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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PANAMA 000037
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/15/2018
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, KJUS, SNAR, PM
SUBJECT: PANAMA HOSTS QUADRILATERAL SECURITY TALKS WITH
COLOMBIA, GUATEMALA, AND MEXICO
Classified By: POLCOUNS Brian R. Naranjo. Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d)
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Security Talks: Moving Out Bad Guys Top Priority
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1. (C) "We are trying to put in place information sharing and
coordination mechanisms to expedite quick deportations,
expulsions, and extradition of organized crime figures,"
First VP and FM Samuel Lewis told Ambassador on January 15 in
laying out his vision for the quadrilateral
Panama-Colombia-Guatemala-Mexico security talks scheduled to
begin on January 16 in Panama City. Lewis noted that Panama
had succeeded in securing "the highest level participation"
for this conference, including the Attorneys General of
Mexico, Colombia, and Panama as well as other top level
police and internal security leaders and foreign ministry
representatives. Heads of state/government would also
attend. "We aim to start small with these four countries and
then expand once procedures and operations are in place,"
Lewis explained. "New participants will have to sign up to
the procedures and mechanisms that we develop. Working
groups (mesas de trabajo) will provide structure to this
undertaking and establish procedures for collaboration, Lewis
added. "In the coming weeks," Lewis said, "I hope to see a
significant up-tick in deportations, expulsions and
extraditions of bad guys to face justice in the prospective
countries." Additionally, he noted how Panama's experience
was an excellent example of how information sharing could be
harnessed to great effect to secure big advances against
narcotics traffickers despite limited resoureces.
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Darien Not Topic of Discussion, per se
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2. (C) While Colombian President Alvaro Uribe and Panamanian
President Martin Torrijos would meet on the margins of this
meeting during which they would discuss the situation in
Panama's Darien province, Lewis clarified that the Darien,
per se, would not be a specific topic of discussion. If the
Darien were to be discussed, it would handled in the context
of how to deal with organized criminal groups operating in
this sensitive Panamanian province that abutting Colombia.
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Very Concerns About Guatemala
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3. (C) Lewis noted that Guatemala was the weakest player
among the four countries that would participate in this
effort. "We (i.e., Panama, Mexico, and Colombia) are very
concerned that the security situation in Guatemala is
spinning out of control," Lewis explained. "Guatemala lacks
the institutions and capacity to deal with the rising crime
that it is experiencing." Hopefully, this endeavor would
provide Guatemala some needed assistance and breathing space,
Lewis explained.
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Comment
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4. (C) The driving force behind Panama's desire to host this
conference and facilitate this process is to address Panama's
desire to: (1) clear out as quickly as possible high-level
organized crime figures that Panama does not want to hold,
and (2) preventinternational organized crime organizations,
particularly Mexican cartels and groups, from establishing
themselves on Panamanian territory. In advance of the May 3
general elections, during which every elected seat in the
country will be up for grabs, security concerns -- violent
crime, gang violence, and general delinquency -- have topped
the list of issues on the forefront of Panamanian voters'
PANAMA 00000037 002 OF 002
minds, several polls confirm. Lewis' multilateral effort
should be understood as an attempt to respond to these
concerns while also denying international criminal
organizations the ability to establish a presence in Panama,
a presence that would likely accelerate a deterioration in
law and order on Panama's streets. Panama has a rich and
extensive network of law enforcement and security relations
with the United States. The GOP and USG consult constantly
at multiple levels and often through complementary channels
on a broad panoply of law enforcement operations and other
cooperation. Panama is now seeking to initiate a process
that it hopes will extend and build a similar network with
key partners and neighbors in the hemisphere. The USG is
well positioned to collaborate, compare notes, and cooperate
as Panama launches this promising initiative.
STEPHENSON
