US embassy cable - 05ASUNCION1457

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASUNCION 001457 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EB/IFD/OIA 
STATE FOR G/TIP (ANTHONY ETERNO) 
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR LAC/AA 
STATE PASS TO USTR FOR LYANG 
NSC FOR SUE CRONIN 
TREASURY FOR OSIA MAUREEN WAFER 
TREASURY FOR OTA WARFIELD, VAN KOCH, MILLAR 
COMMERCE FOR ITA SARAH COOK 
SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD BARBARA MOORE 
NAIROBI FOR MICHAEL FITZPATRICK 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, PREL, ECON, SMIG, PA 
SUBJECT: PARAGUAY POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC UPDATE, NOV. 20 - 
26 
 
REF: A. ASUNCION 1144 
 
     B. ASUNCION 883 
 
1. (U) SUMMARY: 
-- Just Can't Sniff Enough 
-- Impeachment Talk 
-- TIP Conviction Upheld 
-- Truth, Justice and the Stroessner Era 
 
----------------------- 
Just Can't Sniff Enough 
----------------------- 
 
2. (U) On 11/20, Agents from the National Antinarcotics 
Secretariat (SENAD), with the assistance of INL-funded canine 
 
SIPDIS 
dogs, apprehended Joaquin Emilio Taborda Pavon, a Colombian 
citizen, in the Silvio Pettirossi airport and seized 3.188 
kilograms (kg) of cocaine worth approximately USD 22,688. 
Luis Rojas, Chief of the Antinarcotics Operation Directorate 
(DOA), said the drugs were in Pavon's double-bottomed hand 
luggage, which had been sprayed with dog repellent. 
Apparently, this repellent prevented other canine units and 
airport officials in Colombia and Buenos Aires, Argentina 
from detecting the drugs.  Pavon's final destination was 
Santiago, Chile. 
 
---------------- 
Impeachment Talk 
---------------- 
 
3. (U) On 11/19, the Beloved Fatherland Party (PPQ) released 
a statement indicating that they will promote the impeachment 
of President Duarte, if he registers as a presidential 
candidate for the ANR-Colorado Party internal elections.  The 
statement stated that Duarte would be in violation of Article 
237 of the Constitution, which prohibits the Chief Executive 
from holding public or private office during his tenure as 
President of the country.  On 11/23, Senators Miguel Abdon 
Saguier of the Authentic Radical Liberal Party (PLRA), Miguel 
Carrizosa of the Beloved Fatherland Party (PPQ), and Enrique 
Gonzalez Quintana of the National Union of Ethical Citizens 
(UNACE) submitted a draft declaration aimed at the 
possibility of impeaching President Duarte for carrying out a 
political campaign to become ANR president in the party's 
upcoming internal elections. (NOTE: Duarte announced his 
intention to run for the ANR presidency on 9/7. Duarte has 
not officially registered his candidacy as of the submission 
of this report. End Note.)  COMMENT While this motion would 
have symbolic import, it has no chance of being passed as it 
lacks the 2/3 support it needs in both Houses of Congress. 
End Comment. (ref A) 
 
--------------------- 
TIP Conviction Upheld 
--------------------- 
 
4. (U) On 11/23, the Supreme Court's Penal Court upheld the 
convictions of Raul Antonio Maidana Duarte and Mario Ramon 
Gonzalez Caceres for their involvement in the trafficking 
case of Lurde Resquin to Spain.  The conviction was 
overturned in April 2005 by a vote of 2-1 on the grounds that 
the defendants should be tried in Spain where the trafficked 
woman suffered the ultimate effects of the crime. NOTE: Over 
the past several months, the DCM and PolCouns engaged Supreme 
Court Ministers Antonio Fretes and Alicia Pucheta, stressing 
the importance of this case as a precedent.  Both signaled 
they appreciated the significance of this case.  Pucheta made 
a point of calling the CDA to inform the Embassy of the 
Court's decision to overturn the appelate court decision. End 
Note. (ref B) 
 
------------------------------------- 
Truth, Justice and the Stroessner Era 
------------------------------------- 
 
5. (U) The Truth and Justice Commission convened a three-day 
symposium about the abuses of the state during the Stroessner 
era and the need for justice for the victims, their families 
and the country.  The symposium included panel discussion 
sessions with the sole purpose of generating more public 
support for the Commission's  work on behalf of victims. 
Co-sponsors of the sysmposium included the Celestina Perez de 
Almada Foundation and the Committee of Churches for Emergency 
Assistance (CIPAE). International experts from organizations 
such as DIAKONIA, the Human Rights International Institute, 
Fundacion IDEA, UNESCO, the International Center of 
Transitional Justice, and government officials from Chile, 
Argentina and Costa Rica were also in attendance. NOTE: The 
symposium took place in the midst of Stroessner's grandson, 
Alfredo "Goli" Stroessner's run for the ANR-Colorado Party 
Junta leadership. 
JOHNSON