HUMAN RIGHTS REVIEW - UNIT COMMANDER OF PARAGUAYAN

UNCLAS ASUNCION 000117 SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/BSC LSALES AND CCROFT, 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 - UNIT COMMANDER OF PARAGUAYAN SECURITY FORCES REF: A. 05 STATE 225765 ¶B. 03 STATE 3491 ¶C. 99 STATE 103806 ¶D. 99 STATE 85377 ¶E. 06 ASUNCION 126986 ¶1. Embassy has reviewed its internal files and records in accordance with standardized vetting procedures and finds no derogatory information on the following unit commander of the Paraguayan security forces that is an intended recipient of U.S. training and security assistance (refs A-D). Ramon Benitez is the newly named commander of the Paraguayan Joint Rapid Response Detachment (DCEI),which was previously vetted as a unit (ref E). Benitez is also scheduled to attend the Joint Operations course at Fort Benning, GA, March 10 - May 23, 2009. ¶2. Candidate name: Ramon Ernesto Benitez Amarilla DOB: August 8, 1961 POB: Asuncion, Paraguay Nationality: Paraguayan Unit: DCEI ¶3. Embassy requests State Department vetting of the above unit commander by no later than March 9, 2009, so that the planned training and material support can move forward. ¶4. 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 AYALDE