HEMISPHERIC PAROLE PROGRAM: REQUEST FOR INS REVIEW, CASE OF JUAN CARLOS ZARATE, 369/79/1 - 1980/03/11

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Keywords: ARGENTINA
• Keywords: ASYLUM SEEKERS
• Keywords: HUMAN RIGHTS
• Keywords: ZARATE JUAN
• Collection: Argentina Declassification Project - The "Dirty War" (1976-83)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 01110728
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: April 3, 2019
• Document Release Date: April 12, 2019
• Publication Date: March 11, 1980

Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO1110728
'Current Class: SECRET
Current Handling: n/a
Document Number: 1980BUEN0S02136
SECRET
PAGE 01 BUENOS 02136 01 OF 02 112142Z
ACTION RP-10
Page: 1
Channel: n/a
INFO OCT-01 ARA-11 ADS-00 VO-05 CIAE-00 NSAE-00 /027 W
108735 112200Z /62
R 111954Z MAR 80
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO INS/CO WASHDC IMMEDIATE
INFO SECSTATE WASHDC 4597
SECRETSECTION 1 OF 2 BUENOS AIRES 2136
INS FOR INS/CORAP (MR POTTER)
STATE FOR SIR? (AILEEN ROBINSON)
E.O. 12065: RDS-4 3-11-2000 (HASSETT, FREDERICK H) OR-V
TAGS: CVIS SREF SHUM AR (ZARATE, JUAN CARLOS)
SUBJ: (U) HEMISPHERIC PAROLE PROGRAM: REQUEST FOR INS REVIEW, CASE
OF JUAN CARLOS ZARATE, 369/79/1
REF: (A) 79 BUENOS AIRES 10279, (B) 79 BUENOS AIRES 0820
1. (U) CASE STATUS: EMBASSY HAS BEEN INFORMED THAT JUAN CARLOS
ZARATE, 369/79/1, HAS BEEN GRANTED THE RIGHT OF OPTION BY THE
GOA FOR TRAVEL TO THE UNITED STATES. THEREFORE, EMBASSY
REQUESTS INS REVIEW AND DECISION ON THIS CASE AS QUICKLY AS
POSSIBLE.
2. (U) BIOGRAPHICAL DATA: SUBJECT, DPOB: NOV 19, 1940,
MENDOZA, ARGENTINA. SPOUSE: TRINIDAD CORVALAN DE ZARATE, DPOB:
AUG 20, 1941, GODOY CRUZ, MENDOZA, ARGENTINA. CHILDREN:
CARLOS ALEJANDRO ZARATE, DPOB: AUG 21, 1964, GODOY CRUZ, MENDOZA,
ARGENTINA AND GRACIELA ELBA ZARATE, DPOB: DEC 14, 1966, GODOY
CRUZ, MENDOZA, ARGENTINA.
3. (U) CONSULAR OFFICER'S INTERVIEWAND RECOMMENDATION
OF AUG 21, 1979:
SECRET
SECRET
PAGE 02 BUENOS 02136 01 OF 02 112142Z
QUOTE - MR. JUAN CARLOS ZARATE WAS BORN AND RAISED IN THE
CITY OF MENDOZA, PROVINCE OF MENDOZA, ARGENTINA. MR. ZARATE
IS MARRIED AND HAS TWO CHILDREN. MR. ZARATE'S WIFE,
Current Class: -Srei4E.T_
pproved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO1110728
Ei
. Page: 1
Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO1110728
Current Class: SECRET
Current Handling: n/a
Document Number: 1980BUEN0S02136
Page: 2
Channel: n/a
TRINIDAD CORVALAN DE ZARATE, IS ALSO PRESENTLY DETAINED IN
VILLA DEVOTO PRISON IN BUENOS AIRES.
4. (U) - QTE - MR. ZARATE ATTENDED HIGH SCHOOL IN THE CITY
OF MENDOZA AT THE ESCUELA DE CAPACITACION TECNICA AND DROPPED
OUT IN 1957 AFTER COMPLETING THREE YEARS OF STUDY. WHILE A
STUDENT, MR. ZARATE STATED THAT HE BELONGED TO NO STUDENT
ORGANIZATIONS NOR PARTICIPATED IN ANY STUDENT ORGANIZATION
ACTIVITIES.
5. (U) - QTE - MR. ZARATE STARTED WORKING IN 1954 IN MENDOZA
AS A METAL WORKER IN A WINE MACHINERY MANUFACTURE PLANT. IN 1960,
HE SWITCHED JOBS AND FOUND WORK AS AN ASSEMBLYMAN AT INDUSTRIA
CARROCERA, A MENDOZA FIRM THAT ASSEMBLED BUSES. HE WORKED FOR
THIS COMPANY UNTIL 1973 WHEN HE FOUND EMPLOYMENT AS A PROJECT
INSPECTOR FOR THE MINISTERIO DE GOBIERNO OF THE PROVINCE OF
MENDOZA. IN 1974, MR. ZARATE QUIT HIS GOVERNMENT JOB AND FROM
1974 UNTIL HIS ARREST IN NOVEMBER 1974, HE WORKED ON THE BUILDING
OF A SUPERMARKET FINANCED BY THE ASOCIACION BANCARIA DE MENDOZA.
6. (U) - QTE - MR. ZARATE STATED THAT IN 1966 AND 1967 HE WAS
A MEMBER OF THE SINDICATO METALURGICO ON MENDOZA BUT WAS NOT
ACTIVE IN THE UNION.
7. (U) - QTE - MR. ZARATE STATED THAT-HE HAD ALWAYS FAVORED THE
PERONIST POLITICAL PARTY AND HAD JOINED THE PARTY IN 1972.
HE HAS NEVER HELD ANY POSITION WITHIN THE PARTY BUT HAS BEEN
ACTIVE IN THE PARTY'S LOCAL ORGANIZATION. MR. ZARATE STILL
CONSIDERS HIMSELF TO BE A PERONIST.
SECRET
SECRET
PAGE 03
BUENOS 02136 01 OF 02 112142Z
8. (U) - QTE - MR. ZARATE WAS ARRESTED ON NOVEMBER
18, 1974 WHEN HE AND HIS WIFE WENT TO A FRIEND'S HOUSE TO PICK
UP AN OXYGEN TANK THAT MR. ZARATE HAD LOANED THE FRIEND. WHEN
MR. AND MRS ZARATE ARRIVED AT THEIR FRIENDJS HOUSE, THEY WERE
ARRESTED BY PROVINCIAL POLICE. MR. ZARATE WAS TAKEN TO THE
DEPARTMENTO CENTRAL DE POLICIA IN MENDOZA AND AFTER 15 DAYS WAS
TRANSFERRED TO THE FEDERAL POLICE HEADQUARTERS IN MENDOZA. HE
WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE MENDOZA PRISON AND, FINALLY, TO CASEROS
PRISON IN BUENOS AIRES.
9. (U) - QTE - MR. ZARATE IS NOT SURE AS TO WHY HE WAS ARRESTED.
HE DOES NOT EVEN KNOW IF 'HIS FRIEND WAS ARRESTED OR NOT. MR.
ZARATE CLAIMS THAT HE WAS NEVER INTERROGATED BY THE AUTHORITIES.
Current Class: SECRET Page: 2
pproved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO1110728
Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO1110728
Current Class: SECRET
Current Handling: n/a
Document Number: 1980BUEN0S02136
Page: 3
Channel: n/a
HE DOES THINK, HOWEVER, THAT HIS ARREST WAS PROBABLY DUE TO HIS
MEMBERSHIP IN THE PERONIST POLITICAL PARTY. MR. ZARATE ALLEGED
THAT HE WAS FIRST CLEARED OF CHARGES, BUT THEN RETRIED AND
SENTENCED TO 4 YEARS FOR HAVING WAR ARMS AND FALSE DOCUMENTS;
CHARGES THAT HE DENIES. (COURT RECORDS IN THIS CASE DO NOT LIST
ANY EVIDENCE THAT WAS PRESENTED AGAINST ZARATE.) HE STATED THAT
HE HAS NEVER PREVIOUSLY BEEN ARRESTED AND HAS NEVER PREVIOUSLY
APPLIED FOR THE RIGHT OF OPTION TO LEAVE ARGENTINA.
10. (U) - QTE - IF ALLOWED TO TRAVEL TO THE UNITED STATES, MR.
ZARATE WOULD LIKE TO TRAVEL WITH HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN, IF
POSSIBLE. HE HAS NEVER VISITED THE USA, HAS NO FAMILY THERE
AND SPEAKS NO ENGLISH. HE DOES NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT FUNDS FOR
THEIR TRANSPORTATION. MR. ZARATE HAS NEVER HAD ANY SERIOUS
MEDICAL PROBLEMS AND HE APPEARED TO BE BOTH MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY
HEALTHY.
11. (U) - QTE - I RECOMMEND THAT JUAN CARLOS ZARATE BE ISSUED
A CERTIFICATE OF ACCEPTABILITY AND BE PAROLED INTO THE UNITED
STATES. I HAVE REVIEWED THE COURT RECORDS IN THIS CASE AND HAVE
ALSO TALKED TO BOTH ZARATE AND HIS MOTHER. THE COURT RECORDS ARE
VAGUE AND DO NOT GIVE A DESCRIPTION OF ANY EVIDENCE PRESENTED
AGAINST THE APPLICANT. SECURITY CHECKS ON SUBJECT
SECRET
SECRET
PAGE 04 BUENOS 02136 01 OF 02 112142Z
REVEALED DEROGATORY INFORMATION, BUT ALL AVAILABLE EVIDENCE IN
THIS CASE INDICATES THAT APPLICANT AND THE JUAN CARLOS ZARATE
MENTIONED IN THE DEROGATORY SECURITY CHECKS ARE NOT THE SAME
PERSON. KENNETH F. SACKETT, VICE CONSUL - UNQUOTE.
NNN
SECRET
SECRET
PAGE 01 BUENOS 02136 02 OF 02 112118Z
ACTION RP-10
INFO OCT-01 ARA-11 ADS-00 VO-05 CIAE-00 .NSAE-00 /027 W
108550 112201Z /62
O R 111954Z MAR 80
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO INS/CO WASHDC IMMEDIATE
INFO SECSTATE WASHDC 4598
Current Class: SECRET Page: 3
Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO1110728
3.3(b)(1)
Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO1110728
Current Class: SECRET
Current Handling: n/a
Document Number: 19805UEN0S02136
SECRETSECTION 2 OF 2 BUENOS AIRES 2136
Page: 4
Channel: n/a
12. (U) TDY IMMIGRATION EXAMINER OLEN R. MARTIN REVIEWED
THIS CASE AND DEFERRED HIS DECISION AS FOLLOWS: QUOTE - CLASSIFIED
INFORMATION STATES THAT A JUAN CARLOS ZARATE WAS A MEMBER OF A
PROSCRIBED, ORGANIZATION. DETERMINATION MUST BE MADE AS TO
WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE THE SAME PERSON. O.R. MARTIN, INS, 12-12-
79. UNQUOTE.
13. (S) THE CLASSIFIED INFORMATION REFERRED TO ABOVE IS AS
FOLLOWS: QUOTE - THAT AS OF NOVEMBER 1964, ONE JUAN
CARLOS ZARATE WAS SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE CASERES CHAPTER,
PROVINCE OF BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINE PEACE COUNCIL
(CAP). THE CAP, AFFILIATED WITH THE WORLD COUNCIL OF PEACE
(WPC), WAS CONSIDERED A COMMUNIST FRONT ORGANIZATION. UNQUOTE.
14. (U) THE POLITICAL SECTION OF THE EMBASSY ALSO SUPPLIED
THE FOLLOWING REPORT DATED FEBRUARY 24, 1971: 'QUOTE - JUAN ZARATE
SECRETARY-GENERAL, BREWERY WORKERS UNION OF CORDOBA, RODRIGUEZ
PENA 363, CORDOBA. MR. ZARATE IS IN HIS EARLY FIFTIES. HE,HAS
BEEN A LABOR LEADER FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS AND IS WIDELY RESPECTED
IN CORDOBA AS WELL AS NATIONAL LABOR CIRCLES. HE IS AN EMPLOYEE
OF THE CORDOBA BREWRY COMPANY. HE IS AN ACTIVE PERONIST BUT
HE IS CONSIDERED A "SOFTLINER", I.E. WILLING TO DIALOG WITH THE
GOVERNMENT. HE IS A LEADER OF THE "LEGALISTA" SECTOR OF THE
CORDOBA REGIONAL CGT (GENERAL CONFEDERATION OF LABOR) WHICH IS
ATTEMPTING TO REORGANIZE THE CGT ALONG DEMOCRATIC LINES IN THE
FACE OF GROWING STRENGTH ON THE FAR LEFT. HE HAS HELD VARIOUS
SECRET
SECRET
PAGE 02 BUENOS 02136 02 OF 02 112118Z
POSTS IN THE REGIONAL CGT AND WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE SIGNIFICANT
INFLUENCE ON THE CORDOBA LABOR SCENE IN THE FUTURE. UNQUOTE.
15. (U) CONSULAR OFFICER HAS CAREFULLY REVIEWED ALL AVAILABLE
INFORMATION (I.E. BIOGRAPHICAL DATA, INTERVIEW NOTES, INTERVIEWS`
WITH FAMILY MEMBERS, COURT RECORDS) AND HAS CONCLUDED THAT THE
TWO JUAN CARLOS ZARATES MENTIONED IN SECURITY CHECKS ARE NOT
IDENTIFIABLE WITH ONE ANOTHER NOR WITH THE PAROLE APPLICANT.
16.
THE PAROLE APPLICANT HAS NEVER LIVED
OUTSIDE OF MENDOZA, AN AREA 750 MILES FROM BUENOS AIRES. HE
MARRIED A GIRL FROM MENDOZA IN 1962 AND THEY HAVE TWO CHILDREN
BORN IN MENDOZA, 1964 AND 1966. FURTHER, THE APPLICANT WORKED
Current Class: SECRET
pproved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO1110728
3.3(b)(1)
Page: 4
Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO1110728
Current Class: SECRET
Current Handling: n/a
Document Number: 1980BUENOS02136
Page: 5
Channel: n/a
FOR INDUSTRIA CARROCERA, A MENDOZA FIRM FROM 1960 UNTIL 1973.
17. (U) IN ADDITION, ZARATE IS A VERY COMMON SURNAME IN ARGENTINA,
AS IS THE COMBINATION JUAN CARLOS. THEREFORE, IT IS NOT
SURPRISING THAT INFORMATION WAS DEVELOPED THROUGH SECURITY CHECKS
FOR THAT NAME.
18. (U) ACTION REQUESTED: CONSULAR OFFICER IS SATISFIED THAT
THE APPLICANT, JUAN CARLOS ZARATE, IS NOT IDENTIFIABLE WITH THE
ZARATES MENTIONED IN THE SECURITY CHECKS AND RECOMMENDS THAT THE
APPLICANT BE PAROLED INTO THE UNITED STATES.
THEREFORE, PLEASE REVIEW THE CASE AS STATED AND RETURN YOUR
DECISION TO US AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
CASTRO
SECRET
NNN
Current Class: SECRET
pproved for Release: 2018/10/01 CO1110728
Page: 5