

Currently released so far... 6239 / 251,287
Articles
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Amsterdam
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lagos
Mission USNATO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Browse by tag
ASEC
AU
AORC
AF
AM
AFIN
AEMR
AR
ASIG
AMGT
AG
APER
AL
ABLD
ASUP
AA
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
AE
AMED
AS
AGMT
APECO
AO
AFFAIRS
AJ
ACOA
AX
AROC
ATFN
ASEAN
AFGHANISTAN
ADCO
AFU
AER
ALOW
AODE
ABUD
ATRN
AID
AC
AVERY
APCS
CASC
CJAN
CVIS
CS
COUNTER
CD
CU
CI
CO
CG
CE
CA
CMGT
CH
CWC
CBW
CKGR
CR
CN
CPAS
CONS
CDG
CLINTON
CT
CJUS
CY
CV
COUNTERTERRORISM
CIA
CACM
CDB
CAN
COE
CM
COUNTRY
CLEARANCE
CACS
CF
CONDOLEEZZA
CARSON
CL
CIS
CODEL
CTM
CB
COM
ECON
EFIN
ETRD
EAIR
EAID
ET
EFIS
ENRG
EPET
ETTC
ER
EG
EINV
EAGR
ELAB
EUN
EWWT
ENGR
EMIN
ECIN
ENIV
ES
EC
ECPS
EIND
EI
EU
ENVI
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ELTN
EZ
EINT
ELN
EUR
EUNCH
EN
EINVECONSENVCSJA
ELECTIONS
EINVEFIN
ENNP
ECUN
EXTERNAL
EK
EFINECONCS
ECINECONCS
ECIP
EINDETRD
EUC
EREL
ENVR
ECA
ENERG
ENGY
ETRO
EFTA
ECONCS
ECONOMICS
ECONEFIN
EINVETC
EINN
ESA
ETC
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ESENV
ETRDECONWTOCS
IR
IZ
IWC
IC
ILC
IO
IAEA
IN
IS
IT
ICRC
INTELSAT
ILO
IBRD
IMF
ICAO
IMO
ITALY
ITALIAN
IRAQI
ITRA
ISRAELI
ICJ
IACI
INTERPOL
ID
IV
ICTY
IQ
IPR
INRB
ITPHUM
IIP
IL
IA
INR
ITPGOV
IZPREL
IRC
INRA
INRO
IRAJ
IEFIN
IF
KE
KCRM
KDRG
KIPR
KCOR
KSCA
KBIO
KDEM
KMCA
KMPI
KNNP
KJUS
KOMC
KGHG
KSUM
KSTC
KIRF
KTIP
KWMN
KZ
KG
KTFN
KHLS
KPAO
KFRD
KTIA
KOLY
KCFE
KISL
KFLU
KPKO
KWBG
KTBT
KTDB
KOCI
KUNR
KAWK
KICC
KPAL
KSTH
KN
KS
KGIC
KNPP
KWAC
KMDR
KAWC
KBCT
KIDE
KFLO
KWMNCS
KSEP
KU
KNEI
KVPR
KACT
KRAD
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KCIP
KSAF
KV
KSPR
KPRP
KFSC
KCRS
KR
KRFD
KX
KO
KPWR
KMIG
KSEC
KIFR
KDEMAF
KFIN
KGCC
KPIN
KHIV
KPLS
KIRC
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KGIT
KBTS
KPRV
KBTR
KERG
KWMM
KRVC
KNSD
KVIR
KNUP
KTER
KDDG
KHSA
KMRS
KHDP
KTLA
KPAK
KNAR
KREL
KPAI
KTEX
KCOM
KNNPMNUC
KPOA
KLIG
KHUM
KDEV
KNUC
KCFC
KREC
KOMS
KWWMN
MASS
MP
MARR
MOPS
MNUC
MX
MO
MCAP
MY
ML
MU
MIL
MC
MTRE
MA
MD
MTCRE
MEPI
MAR
MRCRE
MR
MV
MPOS
MZ
MEPP
MOPPS
MAPP
MASC
MT
MERCOSUR
MK
MDC
MI
MAPS
MCC
MASSMNUC
MQADHAFI
MUCN
MTCR
MG
OVIP
OREP
OTRA
OSCE
OECD
OIIP
OEXC
OPCW
OPIC
OPDC
OPRC
ODIP
OVP
OSCI
OAS
OFDP
OTR
OSAC
OIC
OFFICIALS
OIE
PREL
PGOV
PHUM
PTER
PE
PINR
PINS
PARMS
PARM
PHSA
PA
PK
PBTS
PO
PREF
POL
PLN
POLITICS
PROP
PL
PM
PAO
PSI
PG
PEPR
POV
PALESTINIAN
PINT
PSOE
PU
POLITICAL
PARTIES
PBIO
PECON
PAK
POGOV
PINL
PKFK
PMIL
PY
PFOR
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PRAM
PMAR
PGOVLO
PUNE
PORG
PHUMPREL
PF
POLINT
PHUS
PGOC
PNR
PGGV
PNAT
PGOVE
PRGOV
PRL
PROV
PTERE
PGOF
PHUMBA
PINF
PEL
SNAR
SO
SENV
SU
SCUL
SOCI
SP
SC
SA
SMIG
SAN
SZ
SW
SN
SY
SR
SL
SEVN
SF
SYR
SI
SG
STEINBERG
SIPRS
SH
SNARCS
SOFA
SANC
SHUM
SK
ST
TERRORISM
TRGY
TZ
TX
TBIO
TSPA
TS
TSPL
TW
TU
TD
TIP
TURKEY
TP
TI
TC
TPHY
TH
TO
TK
TNGD
TINT
TRSY
TR
TFIN
TT
UG
UK
UP
UNGA
UNHRC
UZ
UN
UNAUS
USTR
UNSC
US
UNEP
UY
UNESCO
USUN
UNHCR
UAE
UNMIK
USEU
UV
UNO
UNDP
UNCHS
UNVIE
UNCHC
UE
UNDESCO
USAID
UNDC
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 09SANJOSE590, A COMPLICATED CASE - TWO COSTA RICANS IN MEXICAN
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #09SANJOSE590.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
09SANJOSE590 | 2009-07-15 00:12 | 2011-03-21 16:04 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Embassy San Jose |
VZCZCXRO7386
PP RUEHRD
DE RUEHSJ #0590/01 1960014
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 150014Z JUL 09
FM AMEMBASSY SAN JOSE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1033
INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO PRIORITY 5222
RUEHRD/AMCONSUL MERIDA PRIORITY 0121
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SAN JOSE 000590
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DEPT FOR WHA/CEN, GTIP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CS MX PHUM PREL KTIP PGOV
SUBJECT: A COMPLICATED CASE - TWO COSTA RICANS IN MEXICAN
PROSTITUTION RING
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On June 8, Mexican police conducted a
prostitution/potential-TIP raid in the Yucatan region where
they found two Costa Rican women who allegedly had been
brought to Mexico for use in a prostitution ring. While both
women initially claimed that they had been trafficked to
Mexico and kept against their will for use in forced
prostitution, one of the women later admitted to Costa Rican
authorities that they had gone to Mexico willingly with the
express purpose of working in the sex industry. Costa Rican
authorities are continuing to investigate the incident,
including whether there is a wider prostitution-recruitment
ring operating in Costa Rica. The two women were returned to
Costa Rica on June 13, and given protection and support from
the Victims Protection Office, which was officially
established by law in Costa Rica in April 2009. END SUMMARY.
--------------------------
A STORY - AND A RETRACTION
--------------------------
¶2. (SBU) On June 8, a police patrol in the northern Yucatan
encountered Raquel Canales Acevedo, who told them that she
and a friend had been trafficked into Mexico, were being held
against their will in a nearby house, and were being used as
sexual slaves. Mexican authorities then followed Canales to
the house, "freed" the second Costa Rican (Yoheni Chaves
Fonseca), and arrested Rosa Maria Casanova May, a Mexican
national. Casanova implicated Keisy Gonzalez, a Costa Rican
national, as the leader of the prostitution ring. The two
victims also told authorities that an official from the
Yucatan State migration department, Hernan Vega Burgos, had
assisted the ring in exchange for sexual favors. Mexican
authorities are reportedly continuing their investigation
into Vega's actions (he resigned his post on June 11) and are
searching for Gonzalez, a long-time resident of Mexico.
¶3. (SBU) According to Michael Soto, head of the GOCR
Judicial Police's "Various Crimes" unit which runs
trafficking investigations, Chaves stated that she wanted to
"set the record straight" as soon as she was returned to
Costa Rica. Chaves told investigators that she had actually
been recruited to go to Mexico by Canales in order to work as
a prostitute, and that the two women had not in fact been
held against their will while in Mexico. Chaves said that
after arriving in Mexico, Canales disagreed with their
employers (including over the use of the washing machine) and
became dissatisfied with her pay. Chaves added that Canales
was considering taking a position at another brothel when
police found her, and that she invented the story regarding
their alleged trafficking due to her personal disagreements
with Gonzalez and Casanova. Soto told us that Canales has
refused to speak with investigators, and is seeking out a
defense attorney (despite the fact that the police have not
brought charges against her). Soto also stated that the GOCR
is investigating the 'massage parlor' where the women had
worked in Costa Rica before going to Mexico in order to
determine if a wider prostitution-recruitment ring exists in
Costa Rica. They are aware of at least one other Costa Rican
who worked at Gonzalez's brothel in Mexico (for roughly one
month) and returned to the Costa Rica around the time Canales
and Chaves arrived in Mexico.
--------------------------------------------- -
VICTIM'S PROTECTION OFFICE SPRINGS INTO ACTION
--------------------------------------------- -
¶4. (SBU) Upon their return to Costa Rica, Canales and Chaves
were put under the protection of the Victims Protection
Office (VPO), which was officially established by the new
Victim and Witness Protection Act of April 2009. Though not
every tool called for the in Act has been put in place
(including the construction of dedicated shelters for
trafficking victims), the GOCR acted quickly and efficiently
to provide protection to these two possible victims. The
women were met at the airport by GOCR officials and members
of the inter-agency TIP Coalition, including a psychologist.
Both women were given police protection for roughly 15 days,
until both decided that they no longer needed/wanted the
protection. Both women were also offered regular visits with
a psychologist for as long as they wished (which they used
for a limited period of time). The VPO also set up one of
the women with a foundation that would provide her funds to
rent an apartment for a month, after she had difficulties
re-establishing her ties with her family upon returning to
Costa Rica.
--------------
SAN JOSE 00000590 002 OF 002
MEDIA COVERAGE
--------------
¶5. (SBU) The case was widely reported in the Costa Rican and
Mexican press in mid-June. Both women were clearly
identified by name, with their photos lining the pages of
various Costa Rican newspapers. The Costa Rican press also
listed detailed descriptions of the locations of their
residences, including specific neighborhoods. After their
return, and in large part due to the media coverage which
failed to keep their identities confidential, both women have
faced a number of challenges in re-integrating into their
communities and with their families.
-------
COMMENT
-------
¶6. (SBU) This case has brought to light some of the major
challenges of dealing with trafficking cases in Costa Rica,
but also showed the seriousness with which the GOCR now takes
potential TIP cases. All parties readily admit that there
remains much work to be done on TIP issues, including Soto
and Vice-Minister of Public Security (Government) Ana Duran,
whose Ministry is responsible for handling the local TIP
response. However, in this instance the GOCR and the TIP
Coalition moved quickly to assist the two women from the
moment they arrived in Costa Rica. The full funding of the
Victims Protection Office, as expected in next year's budget,
the establishment of victims shelters, and the drafting and
passage of a new specific anti-TIP law are some of the
challenges that lay ahead.
¶7. (SBU) The media response, however, left much to be
desired. The lack of protection of the women's identities
had a tangibly negative impact on the women themselves,
making it much more difficult for them to re-integrate. We
have already begun discussion with the National TIP Coalition
and the GOCR on enhanced media training and outreach on TIP
issues, and we plan to develop a clear media strategy over
the coming months.
BRENNAN