANCE COURSE Sensitive but unclassified. Please handle accordingly. ¶1. (U) This is an action request. See paragraphs 2 and 3. ¶2. (SBU) Action request: Embassy requests the Department assist in conducting a Leahy Amendment Human Rights review, as well as a general name check, of the following Chilean military who have been nominated to participate in U.S. funded training, pursuant to the Leahy Act and Foreign Assistance Act. Please transmit the results of such, including information not strictly covered by the Leahy Amendment, to Embassy if possible by no later than October 10. ¶3. (SBU) The proposed training is the Advance Course, to be held at the Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies, Washington DC, between October 20 and November 7, 2008. The name and identifying information of the proposed candidates appear in the following format: Name, rank, unit, date of birth, place of birth and national identification number. Carlos BERTENS Uthemann, Colonel, National Defense Staff, 08/10/1956, Santiago, 7.296.859-k Arturo A. FUENZALIDA Prado, Rear Admiral, Commandant of the Chilean Marine Corps, 07/11/1953, Vina del Mar, 6.324.039-7 ¶4. (U) Post greatly appreciates the Department's assistance with this request. Embassy's ongoing investigation has not found credible information that the candidates have been involved in gross human rights violations. SIMONS