MORE GODR PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTMENTS - IN SECURITY

UNCLAS SANTO DOMINGO 000924 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CAR WSMITH, GSCHADRACK E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR KCRM DR SUBJECT: MORE GODR PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTMENTS - IN SECURITY FORCES REF: SDO 898 ¶1. As predicted, additional changes in the GODR's high-level personnel were recently announced, following those made by President Leonel Fernandez on August 16 (reftel). The most significant appointments, all in the security forces, are: -- Brigadier General of "Preventive Security" in the National Police, Rolando E. Rosado Mateo becomes chief of the Directorate for Combating Narcotics (DNCD). He replaces General Gilberto Delgado, of the DR armed forces, who will become a sub-secretary of the armed forces. (COMMENT: Rosado Mateo was relatively unknown to the Embassy before his appointment. END COMMENT.) -- The border protection entity CESFRONT (Specialized Corps for Frontier Security) will now be headed by Brigadier General Francisco Gil Ramirez, in lieu of General Santo Domingo Guerrero Clase. Gil Ramirez will be the fourth commander of CESFRONT since it began operating on the border in September 2007. -- Brigadier General Bernardo Santiago y Santiago will be inspector general of the National Police, replacing Mayor General Jose L. Dominguez Castillo. -- The new Supervisor General of the Dominican Energy Corporation (CDEEE) will be Brigadier General Francisco Abreu Montes de Oca. He replaces Vice-Admiral Jose Casimiro Pena y Pena. (NOTE: Businessman Celso Marranzini was named Vice President of the CDEEE on August 18 (Reftel). END NOTE.) ¶2. (SBU) Additionally, five of six brigade commanders in the national army (EN) were replaced, although these commanders had only been in office six months. (COMMENT: Poor continuity, as evidenced by these changes as well as the naming of a new CESFRONT commander, remains a systemic problem that hampers development of the armed forces as a professional institution and complicates Embassy's efforts to improve cooperation. END COMMENT.) ¶3. (U) Post will continue monitoring this issue and any future appointments and report as developments warrant. BULLEN