US embassy cable - 04SANTODOMINGO1963

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SANTO DOMINGO 001963 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR WHA, WHA/CAR, WHA/PPC, AND DRL 
NSC FOR SHANNON AND MADISON 
LABOR FOR ILAB 
TREASURY FOR OASIA-LAMONICA 
USDOC FOR 4322/ITA/MAC/WH/CARIBBEAN BASIN DIVISION 
USDOC FOR 3134/ITA/USFCS/RD/WH 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, MARR, ASEC, DR 
SUBJECT: DOMINICAN ELECTIONS #31: ARMED FORCES TO PROVIDE 
SECURITY 
 
 
1. (U) This is number 31 in our series on the Dominican 
presidential election: 
 
 ARMED FORCES TO PROVIDE SECURITY FOR ELECTIONS 
 
(SBU) The Dominican military leadership has assured us the 
military will be on "model" nonpolitical behavior during the 
election and previewed preparations for providing security to 
the May 16 election. On March 22 in separate meetings State 
Secretary of the Armed Forces LTG Jose Miguel Soto Jimenez 
 
SIPDIS 
and Deputy J-2 BG Clase told us the newly constituted 
Electoral Police (Policia Electoral) will consist of some 
7,000 military personnel from the three services and a larger 
number of National Police (PN), with a probable combined 
strength of 40,000-42,000.  This will be higher than the 
37,000 deployed in the 2002 legislative/municipal election 
because the number of voting tables (colegios electorales) 
has increased. 
 
(SBU) President Mejia has given command to Army MG Elvio 
Guerrero Reyes. He and his command will come under the 
control of Central Election Board (JCE) president Luis Arias 
from 24 hours before the election until several days 
afterward (or until the JCE has resolved any disputes about 
election returns).  On March 25 the military begin a week of 
training of military and police officers who will in turn 
train their units. The training operation is scheduled to be 
complete by early May. 
 
(U) Electoral Police will wear distinctive armbands issued by 
the JCE.  In general, two will be assigned to each voting 
table, though in locations where many tables share a 
location, a single guard will stand at each table, with 
others in the building on call if needed.  The Electoral 
Police will guard JCE headquarters, regional facilities, the 
134 municipal election boards where returns will be compiled 
and entered into the JCE computer system, and data 
transmission systems between the municipalities and the Santo 
Domingo headquarters. 
 
(SBU) Military escorts will accompany movements of election 
materials and personnel between the municipal boards and the 
approximately 12,300 voting tables as well as between the 
muncipalities and Santo Domingo. To assuring safe transit the 
entire Armed Forces will be made available to the JCE as 
needed, including land vehicles and aircraft.  Soto said he 
might use light observation helicopters to transport ballots 
to and from remote areas (in our view, not such a good idea, 
given the tight seating in these helicopters). The JCE will 
have priority access to the GODR motor pool on and around 
election day. (One possible benefit: this could hinder 
government officials from using official vehicles to get 
transport voters.) 
 
(SBU) Soto assured us that the Armed Forces would play "as 
impartial a role as possible" in the election process. He 
says hee intends their behavior to be "a model for the 
region."  He said he would propose two measures to the 
President in this regard: 
 
-- that the Armed Forces be confined to their garrisons for 
one week prior to election day to prevent military personnel 
from participating in political marches or rallies and that 
all personnel be required to have short haircuts, so they 
would be easy to spot in any rallies, even if they are in 
mufti; and 
 
-- that officers due for retirement but still on active duty 
for prestige reasons be immediately reassigned to reserve 
status (many are active in partisan politics). 
(SBU) Soto said President Mejia had instructed him to allow 
the DATT free access to the military so as to confirm the 
forces'  political neutrality.  We are following up on that 
invitation. 
 
2. (U) Drafted by Bainbridge Cowell. 
 
3. (U)  This report and others in this series can be read on 
the SIPRNET at 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/santodomingo/ index.cfm along 
with extensive other current material. 
HERTELL