Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08STATE30340
2008-03-24 18:30:00
SECRET//NOFORN
Secretary of State
Cable title:  

(S) REPORTING AND COLLECTION NEEDS: PARAGUAY

Tags:  PINR KPRP ECON PREL PGOV ETRD PA 
pdf how-to read a cable
R 241830Z MAR 08
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 
INFO DIA WASHINGTON DC//DHI-1B/CLM//DP//
CIA WASHINGTON DC//NHTC// 0000
S E C R E T STATE 030340 

SIPDIS


NOFORN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/27/2033
TAGS: PINR KPRP ECON PREL PGOV ETRD PA
SUBJECT: (S) REPORTING AND COLLECTION NEEDS: PARAGUAY

REF: 07 STATE 161706


Classified By: PAULA CAUSEY, DAS, INR. REASON: 1.4(C).

S E C R E T STATE 030340

SIPDIS


NOFORN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/27/2033
TAGS: PINR KPRP ECON PREL PGOV ETRD PA
SUBJECT: (S) REPORTING AND COLLECTION NEEDS: PARAGUAY

REF: 07 STATE 161706


Classified By: PAULA CAUSEY, DAS, INR. REASON: 1.4(C).


1. (S/NF) This cable reports the results of a recent
Washington review of reporting and collection needs for
Paraguay. The review produced a list of priorities
(paragraph 5) intended to guide participating USG agencies as
they allocate resources and update plans to collect
information on Paraguay. The priorities also serve as a
useful tool to help the Embassy manage reporting and
collection, including formulation of Mission Strategic Plans
(MSPs).


2. (S/NF) Important information often is available to
non-State members of the Country Team whose agencies
participated in the review of this National HUMINT Collection
Directive. COMs, DCMs, and State reporting officers can
assist by coordinating with other Country Team members to
encourage relevant reporting through their own or State
Department channels.

3. (S/NF) Please note that the community relies on State
reporting officers for much of the biographical information
collected worldwide. Informal biographic reporting by email
and other means is vital to this effort. When it is
available, reporting officers should include as much of the
following information as possible: office and organizational
titles; names, position titles and other information on
business cards; numbers of telephones, cell phones, pagers
and faxes; compendia of contact information, such as
telephone directories (in compact disc or electronic format
if available) and e-mail listings; internet and intranet
"handles", internet e-mail addresses, web site
identification-URLs; credit card account numbers; frequent
flyer account numbers; work schedules, and other relevant
biographical information.


4. (S/NF) This National HUMINT Collection Directive (NHCD) is
compliant with the National Intelligence Priorities Framework
(NIPF),which was established in response to NSPD-26 of
February 24, 2003. If needed, GRPO can provide further

background on the NIPF and the use of NIPF abbreviations
(shown in parentheses following each sub-issue below) in
NHCDs.


5. (S/NF) Priority issues and issues outline:


A. Terrorism and Crime
1) Terrorist Threats and Activities (TERR-2)
2) Government Counterterrorist Response (TERR-2)
3) Impact of Corruption and Government Response (CRIM-3)
4) Narcotics Trafficking and Government Response (DRUG-3)
5) Money Laundering (MONY-3)


B. Political Dynamics and Democratization
1) Political Stability (DEPS-3)
2) Democratic Practice and the Rule of Law (DEPS-3)
3) Foreign Relations (FPOL-4)
4) Human Rights (HRWC-5)


C. Economy, Trade, and Investment
1) Economic Policies and Performance (ECFS-3)
2) Trade (TRAD-4)
3) Foreign Investment (TRAD-4)


D. Military and Security Issues
1) Critical Infrastructure Protection (INFR-4)
2) Military Structure and Capabilities (FMCC-4)
3) GRPO can provide text of this issue.
4) Health and Medical Developments (HLTH-4)


E. Information Infrastructure and Telecommunications (INFR-4)


6. (S/NF) Reporting and collection needs:


A. Terrorism and Crime

1) Terrorist Threats and Activities (TERR-2)
- Information on the presence, intentions, plans and
activities of terrorist groups, facilitators, and support
networks - including, but not limited to, Hizballah, Hamas,
al-Gama'at al-Islamiya, al-Qa'ida, jihadist media
organizations, Iranian state agents or surrogates - in
Paraguay, in particular in the Tri-Border Area (TBA).
- Indications or evidence of terrorists' or terrorist support
networks' involvement with narcotrafficking, money
laundering, human smuggling, and/or other criminal activities
as a means of obtaining funding or other logistical support;
details on companies or organizations linked to terrorists or
terrorist activity, to include financial transactions,
shipping records, addresses, and associated
companies/organizations.
- Terrorist or terrorist support network plans and activities
in the areas of recruitment, training, support,
communications networks, local and regional command and
control.
- The arrival or expansion of Islamic NGOs or leaders with
known or suspected radical affiliations.
- Ties between and among terrorist organizations; evidence of
terrorist links to government-including
local/regional-officials, non-governmental organizations
(NGOs) (such as Jama'at al-Tabligh, the World Assembly of
Muslim Youth, and the Muslim World League),front
organizations (including companies providing logistical or
financial support),and organized criminal groups.
- Identities information of terrorist members to include
fingerprints, arrest photos, DNA, and iris scans.
- Modus Operandi of individuals and terrorist groups, their
use and/or modification of passports, seals/caches, and
travel documents.
- Plans, intentions, and activities of domestic terrorist
groups and regional terrorist groups that operate in Paraguay.

2) Government Counterterrorist Response (TERR-2)
- Information on the government's policy, plans and
intentions for addressing the terrorist threat, including
support for or opposition to the United States in the war
against terrorism; Paraguay's position in regional and
international fora, including support for or objection to
U.S. counterterrorism policies.
- Security services' capabilities, at the national and local
levels, to counter terrorist groups and their activities;
government plans or intentions to further develop or expand
those capabilities.
- Details of police and security services' efforts and
programs to identify, monitor, and disrupt terrorist
activities throughout Paraguay, and particularly in the TBA.
- Government plans and efforts to deploy biometric systems.
- Willingness to cooperate with the U.S. Government and other
governments on counterterrorism issues, including the sharing
of terrorist data; challenges (political, economic,
financial, or personal) the government or government
officials face which may influence their cooperation.
- The status of, and prospects for, counterterrorism-related
legislation.

3) Impact of Corruption and Government Response (CRIM-3)
- Details about organized crime groups, including leadership,
links to government or foreign entities, drug and human
trafficking and smuggling, kidnapping, counterfeiting,
illicit arms trafficking, money laundering, connections to
other international organized crime or terrorist groups,
movement of organized crime into legitimate business
structures, their locations, support structures and means of
coordinating operations, with particular emphasis on their
efforts to influence, suborn or corrupt government, law
enforcement or security officials.
- Information on the involvement of government, military, or
security services personnel in corrupt practices, including
officials involved in narcotrafficking and arms smuggling,
trafficking in persons, funds diversion, influence peddling,
bribe solicitation, blackmail, fraud--especially of travel
documents--and nepotism; the impact of government corruption
on efforts to pursue, capture, and prosecute terrorists and
the effect on popular confidence in the government.
- Details of corruption in government offices, particularly
in the attorney general's office, the judiciary, and the
customs service; status of any government efforts to combat
corruption.
- National, regional, or international criminal activity,
including economic distortions caused by criminal activity;
the government's efforts to devise and implement plans and
policies to combat criminal activity; the level of
cooperation with foreign security services on detecting,
monitoring, and intercepting illicit arms and other smuggled
goods.

4) Narcotics Trafficking and Government Response (DRUG-3)
- Details of narcotics trafficking and associated criminal
activities, particularly in the TBA and other border regions;
illicit drug shipments and trafficking nodes, modalities, and
routes.
- Details on drug trafficking organizations, including
leadership (biographic information and biometric data),
communications (types and sources of technologies used),and
methods of operation, to include processing and storage
sites, methods of laundering money, and activities of front
companies (financial activities, shipping records, addresses,
and associated companies).
- Traffickers' subversion or coercion of political, economic
and judicial officials and systems, including attempts to
gain influence through campaign contributions; impact of
corruption from drug traffickers on executive offices,
legislatures, military and security organizations.
- Connections between narcotics traffickers and international
organized criminal or terrorist groups.
- Government control and enforcement plans, organizations,
capabilities, and activities; military and police roles in
combating drug trafficking or contributing to the trafficking.
- Government plans and efforts to interdict the movement of
narcotics through the TBA and elsewhere.
- Details of legislative initiatives to improve
counternarcotics enforcement and prosecutions.

5) Money Laundering (MONY-3)
- Evidence of international organized crime, terrorist
networks, drug producers, people smugglers, arms traffickers,
government officials, military, and security services
involvement in money laundering.
- Details on the methods used to conduct illicit financial
transactions.
- Identification of financial organizations and businesses
(names of personnel and physical location/address of
entities),including exchange houses and informal mechanisms
such as hawalas, involved in money laundering, the means
employed, and the amounts and frequency of activity.
- Government willingness and ability to enforce current law,
investigate, and prosecute money laundering and illegal
financial activities, to include plans to tighten financial
controls and strengthen its financial intelligence unit.
- Information about the underground market for treasury
notes, bearer bonds, and other financial instruments.


B. Political Dynamics and Democratization

1) Political Stability (DEPS-3)
- Plans and intentions of the government and ruling party to
prepare for, or influence the outcome of, the April 2008
election.
- Leading candidates and emerging leaders -- to include their
views of, and plans for relations with, the United States,
Venezuela, Cuba, and other Latin American nations -
especially for the 2008 election.
- Political parties' and candidates' preparations for the
2008 election; electoral politics, party platforms, tactics,
and strategies employed in the run-up to the election and
plans for the post-election period.
- Information-before and after the election-on governing and
opposition parties' alliances, rifts, internal factions, and
constituencies, including key people, tactics, and strengths.
- Details of post-election internal politics and political
maneuvering during the transition from one administration to
another.
- Information on financial or material support to candidates,
parties, or interest groups from foreign governments,
especially from Cuba or Venezuela; post-electoral aid
commitments from foreign governments.
- Details of corrupt, illegal, or unethical activities aimed
at subverting the electoral process.
- Biographic and financial information on all leading
contenders, and especially on Minister of Education Blanca
Ovelar, former Vice President Castiglioni, Lino Oviedo, and
Fernando Lugo; and biometric data, to include fingerprints,
facial images, iris scans, and DNA, on these individuals.

2) Democratic Practice and the Rule of Law (DEPS-3)
- Evidence of commitment, or lack of commitment, on the part
of the government, political parties, or special interest
groups to democratic principles, rule of law, transparent,
corruption-free governance practices, and free and fair
elections.
- Details of political deal making and bargains and the
resulting impact on popular confidence in the elections and
the political process; indications of government or political
party bargaining over the candidacy of Lino Oviedo and his
campaign.

3) Foreign Relations (FPOL-4)
- Information on the government's foreign policy plans and
intentions toward neighboring states, regional powers
(including the United States),and key international actors.
- Status of the government's relations with and views of
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and his domestic and foreign
policies and actions; the Paraguayan government perspective
on Venezuelan efforts to influence Paraguay's political
process or leadership.
- Information on Paraguay's relationship with Cuba and the
Paraguayan government perspective on Cuban activities and
influence in Paraguay; Paraguay's policy on Cuba in
international and regional fora and the Paraguayan
leadership's views of the United States' Cuba policy.
- Student exchange programs and philanthropic activities in
Paraguay sponsored by Cuba or Venezuela.
- Paraguay's relations with the MERCOSUR organization and
its member countries in that multilateral environment.
- Details of Paraguay's position on U.S. policies and actions
in the region and internationally, including Paraguay's views
on, and participation in, multilateral sanctions endorsed by
the United States and/or the United Nations.
- Information on key bilateral regional relationships,
especially for Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Bolivia.
- Relations with Iran and information on Islamic facilities,
including mosques, cultural centers, etc., supported by Iran.
- Information on other key bilateral international
relationships, especially for China, Taiwan, and Russia.

4) Human Rights (HRWC-5)
- Government plans and intentions with regard to human rights
issues, in particular willingness to crack down on - or
disregard - violations by police, military or security
services.
- Performance of the police, military, and security services
in upholding or violating human rights.
- Government programs and efforts to prevent violence,
trafficking in persons, prostitution, forced labor, slave
labor, or vigilante activity.


C. Economy, Trade, and Investment

1) Economic Policies and Performance (ECFS-3)
- Information on the state of the economy, the national
budget, and internal and external debt; information on
economic indicators, particularly for growth and inflation,
including views of the government, political leaders,
academics and other experts on Paraguay's economy and its
future prospects.
- Details on government efforts to improve economic
performance by developing and implementing policies on taxes,
investment, labor, or other resources.
- Details of the effects on the general population of
economic developments and programs.
- Impact on the economy of the discovery of potentially large
gas and oil deposits in the Chaco region.
- Government willingness and capability to fairly and
equitably enforce the law on economic, financial, and banking
issues and uncover/prevent illegal activities.
- Paraguay's interest and participation in the MCA Threshold
Program.

2) Trade (TRAD-4)
- Status of trade with Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and other
countries in the region, including government positions on
future opportunities, areas for expansion, and potential
areas of conflict; the impact of MERCOSUR on Paraguay's trade
and the Paraguayan government's assessment of its benefits,
potential drawbacks, and future prospects.
- Paraguay's intentions with regard to ratifying Venezuela's
membership in MERCOSUR.
- The Paraguayan government's policies and positions related
to trade with the United States; indications of genuine
Paraguayan interest in negotiating a trade agreement with the
United States; developments in Paraguay's position on
intellectual property rights legislation and enforcement.
- Paraguayan plans and intentions to expand their requests
for market access to the United States beyond their
traditional commodities - beef, textiles, and sugar.

3) Foreign Investment (TRAD-4)
- Government plans and intentions to attract additional
foreign investment to Paraguay, including details of
incentives and disincentives for foreign investment in
Paraguay.
- Government and business views on the impact of rising crime
and concerns about the independence of the judiciary on
foreign investment, and government plans to deal with these
concerns.
- Paraguay's plans, policies, motives, and intended actions
on intellectual property rights issues.
- The Paraguayan government position on or participation in
the Venezuelan initiative to create a regional development
bank, the Bank of the South.


D. Military and Security Issues

1) Critical Infrastructure Protection (INFR-4)
- Paraguay's approach to critical infrastructure protection
strategies and technologies; efforts to reduce the
vulnerability of key systems, including energy (e.g.,
hydroelectric),telecommunications, and transportation.
- Overtures to the United States and others for assistance
in planning and implementing protective measures.
- Legislation or executive actions undertaken to improve
infrastructure security, especially the physical security of
power generation and distribution systems.

2) Military Structure and Capabilities (FMCC-4)
- Capabilities of the military, current and future, in light
of recent decisions to downsize and re-organize; objectives
and expectations for the budget and missions of this future
force.
- Evidence of denial and deception (D&D) programs,
including: personnel, organizations, strategies, tactics,
technologies, activity scheduling, or support by foreign
countries; evidence of satellite tracking or a satellite
warning program, especially any foreign involvement.
- Capabilities, plans, and intentions for participation in
international peacekeeping operations.
- Intentions with respect to cooperation with U.S. military
forces, including the potential for reinstatement of a Status
of Forces Agreement.
- Information on military cooperation, assistance received or
provided, or interaction with others in the region, for
example, the training provided by Argentina; status of
international military cooperation or assistance programs,
such as the kinds of military support that might be offered
by China, Iran, Venezuela, Taiwan, or other countries.
- Plans and intentions for weapons and equipment
acquisitions, including details on suppliers.
- Reactions to major arms acquisitions by countries in the
region.
- Paraguayan views on Venezuelan and Bolivian military
actions and activities, in particular, Bolivian deployments
near the border of Paraguay.
- Indigenous R&D, production, repair, maintenance or upgrade
of military material.
- Details on joint cooperation or co-production arrangements.
- Details on military command, control, communications,
computer and intelligence (C4I) systems.
- Biographic and financial information and biometric data on
military leaders.

3) GRPO can provide text of this issue and related
requirements.

4) Health and Medical Developments (HLTH-4)
- Infectious disease outbreaks; national strategies for
dealing with infectious disease, including detection and
control.
- Capabilities and quality of medical care in private,
public, and military medical facilities.
- Disaster planning and response capability.
- Sources, locations and levels of environmental and chemical
contamination of air, water, food, and soil that might affect
health; content and location of toxic industrial chemical
production and storage facilities.


E. Information Infrastructure and Telecommunications (INFR-4)
- Details of telecommunications and information systems,
networks, and technologies supporting Paraguayan national
leadership, military, foreign intelligence and security
services (FISS),and civil sector communications.
- Define Paraguayan wireless infrastructure, cellular
provider information, and makes/models of cellular phones and
their operating systems.
- Define Paraguayan satellite communications infrastructure,
to include VSAT networks and use of point to point systems.
- Information on communications practices of Paraguayan
government and military leaders, key foreign officials in
country (e.g., Cuban, Venezuelan, Bolivian, Iranian, or
Chinese diplomats),and criminal entities or their
surrogates, to include telephone and fax numbers and e-mail
addresses, call activity (date, time, caller numbers,
recipient numbers),phone books, cell phone numbers,
telephone and fax user listings, internet protocol (IP)
addresses, user accounts, and passwords.
- Identify national and supranational telecommunications
regulatory, administrative, and maintenance organizations.
- Identify scope of Paraguayan telecommunications encryption
efforts, details on the use of and efforts to acquire modern
telecom technologies, regional and national
telecommunications policies, programs and regulations.
- Details on information repositories associated with RFID
enabled systems increasingly used for passports, government
badges, and transportation system.
RICE