(S/NF) ONGOING DAS SCANDAL (C-AL9-01286)

S E C R E T STATE 063862

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/19/2034
TAGS: PINR PGOV CO
SUBJECT: (S/NF) ONGOING DAS SCANDAL (C-AL9-01286)

REF: A. BOGOTA 000569

B. BOGOTA 000688

C. BOGOTA 003888

D. BOGOTA 001624

E. BOGOTA 001618

F. BOGOTA 001506

G. BOGOTA 001412

H. BOGOTA 001252

I. BOGOTA 000849

Classified By: SUZANNE MCCORMICK, DIR., INR/OPS. REASON: 1.4(C).


1. (S/NF) WASHINGTON ANALYSTS WISH TO EXPRESS GRATITUDE TO
EMBASSY BOGOTA FOR ITS INSIGHTFUL COVERAGE SINCE THE DAS
ILLEGAL SURVEILLANCE SCANDAL LAST OCTOBER. INFORMATION FROM
REFS HAS BEEN USED IN FINISHED INTELLIGENCE PRODUCTS, AS WELL
AS IN BRIEFINGS FOR SENIOR US POLICYMAKERS. THE ONGOING
SCANDAL AND ITS POTENTIAL TO NEGATIVELY IMPACT EFFORTS TO
ALLOW PRESIDENT URIBE TO RUN FOR A THIRD TERM IN 2010
CONTINUE TO RECEIVE ATTENTION IN WASHINGTON, AND FOLLOW-UP
INFORMATION TO ANSWER SOME OF THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS WOULD
BE MOST APPRECIATED, AS TIME AND RESOURCES PERMIT.


A. (C/NF) DOES ATTORNEY GENERAL ORDONEZ PLAN TO CONTINUE
WITH THE HEAVY PROSECUTION OF THOSE INVOLVED IN THIS SCANDAL
AFTER IGUARAN DEPARTS? HOW DOES ORDONEZ VIEW POSSIBLE
REPLACEMENTS FOR IGUARAN? WHAT IS ORDONEZ'S RELATIONSHIP
WITH URIBE AND CLOSE URIBE ADVISERS LIKE MORENO AND OBDULIO
GAVIRIA?


B. (C/NF) WHO ARE URIBE'S TOP CHOICES FOR PROSECUTOR
GENERAL AND WHY? WHY DOES URIBE VIEW FORMER OAS
REPRESENTATIVE CAMILO OSPINA AS A TOP CHOICE?


C. (C/NF) PER BOGOTA 001252, HAS THERE BEEN ANY PROGRESS IN
IMPLEMENTING NEW INTELLIGENCE LAW 1288, OR IS IT HELD UP IN
BUREAUCRATIC WRANGLING? ANALYSTS CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS
STORY VIA OPEN SOURCES, BUT ALWAYS APPRECIATE POST'S
INSIGHTS. HOW DOES THE POLITICAL OPPOSITION, PARTICULARLY
THE ALTERNATIVE DEMOCRATIC POLE (PDA) AND SENATOR GUSTAVO
PETRO, PLAN TO USE THE DAS SPYING SCANDAL TO ITS ADVANTAGE
LOOKING TOWARD THE 2010 ELECTION?


D. (C/NF) WHERE DO THE NATIONAL ELECTORAL COUNCIL AND THE
PROSECUTOR GENERAL'S INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE 2008 SIGNATURE
DRIVE FOR THE REFERENDUM BILL STAND? ARE THE INVESTIGATIONS
LIKELY TO BE CONCLUDED BEFORE THE REFERENDUM IS DECIDED UPON
IN CONGRESS? ARE THERE ANY IMPEDIMENTS FROM THE EXECUTIVE
BRANCH OR OTHER GOVERNMENT ENTITIES TO THE INVESTIGATIONS?
ARE ALL OF THE WITNESSES, INCLUDING FORMER KEY REFERENDUM
PROMOTER LUIS GUILLERMO GIRALDO, COOPERATING?


2. (U) PLEASE CITE C-AL9-01286 IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF
REPORTING IN RESPONSE TO THE ABOVE QUESTIONS.
CLINTON