Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 15908 / 251,287

### Articles

Brazil Sri Lanka United Kingdom Sweden 00. Editorial United States Latin America Egypt Jordan Yemen

### Browse latest releases

2010/11 2010/12 2011/01 2011/02 2011/03 2011/04 2011/05 2011/06
2010/11/28 2010/11/29 2010/11/30
2010/12/01 2010/12/02 2010/12/03 2010/12/04 2010/12/05 2010/12/06 2010/12/07 2010/12/08 2010/12/09 2010/12/10 2010/12/11 2010/12/12 2010/12/13 2010/12/14 2010/12/15 2010/12/16 2010/12/17 2010/12/18 2010/12/19 2010/12/20 2010/12/21 2010/12/22 2010/12/23 2010/12/24 2010/12/25 2010/12/26 2010/12/27 2010/12/28 2010/12/29 2010/12/30
2011/01/01 2011/01/02 2011/01/04 2011/01/05 2011/01/07 2011/01/09 2011/01/10 2011/01/11 2011/01/12 2011/01/13 2011/01/14 2011/01/15 2011/01/16 2011/01/17 2011/01/18 2011/01/19 2011/01/20 2011/01/21 2011/01/22 2011/01/23 2011/01/24 2011/01/25 2011/01/26 2011/01/27 2011/01/28 2011/01/29 2011/01/30 2011/01/31
2011/02/01 2011/02/02 2011/02/03 2011/02/04 2011/02/05 2011/02/06 2011/02/07 2011/02/08 2011/02/09 2011/02/10 2011/02/11 2011/02/12 2011/02/13 2011/02/14 2011/02/15 2011/02/16 2011/02/17 2011/02/18 2011/02/19 2011/02/20 2011/02/21 2011/02/22 2011/02/23 2011/02/24 2011/02/25 2011/02/26 2011/02/27 2011/02/28
2011/03/01 2011/03/02 2011/03/03 2011/03/04 2011/03/05 2011/03/06 2011/03/07 2011/03/08 2011/03/09 2011/03/10 2011/03/11 2011/03/13 2011/03/14 2011/03/15 2011/03/16 2011/03/17 2011/03/18 2011/03/19 2011/03/20 2011/03/21 2011/03/22 2011/03/23 2011/03/24 2011/03/25 2011/03/26 2011/03/27 2011/03/28 2011/03/29 2011/03/30 2011/03/31
2011/04/01 2011/04/02 2011/04/03 2011/04/04 2011/04/05 2011/04/06 2011/04/07 2011/04/08 2011/04/09 2011/04/10 2011/04/11 2011/04/12 2011/04/13 2011/04/14 2011/04/15 2011/04/16 2011/04/17 2011/04/18 2011/04/19 2011/04/20 2011/04/21 2011/04/22 2011/04/23 2011/04/24 2011/04/25 2011/04/26 2011/04/27 2011/04/28 2011/04/29 2011/04/30
2011/05/01 2011/05/02 2011/05/03 2011/05/04 2011/05/05 2011/05/06 2011/05/07 2011/05/08 2011/05/09 2011/05/10 2011/05/11 2011/05/12 2011/05/13 2011/05/14 2011/05/15 2011/05/16 2011/05/17 2011/05/18 2011/05/19 2011/05/20 2011/05/21 2011/05/22 2011/05/23 2011/05/24 2011/05/25 2011/05/26 2011/05/27 2011/05/28 2011/05/29 2011/05/30 2011/05/31
2011/06/01 2011/06/02 2011/06/03 2011/06/04 2011/06/05 2011/06/06 2011/06/07 2011/06/08 2011/06/09 2011/06/10 2011/06/11 2011/06/12 2011/06/13 2011/06/14 2011/06/15 2011/06/16 2011/06/17 2011/06/18 2011/06/19 2011/06/20 2011/06/21 2011/06/22 2011/06/23 2011/06/24 2011/06/25 2011/06/26 2011/06/27 2011/06/28 2011/06/29

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
1966/12
1972/02 1972/08
1973/04
1975/03
1979/08
1985/03 1985/05 1985/06
1986/05 1986/08 1986/12
1987/06
1988/01 1988/03 1988/04 1988/07 1988/08 1988/12
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08 1990/10
1991/05 1991/07 1991/11
1992/01 1992/03 1992/06 1992/09 1992/12
1993/01 1993/10
1994/11 1994/12
1995/01 1995/04
1996/07 1996/09 1996/11
1997/02 1997/05 1997/06 1997/10 1997/12
1998/05
1999/09
2000/05 2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/04 2001/05 2001/06 2001/07 2001/09 2001/10 2001/11 2001/12
2002/01 2002/02 2002/03 2002/04 2002/07 2002/08 2002/09 2002/11 2002/12
2003/01 2003/02 2003/03 2003/04 2003/05 2003/06 2003/07 2003/08 2003/09 2003/10 2003/11 2003/12
2004/01 2004/02 2004/03 2004/04 2004/05 2004/06 2004/07 2004/08 2004/09 2004/10 2004/11 2004/12
2005/01 2005/02 2005/03 2005/04 2005/05 2005/06 2005/07 2005/08 2005/09 2005/10 2005/11 2005/12
2006/01 2006/02 2006/03 2006/04 2006/05 2006/06 2006/07 2006/08 2006/09 2006/10 2006/11 2006/12
2007/01 2007/02 2007/03 2007/04 2007/05 2007/06 2007/07 2007/08 2007/09 2007/10 2007/11 2007/12
2008/01 2008/02 2008/03 2008/04 2008/05 2008/06 2008/07 2008/08 2008/09 2008/10 2008/11 2008/12
2009/01 2009/02 2009/03 2009/04 2009/05 2009/06 2009/07 2009/08 2009/09 2009/10 2009/11 2009/12
2010/01 2010/02

### Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Embassy Athens Embassy Asuncion Embassy Astana Embassy Asmara Embassy Ashgabat Embassy Apia Embassy Ankara Embassy Amman Embassy Algiers Embassy Addis Ababa Embassy Accra Embassy Abuja Embassy Abu Dhabi Embassy Abidjan Consulate Auckland Consulate Amsterdam Consulate Adana American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura Embassy Buenos Aires Embassy Budapest Embassy Bucharest Embassy Brussels Embassy Bridgetown Embassy Bratislava Embassy Brasilia Embassy Bogota Embassy Bishkek Embassy Bern Embassy Berlin Embassy Belmopan Embassy Belgrade Embassy Beirut Embassy Beijing Embassy Banjul Embassy Bangkok Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan Embassy Bamako Embassy Baku Embassy Baghdad Consulate Belfast Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen Embassy Conakry Embassy Colombo Embassy Chisinau Embassy Caracas Embassy Canberra Embassy Cairo Consulate Curacao Consulate Ciudad Juarez Consulate Chiang Mai Consulate Chennai Consulate Casablanca Consulate Cape Town Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe Embassy Dublin Embassy Doha Embassy Djibouti Embassy Dili Embassy Dhaka Embassy Dar Es Salaam Embassy Damascus Embassy Dakar Consulate Dubai Consulate Dhahran
Embassy Freetown Consulate Fukuoka
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone Consulate Guayaquil Consulate Guangzhou Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Hong Kong Consulate Ho Chi Minh City Consulate Hermosillo Consulate Hamilton Consulate Hamburg Consulate Halifax
Iran RPO Dubai Embassy Islamabad Consulate Istanbul
Embassy Jakarta Consulate Jerusalem Consulate Jeddah
Embassy Kyiv Embassy Kuwait Embassy Kuala Lumpur Embassy Kinshasa Embassy Kingston Embassy Kigali Embassy Khartoum Embassy Kathmandu Embassy Kampala Embassy Kabul Consulate Kolkata Consulate Karachi
Embassy Luxembourg Embassy Luanda Embassy London Embassy Ljubljana Embassy Lisbon Embassy Lima Embassy Lilongwe Embassy La Paz Consulate Lahore Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE Mission USNATO Mission UNESCO Mission Geneva Embassy Muscat Embassy Moscow Embassy Montevideo Embassy Monrovia Embassy Minsk Embassy Mexico Embassy Mbabane Embassy Maputo Embassy Manila Embassy Manama Embassy Managua Embassy Malabo Embassy Madrid Consulate Munich Consulate Mumbai Consulate Montreal Consulate Monterrey Consulate Milan Consulate Melbourne Consulate Matamoros
Embassy Nicosia Embassy Niamey Embassy New Delhi Embassy Ndjamena Embassy Nassau Embassy Nairobi Consulate Nuevo Laredo Consulate Naples Consulate Naha
Embassy Ouagadougou Embassy Ottawa Embassy Oslo
Embassy Pristina Embassy Pretoria Embassy Prague Embassy Port Of Spain Embassy Port Louis Embassy Port Au Prince Embassy Phnom Penh Embassy Paris Embassy Paramaribo Embassy Panama Consulate Peshawar
Embassy Quito Consulate Quebec
REO Basrah Embassy Rome Embassy Riyadh Embassy Riga Embassy Reykjavik Embassy Rangoon Embassy Rabat Consulate Rio De Janeiro Consulate Recife
Secretary of State Embassy Suva Embassy Stockholm Embassy Sofia Embassy Skopje Embassy Singapore Embassy Seoul Embassy Sarajevo Embassy Santo Domingo Embassy Santiago Embassy Sanaa Embassy San Salvador Embassy San Jose Consulate Strasbourg Consulate St Petersburg Consulate Shenyang Consulate Shanghai Consulate Sapporo Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis Embassy Tripoli Embassy Tokyo Embassy The Hague Embassy Tel Aviv Embassy Tehran Embassy Tegucigalpa Embassy Tbilisi Embassy Tashkent Embassy Tallinn Consulate Toronto Consulate Tijuana Consulate Thessaloniki
USUN New York USEU Brussels US Office Almaty US Mission Geneva US Interests Section Havana US Delegation, Secretary UNVIE UN Rome Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius Embassy Vientiane Embassy Vienna Embassy Vatican Embassy Valletta Consulate Vladivostok Consulate Vancouver
Embassy Windhoek Embassy Wellington Embassy Warsaw
Embassy Yerevan Embassy Yaounde
Embassy Zagreb

### Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ASEC AEMR AMGT AR APECO AU AORC AJ AF AFIN AS AM ABLD AFFAIRS AMB APER AA AG AE ADM ALOW ACOA AID ATRN ADCO AND ABUD ADANA APEC ARABL ADPM ANARCHISTS AL AADP ANET AGRICULTURE AMED AROC AGAO AY AORG ASEAN AO ACABQ AINF ARF APCS AODE AX AMEX AZ ASUP ARM AQ ATFN AMBASSADOR ACBAQ AFSI AFSN AC AOPR AREP ASIG ASEX AER AVERY ASCH AFU AMG ATPDEA ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG AORL AN AIT AGMT ACS AGR AMCHAMS AECL AUC AFGHANISTAN ACAO
BR BB BG BEXP BY BA BRUSSELS BU BD BK BL BM BO BE BH BTIO BX BMGT BILAT BP BC BIDEN BBG BF BBSR BT BWC BEXPC BN BTIU
CPAS CA CASC CS CBW CIDA CO CODEL CI CROS CU CH CWC CMGT CVIS CDG CG CF CHIEF CJAN CBSA CE CY CD CT CW CM CONS CDC CR CN COUNTRY CONDOLEEZZA CZ CAPC CICTE CYPRUS CARICOM CTR CBE COM CACS COE CARSON COUNTER CFED CIVS COPUOS CV CKGR CHR CVR CLINTON COUNTERTERRORISM CITEL CLEARANCE CB CSW CIC CITT CARIB CAFTA CACM CDB CJUS CTM CAN CONSULAR CLMT CBC CIA CNARC CIS CEUDA CHINA CAC CL
DR DJ DHS DAO DCM DO DEFENSE DA DE DOMESTIC DISENGAGEMENT DK DOD DOT DPRK DEPT DEA DOE DTRA DS DEAX
ECON ETTC EFIS ETRD EC EMIN EAGR EAID EU EFIN EUN ECIN EG EWWT EINV ENRG ELAB EPET EN EAIR EUMEM ECPS ELTN EIND EZ EI ER ET EINT ECONOMIC ENIV EFTA ES ECONOMY ENGR ELECTIONS ERNG ECIP EXIM ENERG EREL EK EDEV ETRAD ECOSOC EPA ETRC EINVEFIN ENVI EXTERNAL ELN ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EAIDS ECA EUREM EFINECONCS EPREL EDU ETC ENVR EAP EINN EXBS ENGY ECONOMICS EIAR EINDETRD ECONEFIN EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EFIM EINVETC ECONCS ETRA ESA EAIG EUR EUC ERD ETRN EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ESENV ENNP ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN
FR FI FAS FOREIGN FTAA FREEDOM FBI FINANCE FAO FAA FJ FTA FARC FAC FM FDA FINR FOR FOI FO FMLN FISO
GM GG GERARD GT GA GR GTIP GY GLOBAL GCC GC GAZA GL GOV GOI GF GH GV GANGS GTMO GE GAERC GZ GUILLERMO GASPAR
HR HO HA HYMPSK HK HUMAN HN HU HURI HILLARY HI HUM HSTC HEBRON HUMOR
IZ IN IAEA IS IMO ILO IR IC IT ITU IV IMF IBRD IWC IRAQI IDB ISRAELI ITALY IADB ITPGOV ITALIAN ID ICRC INR ICAO IFAD IPR IQ IRAQ INMARSAT ICTY ITRA INRA INTERNAL ILC IO IIP ICJ INDO IRS IEFIN ISCON IA INTERPOL IEA INRB IAHRC ISRAEL IZPREL IRAJ IF ITPHUM IL IACI IDA ISLAMISTS IGAD ITF INRO IBET INTELSAT IDP ICTR IRC
JA JO JM JP JUS JOHN JAMES JOHNNIE JOSEPH JML JIMENEZ
KOMC KNNP KFLO KDEM KSUM KIPR KFLU KPAO KE KCRM KJUS KAWC KZ KSCA KDRG KCOR KGHG KPAL KTIP KMCA KCRS KPKO KOLY KRVC KVPR KG KWBG KMDR KTER KSPR KV KTFN KWMN KFRD KSTH KS KN KISL KGIC KSEP KFIN KTEX KTIA KUNR KCMR KMOC KCIP KTDB KBIO KU KIRF KSAF KSTC KICC KIRC KIDE KNUC KNUP KSEO KCFE KPWR KBCT KR KREC KCSY KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KHLS KOCI KREL KMPI KPRP KAUST KPAOPREL KVIR KFSC KX KPRV KCRIM KMCC KCRCM KPAONZ KNAR KHDP KENV KHIV KTRD KTAO KWAC KJUST KTBT KGIT KHSA KO KMRS KSCI KPOA KNPP KACT KVRP KBTS KAWK KNNPMNUC KERG KPIR KMFO KCOM KAID KTLA KNDP KRCM KCFC KNEI KCHG KPLS KFTFN KTFM KLIG KDEMAF KRAD KBTR KGCC KICA KHUM KSEC KPIN KESS KDEV KWWMN KOM KWNM KRFD KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KRGY KIFR KSAC KWMNCS KPAK KOMS KFPC KRIM KDDG KCGC KPAI KID KMIG KNSD KWMM
LY LE LABOR LO LH LAB LTTE LU LA LI LG LT LOG
MARR MX MASS MOPS MNUC MCAP MTCRE MRCRE MTRE MASC MY MK MAS MO MCC MCA MU ML MIL MTCR MAR MEPP MG MZ MD MP MAPP MR MA MOPPS MTS MLS MILI MEPN MEPI MEETINGS MERCOSUR MW MT MIK MN MAPS MV MILITARY MARAD MDC MACEDONIA MASSMNUC MUCN MEDIA MI MQADHAFI MPOS MPS MC
NZ NATO NI NO NU NG NL NPT NS NA NP NATIONAL NC NSF NDP NIPP NSSP NR NGO NATOIRAQ NE NAS NZUS NH NSG NAFTA NEW NRR NT NASA NAR NK NOVO NATOPREL NEA NSC NV NPA NSFO NW NORAD NPG
OTRA OECD OVIP OREP OPRC ODC OIIP OPDC OAS OSCE OPIC OMS OEXC OPCW OSCI OPAD ODIP OPEC OFDP OVIPPRELUNGANU OIE ODPC OFFICIALS OSHA OHUM OTR OMIG OSAC OBSP OFDA OVP ON OCII OES OCS OIC
PGOV PREL PARM PINR PHUM PM PREF PTER PK PINS PBIO PHSA PE PBTS PL POL PAK POV POLITICS POLICY PERL PA PCI PNAT PAS PALESTINIAN PPA PROP PERM PETR PREZ PO PRELPK PAIGH PROG POLITICAL PJUS PDOV PAO PBTSRU PGOR PMIL PARMS PINO PRAM PSI PG PREO PGOF PTERE PTE PRGOV PORG PP PS PKFK PSOE PEPR PDEM PINT PMAR PRELP PREFA PNG PTBS PFOR PUNE PGOVLO PHUMBA POLINT PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PY PLN PHUH PEDRO PF PHUS PETER PU PARTIES PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PHUMPREL POGOV PEL PINL PBT PINF PRL PSEPC POSTS PAHO PHUMPGOV PGOC PNR PROV
QA
RS RP RU RW RFE RCMP RIGHTSPOLMIL ROBERT RM RICE ROOD RO RELAM REGION RSP RF RELATIONS RIGHTS RUPREL REMON RPEL REACTION REPORT RSO
SZ SENV SOCI SNAR SY SO SP SU SI SMIG SYR SA SCUL SW SR SYRIA SNARM SPECIALIST SENS SEN SN SC SF SMIL SARS SCRM SENVSXE SL SAARC STEINBERG SWE SCRS SG SNARIZ SAN ST SIPDIS SSA SPCVIS SOFA SENVKGHG SANC SHI SEVN SHUM SK SH SNARCS SPCE SNARN SIPRS
TRGY TBIO TSPA TU TPHY TI TX TH TIP TSPL TNGD TS TW TRSY TP TZ TN TC TR TINT TF TK TRAD TT TD TWI TL TV TERRORISM TO TURKEY TSPAM TRT TFIN TAGS TBID THPY
UK UNSC UNGA UN US UZ USEU UG UP UNAUS UNMIK USTR UR UY UNHRC USPS UNSCR UNESCO UNFICYP USAID UV USOAS UNMIC UNEP UNCHR USUN UNDP USGS UNHCR UA USNC UE UNVIE UAE UNO UNODC UNCHS UNDESCO UNC UNPUOS UNDC UNICEF UNCHC UNCSD UNFCYP UNIDROIT UNCND
VE VM VT VZ VEPREL VTEG VTIZ VISIT VTPREL VENZ VAT VC VI VN
WHTI WIPO WTRO WTO WFP WS WHO WA WI WZ WBG WMD WWARD WHA WITH WTRQ WEU WMO WB
XA XR XW XX XK XL XM XS XF XG XT XC XH XD XB XU XE XV XY XZ XQ XI XTAG
YI YM YE YL YMCS
ZU ZI ZP ZR ZOELLICK ZF ZK ZO ZL ZH ZT ZB ZJ ZEALAND ZN ZA ZANU

### Browse by classification

CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN SECRET SECRET//NOFORN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

### Community resources

Follow us on Twitter Check our Reddit Twitter this Digg this page Contact us on IRC

courage is contagious

### Viewing cable 04PANAMA399, FOCUSING PANAMA'S EFFORT TO COMBAT TRAFFICKING IN

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:

- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.

To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #04PANAMA399.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
04PANAMA399 | 2004-02-19 12:54 | 2011-05-29 00:00 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Embassy Panama

`

    This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

` `

    UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PANAMA 000399

    SIPDIS

    SENSITIVE

    STATE PASS FOR G/TIP/LINDERMAN/HOLLIDAY
    WHA/PPC/FALLS, WHA/CEN/BRIGHAM

    E.O. 12958: N/A
    TAGS: PHUM PREL SMIG PM KTIP LABOR HUMAN RIGHTSPOLMIL
    SUBJECT: FOCUSING PANAMA'S EFFORT TO COMBAT TRAFFICKING IN
    PERSONS (TIP)

    REF: A. 03 PANAMA 3170
         ¶B. PANAMA 229
         ¶C. 03 STATE 305932

    --------
     SUMMARY
     --------
    ¶1. (SBU)  The January 18-21 G/TIP visit to Panama helped
    refine Embassy and GOP anti-TIP efforts approach to
    strategies (Ref A).  The Embassy will push the GOP to focus
    its anti-TIP improvements on public awareness campaigns,
    victims assistance, and increased training.  In the short
    term, legislation to update and strengthen anti-TIP and
    anti-child pornography statutes and to eliminate sex-worker
    ("alternadora") visas for Colombians theoretically could be
    passed in the March legislative session.  However, the
    upcoming May 2 elections could slow Embassy and GOP efforts.
    The recent bust of a child prostitution ring (Ref B) and
    attendant publicity provides an opportunity to move Panama
    "ahead of the curve" combating both TIP and the broader issue
    of child sexual exploitation.  End Summary.

    ------------------------
    INFORMATIVE G/TIP VISIT
    ------------------------

    ¶2. (SBU)  Embassy used the January 18-21 investigative trip
    of G/TIP officer Phillip Linderman to develop an abundance of
    information for G/TIP, Embassy, GOP officials, and others.
    Linderman shared the Washington perspective on TIP with a
    diverse audience.  Panama likely surpasses G/TIP's informal
    100 victims threshold; on the other hand, meetings with
    various GOP officials demonstrated that the GOP is willing to
    address the issue.  GOP efforts are hampered by a lack of
    resources.  Several NGOs are combating TIP, especially
    commercial sexual exploitation of minors, within the broader
    context of stopping forced child labor.

    -------------------
    AHEAD OF THE CURVE
    -------------------

    ¶3.  (SBU)  Embassy TIP working group (POL, NAS, INS, Customs,
    CONS), chaired by DCM, meet on January 29 to discuss findings
    and to map updated Embassy anti-TIP strategies (Ref A).  The
    working group's agreed that GOP efforts to combat TIP can be
    improved by: A) improving training, B) strengthening victim
    assistance C) starting a public education campaign, and D)
    proposing legislative changes.  Training, victims assistance,
    and educational campaigns, and legislation are viable
    near-term goals.

    ----------------------
    WE WANT TO LEARN MORE
    ----------------------

    ¶4.  (SBU)  A common refrain heard from the GOP and NGOs is
    the desire for more training.  Currently, two USG-sponsored
    training sessions are planned.  The "Paul and Lisa" training,
    partially subsidized by G/TIP (REF C), will bring together a
    diverse group of GOP officials, NGOs, and the press.  The
    training will be held in late March 2004 and will focus on
    identifying and preventing of TIP.  The Department of Justice
    (DOJ) is planning anti-TIP training in Panama for early
    summer 2004.  The training would focus on the legal issues
    related to combating TIP.  In addition, DHS/ICE are active in
    training focused on sexual exploitation of minors via the
    Internet and identifying potential TIP victims in transit to
    and/or through Panama.

    ---------------
    A PLACE TO TURN
    ---------------

    ¶5.  (SBU)  TIP victims and/or those who know them need a
    place to report this crime.  A victims' hot line is just such
    a place.  The Embassy TIP working group believes that the hot
    line should operated by a NGO or independent GOP agency (i.e.
    the Ombudsman).  A hot line separate from the GOP is less
    likely to be manipulated for policy or political reasons.
    Funding for such a hot line would be a joint venture between
    the GOP and the Embassy, using NAS funds.

    -----------------------
    MAKING THE PUBLIC AWARE
    -----------------------

    ¶6.  (SBU)  A public education/awareness campaign on TIP makes
    a good link with a victims hot line.  PTJ detectives already
    conduct informal sessions at schools and universities.
    Embassy support for a GOP TIP public relations campaign will
    expand to a broader public relations campaign.  Print and
    visual media will be used.  State, INS, and Customs brochures
    and other informational resources will be included in this
    campaign.  Embassy also plans to work with high-level GOP
    officials on public announcements and speeches that will help
    Panamanians further understand the importance of stopping
    TIP.

    ----------------
    TOUGHENING LAWS
    ----------------

    ¶7.  (SBU)  Legislative and statutory changes are proposed for
    anti-TIP, anti-child pornography and immigration laws.
    Panama's current anti-TIP statues can hamper investigations
    because of the need for a formal complaint.  Current
    proposals would eliminate that provision, and strengthen
    other parts of the law.  To reinforce the anti-child
    pornography law, a broad cross-section of the GOP and civil
    society proposed a new law to update the definitions of child
    pornography and prostitution.  Increased jail sentences and
    acknowledgment of the pervasive effects of the Internet in
    child pornography and prostitution are contained in this
    proposal.  Finally, as part of a sweeping change in
    immigration policy, the director of Immigration is proposing
    to eliminate the sex worker ("alternadora") visa program.
    (NOTE:  The "alternadora" visa is granted to approximately
    400-500 Colombian women annually to work in the sex trade in
    Panama.  End note.).  A limiting factor is the current
    election season, but the upcoming March legislative session
    could provide an opportunity to turn at least some of these
    proposals into law.

    -----------------
    BROADER CHALLENGE
    -----------------

    ¶8.  (SBU)  Sexual exploitation of minors is not limited to
    TIP-related circumstances.  Poverty, drug abuse, alcoholism,
    and a "keep quiet" culture all contribute to child sexual
    exploitation and abuse.  Embassy believes a broader
    perspective is needed to address this issue.  Legitimate
    questions are raised about why the USG focuses so much time
    and effort in Panama on TIP when it likely affects relatively
    few (50-100) children.  Panama faces a much larger problem of
    sexual abuse within families and communities that has no
    commercial context and the effects on young minds and bodies
    is no less devastating.  The importance of combating TIP
    cannot be understated but applying our full efforts to
    problems that take deeper root and are more widespread in
    Panama might prove to be a more effective use of USG funds
    and time.

    -------
    COMMENT
    -------

    ¶9. (SBU)  Panama is fighting TIP and already has a good
    anti-TIP base.  GOP and Embassy near-term goals of enhanced
    training, victims assistance, and educational campaigns will
    help place Panama ahead of the anti-TIP curve.  Strengthening
    anti-TIP and anti-child pornography statutes, as well as
    eliminating sex worker ("alternadora") visas are ambitious
    but realistic goals as legislators broadly support these
    ideas.  Embassy believes that a broader perspective and
    action plan to combat child sexual exploitation is needed.
    As the recent dismantling of a child prostitution ring shows
    (Ref B), the GOP can and will take action against TIP.  With
    USG support, the GOP and Panamanian NGOs can take further
    action to ensure Panama limits the spread of TIP reduces its
    scope.

    WATT

`