US embassy cable - 05ASUNCION416

C O N F I D E N T I A L ASUNCION 000416 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR A/S NORIEGA AND PDAS DERHAM 
STATE PASS TO USAID LAC/AA 
NSC FOR KIMBERLY BREIER 
SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD DAN JOHNSON 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/28/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PHUM, PTER, KCRM, CO, PA 
SUBJECT: PARAGUAY PETITIONS UNCHR FOR INTERNATIONAL 
ASSISTANCE WITH KIDNAPPINGS 
 
REF: A. ASUNCION 00403 
 
     B. ASUNCION 00364 
     C. ASUNCION 00307 
     D. ASUNCION 00250 AND PRECEDING 
 
Classified By: DCM Kevin M. Johnson, reason 1.4(d). 
 
1. (U) On March 17, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Jose 
Martinez called on the members of the United Nations 
Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) meeting in Geneva to 
assist the GOP in prosecuting and punishing criminals 
responsible for kidnappings, such as in the recent case of 
former Paraguayan President Raul Cubas' daughter, Cecilia 
Cubas (ref D).  According to press reports, Martinez told the 
UNCHR that the GOP is doing everything within its power to 
investigate the Cubas case, and to respect suspects' 
constitutional guarantees of due process, but that it is in 
need of additional cooperation from the international 
community. 
 
2. (U) Comment: The Cubas case seized the country, 
particularly following revelations of ties between the 
kidnappers and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia 
(FARC).  The eventual discovery of Cubas' body in 
mid-February led to public outrage and calls for greater 
security.  In response, the GOP deployed the military to the 
countryside in search of radical leftists implicated in the 
crime (ref C).  The deployment raised concern among some 
human rights groups, but did not lead to any known human 
rights violations.  Since then, the GOP has developed a new 
internal security plan (ref B) and engaged the Government of 
Colombia (GOC) and others in discussions about bilateral 
security cooperation and assistance (ref A).  On March 22, 
the GOP announced that it will ask the GOC to send eight 
anti-kidnapping experts to Paraguay to train Paraguayan 
police, prosecutors and military personnel in the areas of 
prevention, operations, intelligence and hostage rescue. 
 
3. (C) Comment Continued: On March 18, Paraguayan Ambassador 
James Spalding told A/S Noriega that the GOP will require 
around USD 70 million in international assistance to 
implement its internal security plan.  The GOP's diplomatic 
full-court press, in both bilateral and multilateral 
settings, signals the importance President Duarte places on 
the issue, perhaps for his own political agenda as much as 
for the security of his country's citizens.  End Comment. 
KEANE