CHILE: MILGP REQUEST FOR HUMAN RIGHTS VETTING FOR SOUTHERN

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000102 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/BSC, DRL, INR, PPC, PM, CD1D FOR BROWN, JOHNS SOUTHCOM FOR EVANS, FINLAY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MARR MASS PREL PHUM CI SUBJECT: CHILE: MILGP REQUEST FOR HUMAN RIGHTS VETTING FOR SOUTHERN STAR 2009 EXERCISE Sensitive but unclassified. Please handle accordingly. ¶1. (U) This is an action request. See paragraphs 2 and 3. ¶2. (SBU) Action request: Embassy requests the Department assist in conducting a Leahy Amendment Human Rights review, as well as a general name check, of the following Chilean Army unit and its commanding officer which have been nominated to participate in U.S. funded training, pursuant to the Leahy Act and Foreign Assistance Act. Please transmit the results of such, including information not strictly covered by the Leahy Amendment, to Embassy if possible by no later than March 11, 2009. ¶3. (SBU) The proposed training is the Southern Star 2009 Regional Special Operations Exercise, to be held in Chile, between October 2, 2009 and October 30, 2009. The name and identifying information of the proposed commanding officer appear in the following format: Name, rank, unit, date of birth, place of birth and national identification number. Antonio AGUILAR Moraga, Brigadier General, Chilean Army Special Operations Brigade, 09/08/1960, Santiago, 6.598.456-8 The Chilean Army unit to be vetted is the Chilean Army Special Operations Brigade. ¶4. (U) Post greatly appreciates the Department's assistance with this request. Embassy's ongoing investigation has not found credible information that the commanding officer or his unit have been involved in gross human rights violations.