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### Viewing cable 08SANJOSE287, COSTA RICA: NEW MINISTER OF PUBLIC SECURITY DEL

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Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
08SANJOSE287 | 2008-04-17 22:10 | 2011-03-07 18:06 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Embassy San Jose

Appears in these articles:
http://www.nacion.com/2011-03-06/Investigacion/NotasDestacadas/Investigacion2702320.aspx
http://www.nacion.com/2011-03-06/Investigacion/NotasSecundarias/Investigacion2702325.aspx
http://www.nacion.com/2011-03-06/Investigacion/NotaPrincipal/Investigacion2702324.aspx
http://www.nacion.com/2011-03-06/Investigacion/NotasSecundarias/Investigacion2702326.aspx
http://www.nacion.com/2011-03-06/Investigacion/NotasSecundarias/Investigacion2702327.aspx

`

    VZCZCXYZ0025
    PP RUEHWEB

    DE RUEHSJ #0287/01 1082237
    ZNR UUUUU ZZH
    P 172237Z APR 08
    FM AMEMBASSY SAN JOSE
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9603
    INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE
    RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 4230
    RUEABND/DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMIN HQ WASHINGTON DC
    RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
    RHMFIUU/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL

` `

    UNCLAS SAN JOSE 000287

    SIPDIS

    SENSITIVE
    SIPDIS

    DEPT FOR WHA/CEN, WHA/PPC, INR AND INL/LP

    E.O. 12958: N/A
    TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR SNAR CS
    SUBJECT: COSTA RICA: NEW MINISTER OF PUBLIC SECURITY DEL
    VECCHIO

    REF: SAN JOSE 263

    ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY.  President Arias has appointed National
    Liberation Party legislator Janina Del Vecchio as the new
    Minister of Public Security. She took office on April 15,
    replacing Fernando Berrocal, who was dismissed on March 30
    after making controversial remarks about possible FARC
    connections in Costa Rica.  Although criticized for having no
    previous law enforcement experience, Del Vecchio possesses
    strong leadership credentials from her skillful handling of
    CAFTA legislation in the National Assembly and has the full
    backing of Arias, who had wanted to put a woman in the
    position.  In her first public appearance (as
    Minister-designate), Del Vecchio told police graduates on
    April 10 that Costa Rica needed to be "tough on crime."  She
    has softened that message in subsequent interviews, however,
    suggesting that the perception of the domestic security
    problem in Costa Rica is greater than reality.  (We and
    leading GOCR law enforcement professionals disagree.)  Charge
    and Emboffs will meet with Del Vecchio on April 23 to outline
    our law enforcement cooperation programs and to encourage the
    same close relationship we had developed with Berrocal.  See
    bio info (para 13).  END SUMMARY.

    =================
    MEET THE NEW BOSS
    =================

    ¶2. (U) On April 3, four days after Minister of Public
    Security Fernando Berrocal resigned over the controversy
    surrounding his allegations of FARC ties to the Costa Rican
    political sector (reftel), President Arias named National
    Liberation Party (PLN) legislator Janina Del Vecchio as the
    new Minister of Public Security.  Del Vecchio took charge of
    the Ministry on April 15.

    ¶3. (SBU) President Arias told us on April 1, during DAS
    Madison's recent visit to Costa Rica (septel), that he
    preferred to name a woman as the next Minister of Public
    Security.  He had offered the job to Del Vecchio on March 31,
    the day after Berrocal resigned, but she did not accept until
    late on April 2.  Del Vecchio made the president's short list
    primarily because of her determined and skillful handling of
    CAFTA legislation as Chair of the legislature's International
    Relations Committee and her loyalty and responsiveness to
    Arias.  (Del Vecchio's committee sent the CAFTA ratification
    legislation to the Plenary for action in December 2006, the
    only completed legislative action on CAFTA until after it was
    ratified by referendum in October 2007.)

    ======================================
    LACK OF SECURITY EXPERIENCE QUESTIONED
    ======================================

    ¶4. (U) Del Vecchio's lack of experience in security affairs
    has been highlighted by local media and "talking heads."  For
    instance, a local TV station interviewed a mother whose son
    was recently murdered on the streets of San Jose.  The mother
    questioned Del Vecchio's lack of law enforcement credentials
    and asked how a former school teacher could possibly be
    qualified to deal with violent crime.

    ¶5. (U) However, Del Vecchio would not be the first Minister
    to come into the job with little to no law enforcement
    experience.  Berrocal himself had no previous experience, nor
    did current Vice President Laura Chinchilla when she was
    Minister of Public Security in the late 1990s.  President
    Arias underlined her strengths in leadership, honesty,
    enthusiasm for her job, character, and loyalty to serve her
    country.  With Del Vecchio's accession into Arias' Cabinet,
    there are now six women and 12 men in cabinet-level positions.

    ====================
    TOUGH TALK, AT FIRST
    ====================

    ¶6. (U) In an interview with leading daily La Nacion on April
    7, Del Vecchio acknowledged the difficulties that Costa Rica
    faced with the deteriorating domestic security situation and
    said she understood that improving security was now the
    number one issue with citizens.  Highlighting the addition of
    nearly 1200 new police officers to the force in the coming
    weeks and days, Del Vecchio said she would continue with
    Berrocal's plan to put more officers on the street.  She said
    the idea for successful policing was not only for cops to

    walk the beat, but to talk to citizens and hear their needs
    and concerns.  She added that laws must be strengthened and
    she would work with the Assembly to accomplish that.  As
    Ambassador to Switzerland, Del Vecchio said she had observed
    the positive impact of strong criminal laws and respect for
    the law; this could be a model for Costa Rica.

    ¶7. (U) On April 10, during a graduation ceremony of new Costa
    Rican police officers, Del Vecchio (as minister-designate)
    gave a strong anti-crime speech, emphasizing the fight
    against narcotrafficking, TIP, sexual
    exploitation of women and children, and organized crime.  She
    said she would support putting more resources into
    fighting the root causes of crime.  Above all, she stressed,
    hung the challenge of addressing the public's fear of
    domestic insecurity in Costa Rica.

    ¶8. (U) In a brief televised address to the nation later the
    same day, President Arias highlighted how seriously he took
    the security situation and threw his full support behind Del
    Vecchio.  He emphasized that she was capable of making tough
    decisions, and had unquestionable integrity.  Arias asked the
    people to trust his decisions and to "trust in our women"
    (alluding to other high-profile women in his cabinet, such as
    VP, Minister of Justice and presidential hopeful Chinchilla).
     He said that Del Vecchio had "talent, but above all
    bravery."

    ¶9. (U) In interviews since taking office, however, Del
    Vecchio has questioned whether the domestic security problem
    is as bad as the public believes, and asserted that the
    perception is worse than the reality.  She has also implied
    that there is little or no nexus between drug trafficking
    through Costa Rican territory and rising domestic crime.
    "The nation needs action and concrete decisions" she told the
    media at a press conference on April 15, but "we have no
    reason to be alarmed."  The media (and some key law
    enforcement personnel, such as Judicial Police Director Jorge
    Rojas) were quick to point out that deteriorating crime
    statistics, and not perception, fueled the public's concerns.

    ======================
    NEW MINISTER, NEW TEAM
    ======================

    ¶10. (SBU) Del Vecchio's arrival has seen a number of seasoned
    security personnel depart, with all the changes not yet
    completed. Of the three vice ministers, Rafael Gutierrez
    (police issues) rendered his resignation, effective May 1.
    VM Gerardo Lascarez (counternarcotics issues and law
    enforcement liaison) has agreed to stay on until December,
    but might leave sooner.  VM Ana Duran (government and
    immigration) will remain.  Vice Minister of the Presidency
    for Security Issues, Jose Torres, will likely wear two hats,
    filling in for Gutierrez in the short term while remaining in
    his current position in his current ministry.  Erick Lacayo
    (a long-time and excellent Embassy contact) will be the new
    head of the uniformed police.  The current heads of the coast
    guard and air unit are expected to remain (which is also good
    news from our perspective).

    =======
    COMMENT
    =======

    ¶11. (SBU) One of Del Vecchio's first challenges will be the
    continuing saga of possible FARC ties to Costa Rica.  The
    resolution (or lack thereof) of this issue, which cost
    Berrocal his job, could set the tone for her stewardship of
    the Ministry.  However, the "bread and butter" issues on
    which the Costa Rican people will judge her will be the
    increase or decrease of violent crime, including carjackings,
    home invasions, murders and assaults.

    ¶12. (SBU) Although Del Vecchio has no previous law
    enforcement or security experience, her April 10 speech
    indicated that she would be "tough on crime" and not afraid
    to address the ills that undermine Costa Rica's image as a
    land of paradise.  We hope so.  Her later comments suggest
    she has much to learn about the true (and worsening) security
    situation here.  As our Consul General puts it, "Costa Rica
    may not be dangerous when compared to the rest of the region
    but it is no longer safe."  We anticipate that our current
    level of excellent cooperation with Costa Rican law
    enforcement entities will continue with Del Vecchio as

    minister.  We will meet with her on April 23 to engage on
    important bilateral security topics, including the
    long-pending CNIES agreement, the Merida Initiative, and the
    activities of the FARC in Costa Rica.

    ========================
    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
    ========================

    ¶13. (SBU) Janina Del Vecchio Ugalde was born April 4, 1946 in
    San Jose, Costa Rica.  Before becoming Minister, she was
    a deputy (legislator) for Arias' National Liberation Party
    (PLN).  Her previous jobs include: Assistant Dean for
    Academic Affairs at the University of Costa Rica (UCR); Chief
    of Cabinet for the first Arias Administration (1986-90),
    Ambassador to Spain, the Vatican, Malta, and Switzerland; and
    Chairperson of the Geneva Chapter of the G-77.  Del Vecchio
    is a Professor of Mathematics with post-graduate degrees in
    Education and Educational Management from UCR.  During her
    tenure as a legislator, she was the President of the National
    Assembly's International Affairs Committee (equivalent to the
    U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee and Senate Foreign
    Relations Committee).  Del Vecchio is married to Jose Manuel
    Bouzon Cea (54 years old), a Spaniard, and has one son, Juan
    Carlos Hidalgo del Vecchio (43 years old), from her first
    marriage.
    BRENNAN

`