Intelligence Chief Proposes Reform to Severely Restrict USG

S E C R E T PANAMA 000901 NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/12/22 TAGS: PREL SNAR EAID ASEC PM PINR SUBJECT: Intelligence Chief Proposes Reform to Severely Restrict USG Vetted Units CLASSIFIED BY: David Gilmour, Deputy Chief of Mission, State, EXEC; REASON: 1.4(B),(D) ¶1. (U) This is an action message, see paragraph 5. ¶2. (S//NF) The head of Panama's Council for Public Security and National Defense (Consejo, or CSPDN),Olmedo Alfaro, has told Embassy officers that the GOP plans to introduce new legislation soon that would make it unlawful for Panamanian government servants to receive payments from a foreign government. In separate meetings on December 15 and 16, Olfaro told the Embassy's ICE chief and RSA chief that the GOP would institute the new measure as part of its reform of GOP security structures. The Panamanian National Assembly is currently sitting in extraordinary session until December 31, and post believes that this new security legislation, which is rumored to contain other controversial measures related to wiretaps, could be introduced during this holiday period when public scrutiny will be less than normal. ¶3. (S//NF) Such a measure, depending on how it is implemented, could significantly reduce the effectiveness of our DEA, ICE and other vetted units. As currently structured, the individual members of some of those units receive payments from the USG that supplement their base salaries. In other cases, the heads of the units are given monthly amounts which cover minor expenses such as tolls, fuel, meals and costs related to operations. Our ability to pay the vetted units helps to recruit the best talent from within the police and intelligence organizations. The vetted units are absolutely vital to the success of USG law enforcement and intelligence operations in Panama, which are responsible for more cocaine seizures than any other country in the transit zone. Any GOP action that restricts their operation will have an immediate and potentially detrimental effect on both Panamanian and U.S. security interests. ¶4. (S//NF) Post proposes to demarche senior GOP leadership in the coming days with the following talking points: - Skyrocketing violent crime is the number-one concern of Panamanians, and the USG shares that concern and wishes to assist the GOP in lowering crime levels. - Sensitive investigative units (SIUs) are vital to the fight against crime in Panama, and are helping to take violent criminals off the streets and reduce the flow of drugs, money and weapons that is fueling Panama's fast-rising crime. - SIUs work directly with U.S. agencies but serve the interests of Panama as well as the United States - Restricting the ability to make payments to SIUs will make it more difficult to recruit and retain good officers for these units which have proven to be the most successful in fighting crime. - The only other countries in this region that restrict payments to SIUs are Bolivia and Mexico. ¶5. (C) Post welcomes input soonest from WHA on our approach to the GOP concerning this matter. STEPHENSON