This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS BOGOTA 006710
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA AND L
JUSTICE FOR DAAG MARY LEE WARREN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV KJUS CO
SUBJECT: CANDIDATES FOR COLOMBIA'S NEW FISCAL GENERAL
1. (U) SUMMARY. ON JULY 7, PRESIDENT URIBE ANNOUNCED THE
THREE CANDIDATES TO BE CONSIDERED TO REPLACE THE FISCAL
GENERAL (ATTORNEY GENERAL), LUIS CAMILO OSORIO, WHOSE TERM
EXPIRES AT THE END OF THE MONTH. THE NEW FISCAL GENERAL
WILL TAKE OFFICE ON AUGUST 1. ALL OF THE CANDIDATES ARE
FROM THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY: CONSUELO CALDAS CANO, JORGE
PRETELT CHALJUB AND MARIO IGUARAN ARANA. THE SUPREME COURT
IS EXPECTED TO ELECT THE NEW FISCAL GENERAL ON JULY 18.
INFORMATION ON THE THREE CANDIDATES FOLLOWS. END SUMMARY.
2. (U) CONSUELO CALDAS GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF
ROSARIO AND IS A SPECIALIST IN TAX AND FINANCIAL LAW IN
PRIVATE PRACTICE. SHE HAS WORKED IN BOTH THE PRIVATE AND
PUBLIC SECTORS. HER PRIVATE SECTOR EXPERIENCE INCLUDED
SITTING ON THE BOARDS OF VARIOUS BUSINESSES INCLUDING GRUPO
LEGIS, A LEGAL PUBLICATION SERVICE RUN BY HER FATHER, TITO
LIVIO CALDAS. IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR, SHE HAS WORKED IN THE
LEGAL AFFAIRS OFFICE OF THE OFFICE OF BANKING SUPERVISION,
AS AN ADVISOR IN THE OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF TAXES, AND IN
THE OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF TAXES FOR THE OFFICE OF
CUSTOMS AND TAXES (DIRECCION DE IMPUESTOS Y ADUANAS
NACIONALES DE COLOMBIA, OR DIAN). CALDAS ALSO SERVED ON THE
FACULTY OF THE PUBLIC HOUSING PROGRAM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
ROSARIO, AND HAS TAUGHT POSTGRADUATE COURSES IN FINANCIAL
LAW. HER FATHER IS A MAJOR PROMOTER OF THE LAW ON
REELECTION. (NOTE: COLOMBIAN LAW REQUIRES THAT AT LEAST ONE
WOMAN BE ON THE CANDIDATE LIST FOR FISCAL GENERAL. END
NOTE.)
3. (U) JORGE PRETELT IS A PERSONAL FRIEND OF PRESIDENT
URIBE, AND HAS BEEN MENTIONED AS A POTENTIAL CANDIDATE SINCE
APRIL. (NOTE: PRETELT IS NOT RELATED TO THE CURRENT
MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR AND JUSTICE, SABAS PRETELT DE LA
VEGA. END NOTE.) FROM MONTERIA (CORDOBA), PRETELT HAS A
SPECIALIZATION IN ADMINISTRATIVE LAW. FOR MORE THAN 15
YEARS HE HAS SERVED ON THE FACULTY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF
SERGIO ARBOLEDA, TEACHING CONSTITUTIONAL LAW. IN THE PAST
HE WAS THE DEPUTY RECTOR FOR ADMINISTRATION OF THE
UNIVERSITY, AND CURRENTLY IS THE DEPUTY RECTOR FOR
MANAGEMENT. HE WAS A MAGISTRATE OF THE NATIONAL ELECTORAL
COUNCIL FROM 1998 TO 2002, AND A DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES
FOR THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY TELECOM FROM 1990 TO
1992. HE IS ALSO A CO-MAGISTRATE ON ONE OF THE CHAMBERS OF
THE CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE LA JUDICATURA.
4. (U) MARIO IGUARAN IS CURRENTLY THE VICE MINISTER OF
JUSTICE. LIKE JORGE PRETELT, IGUARAN WAS MENTIONED AS A
POTENTIAL CANDIDATE EARLY ON. MINISTER OF INTERIOR AND
JUSTICE SABAS PRETELT PROPOSED IGUARAN. IGUARAN HAS PLAYED
A SEMINAL ROLE IN THE PROMOTION OF THE LAW ON TRUTH AND
JUSTICE AND REVIEWS ALL EXTRADITION REQUESTS SUBMITTED BY
THE USG TO THE GOC. FROM BUGA (VALLE DEL CAUCA), IGUARAN IS
AN EXPERT IN PUBLIC AND PENAL LAW WHO HAS BEEN A STRONG
SUPPORTER OF THE URIBE ADMINISTRATION AND DEFENDED THE
ADMINISTRATION IN CASES BROUGHT AGAINST IT. A LAWYER FROM
THE UNIVERSIDAD EXTERNADO DE COLOMBIA, IGUARAN ALSO HAS A
MASTER'S DEGREE IN COMPARATIVE LAW FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF
BONN (GERMANY), A SPECIALIZATION IN HIGH-LEVEL STATE
MANAGEMENT FROM THE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, AND A
SPECIALIZATION IN HIGH COURT PENAL PROCEEDINGS FROM THE
UNIVERSITY OF GRAN COLOMBIA. HE IS A PROFESSOR IN THE AREA
OF POLITICAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL INSTITUTIONS, AND TEACHES
FOR THE MASTER OF PUBLIC LAW PROGRAM AT THE UNIVERSIDAD
EXTERNADO. HE HAS ALSO BEEN A VISITING PROFESSOR ON VARIOUS
OCCASIONS FOR THE FACULTY OF JURISPRUDENCE AT THE UNIVERSITY
OF URBINO (ITALY), AND A FELLOW OF THE UNIVERSITY OF
VALENCIA (SPAIN). IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR, HE OCCUPIED THE
POSTS OF INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR STATE EMPLOYMENT, DIRECTOR OF
THE JUDICIAL TRAINING SCHOOL OF THE CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE LA
JUDICATURA, ASSISTANT MAGISTRATE OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL
COURT, ADVISOR TO THE SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION OF THE
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF 1991 AND THE PRESIDENTIAL NATIONAL PLAN
FOR REHABILITATION, AND CO-MAGISTRATE OF THE SUPERIOR COURT
OF THE DISTRICT OF CUNDINAMARCA. HE WAS ALSO THE DIRECTOR
OF THE NATIONAL OFFICE OF NARCOTICS (DIRECCION NACIONAL DE
ESTUPEFACIENTES, OR DNE). HE SPEAKS SOME ENGLISH. IGUARAN
IS A FAVORITE OF MANY CONSERVATIVE PARTY LEGISLATORS.
5. (U) RECENT NEWSPAPER EDITORIALS HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERNS
THAT THE LIST OF CANDIDATES IS NOT STRONG. IGUARAN, AS VICE
MINISTER OF JUSTICE, HAS WORKED CLOSELY WITH POST ON SEVERAL
ISSUES. HE IS COMPETENT AND RELIABLE. OTHER NOMINEES HAVE
NOT HAD CONTACT WITH THE EMBASSY IN RECENT YEARS. POST WILL
CONTINUE TO MONITOR AND REPORT ON THE ELECTION.
WOOD