Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08SANTODOMINGO1439
2008-09-12 15:31:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Santo Domingo
Cable title:  

GODR REACTIONS TO TIP TIER 2 WATCH-LIST PLAN

Tags:  PHUM PREL KTIP DR 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0013
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHDG #1439/01 2561531
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 121531Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY SANTO DOMINGO
TO WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SANTO DOMINGO 001439 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR GTIP MFORSTROM, WHA/CAR JTILGHMAN, WHA/PPC
SMILLER, INL DKOHN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL KTIP DR
SUBJECT: GODR REACTIONS TO TIP TIER 2 WATCH-LIST PLAN

REF: STATE 92774

SANTO DOMI 00001439 001.2 OF 002


UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SANTO DOMINGO 001439

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR GTIP MFORSTROM, WHA/CAR JTILGHMAN, WHA/PPC
SMILLER, INL DKOHN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL KTIP DR
SUBJECT: GODR REACTIONS TO TIP TIER 2 WATCH-LIST PLAN

REF: STATE 92774

SANTO DOMI 00001439 001.2 OF 002



1. (U) Summary: Per reftel instructions, Poloff delivered
demarche and left the Tier 2 watch-list action plan
recommendations as a non-paper with key Dominican officials.
Our recommendations may be of assistance as the GODR is in
the process of developing its own, multi-agency "integrated
action plan" to combat trafficking. In seeking to establish a
working rapport with these officials, Poloff found that they
were quite open about their concerns and complaints. They
believe they are working hard to combat trafficking in
persons, that previous TIP reports were unbalanced, and that
the USG ought to provide additional resources both to conduct
more accurate surveys and to address the socio-economic root
causes of trafficking. Post expects such candid, but
productive, exchanges to continue as preparation of the
interim TIP assessment advances in the coming months. End
Summary


2. (SBU) In the course of delivering reftel points and
watch-list action plan at the Dominican Foreign Ministry,
Poloff met with Rosario Graciano, Under Secretary for
Consular and Immigration Issues, Sonia Vidal, Chief of the
Human Smuggling and Trafficking Office, and Kenia Angeles
Caceres, Minister Counselor for Migration Affairs. At the
Attorney General's office, Poloff met with Dr. Frank Soto,
Assistant Prosecutor General, who heads the team that
prosecutes trafficking cases, and one of his prosecutors,
Hector Perez.


3. (SBU) During these meetings GODR officials openly shared
their perspectives - something that may prove helpful as Post
builds effective working relations. Among the key points
made:
-- Officials at the Foreign Ministry noted that relevant
agencies have formed a working group that has drafted an
"Integrated Action Plan for the Inter-Institutional
Commission to Combat the Smuggling and Trafficking of
Persons". The officials were thus open to receiving a copy of
the non-paper with recommendations contained in reftel.
-- MFA officials acknowledged that they have yet to secure
funding for the measures the proposed Integrated Plan may
provide, but they are very aware of the need for resources to
ensure that the plan can be implemented. They said there is
the political will to combat trafficking in the DR - noting
the First Lady's interest in the subject - but acknowledged
that funding for the plan (or lack thereof) will be a sign of
the strength of that political will.
-- While on the subject of funding - and questioning where
previous TIP reports obtained their estimates about the
numbers of victims of trafficking - the MFA officials
informally requested USG assistance to conduct surveys about
the extent and nature of the trafficking problem in the
Dominican Republic. (Note: Post would welcome discussing the
possibility of G/TIP funding for such an initiative in the
DR. End Note)


4. (SBU) Dr. Soto is well known to the Embassy as a friendly,
helpful contact. Nevertheless, he feels that TIP reports
rigidly copy one another - including errors - year after
year. He also spoke candidly about the sensitivity of the
TIP Report's discussion of Haitian workers in the Dominican
Republic. While lamenting the poor conditions in which many
undocumented Haitians find themselves, he stated that as they
come voluntarily into the DR and can leave when they wish,
they are not "forced or slave" labor in most cases.


5. (SBU) Comment: The GODR officials Poloff met were
courteous, but clearly frustrated. They understand the
importance of the TIP issue - and the possible assistance
related consequences of remaining on the Tier 2 watch-list
over time - but they generally question the basis of some
assertions made in previous TIP reports. Moreover, seeing
poverty as a major driver of illegal migration, Dominican
officials draw a fairly sharp line between economic duress
and "real" trafficking (i.e., "the use of force, fraud, or
coercion to exploit a person for profit" - as defined on page
7 of the 2008 TIP report).


6. (SBU) Comment continued: Poloff underscored the need for
progress and invited GODR officials to provide specific
comments, facts and/or figures to strengthen the TIP report.
If GODR officials do so, and thereby move beyond complaining
that Embassies are over-reliant on newspaper and NGO reports,
this would facilitate the preparation of the assessment.
Fortunately, the timing of the demarche was good, given that
relevant GODR agencies are working on a comprehensive,
inter-agency plan of action. (They were to hold a meeting on
Sept 10, per Soto.) Whether the DR legislature will fund
such a plan adequately, and whether more USG assistance will

SANTO DOMI 00001439 002.2 OF 002


become available, have yet to be seen. End Comment.
FANNIN