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UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000451 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA/BSC, WHA/EPSC, AND INR/R, 
NSC FOR NILMINI GUNARATNE, AND DEL RENIGAR 
TREASURY FO A/S QUARLES, DAS LEE, DAVID DRYSDALE, RAMIN 
USDOC FOR ALEXANDER PEACHER 
SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL AR
SUBJECT: ARGENTINA POLITICAL ROUNDUP FOR FEBRUARY 24 
 
REF: A. (05) BUENOS AIRES 0008 
 
     ¶B. BUENOS AIRES 346 
     ¶C. BUENOS AIRES 407 
 
¶1. (U) Reftels and other Mission reporting available at 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires 
 
¶2. (U)  TABLE OF CONTENTS: 
-- Paco Use Increases Among Argentine Adolescents 
-- Ibarra Impeachment Update 
-- Las Heras Truce Wearing Thin 
-- Argentina Seeks Dialogue with Uruguay but Prepared for The 
Hague 
 
--------------------------------------------- - 
Paco Use Increases Among Argentine Adolescents 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
¶3.  (U) On February 19, The Argentine newspaper of record La 
Nacion reported a 200% increase in the use of the narcotic 
paco among youth between the ages of 12 and 18 since 2001. 
(NOTE: the article did not provide a referent to youth use 
rates in 2001, Post has requested a copy of the SEDRONAR 
report upon which the article was based in order to determine 
the actual scope of the reported increase. END NOTE.) Paco, 
coca base mixed with toxic chemicals, is a relatively 
inexpensive and extremely addictive drug similar to crack. 
Like crack, it is usually smoked, but unlike crack its 
effects fade rapidly, requiring addicts to use the drug 
repeatedly to retain the "high."  Paco costs only 1 peso (1/3 
of a U.S. dollar) a dose, but as the effects do not last 
addicts frequently take 30 to 100 doses a day.  Due to its 
low per-dose cost, paco has been seen primarily as a narcotic 
of choice for the urban poor living in the slums surrounding 
the capital.  Many indigent youth addicts claim that they 
started using the drug as an appetite suppressant to ward off 
hunger, which may explain why it has become more popular with 
this demographic group than marijuana as also claimed by the 
La Nacion article.  The article reflects recent indications 
that non-indigent youth are also experimenting with paco in 
growing numbers. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Nicolas Dapena, an official with the national 
agency responsible for narcotics prevention and treatment 
SEDRONAR, informed POLOFF that the basic information in the 
La Nacion article was correct, but he could not confirm that 
the increase in paco use was actually 200% in the last 4 
years.  He confirmed that the La Nacion article was based 
upon a recent SEDRONAR study into use and abuse trends in the 
Buenos Aires area and that these findings should not be 
extrapolated to the nation as a whole.  He opined that the 
actual percentage increase in the drug,s popularity was hard 
to determine due to the fact that many of the users were 
marginalized young people who tended to avoid contact with 
authorities.  He confirmed that paco was doubly dangerous 
because it was highly addictive and that there was no one 
formula for creating it.  He said that the damage caused by 
paco depended on what mix of various chemicals the maker had 
available, and that addicts often did not know or care what 
chemical compounds were used to make the particular dose they 
were taking.  Dapena added that unlike other drugs such as 
cocaine, heroin and marijuana, SEDRONAR did not keep seizure 
statistics on paco, but he was certain that seizures had 
increased greatly in recent years.  Dapena agreed with POLOFF 
that SEDRONAR needed to begin tracking paco seizure 
statistics and promised to provide seizure figures as soon as 
they became available. 
 
------------------------- 
Ibarra Impeachment Update 
------------------------- 
 
¶5.  (U) The long and contentious impeachment proceedings 
against suspended Buenos Aires Mayor Anibal Ibarra are in 
their final weeks.  Local sources indicate that a verdict 
will likely come on March 10, although the city legislature 
set a deadline of March 14.  The proceedings stem from the 
December 30, 2004 fire at the Cromagnon nightclub in which 
190 people were killed (Reftel A).  While others, including 
the club owner and the band playing that night have been 
indicted, family members of the victims pin the blame for the 
tragedy squarely on Ibarra and have been the driving force 
behind the impeachment effort, in some instances threatening 
family members of legislators who would dare to vote against 
Ibarra,s impeachment. 
 
¶6.  (U) With the proceeding drawing to a close the embattled 
Mayor has begun to step up his public appearances and marshal 
support from a wide sector of the public including 
politicians, civic groups, and celebrities.  Ibarra announced 
plans for a march and rally at the Plaza de Mayo on March 2 
where he will no doubt hammer home his message that the 
impeachment proceedings have "exceeded all limits," and 
represent "political opportunism like none that has been seen 
anywhere in the world."  Ibarra has reason to be optimistic. 
Polls indicate that 60 - 70 percent of the people do not 
believe he should be impeached and Deputy Gerardo Romagnoli 
recently tried to recuse himself from the proceedings after 
claiming that the entire process had been a "circus." 
Perhaps more importantly, newspapers have recently published 
photographs of Ibarra and a smiling President Kirchner who 
was quoted as referring to Ibarra as "my friend."  This was 
seen by those familiar with Kirchner's style as a signal to 
the three "Kirchnerista" deputies who are part of the 
legislative commission deciding Ibarra's fate to vote against 
impeachment.  If these three deputies vote against 
impeachment they would insure Ibarra's acquittal. 
 
¶7.  (SBU) Comment:  Kirchner's support for Ibarra is more 
likely a strategic political decision than a willingness to 
expend political capital for a "friend."  It has been widely 
assumed that Kirchner wants to place his own man in the 
Mayor's chair in 2007 and he may feel his choice will stand a 
better chance if he does not have to compete with Vice Mayor 
Jorge Telerman who has been an effective and popular stand-in 
as the head of the city government since Ibarra's suspension. 
 End Comment. 
 
---------------------------- 
Las Heras Truce Wearing Thin 
---------------------------- 
 
¶8.  (U) Dissident oil and gas workers announced a return to 
protests in Las Heras, where they will be joined in 
solidarity by various piquetero leaders from Buenos Aires, to 
demand the withdrawal of 300 gendarmes from Santa Cruz.  This 
call for renewed union activity comes shortly after a march 
led by the widow of the police officer killed during the 
storming of a provincial police station (Reftel B).  The 
march was organized in an effort to demand justice and 
included family members of police, teachers and local 
business owners.  Noticeably absent from the march were any 
members of the oil and gas unions or businesses.  These 
events have left the city divided into two camps, one 
supporting striking workers and the other supporting the 
investigation into the police officer,s death.   After two 
weeks of a tense truce, largely enforced by the gendarmes, 
this latest call to protest has increased the conflictive 
atmosphere in Las Heras. 
 
¶9.  (U) Meanwhile, speculation is increasing that the judge 
investigating the death of police officer will make arrests 
in the coming days.  Reports are that there is enough 
evidence to arrest at least four suspects.  There have been 
at least two witnesses that have testified thus far, although 
several additional witnesses are reportedly reluctant to come 
forward.  Local press reports that sources in the Casa Rosada 
admit that President Kirchner has an interest in protecting 
his image by assuring that there is not an unnecessary delay 
in the investigation. 
 
--------------------------------------------- -------------- 
Argentina Seeks Dialogue with Uruguay but Prepares for The 
Hague 
--------------------------------------------- --------------- 
 
¶10.  (U) Both houses of the Argentine Congress have backed 
the decision to take the case of the paper mills at Fray 
Bentos, Uruguay to the International Court at the Hague if 
necessary (Reftel C).  In the Senate discussions on 
Wednesday, several senators denounced Uruguay,s paper mills 
saying that they will be using polluting technology that will 
be prohibited in the European Union by 2007.  Senator 
Terragro proposed a three-part strategy for dealing with the 
conflict.  He advocated first exhausting all diplomatic 
negotiations, then creating a congressional commission to 
deal with the issue, and as a last resort, an appeal to The 
Hague.  In the Lower House deputies called for negotiations 
with Uruguay, and made demands for Uruguay to cease work on 
the mills, claiming Uruguay was in violation of the Uruguay 
River Treaty of 1975 which calls for mutual consultation on 
any project affecting the river. 
 
¶11.  (U) For now, citizens in Entre Rios say that the third 
and final bridge open between Argentina and Uruguay at 
Concordia will not be blocked as previously threatened.  Some 
50 people gathered at the bridge this week, but did not 
entirely stop traffic.  The two other international bridges, 
at Gualeguaychu and Colon, remained blocked.  Argentine press 
reports that the Government of Uruguay will take up the issue 
of the roadblocks with MERCOSUR on the basis that it is a 
violation of free circulation and amounts to an illegal 
economic blockade.  Reportedly the GOU has requested 
negotiations with Argentina, and is looking for Kirchner to 
intervene and stop the roadblocks.  Uruguayan President 
Vazquez has sent a foreign ministry official to Washington to 
inform the OAS Secretary General of the roadblocks and to 
argue that they are a violation of the Inter-American 
Declaration of Human Rights and Mercosur rules which provide 
for the free circulation of persons and commerce. 
 
¶12.  (U) Though both governments profess a willingness to 
negotiate, the different international bodies they are 
seeking to engage on this issue illustrate the very different 
concerns of each country.  Argentina has chosen to stress the 
environmental impacts with International Court, while Uruguay 
sees the issue as one of international trade and 
transportation more applicable to the MERCOSUR trade union. 
GUTIERREZ