R 261809Z JAN 09
FM AMEMBASSY PRAIA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 1642
INFO AFRICOM
CIA WASHDC
DIA WASHINGTON DC
JIATF SOUTH
AMEMBASSY MADRID 
AMEMBASSY LISBON 
AMEMBASSY PARIS 
AMEMBASSY LONDON 
AMEMBASSY PRAIA

UNCLAS PRAIA 000012 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SNAR PREL KJUS PGOV CV
SUBJECT: JUSTICE REFORM AGREEMENT REACHED BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND 
OPPOSITION 
 
REF: 08 PRAIA 277 
 
¶1.  (U) SUMMARY.  The obstacles between government and 
opposition forces that had been blocking reform in the justice 
sector appear to have been overcome.  On January 09, 2009, Prime 
Minister Josi Maria Neves and Movement for Democracy (MpD) 
opposition leader Jorge Santos reached an agreement on the 
measures intended to resolve the main problems of the justice 
sector. Among the measures to be taken is an increase in the 
number of judges sitting on the Supreme Court of Justice and the 
installation of the Constitutional Court.  END SUMMARY 
 
¶2. (U) After a series of failed attempts, the government and the 
opposition agreed to work together to provide Cape Verde with a 
number of structural measures aimed at improving the justice 
system.  Present during negotiations were MpD leader Jorge 
Santos accompanied by legislators Eurico Monteiro and Joana 
Rosa. Representing the African Party for the Independence of 
Cape Verde(PAICV) government were Prime Minister Neves, Minister 
of Justice Marisa Morais, and cabinet spokeswoman Jandira 
Hopffer Almada.  Following the meeting, both sides expressed 
optimism, promising more good news for the coming week.  The 
`good news', according to Jorge Santos, included the designation 
of a provisional, transitional Supreme Court of Justice, which 
will combine its function with those of a constitutional court 
until the installation of the Constitutional Court. (Note: the 
Constitutional Court would ultimately deal with matters of 
interpretation and application of the constitution; the Supreme 
Court would hear appeals of lower court rulings.  The 
terminology could be confusing for American audiences, since in 
this case the Supreme Court is in practice an appellate court, 
while the Constitutional Court fills the role played in the U.S. 
by our Supreme Court.) The legislation increases the total 
number of justices from five to seven.  The two political 
parties, through two-thirds parliamentary majority, are required 
to vote to select the two additional Supreme Court judges, while 
the High Council of Judicial Magistrates will choose four and 
the President of the Republic one. The two sides also agreed to 
the naming of a justice ombudsman, to hear complaints from the 
public.  Both the ombudsman and the creation of a constitutional 
court were made official in 1999 but have yet to be implemented. 
 
¶3. (U)The agreement was prompted by the recent release of two 
individuals convicted of the high-profile murders of two Italian 
tourists on the island of Sal in 2007. Their case was awaiting 
appeal, but the supreme court failed to meet the deadline for 
issuing a decision, resulting in the prisoners' release.  Public 
reacted with outrage and disbelief, prompting comments that the 
Cape Verdean justice system had lost all credibility. (Note: 
after the public uproar and extensive harassment, including 
death threats, the individuals voluntarily went back to prison, 
after which the Supreme Court upheld the lower court's decision. 
 They are currently serving 24-year sentences). 
 
¶4. (U) Prime Minister Neves promised that 2009 will be a year of 
`pleasant surprises' in the justice sector. Neves hinted that 
his meeting with Jorge Santos also touched upon other issues. 
These may include further revision of the Constitution and 
further clarification of the rights and responsibilities for 
political office holders as well. 
 
¶5. (U) Supreme Court President Benfeito Mosso Ramos has harshly 
criticized the political forces for not making judicial reform a 
priority - late last year he prepared a scathing report on the 
state of the justice system and the urgent need for reform. 
After the announcement of this agreement, Ramos was pleased, but 
pointed out the irony that these problems had been sitting on 
the table for years, yet were resolved in just a one-hour 
meeting. 
 
¶6. (U) COMMENT.  The expansion in the number of Supreme Court 
judges from five to seven, the creation of the Constitutional 
Court and the naming of a Justice ombudsman are important steps 
towards real judicial reform.  Other matters still awaiting 
discussion are the revision of the penal code and judicial 
proceedings code, and the adoption of strict measures, such as 
penalties for judges and prosecutors who violate legal 
deadlines, and the establishment of stronger victims' 
compensation laws.  These are, by far, the most important next 
steps for the Cape Verdean justice sector.  Justice reform was 
originally proposed by MpD during its administration 
(1991-1999).  However, following its electoral defeat in 1999, 
the MpD did an about-face and blocked any such reform, fearing 
handing PAICV an electoral advantage.  The result has been eight 
years of deteriorating judicial authority, ultimately including 
releasing convicted murderers onto the streets due to easily 
avoided procedural errors.  MpD showed courage in finally 
acquiescing to the urgent need for judicial reform, but the 
party, and in particular party leader Jorge Santos, could pay a 
steep price for handing PAICV this victory.  In light of the 
highly publicized Sal murder case, Parliamentarians on both 
sides of the fence likely want resolution (or at least the 
appearance of resolution) to these pending issues, before 
another high-profile convict slips through the judicial cracks. 
These challenges won't be solved in a few one-hour meetings. 
But this agreement proves that, if lawmakers are sufficiently 
motivated, more developments could come quickly.   END COMMENT 
 
 
MYLES