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### Viewing cable 09PANAMA343, GOP AUTHORIZES "GRAY HULLS" ACCESS TO PANAMA'S TTW

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Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
09PANAMA343 | 2009-04-28 18:06 | 2011-04-07 00:12 | SECRET//NOFORN | Embassy Panama
Appears in these articles: http://www.padigital.com.pa/periodico/edicion-actual/wikileaks-panama-interna.php?story_id=1027140&codeth=1593

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    VZCZCXYZ0000
    RR RUEHWEB

    DE RUEHZP #0343/01 1181825
    ZNY SSSSS ZZH
    R 281825Z APR 09
    FM AMEMBASSY PANAMA
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3328
    INFO RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 2794
    RUEHSJ/AMEMBASSY SAN JOSE 2010
    RHMFISS/COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
    RHMFISS/DIRJIATF SOUTH
    RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
    RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
    RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
    RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
    RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
    RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC

` `

    S E C R E T PANAMA 000343

    NOFORN
    SIPDIS

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/24/2019
    TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER SNAR PM
    SUBJECT: GOP AUTHORIZES "GRAY HULLS" ACCESS TO PANAMA'S TTW

    REF: A. A: PANAMA 00933/08
         ¶B. B: PANAMA 00332

    Classified By: Ambassador Barbara J. Stephenson for reasons 1.4 (b) and
     (d)

    -------
    Summary
    -------

    ¶1.  (S//NF)  Panamanian President Martin Torrijos has agreed
    to allow U.S. Navy assets to patrol Panama's territorial
    waters on counter-narcotics missions. Torrijos asked the
    Ambassador April 15 for Embassy assistance organizing a
    DEA-funded "Operation Together" (Operacion Conjuntos)
    featuring U.S. Navy vessels and National Aero-Naval Service
    (SENAN) vessels operating off the Pacific coast S/E of the
    Darien village of Jaque beginning some time after the May 3
    elections until the end of Torrijos' administration on June
    ¶30. Torrijos told the Ambassador that he wanted to conduct an
    operation before the end of his administration, in part to
    underscore the close cooperation with the U.S. he sees as one
    of the major achievements of his administration, and in part
    to create a precedent that will allow the operations to
    continue under the incoming administration without a major
    decision having to be taken. We welcome his decision on both
    counts. The immediate aim of the mission would be to close
    the coastal drug trafficking corridor near the Colombian
    boarder, a point where the FARC's 57th Front is active. This
    would simultaneously reduce the flow of drugs to Mexico and
    the U.S., while putting financial pressure on the FARC 57th
    elements in Panama engaged in drug trafficking. The latter
    would support moves by the GOP to reduce the FARC's operating
    space in the Darien, and encourage the growing demobilization
    trend among 57th Front members in Panama (septel).

    -----------------------------
    Torrijos Authorizes Gray Hulls
    ------------------------------

    ¶2.  (S//NF)  President Torrijos told the Ambassador April 15
    that he was prepared to allow U.S. Navy (gray hull) frigates
    with Law Enforcement Detachments (LEDETs) embarked aboard, to
    enter Panama's territorial waters (TTW) to engage in
    counter-narcotics patrols under the terms of the Salas-Becker
    Agreement (SBA). Under the terms of SBA, only USCG cutters
    (white hulls) are allowed to enter Panama's TTW to performs
    counter-narcotics patrols, but the agreement contains a
    clause, Article 20, which allows U.S. Navy assets to be used
    in the same role if the GOP so requests. Up to now the GOP
    has always declined to make that request, arguing that
    sensitivities among some Panamanians towards operating with
    the U.S. military would make such a move controversial (see
    REFTEL A). Torrijos told the Ambassador that he would
    instruct the Minster of Government and Justice, Dilio Arcia,
    to write a letter to the Embassy formally requesting the
    assistance. The stated reason would be to help Panama's
    National Aero-Naval Service (SENAN) "develop the capacity to
    protect Panama's territorial waters and to prepare for
    PANAMAX ALPHA." (Note: PANAMAX ALPHA is a GOP interagency
    crisis coordinating exercises carried out at the same time as
    the PANAMAX exercise. End Note)

    ------------------
    Taking on the FARC
    ------------------

    ¶3.  (S//NF)  Torrijos told the Ambassador that he was taking
    this decision because he wants to cut off FARC 57th Front
    ring-leader Luis Fernando Mora's (AKA Silver) access to
    profits from drug trafficking on the Darien's Pacific Coast.
    Torrijos believes, as do we, that the 57th Front is under
    pressure from desertions and bad morale. He wants to
    capitalize on this opening to weaken the 59th Front, with the
    goal of ridding the Darien of FARC elements.

    ------------------------
    Importance of Gray Hulls
    ------------------------

    ¶4.  (S//NF))   The Joint Inter-Agency Task Force - South's
    (JIATF-S) ability to use U.S. Navy assets in Panama's TTW
    remains key to its ability to patrol Panama's coastal waters
    due to a shortage of USCG cutters. The Navy ships patrol
    under JIATF-S's command with embarked USCG Law Enforcement
    Detachments (LEDETs). When USCG cutters patrol Panama's TTW,
    they usually do so with Panamanian SENAN officers on board as
    "ship riders." Under the Salas-Becker Agreement, these
    officers are nominally in control of the ship while in
    Panamanian TTW, though they in fact usually just observe.
    Torrijos specifically agreed to the idea that the U.S. Navy
    ships have LEDETs and "ship riders" on board when patrolling
    Panama's TTW. This will be the first time the GOP has
    authorized SENAN officers to act as "ship riders" on U.S.
    Navy assets.

    -------
    Comment
    -------

    ¶5.  (S//NF)  Torrijos' decision is another clear indication
    that the GOP is serious about taking steps to weaken the FARC
    presence in Panama. As with the recent hand-over of three
    FARC members to the U.S. under charges of "providing material
    support to a terrorist organization," (see REFTEL B), this
    agreement is the product of the Ambassador's ongoing
    discussions with VP/FM Samuel Lewis and President Torrijos on
    improving the security situation in the Darien. These changes
    in policy, and more that will be reported septel, are the
    result of the trust the GOP has that the USG is a good faith
    partner in Panama's struggle to improve the security
    situation in the Darien without violating Panamanian
    sovereignty or ignoring its stated policies. Post believes
    that Torrijos' decisions are laying the basis for continued
    enhanced cooperation with the next government, and that
    together with Post's "whole of government" approach to
    improving governance in the Darien, can make a real
    difference in the security situation by denying the FARC and
    DTOs safehaven in the Darien. Bringing the "gray hulls" in
    before the end of the Torrijos administration is particularly
    important, to avoid forcing an early and potentially divisive
    discussion over this issue in the incoming administration. We
    intend to present the presence of U.S. Navy gray hulls in
    Panamanian TTW to the new government as established practice.

    ¶6.  (S//NF)  Additionally, by overcoming a major Panamanian
    taboo over allowing U.S. military ships patrol Panama's
    waters, Torrijos is giving the USG a valuable new tool that
    could lead to the disruption of the Central American coastal
    drug trafficking route, the most important drug trafficking
    route today. With the added assets that the "gray hulls" will
    give JIATF-S, we have a real chance to ease pressure on
    Mexico and the other Central American countries that are
    suffering under the secondary effects of the coastal route.
    Coastal drug trafficking is increasing the presence of
    organized crime in Panama and throughout Central America
    because it requires the establishment of support networks
    throughout the region. Post will work with JIATF-S and DEA to
    pressure the cartels to abandon a drug trafficking route that
    is putting in jeopardy the stability of several Central
    American countries.
    STEPHENSON

`