US embassy cable - 05ASUNCION1019

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ASUNCION 001019 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA/BSC AND INL ABBY SMITH 
SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD DAN JOHNSON 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/09/2008 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, PREL, SNAR, KCRM, PA 
SUBJECT: PARAGUAY: ANTI-DRUG CAMPAIGN STIRS THE WATERS 
 
REF: ASUNCION 913 
 
Classified By: Ambassador John F. Keane, For reasons 1.5 (b) and (d). 
 
1.  (C) SUMMARY: With assistance from the Drug Enforcement 
Administration (DEA) and the DOD Military Information Support 
Team (MIST), Paraguay's National Anti-Drug Secretariat 
(SENAD) recently began using Wanted Posters and media spots 
in the newspapers and on radio to obtain leads on their Most 
Wanted Persons.  These advertisements have produced many 
calls and positive leads but have faced stiff resistance 
reprisals in Pedro Juan Caballero where drug traffickers 
exercise significant political influence.  On August 9, the 
Ambassador met with Carlos Bernal, Colombian Ambassador to 
Paraguay, to discuss this program and to rebut Bernal's 
objections to mention of a Revolutionary Armed Forces of 
Colombia (FARC) presence in Paraguay.  End Summary. 
 
2. (C) The MIST program assists the interagency information 
campaign to further the policies and objectives of the U.S. 
and Paraguay.  The MIST has three (3) core objectives: a) 
decrease the operational effectiveness of criminal and 
terrorist elements operating in country; b) increase the 
professionalism of Paraguayan Security Forces; and c) 
increase public trust in the GOP and its agencies.  Recently, 
the Director of Paraguay's Anti-Drug Secretariat Hugo Ibarra 
told the DCM the ad campaign had produced many calls and 
positive leads on their Most Wanted Persons.  He said the 
campaign has narcos hunkering down, possibly making them 
easier to capture. (reftel). 
 
3. (C) In the face of mounting pressure, the drug traffickers 
seek to obstruct the program, including through intimidation. 
 Between 3 Aug and 5 Aug, the locally-contracted billboard 
vendor in Pedro Juan Caballero, a city on Paraguay's northern 
border with Brazil that serves as epicenter for much of 
Paraguay's drug-related activity, reported three incidents 
that resulted in the suspension of all postings in the region 
until further notice. In each case, the contract employees or 
the land owners supporting implementation of the program 
received death threats.  In one incident, a land owner who 
had agreed to have a billboard posted on his property was 
repeatedly harassed and ultimately died of a heart attack 
after being confronted in person.  In another case, local 
government and law enforcement officials told a land owner 
that there would be retribution if the billboard was put up. 
The land owner allowed the vendor to post the billboards; the 
next morning, however, the images of the Wanted Persons were 
painted over with black paint. 
 
4. (C)  Recently, Ambassador Bernal of Colombia wrote to 
SENAD Chief Hugo Ibarra expressing his concern about the 
"stigma" the ad spots attached to Colombia with claims of a 
FARC presence in Paraguay.  In his meeting with the 
Ambassador on August 9, Bernal expressed concerns that the 
ads will contribute to a) distrust of Colombians in Paraguay, 
one of the few countries in the world where Colombians remain 
highly appreciated, b) the possible harassment of Colombians, 
or c) introduction of a visa requirement for Colombian 
travelers. 
 
5. (C)  In his response to Bernal, Ibarra identified the 
objectives of the MIST program and the importance of this 
operation to the security of Paraguay and the region.  He 
noted that many of the wanted traffickers in Paraguay are 
tied to the FARC as are those implicated in the Cecilia Cubas 
kidnapping. 
 
6. (C) During his August 9 meeting with Bernal, the 
Ambassador similarly identified some of the campaign 
priorities which include a) gaining information against drug 
traffickers, including specifically, many wanted Brazilian 
traffickers, b) sensitizing the public about drug traffickers 
in their midst and gaining public cooperation for the 
anti-narcotics efforts, and c) noting the FARC links to drug 
trafficking and other crimes in Paraguay.  Colombia itself 
had shared intelligence that spoke to FARC ties to 
traffickers in Paraguay as well as the Cubas kidnapping. 
Cultural activities that highlight Colombia's rich cultural 
heritage were the best way to counter negative perceptions 
about Colombia. 
 
7. (C) COMMENT: Bernal took the Ambassador's point on board 
and made clear he was not asking for the ads to be removed. 
The Ambassador believes that Colombia will not go any further 
in raising objections to the FARC radio ads.  The reaction of 
traffickers and attempts to intimidate those who cooperate 
with it show they are having an effect.  Seeking to build on 
increased seizures and the extradition of Mendes Mezquita, 
post will urge senior GOP authorities to publicly support 
anti-narcotics efforts, denounce attempts at intimidation in 
Pedro Juan Caballero, and declare that the efforts against 
these criminals will continue and intensify. 
KEANE