US embassy cable - 04BUENOSAIRES2320

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUENOS AIRES 002320 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR STATE WHA/BSC, WHA/EPSC 
PASS NSC FOR TOM SHANNON, MIKE DEMPSEY 
PASS USTR FOR SUE CRONIN 
USCINCSO FOR POLAD 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/11/2014 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, AR 
SUBJECT: NEW SECURITY MINISTER STAYS THE COURSE, MOSTLY 
 
REF: BUENOS AIRES 02152 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Lino Gutierrez for reason 1.4 (B) AND (D). 
 
1.  (C) SUMMARY:  Less than two weeks after assuming office, 
Justice Minister Horacio Daniel Rosatti presented four 
domestic security initiatives to the Senate initially 
proposed by his predecessor Gustavo Beliz, indicating that 
the recent change in leadership at the Ministry will not 
affect the GOA's general security strategy.  Rosatti chose to 
put forward four of the less controversial elements of his 
predecessor's more sweeping security package, avoiding for 
the moment more problematic issues, such as lowering the 
minimum age for prosecution and judicial reforms opposed by 
members of the Federal Judiciary.  END SUMMARY. 
 
 
2. (C) On August 4, the new Justice and Security Minister, 
Horacio Daniel Rosatti, pushed forward in the Senate elements 
of the former Justice Minister Beliz's high profile security 
plan.  Security remains a hot button issue with voters, and 
President Kirchner and his new justice team will continue to 
push the agenda forward, however, in a more cautious manner 
than Rosatti's predecessor.  With the dismissal of Beliz, 
there was a great deal of speculation that the GOA would 
scrap all or a majority of the sweeping security reform 
program.  Beliz had presented the bill to Congress under 
pressure from anti-crime activists and mass protests led by 
Juan Carlos Blumberg, the father of a victim in a high 
profile kidnap/murder case that has galvanized the Argentine 
society on the issue of security. 
 
3. (C) Soon after taking office Rosatti intimated in the 
media that he would examine each part of the proposed 
legislation, causing a great deal of rumor regarding the 
possibility of a major shift in the GOA's security strategy. 
The following day the GOA held a press conference emphasizing 
that President Kirchner had changed Justice Ministers, but 
not his commitment or focus on the proposed security reforms. 
 The passing of four parts of the old security plan by the 
Senate sends a clear message that the GOA has not drastically 
changed its policy. 
 
4. (C) The security initiatives passed by the Senate allow 
changes in the legal code to:  authorize authorities to 
reduce sentences for all types of crimes for individuals who 
assist in investigations; increase the maximum sentence for 
embezzlement convictions from two to six years; provide 
prosecutors with increased flexibility to void minor or petty 
criminal cases without prosecution; and, to restrict parole 
for convicts where there is a fear the person may become a 
repeat offender.  As with other recent legislative 
initiatives, the Kirchner Administration brought the 
initiatives up for a vote in the Senate before presenting 
them in the more contentious Lower House.  The initiatives 
were among the more non-controversial items included in the 
old security package, and received wide support among both 
Peronist and Radical Senators.  Many other more contentious 
issues dealing with a wide range of issues including the 
lowering of the age for prosecution and limiting the power of 
federal judges remain on hold.   There is, as yet, no 
indication when the Administration plans to move these 
initiatives forward in the Lower House. 
 
3. (C) COMMENT:  Per reftel, Post views Kirchner's decision 
to replace Beliz as not related to the former Minister's 
vision or work in the area of security reform, but as a 
result of a growing personality conflict between the two 
individuals.  In choosing to pursue the initiatives 
individually, as opposed to as a part of a giant security 
reform package, Rosatti has changed the tactics but not the 
direction of the Ministry.  It is unclear when or if Rossatti 
will pursue the more contentious provisions of the Beliz plan 
such as those dealing with limiting the authority of Federal 
Prosecutors and Judges.  Post does not believe the change in 
personnel will greatly alter the GOA's domestic security 
objectives, or post's ability to work effectively with the 
Justice Ministry.  END COMMENT. 
GUTIERREZ