R 241830Z MAR 08
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 
INFO DIA WASHINGTON DC//DHI-1B/CLM//DP//
CIA WASHINGTON DC//NHTC// 0000

S E C R E T STATE 030340 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
NOFORN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/27/2033 
TAGS: PINR KPRP ECON PREL PGOV ETRD PA
SUBJECT: (S) REPORTING AND COLLECTION NEEDS: PARAGUAY 
 
REF: 07 STATE 161706 
 
 
Classified By: PAULA CAUSEY, DAS, INR. REASON: 1.4(C). 
 
¶1. (S/NF) This cable reports the results of a recent 
Washington review of reporting and collection needs for 
Paraguay.  The review produced a list of priorities 
(paragraph 5) intended to guide participating USG agencies as 
they allocate resources and update plans to collect 
information on Paraguay.  The priorities also serve as a 
useful tool to help the Embassy manage reporting and 
collection, including formulation of Mission Strategic Plans 
(MSPs). 
 
¶2. (S/NF) Important information often is available to 
non-State members of the Country Team whose agencies 
participated in the review of this National HUMINT Collection 
Directive.  COMs, DCMs, and State reporting officers can 
assist by coordinating with other Country Team members to 
encourage relevant reporting through their own or State 
Department channels. 
¶3. (S/NF) Please note that the community relies on State 
reporting officers for much of the biographical information 
collected worldwide.  Informal biographic reporting by email 
and other means is vital to this effort.  When it is 
available, reporting officers should include as much of the 
following information as possible: office and organizational 
titles; names, position titles and other information on 
business cards; numbers of telephones, cell phones, pagers 
and faxes; compendia of contact information, such as 
telephone directories (in compact disc or electronic format 
if available) and e-mail listings; internet and intranet 
"handles", internet e-mail addresses, web site 
identification-URLs; credit card account numbers; frequent 
flyer account numbers; work schedules, and other relevant 
biographical information. 
 
¶4. (S/NF) This National HUMINT Collection Directive (NHCD) is 
compliant with the National Intelligence Priorities Framework 
(NIPF), which was established in response to NSPD-26 of 
February 24, 2003.  If needed, GRPO can provide further 
background on the NIPF and the use of NIPF abbreviations 
(shown in parentheses following each sub-issue below) in 
NHCDs. 
 
¶5. (S/NF) Priority issues and issues outline: 
 
¶A. Terrorism and Crime 
      1) Terrorist Threats and Activities (TERR-2) 
      2) Government Counterterrorist Response (TERR-2) 
3) Impact of Corruption and Government Response (CRIM-3) 
4) Narcotics Trafficking and Government Response (DRUG-3) 
      5) Money Laundering (MONY-3) 
 
¶B. Political Dynamics and Democratization 
1) Political Stability (DEPS-3) 
      2) Democratic Practice and the Rule of Law (DEPS-3) 
      3) Foreign Relations (FPOL-4) 
      4) Human Rights (HRWC-5) 
 
¶C. Economy, Trade, and Investment 
1) Economic Policies and Performance (ECFS-3) 
      2) Trade (TRAD-4) 
      3) Foreign Investment (TRAD-4) 
 
¶D. Military and Security Issues 
      1) Critical Infrastructure Protection (INFR-4) 
      2) Military Structure and Capabilities (FMCC-4) 
      3) GRPO can provide text of this issue. 
      4) Health and Medical Developments (HLTH-4) 
 
¶E. Information Infrastructure and Telecommunications (INFR-4) 
 
¶6. (S/NF) Reporting and collection needs: 
 
¶A. Terrorism and Crime 
 
1) Terrorist Threats and Activities (TERR-2) 
- Information on the presence, intentions, plans and 
activities of terrorist groups, facilitators, and support 
networks - including, but not limited to, Hizballah, Hamas, 
al-Gama'at al-Islamiya, al-Qa'ida, jihadist media 
organizations, Iranian state agents or surrogates - in 
Paraguay, in particular in the Tri-Border Area (TBA). 
- Indications or evidence of terrorists' or terrorist support 
networks' involvement with narcotrafficking, money 
laundering, human smuggling, and/or other criminal activities 
as a means of obtaining funding or other logistical support; 
details on companies or organizations linked to terrorists or 
terrorist activity, to include financial transactions, 
shipping records, addresses, and associated 
companies/organizations. 
- Terrorist or terrorist support network plans and activities 
in the areas of recruitment, training, support, 
communications networks, local and regional command and 
control. 
- The arrival or expansion of Islamic NGOs or leaders with 
known or suspected radical affiliations. 
- Ties between and among terrorist organizations; evidence of 
terrorist links to government-including 
local/regional-officials, non-governmental organizations 
(NGOs) (such as Jama'at al-Tabligh, the World Assembly of 
Muslim Youth, and the Muslim World League), front 
organizations (including companies providing logistical or 
financial support), and organized criminal groups. 
- Identities information of terrorist members to include 
fingerprints, arrest photos, DNA, and iris scans. 
- Modus Operandi of individuals and terrorist groups, their 
use and/or modification of passports, seals/caches, and 
travel documents. 
- Plans, intentions, and activities of domestic terrorist 
groups and regional terrorist groups that operate in Paraguay. 
 
2) Government Counterterrorist Response (TERR-2) 
- Information on the government's policy, plans and 
intentions for addressing the terrorist threat, including 
support for or opposition to the United States in the war 
against terrorism; Paraguay's position in regional and 
international fora, including support for or objection to 
U.S. counterterrorism policies. 
- Security services' capabilities, at the national and local 
levels, to counter terrorist groups and their activities; 
government plans or intentions to further develop or expand 
those capabilities. 
- Details of police and security services' efforts and 
programs to identify, monitor, and disrupt terrorist 
activities throughout Paraguay, and particularly in the TBA. 
- Government plans and efforts to deploy biometric systems. 
- Willingness to cooperate with the U.S. Government and other 
governments on counterterrorism issues, including the sharing 
of terrorist data; challenges (political, economic, 
financial, or personal) the government or government 
officials face which may influence their cooperation. 
-  The status of, and prospects for, counterterrorism-related 
legislation. 
 
3) Impact of Corruption and Government Response (CRIM-3) 
- Details about organized crime groups, including leadership, 
links to government or foreign entities, drug and human 
trafficking and smuggling, kidnapping, counterfeiting, 
illicit arms trafficking, money laundering, connections to 
other international organized crime or terrorist groups, 
movement of organized crime into legitimate business 
structures, their locations, support structures and means of 
coordinating operations, with particular emphasis on their 
efforts to influence, suborn or corrupt government, law 
enforcement or security officials. 
- Information on the involvement of government, military, or 
security services personnel in corrupt practices, including 
officials involved in narcotrafficking and arms smuggling, 
trafficking in persons, funds diversion, influence peddling, 
bribe solicitation, blackmail, fraud--especially of travel 
documents--and nepotism; the impact of government corruption 
on efforts to pursue, capture, and prosecute terrorists and 
the effect on popular confidence in the government. 
- Details of corruption in government offices, particularly 
in the attorney general's office, the judiciary, and the 
customs service; status of any government efforts to combat 
corruption. 
- National, regional, or international criminal activity, 
including economic distortions caused by criminal activity; 
the government's efforts to devise and implement plans and 
policies to combat criminal activity; the level of 
cooperation with foreign security services on detecting, 
monitoring, and intercepting illicit arms and other smuggled 
goods. 
 
4) Narcotics Trafficking and Government Response (DRUG-3) 
- Details of narcotics trafficking and associated criminal 
activities, particularly in the TBA and other border regions; 
illicit drug shipments and trafficking nodes, modalities, and 
routes. 
- Details on drug trafficking organizations, including 
leadership (biographic information and biometric data), 
communications (types and sources of technologies used), and 
methods of operation, to include processing and storage 
sites, methods of laundering money, and activities of front 
companies (financial activities, shipping records, addresses, 
and associated companies). 
- Traffickers' subversion or coercion of political, economic 
and judicial officials and systems, including attempts to 
gain influence through campaign contributions; impact of 
corruption from drug traffickers on executive offices, 
legislatures, military and security organizations. 
- Connections between narcotics traffickers and international 
organized criminal or terrorist groups. 
- Government control and enforcement plans, organizations, 
capabilities, and activities; military and police roles in 
combating drug trafficking or contributing to the trafficking. 
- Government plans and efforts to interdict the movement of 
narcotics through the TBA and elsewhere. 
- Details of legislative initiatives to improve 
counternarcotics enforcement and prosecutions. 
 
5) Money Laundering (MONY-3) 
- Evidence of international organized crime, terrorist 
networks, drug producers, people smugglers, arms traffickers, 
government officials, military, and security services 
involvement in money laundering. 
- Details on the methods used to conduct illicit financial 
transactions. 
- Identification of financial organizations and businesses 
(names of personnel and physical location/address of 
entities), including exchange houses and informal mechanisms 
such as hawalas, involved in money laundering, the means 
employed, and the amounts and frequency of activity. 
- Government willingness and ability to enforce current law, 
investigate, and prosecute money laundering and illegal 
financial activities, to include plans to tighten financial 
controls and strengthen its financial intelligence unit. 
- Information about the underground market for treasury 
notes, bearer bonds, and other financial instruments. 
 
¶B. Political Dynamics and Democratization 
 
1)  Political Stability (DEPS-3) 
- Plans and intentions of the government and ruling party to 
prepare for, or influence the outcome of, the April 2008 
election. 
- Leading candidates and emerging leaders -- to include their 
views of, and plans for relations with, the United States, 
Venezuela, Cuba, and other Latin American nations - 
especially for the 2008 election. 
- Political parties' and candidates' preparations for the 
2008 election; electoral politics, party platforms, tactics, 
and strategies employed in the run-up to the election and 
plans for the post-election period. 
- Information-before and after the election-on governing and 
opposition parties' alliances, rifts, internal factions, and 
constituencies, including key people, tactics, and strengths. 
- Details of post-election internal politics and political 
maneuvering during the transition from one administration to 
another. 
- Information on financial or material support to candidates, 
parties, or interest groups from foreign governments, 
especially from Cuba or Venezuela; post-electoral aid 
commitments from foreign governments. 
- Details of corrupt, illegal, or unethical activities aimed 
at subverting the electoral process. 
- Biographic and financial information on all leading 
contenders, and especially on Minister of Education Blanca 
Ovelar, former Vice President Castiglioni, Lino Oviedo, and 
Fernando Lugo; and biometric data, to include fingerprints, 
facial images, iris scans, and DNA, on these individuals. 
 
2) Democratic Practice and the Rule of Law (DEPS-3) 
- Evidence of commitment, or lack of commitment, on the part 
of the government, political parties, or special interest 
groups to democratic principles, rule of law, transparent, 
corruption-free governance practices, and free and fair 
elections. 
- Details of political deal making and bargains and the 
resulting impact on popular confidence in the elections and 
the political process; indications of government or political 
party bargaining over the candidacy of Lino Oviedo and his 
campaign. 
 
3) Foreign Relations (FPOL-4) 
- Information on the government's foreign policy plans and 
intentions toward neighboring states, regional powers 
(including the United States), and key international actors. 
- Status of the government's relations with and views of 
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and his domestic and foreign 
policies and actions; the Paraguayan government perspective 
on Venezuelan efforts to influence Paraguay's political 
process or leadership. 
- Information on Paraguay's relationship with Cuba and the 
Paraguayan government perspective on Cuban activities and 
influence in Paraguay; Paraguay's policy on Cuba in 
international and regional fora and the Paraguayan 
leadership's views of the United States' Cuba policy. 
- Student exchange programs and philanthropic activities in 
Paraguay sponsored by Cuba or Venezuela. 
-  Paraguay's relations with the MERCOSUR organization and 
its member countries in that multilateral environment. 
- Details of Paraguay's position on U.S. policies and actions 
in the region and internationally, including Paraguay's views 
on, and participation in, multilateral sanctions endorsed by 
the United States and/or the United Nations. 
- Information on key bilateral regional relationships, 
especially for Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Bolivia. 
- Relations with Iran and information on Islamic facilities, 
including mosques, cultural centers, etc., supported by Iran. 
- Information on other key bilateral international 
relationships, especially for China, Taiwan, and Russia. 
 
4) Human Rights (HRWC-5) 
- Government plans and intentions with regard to human rights 
issues, in particular willingness to crack down on - or 
disregard - violations by police, military or security 
services. 
- Performance of the police, military, and security services 
in upholding or violating human rights. 
- Government programs and efforts to prevent violence, 
trafficking in persons, prostitution, forced labor, slave 
labor, or vigilante activity. 
 
¶C. Economy, Trade, and Investment 
 
1) Economic Policies and Performance (ECFS-3) 
- Information on the state of the economy, the national 
budget, and internal and external debt; information on 
economic indicators, particularly for growth and inflation, 
including views of the government, political leaders, 
academics and other experts on Paraguay's economy and its 
future prospects. 
- Details on government efforts to improve economic 
performance by developing and implementing policies on taxes, 
investment, labor, or other resources. 
- Details of the effects on the general population of 
economic developments and programs. 
- Impact on the economy of the discovery of potentially large 
gas and oil deposits in the Chaco region. 
- Government willingness and capability to fairly and 
equitably enforce the law on economic, financial, and banking 
issues and uncover/prevent illegal activities. 
- Paraguay's interest and participation in the MCA Threshold 
Program. 
 
2) Trade (TRAD-4) 
- Status of trade with Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and other 
countries in the region, including government positions on 
future opportunities, areas for expansion, and potential 
areas of conflict; the impact of MERCOSUR on Paraguay's trade 
and the Paraguayan government's assessment of its benefits, 
potential drawbacks, and future prospects. 
-  Paraguay's intentions with regard to ratifying Venezuela's 
membership in MERCOSUR. 
- The Paraguayan government's policies and positions related 
to trade with the United States; indications of genuine 
Paraguayan interest in negotiating a trade agreement with the 
United States; developments in Paraguay's position on 
intellectual property rights legislation and enforcement. 
-  Paraguayan plans and intentions to expand their requests 
for market access to the United States beyond their 
traditional commodities - beef, textiles, and sugar. 
 
3) Foreign Investment (TRAD-4) 
- Government plans and intentions to attract additional 
foreign investment to Paraguay, including details of 
incentives and disincentives for foreign investment in 
Paraguay. 
- Government and business views on the impact of rising crime 
and concerns about the independence of the judiciary on 
foreign investment, and government plans to deal with these 
concerns. 
- Paraguay's plans, policies, motives, and intended actions 
on intellectual property rights issues. 
- The Paraguayan government position on or participation in 
the Venezuelan initiative to create a regional development 
bank, the Bank of the South. 
 
¶D.  Military and Security Issues 
 
1)    Critical Infrastructure Protection (INFR-4) 
-  Paraguay's approach to critical infrastructure protection 
strategies and technologies; efforts to reduce the 
vulnerability of key systems, including energy (e.g., 
hydroelectric), telecommunications, and transportation. 
-  Overtures to the United States and others for assistance 
in planning and implementing protective measures. 
-  Legislation or executive actions undertaken to improve 
infrastructure security, especially the physical security of 
power generation and distribution systems. 
 
2)    Military Structure and Capabilities (FMCC-4) 
-  Capabilities of the military, current and future, in light 
of recent decisions to downsize and re-organize; objectives 
and expectations for the budget and missions of this future 
force. 
-  Evidence of denial and deception (D&D) programs, 
including:  personnel, organizations, strategies, tactics, 
technologies, activity scheduling, or support by foreign 
countries; evidence of satellite tracking or a satellite 
warning program, especially any foreign involvement. 
-  Capabilities, plans, and intentions for participation in 
international peacekeeping operations. 
-  Intentions with respect to cooperation with U.S. military 
forces, including the potential for reinstatement of a Status 
of Forces Agreement. 
- Information on military cooperation, assistance received or 
provided, or interaction with others in the region, for 
example, the training provided by Argentina; status of 
international military cooperation or assistance programs, 
such as the kinds of military support that might be offered 
by China, Iran, Venezuela, Taiwan, or other countries. 
-  Plans and intentions for weapons and equipment 
acquisitions, including details on suppliers. 
-  Reactions to major arms acquisitions by countries in the 
region. 
-  Paraguayan views on Venezuelan and Bolivian military 
actions and activities, in particular, Bolivian deployments 
near the border of Paraguay. 
-  Indigenous R&D, production, repair, maintenance or upgrade 
of military material. 
-  Details on joint cooperation or co-production arrangements. 
-  Details on military command, control, communications, 
computer and intelligence (C4I) systems. 
-  Biographic and financial information and biometric data on 
military leaders. 
 
3)  GRPO can provide text of this issue and related 
requirements. 
 
4)  Health and Medical Developments (HLTH-4) 
- Infectious disease outbreaks; national strategies for 
dealing with infectious disease, including detection and 
control. 
- Capabilities and quality of medical care in private, 
public, and military medical facilities. 
- Disaster planning and response capability. 
- Sources, locations and levels of environmental and chemical 
contamination of air, water, food, and soil that might affect 
health; content and location of toxic industrial chemical 
production and storage facilities. 
 
¶E.  Information Infrastructure and Telecommunications (INFR-4) 
- Details of telecommunications and information systems, 
networks, and technologies supporting Paraguayan national 
leadership, military, foreign intelligence and security 
services (FISS), and civil sector communications. 
- Define Paraguayan wireless infrastructure, cellular 
provider information, and makes/models of cellular phones and 
their operating systems. 
- Define Paraguayan satellite communications infrastructure, 
to include VSAT networks and use of point to point systems. 
- Information on communications practices of Paraguayan 
government and military leaders, key foreign officials in 
country (e.g., Cuban, Venezuelan, Bolivian, Iranian, or 
Chinese diplomats), and criminal entities or their 
surrogates, to include telephone and fax numbers and e-mail 
addresses, call activity (date, time, caller numbers, 
recipient numbers), phone books, cell phone numbers, 
telephone and fax user listings, internet protocol (IP) 
addresses, user accounts, and passwords. 
- Identify national and supranational telecommunications 
regulatory, administrative, and maintenance organizations. 
- Identify scope of Paraguayan telecommunications encryption 
efforts, details on the use of and efforts to acquire modern 
telecom technologies, regional and national 
telecommunications policies, programs and regulations. 
- Details on information repositories associated with RFID 
enabled systems increasingly used for passports, government 
badges, and transportation system. 
RICE