US embassy cable - 05ASUNCION1150

UNCLAS ASUNCION 001150 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA/BSC 
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR LAC/AA 
NSC FOR SUE CRONIN 
TREASURY FOR OSIA MAUREEN WAFER 
TREASURY FOR OTA WARFIELD, VAN KOCH, MILLAR 
SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD DAN JOHNSON 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID, PGOV, PREL, KJUS, PA 
SUBJECT: PARAGUAY: BRIEFING PARAGUAY'S NEW AG ON U.S. 
PRIORITIES AND ASSISTANCE 
 
 
1. SUMMARY: ON SEPTEMBER 8TH, THE DCM, USAID/PARAGUAY 
DIRECTOR AND USAID DEMOCRACY OFFICER MET WITH THE NEW 
ATTORNEY GENERAL, DR. RUBEN CANDIA AMARILLA, TO DISCUSS USG 
PRIORITIES ON MONEY LAUNDERING AND COUNTER TERRORISM 
LEGISLATION AND PENAL CODE REFORM AS WELL AS TECHNICAL 
ASSISTANCE BEING PROVIDED BY USAID. 
 
2. THE DCM STRESSED BROAD USG PRIORITIES, INCLUDING SUPPORT 
FOR MONEY LAUNDERING LEGISLATION IN CONGRESS, REFORM OF THE 
PENAL PROCEDURES CODE CURRENTLY BEING DISCUSSED IN A SPECIAL 
COMMISSION IN CONGRESS, AND THE NEED TO SUPPORT COUNTER 
TERRORISM LEGISLATION IN THE NEAR FUTURE.  THE DCM EMPHASIZED 
THAT THE PUBLIC MINISTRY CAN BETTER (COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS 
ATTORNEY GENERAL) UTILIZE EXISTING CAPACITIES DEVELOPED IN 
SEPRELAD AND SENAD TO PROSECUTE DRUG TRAFFICKING AND MONEY 
LAUNDERING CASES.  NEW SPECIALIZED, US-SUPPORTED 
INVESTIGATIVE UNITS IN THE TAX OFFICE, TREASURY MINISTRY, AND 
CUSTOMS ALSO OFFER EXCELLENT TOOLS FOR THE AG, AND CAN 
ENCOURAGE HIM TO IMPROVE THEIR UTILIZATION. 
 
3. THE NEW ATTORNEY GENERAL APPEARS TO BE TAKING A HANDS-ON 
APPROACH AS PART OF HIS MANAGEMENT STYLE.  HE EXPRESSED HIS 
SUPPORT TO CONTINUE WITH A PROGRAM STARTED BY THE PREVIOUS 
ATTORNEY GENERAL LOCATING PROSECUTORS IN HIGH CRIME 
NEIGHBORHOODS.  HE STATED THAT HE WANTS PROSECUTORS TO 
IMPROVE THEIR RELATIONS WITH THE PUBLIC AND BETTER SERVE THE 
PEOPLE.  HE ASKED FOR ASSISTANCE IN HOSTING MEETINGS WITH ALL 
PROSECUTORS IN A SERIES OF WORKSHOPS AND ALSO WANTS TO 
INITIATE REGULAR PUBLIC HEARINGS WITH LAWYERS, PROSECUTORS 
AND JUDGES.  NOTING THAT MANY OF THESE ACTIVITIES MAY SOUND 
"POPULIST" HE SAID HE WAS AFTER BETTER ACCOUNTABILITY.  HE 
ALSO EXPRESSED THE NEED FOR THE PUBLIC MINISTRY TO IMPROVE 
COORDINATION WITH OTHER GOVERNMENT OFFICES, EMPHASIZING THE 
POLICE AND THE MILITARY.  THE ATTORNEY GENERAL DID VOICE HIS 
SUPPORT FOR USG PRIORITIES AND USAID TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, 
STATING THAT WE SHOULD CONTACT HIM DIRECTLY REGARDING THESE 
ISSUES. 
 
4. USAID PROVIDED AN OVERVIEW OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE BEING 
PROVIDED TO THE PUBLIC MINISTRY, INCLUDING UNDER THE 
MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE ACCOUNT THRESHOLD COUNTRY PROGRAM (TCP) 
SUPPORT TO THE ECONOMIC CRIMES UNIT AND ANTI-CORRUPTION UNIT 
AND, PROVIDING TECHNICAL SUPPORT STAFF TO HELP REFORM THE 
PENAL PROCEDURES CODE. 
 
5. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR FORMING A 
PROFESSIONAL INVESTIGATIVE BODY AND ESTABLISHING A NEW 
LABORATORY TO ADDRESS CORRUPTION CASES AS PART OF THE TCP. 
THIS IS OF SIGNIFICANCE BECAUSE A DAY EARLIER HE DISBANDED 
THE ONLY INVESTIGATIVE UNIT IN THE PUBLIC MINISTRY, THE 
JUDICIAL INVESTIGATIVE CENTER, WHICH HE STATED WAS 
DISCREDITED DUE TO CORRUPTION.  THE ATTORNEY GENERAL 
EXPRESSED INTEREST IN IMPROVING INTERNAL CONTROLS OVER 
PROSECUTORS AND CIVIL SERVANTS IN THE THROUGH THE TCP. 
 
6. HE AGREED TO CONTINUE WITH HIS PREDECESSOR'S UNIFICATION 
OF THE ECONOMIC CRIMES UNIT, CURRENTLY LOCATED IN TWO 
SEPARATE BUILDINGS, AND THE NEWLY ESTABLISHED ANTI-CORRUPTION 
UNIT.  THIS WILL IMPROVE THE EFFICIENCY OF THE UNITS, 
FACILITATE SUPPORT FOR IMPLEMENTING A CASE TRACKING SYSTEMS, 
AND IMPROVE COORDINATION WITH OTHER GOVERNMENT ENTITIES SUCH 
AS SEPRELAD. 
 
7. FINALLY, HE AGREED TO SIGN AN AGREEMENT TO IMPROVE 
COORDINATION WITH THE CONTROLLER GENERAL'S OFFICE ON 
CORRUPTION CASES.  APPROXIMATELY HALF OF ALL ALLEGED 
CORRUPTION CASES RECEIVED BY THE PUBLIC MINISTRY COME FROM 
THE CONTROLLER GENERAL'S OFFICE.  IMPROVING THE COORDINATION 
BETWEEN THE TWO ENTITIES COULD SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE THE 
PUBLIC MINISTRY'S EFFECTIVENESS IN PROSECUTING CORRUPTION 
CASES. 
 
8. COMMENT: THE DCM AND USAID REPRESENTATIVES RECEIVED BROAD 
SUPPORT BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR USG PRIORITIES AND 
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.  FOLLOWING EARLIER SESSIONS BY THE AG 
WITH DEA AND DOJ REPS, THIS SESSION GOT OUT OUR KEY 
OBJECTIVES AND WAYS WE CAN HELP.  THE AG DENIED RUMORS HE 
WOULD EMPLOY A QUESTIONABLE RETIRED POLICE OFFICER AND 
WELCOMED CLOSE COOPERATION WITH THE EMBASSY.  POSTS 
COORDINATED ASSISTANCE TO CANDIA AS HE LEARNS THE ROPES WILL 
SEEK TO CONSOLIDATE SUPPORT FOR MAJOR U.S. GOALS AND DEVELOP 
A KEY ALLY.  END. 
KEANE