Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09MEXICO1192
2009-04-28 22:11:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Mexico
Cable title:
EPR MEDIATION TALKS DISSOLVE
how-toVZCZCXRO1337 PP RUEHCD RUEHGD RUEHHO RUEHMC RUEHNG RUEHNL RUEHRD RUEHRS RUEHTM DE RUEHME #1192 1182211 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 282211Z APR 09 FM AMEMBASSY MEXICO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6280 INFO RUEHXC/ALL US CONSULATES IN MEXICO COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS PRIORITY RHMFISS/FBI WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHMFISS/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEHME/USDAO MEXICO CITY MX PRIORITY RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHMFISS/CDR USNORTHCOM PETERSON AFB CO PRIORITY RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L MEXICO 001192
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/24/2029
TAGS: KCRM PGOV PHUM PINR PREL PTER MX
SUBJECT: EPR MEDIATION TALKS DISSOLVE
REF: 08 MEXICO 002426
Classified By: POLITICAL MINISTER COUNSELOR Charles V. Barclay REASON:
1.4 (b),(d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L MEXICO 001192
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/24/2029
TAGS: KCRM PGOV PHUM PINR PREL PTER MX
SUBJECT: EPR MEDIATION TALKS DISSOLVE
REF: 08 MEXICO 002426
Classified By: POLITICAL MINISTER COUNSELOR Charles V. Barclay REASON:
1.4 (b),(d).
1. (U) Summary. On 21 April, the Mediation Commission
(COMED) that had the role of mediator for dialogue between
the EPR and the Mexican Government formally removed itself
from any future exchanges. The COMED was composed of civil
society representatives that had been identified by the EPR
last April. The COMED claimed that the government had not
demonstrated a good faith effort in its investigation of two
disappeared EPR members, Edmundo Reyes Amaya and Gabriel
Alberto Cruz Sanchez. The GOM has requested the group return
to reassume its role as mediator, but as of yet COMED has not
indicated that it is prepared to reconsider its decision.
The talks had succeeded in producing an effective cessation
of EPR attacks on vulnerable targets of the variety seen in
2007 when the EPR twice attacked oil pipelines. While it is
difficult to predict whether the EPR will launch new attacks,
most experts agree the breakdown of the dialogue, however
stilted, is a bad sign. End Summary.
2. (U) Last April 2008, the EPR used a communiquQ to
identify several members of civil society to serve as
mediators with the government in addressing its concerns
about two missing EPR members. By all accounts, this group
that came to be known as COMED relied on messages to
interface with the EPR leading some to describe its role
"artificial." At the same time, COMED had access to
government officials but found itself frustrated with the
government's inability or lack of will to provide information
on its investigation of the disappearances of the EPR
representatives.
3. (SBU) Some speculate the COMED could be bluffing in
announcing its decision to give up its role as a mediator for
any future dialogue between the GOM and EPR. Last August,
COMED threatened to discontinue its role as a mediator out of
frustration with what it viewed as a lack of cooperation and
good faith on the government's part. Eventually, though, the
group recommitted itself to prodding the government for
greater transparency and progress in its investigation. In
this instance, COMED could be similarly hoping its announced
withdrawal from talks will prompt the government to recommit
itself to a thorough and transparent investigation of the two
disappeared members. The government has requested COMED
reassume its role as mediator but to date COMED has not
signaled a willingness to do so.
4. (C) Comment. While it is difficult to predict the EPR's
next steps, most experts agree COMED's withdrawal from talks
is troubling. EPR's old guard is reportedly more disposed to
talks; its younger members, however, are more radicalized and
disposed to violence of the variety we saw in 2007. The
government appears to have used the semblance of dialogue as
a means to effectively forestall further violence over the
last year. In exchange, it delivered little in the way of
progress in its investigation of the missing EPR members.
Many suspect the government has more information about these
disappearances than it has shared. If it does, it clearly
has taken a political decision not to act on this
information. Now that "talks" have broken down, it is not
unlikely the different branches of the EPR will enter into a
debate over next steps, with undertaking new violent attacks
up for consideration as one option.
Visit Mexico City's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/mexicocity and the North American
Partnership Blog at http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/nap /
BASSETT
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/24/2029
TAGS: KCRM PGOV PHUM PINR PREL PTER MX
SUBJECT: EPR MEDIATION TALKS DISSOLVE
REF: 08 MEXICO 002426
Classified By: POLITICAL MINISTER COUNSELOR Charles V. Barclay REASON:
1.4 (b),(d).
1. (U) Summary. On 21 April, the Mediation Commission
(COMED) that had the role of mediator for dialogue between
the EPR and the Mexican Government formally removed itself
from any future exchanges. The COMED was composed of civil
society representatives that had been identified by the EPR
last April. The COMED claimed that the government had not
demonstrated a good faith effort in its investigation of two
disappeared EPR members, Edmundo Reyes Amaya and Gabriel
Alberto Cruz Sanchez. The GOM has requested the group return
to reassume its role as mediator, but as of yet COMED has not
indicated that it is prepared to reconsider its decision.
The talks had succeeded in producing an effective cessation
of EPR attacks on vulnerable targets of the variety seen in
2007 when the EPR twice attacked oil pipelines. While it is
difficult to predict whether the EPR will launch new attacks,
most experts agree the breakdown of the dialogue, however
stilted, is a bad sign. End Summary.
2. (U) Last April 2008, the EPR used a communiquQ to
identify several members of civil society to serve as
mediators with the government in addressing its concerns
about two missing EPR members. By all accounts, this group
that came to be known as COMED relied on messages to
interface with the EPR leading some to describe its role
"artificial." At the same time, COMED had access to
government officials but found itself frustrated with the
government's inability or lack of will to provide information
on its investigation of the disappearances of the EPR
representatives.
3. (SBU) Some speculate the COMED could be bluffing in
announcing its decision to give up its role as a mediator for
any future dialogue between the GOM and EPR. Last August,
COMED threatened to discontinue its role as a mediator out of
frustration with what it viewed as a lack of cooperation and
good faith on the government's part. Eventually, though, the
group recommitted itself to prodding the government for
greater transparency and progress in its investigation. In
this instance, COMED could be similarly hoping its announced
withdrawal from talks will prompt the government to recommit
itself to a thorough and transparent investigation of the two
disappeared members. The government has requested COMED
reassume its role as mediator but to date COMED has not
signaled a willingness to do so.
4. (C) Comment. While it is difficult to predict the EPR's
next steps, most experts agree COMED's withdrawal from talks
is troubling. EPR's old guard is reportedly more disposed to
talks; its younger members, however, are more radicalized and
disposed to violence of the variety we saw in 2007. The
government appears to have used the semblance of dialogue as
a means to effectively forestall further violence over the
last year. In exchange, it delivered little in the way of
progress in its investigation of the missing EPR members.
Many suspect the government has more information about these
disappearances than it has shared. If it does, it clearly
has taken a political decision not to act on this
information. Now that "talks" have broken down, it is not
unlikely the different branches of the EPR will enter into a
debate over next steps, with undertaking new violent attacks
up for consideration as one option.
Visit Mexico City's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/mexicocity and the North American
Partnership Blog at http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/nap /
BASSETT