UNCLASSIFIED 4 Ell CONFIDENTIAL PT06708 RELEASED IN FULL PAGE 01 STATE 136961 162244Z ORIGIN WHA-00 INFO LOG-00 TEDE-00 SSO-00 SS-00 SAS-00 OOOR 136961 SOURCE KODAKA 016168 DRAFTED BY WHA MEX DVALDERRAMA MM -- 07 16 02 202-647-8529 APPROVED BY WHA MEX DVALDERRAMA WHA MEX DVALDERRAMA ------------------CC21A3 162245Z 38 O 1622402 JUL 02 FM SECSTATE WASHDC TO AMEMBASSY MEXICO IMMEDIATE C O N F ID E N T I A L STATE 136961 OFFICIAL INFORMAL E O 12958 DECL 07 16 07 TAGS AMGT MX SUBJECT OFFICIAL INFORMAL WHA ASDAR OF JULY 12 AND 15 2002 CLASSIFIED BY JOHN R DAWSON DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF MEXICAN AFFAIRS REASON 1 5 D THE FOLLOWING TEXT IS TAKEN FROM THE WHA MEX ASDAR OF JULY 12 2002 U VIOLENCE FOLLOWS DECISION TO AGAIN ANNUL JUAREZ ELECTION FIGHTING BROKE OUT JULY 11 BETWEEN PRI AND PAN CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 STATE 136961 162244Z LOYALISTS OUTSIDE THE CIUDAD JUAREZ MAYOR'S OFFICE 'STICKS PIPES AND CHAIRS ARE SAID TO HAVE FILLED THE AIR AN ANTI-RIOT UNIT COMPRISING POLICE AND FIRE UNITS WAS SENT IN TO STOP THE BRAWL WATER CANNONS AND TEAR GAS WERE USED FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER IN JUAREZ THE PROXIMATE CAUSE WERE PAN EFFORTS TO STOP THEIR TRICOLOR RIVALS FROM SETTING UP TENTS ALONGSIDE THOSE PAN ERECTED FOLLOWING A JULY 6 STATE ELECTORAL TRIBUNAL DECISION ANNULLING RESULTS OF MAY 12 MAYORAL BALLOTING THE PAN HAD EARLIER SAID IT WOULD APPEAL THE STATE TRIBUNAL DECISION TO THE FEDERAL TRIBUNAL PRI NOW APPEARS INTENT ON FOLLOWING SUIT UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE REVIEW AUTHORITY NORMAN M BOUTON DATE CASE ID 15 SEP 2006 200604055 UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED INASMUCH AS THE STATE RULED IN ITS FAVOR ON ONLY 5 OF 43 COMPLAINTS IF THE FEDERAL TRIBUNAL FAILS TO REACH A DECISION BY JULY 27 - THE DATE SUPPOSED TWO-TIME WINNER MAYORAL WINNER JESUS DELGADO WAS SCHEDULED TO TAKE OFFICE - THE STATE LEGISLATURE WILL LIKELY NAME ANEW INTERIM MAYOR TO HOLD OFFICE UNTIL REGULARLY SCHEDULED ELECTIONS ARE HELD IN 2004 VALDERRAMA CIUDAD JUAREZ 9282 AND 9125 THE FOLLOWING TEXT IS TAKEN FROM THE WHA MEX ASDAR OF JULY 15 2002 C ECHEVERRIA TESTIFIES FORMER PRESIDENT LUIS ECHEVERRIA APPEARED FOR A SECOND TIME JULY 9 BEFORE SPECIAL PROSECUTOR IGNACIO CARRILLO TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS ROLE IN THE JUEVES DE CORPUS KILLINGS OF JUNE 10 1971 ECHEVERRIA REPEATED HIS JULY 2 SILENT ACT RESPONSE TO THE 159 QUESTIONS CARRILLO PUT TO HIM BUT CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 STATE 136961 162244Z EXITED THROUGH THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING TO JEERS FROM PROTESTORS AND JOURNALISTS ECHEVERRIA LATER TOOK QUESTIONS AT HOME FROM THE PRESS HE NAMED FORMER PRESIDENT DIAZ ORDAZ AS THE INDIVIDUAL PARTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OCTOBER 1968 TLATELOLCO MASSACRE AND DF MAYOR ALFONSO MARTINEZ DOMINGUEZ FOR THE EVENTS OF JUEVES DE CORPUS HE DENIED ANY PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES WHILE SECRETARY OF GOVERNMENT TO DIAZ ORDAZ AND AS PRESIDENT IN HIS OWN RIGHT MARTINEZ DOMINGUEZ IS SCHEDULED TO TESTIFY JULY 17 AND IS EXPECTED TO RETURN THE FAVOR BY FINGERING ECHEVERRIA WHILE THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS ON CRIMES WHICH TOOK PLACE DURING MEXICO'S DIRTY WAR HAS LIKELY EXPIRED THE IMAGE OF A FORMER MEXICAN PRESIDENT BEING HAULED IN TO TESTIFY AND BEING PUBLICLY SCORNED HAVE HAD A MARKED EFFECT ON SOCIETY ECHEVERRIA'S MEETING WITH CARRILLO REPRESENTS AN IMPORTANT TACTICAL VICTORY FOR PRESIDENT FOX IN EFFORTS TO END THE IMPUNITY MEXICO'S FORMER PRI RULERS CUSTOMARILY ENJOYED AND INSTITUTIONALIZE THE RULE OF LAW VALDERRAMA MEXICO CITY 5529 U TEXCOCO AIRPORT STANDOFF ENDS A FOUR-DAY STANDOFF BETWEEN POLICE AND RESIDENTS OF TEXCOCO AND SAN SALVADOR ATENCO STATE OF MEXICO PROTESTING CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW MEXICO CITY AIRPORT ON COMMUNAL LAND ENDED TODAY AFTER RESIDENTS AGREED TO RELEASE SOME 15 HOSTAGES INCLUDING AN EDOMEX DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL IN EXCHANGE FOR FELLOW UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED PROTESTORS IN POLICE CUSTODY FIGHTING BEGAN JULY 11 WHEN PROTESTORS WERE BLOCKED BY EDOMEX POLICE FROM PHYSICALLY REACHING THEIR GOAL OF A MEETING WITH GOV MONTIEL TO CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 04 STATE 136961 1622442 DECLARE THEIR CONTINUED OPPOSITION TO THE $ 2 3 BILLION AIRPORT PROJECT AND DETERIORATED TO THE POINT WHERE 150 FEDERAL PREVENTIVE POLICE HAD TO BE CALLED IN EJIDATARIOS HAVE BEEN PROTESTING SINCE THE OCTOBER 2001 ANNOUNCEMENT OF CONSTRUCTION PLANS FOR A NEW - AND BADLY NEEDED - AIRPORT WHILE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES HAVE ACCORDING TO GOVERNMENT SECRETARY CREEL REACHED AGREEMENT WITH THE GOM TEXCOCO AND ATENCO HAVE REFUSED ALL FINANCIAL SETTLEMENT OFFERS TO DATE IT IS UNCLEAR HOW CREEL INTENDS TO SWEETEN THE POT TO RE-ENGAGE PROTESTORS IN NEGOTIATION VALDER6tAMA MEXICO CITY 5528 THE FOLLOWING TEXT IS TAKEN FROM THE WHA EPSC ASDAR OF JULY-15 2002 U TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO ENERGY POWERHOUSE OF THE CARIBBEAN THE GOVERNMENT OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO T T HAS UNVEILED PLANS TO USE EXPANDING ENERGY RESOURCES TO SUPPLY GAS TO ITS NEIGHBORS THE COUNTRY HAS BECOME ONE OF THE WORLD'S MAIN PRODUCERS OF LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS THROUGH FDI OF $3 BILLION OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS BY 2005 T T WILL HAVE THE WORLD'S LARGEST LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS PLANT ESTIMATED COST $1 1 BILLION THE PROJECT WOULD PROVIDE A NEW MARKET FOR THE BIGGEST INVESTORS IN THE COUNTRY'S ENERGY SECTOR INCLUDING BRITISH GAS YPF OF SPAIN AND BP THE LATTER RECENTLY BRIEFED WHA ON PLANS TO TRANSPORT GAS FROM TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO TO OTHER CARIBBEAN COUNTRIES AND THE U S EAST COAST THE FIRST PHASE IS A GAS PIPELINE RUNNING NORTH FROM T T THROUGH MARTINIQUE AND GUADELOUPE TO PUERTO RICO SPURS WOULD SUPPLY BARBADOS ANTIGUA ST KITTS AND DOMINICA OTHERS LIKE THE DR CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 05 STATE 136961 1622442 HAITI BAHAMAS AND JAMAICA WOULD BE ADDED AT A LATER STAGE EITHER BY PIPELINE OR TANKERS THERE REPORTEDLY IS STRONG INTEREST ON THE PART OF U S AND EUROPEAN FIRMS IN THE PROJECT FEASIBILITY STUDIES INDICATE IT COULD REDUCE ENERGY COSTS IN THE REGION BY 30% ENRIQUEZ PRESS PORT OF SPAIN 1398 THE FOLLOWING TEXT IS TAKEN FROM THE WHA PPC ASDAR OF JULY 15 2002 UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED SBU AFL-CIO REVISITS CUBA POLICY AT AFL-CIO HEADQUARTERS TODAY WE DISCUSSED STRATEGIES FOR BUILDING INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FOR BASIC LABOR RIGHTS IN CUBA WITH SOLIDARITY CENTER ACILS DIRECTOR HARRY KAMBERIS ACILS LA COORDINATOR BEN DAVIS AFL-CIO LA DIRECTOR STANLEY GACEK AND MIKE HANCOCK OF USAID AMONG THE POINTS RAISED O IN A MEETING LAST THURSDAY WITH A S LORNE CRANER AFL CIO PRESIDENT SWEENEY PROPOSED THAT THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON LABOR DIPLOMACY DEVELOP POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS ON CUBA AS WELL AS ON CHINA AND THE MIDDLE EAST O THE CUTC SINGLE COUNCIL OF CUBAN WORKERS A MOVEMENT AFFILIATED WITH THE CHRISTIAN TRADE UNION FEDERATION OF LATIN AMERICA CLAT MAY BE THE MORE INDEPENDENT OF THE DISSIDENT UNION GROUPS CURRENTLY OPERATING IN CUBA O GACEK AND KAMBERIS DISCOUNTED RUMORS THAT THE AFL-CIO HAD PROMOTED CONTACTS WITH THE OFFICIAL TRADE UNION CONFEDERATION THE CTC GACEK ADDED THAT DURING THE ICFTU'S MOST RECENT FACT-FINDING MISSION IN 1998 IT WAS CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 06 STATE 136961 162244Z ONLY AT AFL-CIO INSISTENCE THAT THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION MET WITH DISSIDENT TRADE UNION LEADERS O AFL-CIO AND ACILS REPS AGREED IT IS HIGH TIME TO REENGAGE THE ICFTU AND ILO IN PROMOTING A DEMOCRATIC TRANSITION IN CUBA THEY WELCOMED USG DIPLOMATIC PRESSURE TO RAISE THE VISIBILITY OF THIS ISSUE WITH THE EU AND CANADA AND NOTED THAT ANY INITIATIVE TAKEN BY THE DANES AS EU CHAIR WOULD ALSO HELP ROE THE FOLLOWING TEXT IS TAKEN FROM THE WHA BSC ASDAR OF JULY 15 2002 C PARAGUAY - PRESIDENT DECLARES STATE OF EMERGENCY THIS AFTERNOON PRESIDENT GONZALEZ MACCHI SIGNED A STATE OF EXCEPTION AIMED TO CONTROL CIVIL DISTURBANCES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY CAMPESINO GROUPS IN OVIEDISTA-LED DEMONSTRATIONS JOINED MANY DISCONTENTED CIVIL SERVANTS WHO HAVE NOT RECEIVED THEIR JUNE SALARIES UNACE THE PRO OVIEDO POLITICAL WING OF THE COLORADO PARTY HOPES TO UNSEAT GONZALEZ MACCHI MAKING ROOM FOR LIBERAL VICE PRESIDENT YOYITO FRANCO UNACE BELIEVES FRANCO WILL GIVE OVIEDO AMNESTY PAVING THE WAY FOR HIS RETURN TO PARAGUAY THE EMBASSY BELIEVES IT IS PREMATURE TO SPECULATE WHETHER THIS ROUND OF PROTESTS WILL SPARK ENOUGH POPULAR UNREST TO JEOPARDIZE THE GOVERNMENT OR PUT UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED CONSTITUTIONAL ORDER AT RISK THE EMBASSY'S EAC MET THIS AFTERNOON ALTHOUGH THE PRESENT SITUATION DOES NOT APPEAR TO NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE SAFETY OR SECURITY OF AMERICANS IN PARAGUAY THE EMBASSY HAS GIVEN INSTRUCTIONS TO PERSONNEL OUTSIDE OF ASUNCION NOT TO TRAVEL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 07 STATE 136961 162244Z POWELL CONFIDENTIAL END OF DOCUMENT UNCLASSIFIED