US embassy cable - 05SANTIAGO100

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SANTIAGO 000100 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/10/2015 
TAGS: SNAR, PTER, PHUM, PREL, CI 
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR EXPLORES LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENDA WITH GOC 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Craig Kelly for reason 1.4(b) and (d). 
 
1. (C) Summary:  The Ambassador explored post's law 
enforcement agenda with Chile's Head of Intelligence and 
Chiefs of the uniformed police force and investigative police 
force on January 6.  GOC authorities maintained that 
terrorist activity, including terrorism financing, is hard to 
confirm in Chile, and investigations continue.  The Director 
of the new Chilean National Intelligence Agency (ANI) 
emphasized that the agency would function only as an 
analytical center.  The GOC reps left the door open for an 
on-call international peacekeeping force.  Regional police 
cooperation remains limited.  The Chief of National Police, 
whose forces are on the ground in Haiti, does not see the 
situation there improving. The police offered to provide 
protection for further post inquiries into the Weisfeiler 
case.  End Summary. 
 
2. (C) Ambassador Kelly hosted a lunch for Gustavo 
Villalobos, Director of the National Intelligence Agency 
(ANI), General Alberto Cienfuegos of Carabineros (uniformed 
police) and Chief Arturo Herrera of PICH, the investigative 
police force.  Accompanying the Ambassador were the Legal 
Attache, DEA, RAO, RSO and EPOL.  Although the event was 
ostensibly a "thank-you" for assistance provided to the U.S. 
during the recent APEC summit in Santiago, the Ambassador 
used the gathering to explore a range of issues on post's law 
enforcement agenda. 
 
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New Intel Organization Focused on Analysis, not Ops 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
3.  (C) Villalobos described ANI as an intelligence 
coordinating agency providing analytical support to the 
President of Chile, somewhat similar to the NSC.  He was 
careful to note the organization does not conduct 
intelligence operations.  Representatives from the 
Carabineros (uniformed police) and PICH (investigative 
police) staff ANI on special detail assignments.  Responding 
to Cienfuegos' question regarding ANI's role in military 
intelligence, Villalobos remarked that a clear separation 
exists between the two.  (Comment: Villalobos seemed careful 
not to create expectations for ANI, particularly on the 
operations side.  At the same time, ANI and the USG are 
collaborating on some investigation activities. 
Significantly, ANI is the first GOC agency to incorporate 
elements of both PICH and Carabineros, whose relationship 
tends to be more competitive than cooperative.  End Comment). 
 
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OAS Convention is for Prosecutors 
--------------------------------- 
 
4.  (C) Villalobos noted that the OAS Convention on Legal 
Cooperation is a law enforcement tool, and not relevant to 
the work of ANI.  In regard to intelligence work, the 
Convention is not repeat not a mechanism to exchange judicial 
information, nor as a framework for bilateral legal 
cooperation.  He added that the GOC would likely support the 
use of the Convention, but that his organization was not part 
of the process.  (Comment: Post will explore the appropriate 
applicability and usefulness of the Convention further with 
the MFA Legal Advisor.  End Comment.) 
 
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Carabineros Downbeat on Haiti 
----------------------------- 
 
5. (C) 30 Carabineros and 2 PICH officers make up the Chilean 
peacekeeping force in Haiti.  Carabineros Chief Cienfuegos 
talked at length of his recent visit to Haiti, noting 
pessimistically that the situation seemed grave and unlikely 
to improve.  Haiti seemed chronically poor, and internal 
friction among Haitians and with aid organizations 
contributed to the country's dismal prospects.  Post officers 
floated the idea of establishing a permanent, on-call 
peacekeeping force, noting that Brazil had recently been 
asked by the EU to do the same.  Cienfuegos appeared open to 
the possibility, commenting that joining Brazil would be 
interesting. 
 
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Regional Police Cooperation Continues 
------------------------------------- 
 
6.  (C) Cienfuegos said that carabineros cooperate with 
counterparts in neighboring countries, and that good 
police-to-police relations existed.  At times, however, the 
politics of individual countries created friction, and he 
cited Bolivia as one example.  Villalobos added that the GOC 
works with Peru on specific cases, but that the relationship 
is not very close.  DEA head discussed the USG-funded officer 
exchange programs, noting that no matter what the political 
situation, the police forces worked better together as a 
result.  He cited Bolivia and Peru as examples.  Cienfuegos 
agreed that this type of "go-between" programs works well. 
 
7.  (C) Post officers suggested the idea of establishing a 
multi-agency task force to conduct joint operations and 
investigations, citing the El Paso Intelligence Center (EPIC) 
and the USG newly created counter-terrorism center as models 
of how to make better use of intelligence. Villalobos warned 
of the difficulty of integrating different types of 
information and security services.  (Comment: DEA had 
previously suggested the idea of a multi-agency task force 
separately to Villalobos and Herrera.  Suggesting this idea 
during lunch was an effort to test the waters with 
Cienfuegos, who did not specifically respond, as well as 
openly bring up the task force concept to all three law 
enforcement chiefs.  End Comment.) 
 
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GOC Sees No Terrorist Activity in Chile 
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8. (C) Cienfuegos said that international terrorism does not 
exist in Chile, and that only local terrorists acted up 
occasionally.  Villalobos pointed out that no armed groups 
operate in Chile.  While the GOC continues to participate in 
3 1 meetings on the Tri-Border area, Villalobos noted that he 
had no hard confirmation of terrorist financing or other 
activity occurring in Iquique (a city in northern Chile with 
a significant population of Pakistanis and Lebanese).  At the 
same time, Villalobos acknowledged that money from car sales 
or contraband in Iquique is being sent to unknown recipients, 
but noted that the prosecution of these individuals is 
difficult.  Cienfuegos opined that criminal cases of 
terrorism and particularly terrorist financing are not as 
easy to prove as drug cases.  (Comment: The current judicial 
architecture in Chile is not conducive to conducting 
long-term intelligence investigations without clear evidence 
or indications of a crime.  The judicial architecture is 
strong with respect to counter-narcotics investigations, 
enjoying relatively robust omnibus counter-narcotics laws 
that facilitate investigations.  End Comment.) 
 
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Judges Reluctant to Pursue Terrorism Cases 
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9.  (C) Villalobos pointed out that judges have not 
traditionally prosecuted counter-terrorism cases.  However, 
in the new judicial reform system, prosecutors, particularly 
those who are younger and have a global perspective, may be 
more willing to do so.  Cienfuegos noted it will take time 
for judges to understand the reform. 
 
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Suggestions on the Weisfeiler Case 
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10.  (C) The Ambassador noted that the USG maintains on-going 
interest in resolving the Weisfeiler case.  Cienfuegos agreed 
to provide protection from the Carabineros for a consular 
officer to visit La Colonia Dignidad, a colony of German 
expatriates in southern Chile.  He added that the Carabineros 
have access to the colony, but requested post to speak with 
the German Ambassador prior to a visit.  Cienfuegos asked if 
post had interviewed Manuel Contreras, former head of intel 
and founder of the now dissolved DINA organization (secret 
police), and suggested now may be a good time to speak with 
him.  Cienfuegos also encouraged continued embassy 
discussions with Judge Solis of the appellate court. 
KELLY