SUAREZ MASON ARRESTED - 1987/01/27

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Argentina Declassification Project - The "Dirty War" (1976-83)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06627154
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: April 3, 2019
• Document Release Date: April 12, 2019
• Publication Date: January 27, 1987

Approved for Release: 2018/09/17 C06627154
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CLASS:
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0 272145Z JAN 87
CHRGE:
FROG 01/27/87
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FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
APPRV:
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TO RUEHC / SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6362
MIEN:
POL:JJCARRAGHER:Mr
RUEOEHA / USCINCSO QUARRY HEIGHTS PN
CLEAR:
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RUCBSAA / USCINCLANT NORFOLs VA
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C ONFIDENTIALBUENCS AIRES 00807
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P0L6 AMB DCM
ECON SCI USIS
DAC MILGP DFA
EA0 BF MON
CINCSO AND CINCLANT ALSO FOR INTAFF
E.O. 12356: DECL:OADR
TAGS: PHUM, PGOV, AR
SUBJECT: SUAREZ MASON ARRESTED
CIA HAS NO OBJECTION TO ')
DECLASSIFICATION AND/OR RELEASE
OF THIS DOCUMENT DATE: 09-14-2018
1. (U) CASHIERED GENERAL CARLOS SUAREZ MASON WAS
ARRESTED SOUTH OF SAN FRANCISCO JANUARY 24. HIS ARREST
AND SUBSEQUENT COURT APPEARANCE HAVE BEEN WIDELY
REPORTED IN ALL THE ARGENTINE PRESS. SUAREZ MASON,
A FUGITIVE FROM JUSTICE FOR NEARLY THREE YEARS, IS
WIDELY SEEN AS ONE OF THE MILITARY MOST INVOLVED IN
RESPONSIBILITY FOR HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS. PRESS
REPORTS HERE TARE HIS EXTRADITION AS A GIVEN.
2. (C) COMMENT: THE ARREST AND RAPID EXTRADITION CF
SUAREZ MASON IS IN GOA'S INTEREST BECAUSE IT PROVIDES
AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEEP PUBLIC ATTENTION FOCUSSED ON
A MILITARY HUMAN RIGHTS PROCESS AT A TIME THE GOVERN-
MENT IS SEEKING TO LIMIT/PREVENT OTHER INDICTMENTS
FROM BEING ISSUED. OUR INITIAL READING IS THAT SUAREZ
MASON'S FATE, AS A CASHIERED OFFICER, IS CF LESS
CONCERN TO MOST MILITARY THAN WERE EVEN THE JUNTAS
OR GENERAL CAMPS. HIS FATE MAY, THEREFORE, BE
IRRELEVANT TO THOSE INVOLVED IN THE CENTRAL ISSUE FOR
CIVILIAN-MILITARY RELATIONSHIPS, THE HUMAN RIGHTS
TRIALS OF ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY. SUAREZ MASON IS
ALSO WANTED FOR EMBEZZLING YPF FUNDS UNDER THE JUNTA
GOVERNMENT AND WAS ONE OF TWELVE NAMED IN THE GOA'S
STATE OF SIEGE DECREE IN 1985. THE GOA SUSPECTS A
SUAREZ MASON HAND IN EFFORTS TO DESTABILIZE DEMOCRACY.
GILDRED
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Approved for Release: 2018/09/17 C06627154