US embassy cable - 05ASUNCION1351

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASUNCION 001351 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA/BSC - DOUGLAS BARNES 
WHA/EX (HEINECK) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: HR, PA 
SUBJECT: PARAGUAY: POLOFFS KEY TO ADVANCING MPP OBJECIVES 
 
REF: 2007 MPP - ASUNCION 
 
1.  This is an Action Request.  See para. 6 
 
2.  Summary.  Post's Political Section is currently staffed 
by an 02 Polcouns and three 04 Poloffs.  The poloff slots 
have proven critical to advancing post's MPP Goals in the 
areas of Democracy, Counter Terrorism, and Combating 
Transnational Crime.  Post understands the Department does 
not/not plan to fill either of the two 04 Poloff slots that 
become vacant in Summer 2006 leaving the Political Section 
with just one 02 PolCouns position and one 04 Poloff.  This 
cut in staffing will significantly impact Post's ability to 
advance effectively the key MPP objectives noted above.  Post 
requests WHA concurrence and assistance for reinstating at 
least one of the two Poloff positions currently slated for 
elimination this coming Summer 2006. Post registered this 
request in its 2007 MPP submission.  End Summary. 
 
3.  Post's three 04 poloffs each assume an important role in 
advancing key MPP goals. 
 
-- The incumbent in the 04 Poloff position currently slated 
for rotation in 2007 is post's Human Rights and Democracy 
Officer.  This officer prepares post's contributions to the 
annual human rights, religious freedom, and TIP reports and 
advocates improvements as well as program support.  He 
monitors and reports on key human rights and democracy 
developments. With at least three elections scheduled for 
2006, he will lead the Embassy's extensive outreach efforts 
with Paraguay's electoral commission and key political 
leaders to shore up prospects for free, fair and transparent 
elections.  He works closely with Government officials to 
develop and implement projects to combat TIP.  He is a key 
Embassy liaison with civil society, party leaders, and 
government officials on human rights issues. 
 
-- The incumbent in one of the two 04 Poloff positions 
currently slated for elimination is dedicated to counter 
terror issues.  As Department is aware, we have reason to 
remain concerned about terrorist financing occurring in the 
Tri-Border Area (TBA) of Paraguay.  This officer monitors and 
reports on these issues, including by producing post's 
contribution to the annual Terrorism Report and the INSCR 
report on money laundering and advocates a more pro-active 
GOP response in addressing these concerns.  She maintains 
close contact with judges and prosecutors on cases involving 
money launderers/terrorist financiers counseling the front 
office on when to intercede to ensure the cases stay on track. 
 
-- The incumbent in the second of the two 04 Poloff slots 
currently slated for elimination is post's PolMil Officer. 
He liaises closely with post's DAO and ODC offices and 
appropriate Paraguayan counterparts in analyzing the 
political military situation in Paraguay and advocates 
respect for civilian authority over the military.  He has 
assumed the lead for post in reporting on peasant unrest in 
the countryside and, more importantly, has analyzed and 
reported on evidence of FARC involvement in the kidnapping 
and assassination of the daughter of a former Paraguayan 
President.  He maintains close contact with the political 
party led by imprisoned coup-plotter Lino Oviedo. 
 
4.  When post acquired in 2004 the two 04 poloff slots 
currently slated for elimination, responsibility for 
advancing post's counter terror objectives shifted from the 
ECON section to the POL section.  This shift in 
responsibilities has enabled the ECON section to dedicate 
greater attention to corruption issues affecting Paraguay's 
application for an MCA program, develop and monitor 
implementation of U.S. funded IPR projects, work closely with 
U.S. businesses in seeking prosecution of IPR violators, and 
analyze and report more extensively on significant economic 
developments.  Should the Political Section lose two of its 
04 poloff positions, post will need to consider seriously 
shifting lead responsibility for its counter terror 
objectives back to the ECON section but with the cost of 
compromising ECON section's ability to achieve some of the 
important objectives described above. 
 
5.  At a time when Democracy Promotion, Counter Terrorism, 
and Combating Transnational Crime head the U.S. foreign 
policy agenda, reducing the number of officers with an 
important responsibility for advancing post's efforts in 
these areas will undercut significantly our ability to be 
effective.  Retaining both 04 Poloff slots slated for 
elimination would be ideal.  If, however, the Department 
decided to reinstate only one of the those two slots, post 
would look at combining the most vital elements of those two 
officers' portfolios including counter terrorism 
responsibilities and reporting on concerns relating to FARC 
activities and possible unrest in the countryside. 
 
6.  Action Request:  Post requests WHA concurrence and 
assistance for reinstating at least one of the two 04 poloff 
positions currently slated for elimination this coming Summer 
2006. 
JOHNSON