US embassy cable - 05SANTODOMINGO1453

UNCLAS SANTO DOMINGO 001453 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR WHA, WHA/CAR, WHA/EPSC, G/TIP, EB/TPP/BTA, 
EB/IFD/OMA; NSC FOR SHANNON AND MADISON;LABOR FOR ILAB; 
USCINCSO ALSO FOR POLAD; TREASURY FOR OASIA-LCARTER 
USDOC FOR 4322/ITA/MAC/WH/CARIBBEAN BASIN DIVISION 
USDOC FOR 3134/ITA/USFCS/RD/WH; DHS FOR CIS-CARLOS ITURREGUI 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, EFIN, ETRD, PHUM, KCRM, PREL, DR, CI 
SUBJECT: DOMINICAN CONGRESSIONAL BLUSTER LIKELY TO BE 
SHORT-LIVED 
 
REF: A. SANTO DOMINGO 1026 (NOTAL) 
 
     B. SANTO DOMINGO 1293 (NOTAL) 
 
1. (U) The opposition PRD in the Dominican congress has held 
up legislative business all this week out of professed 
indignation against the administration, but President 
Fernandez is likely to calm them down once he gets back this 
weekend.  A clumsy raid on the offices of former Agriculture 
Minister Eligio Jaquez ignited the confrontation.  The 
Attorney General's office cancelled its summons of Jaquez for 
interrogation on allegations of political patronage. 
 
2.  (U) Tension between the opposition-controlled Congress 
and President Fernandez  flared up again, repeating a the 
standoff in late February that delayed consideration of 
authorizing legislation for bonds in connection with the IMF 
standby program (Ref A).  On March 9, the opposition PRD 
congressional representatives, nearly half of the membership, 
boycotted sessions to protest a raid on the private office of 
former agriculture minister Eligio Jaquez, connected to 
allegations of misuse of public funds to finance a 
greenhouses.  They called the search a "political action" and 
an "outrage" and threatened to suspend sessions "until the 
government returns to legality."  The search of the office of 
a former under secretary of the environment added to their 
irritation. 
 
3. (U) On March 10, PRD senators (29 of the 32 members of 
that body) announced they would block approval of three bills 
pending in the Senate to authorize issuance of bonds worth RD 
8.282 billion (USD 287 million) "unless the government ceases 
judicial persecution" of PRD leaders.  PLD Secretary General 
Reinaldo Pared Perez denounced the PRD's "vulgar blackmail." 
Presidential Legal Adviser Cesar Pino Toribio said the 
searches were conducted properly under judicial orders. 
 
4. (SBU) The deadlock will probably be short-lived.  House of 
Representatives President Alfredo Pacheco told the DCM  late 
on March 10 that his chamber would convene for its next 
regular session on Tuesday, March 15, to examine the bond 
issue and to form a bicameral committee on CAFTA 
ratification.  Pacheco also said there was overwhelming 
sentiment in the House to strip convicted alien smuggler 
Congressman Radhames Ramos Garcia (PRD) of his immunity so he 
could serve his 18-month prison sentence immediately. 
Pacheco commented that the boycott was a political gesture, 
"something that occurs from time to time." 
 
HERTELL