VZCZCXYZ0001
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHLP #0591 0611839
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 021839Z MAR 07
FM AMEMBASSY LA PAZ
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2699
INFO RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 6596
RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 3917
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 7805
RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 5051
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 2284
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 2384
RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO 4452
RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO 0122
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 4925
RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 9515
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0077
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUMIAAA/USCINCSO MIAMI FL
RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA 0185
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL

UNCLAS LA PAZ 000591 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR G-PRM 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREF PREL PGOV BL
SUBJECT: CUBAN DISSIDENT SAMARTINO MAY GO TO NORWAY 
 
REF: JANUARY 2007 ASDARS 
 
¶1. (U) La Paz leading daily newspaper La Razon and the Human 
Rights Foundation (HRF) reported on February 28 that Norway 
has agreed to provide asylum to expelled Cuban dissident 
Amauris Samartino (aka Amauri Sanmartino) who is currently 
residing in Colombia.  According to the HRF, the United 
Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) informed 
Samartino of Norway's offer on February 23.  Samartino was 
granted legal resident (not refugee) status in Bolivia in 
October 2001. The GOB arrested Samartino for anti-GOB 
activities on December 24, 2006 and eventually deported him 
to Colombia on January 9 after UNHCR intervened in the case. 
On February 2, the Bolivian Constitutional Tribunal ruled the 
GOB's arrest, detention and deportation of Samartino illegal, 
opening up the possibility that he could return to Bolivia. 
On February 3, Vice President Alvaro Garcia Linera stated 
that while the GOB respects the court's decision, it would 
not allow Samartino to return to Bolivia.  To date, Samartino 
remains in Colombia. Samartino's wife, Normina Chavez, states 
he may travel to Norway in the next few weeks. 
GOLDBERG