MORE COCALERO INFIGHTING; BOMBS SIGNAL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LIMA 002376

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR INL/LP, WHA/AND, DS/IP/WHA, DS/DSS/ITA; DEPT FOR
ONDCP FOR D GETTINGS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SNAR EAID ETRD PGOV ASEC PE
SUBJECT: MORE COCALERO INFIGHTING; BOMBS SIGNAL
RADICALIZATION

REF: A) LIMA 1418

B) LIMA 1062
C) 03 LIMA 5254


1. (U) SUMMARY: Monzon cocaleros' highly publicized
rejection of Huallaga cocalero leader Nancy Obregon (for
allegedly being too conciliatory to the GOP) is a parable
for the fact that continued cocalero fragmentation is going
hand-in-hand with a new radicalization. There are other
disturbing signs of radical and violent trends in the areas
where coca eradication or alternative development is ongoing
or planned. Credible threats have resurfaced against
Alternative Development (AD) projects, and there have been
several recent explosions near GOP or NGO facilities. END
SUMMARY.


2. (U) Tocache (San Martin Department) cocalero leader Nancy
Obregon appeared on 5/12 in the town of Monzon, Huanuco
Department to speak before farmers that had mobilized
against the proposed U.S./Peru Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
Despite Obregon's past popularity with cocaleros, the crowd
booed and pelted her with projectiles.


3. (U) Extensive press coverage suggested that Obregon's
recent tribulations were a sign of increasing cocalero
radicalization. Iburico Morales labeled Obregon a traitor
because of her past statements that gradual eradication of
illegal coca was appropriate. (Note: Despite such
statements, Obregon has persistently and loudly said that AD
is and has been a failure. She has been one of the
cocaleros falsely claiming that the U.S. was fumigating coca
- see Ref B. End Note.)


4. (U) While cocaleros pelted Obregon, Tingo Maria cocalero
leader Elsa Malpartida, in a seminar entitled "Coca Zones:
Challenges and Alternatives" organized by a local
university, claimed that there was unity among the cocalero
movements. Reportedly licit growers of potatoes and other
crops as well as coca farmers attended the seminar.
Malpartida then traveled to the Tingo Maria airport on 5/17
with lawyers and press in tow, claiming that the U.S.-owned
Thrush aircraft was fumigating coca fields (Septel).


5. (U) Press articles reported the continuing cocalero
divisions while warning that the real threat of
radicalization is from the increasingly violent plans by
cocaleros, allied with narcotraffickers and Sendero Luminoso
(SL),to defend coca fields. The local media continues to
ask cocaleros hard questions. Morales tried to negate his
image as a radical allied with narcotraffickers by
announcing on 5/19 that his Monzon cocaleros would initiate
a strike (road blockage) against transporters of precursor
chemicals (Note: used to make cocaine base and toxic to the
environment. End Note.) When leading daily "El Comercio"
reporter asked him to name names, Morales refused and said
it was the government's fault that the chemicals were
reaching his valley.


6. (U) Cocalero groups in the Huallaga and VRAE areas keep
trying to unite without much success. Tocache cocaleros
announced a strike (road blockage) for 6/27, hoping for
cocaleros in other areas to follow suit. Such efforts have
by and large failed in the past (Refs A and B). Iburico
Morales announced on 5/21 that his Monzon growers would not
participate in the 6/27 strike. San Francisco (VRAE)
cocaleros announced an international coca festival for
August; it is not yet clear who plans to attend.


7. (SBU) Several unexplained explosions in and around Tingo
Maria once again suggest radicalization of the cocalero
movement and a link to SL. During the 25th Anniversary week
of SL's armed "struggle," the distribution of pro-Sendero
pamphlets and the SL's trademark red swatches throughout
Tingo Maria and Aucuyacu towns preceded the explosions. In
Aucuyacu one explosion targeted a USAID-funded NGO that is
not directly related to the Alternative Development Program
(ADP) and another targeted a sub-contractor to USAID's
primary ADP contractor. A third explosion took place in
Tingo Maria on the street where the Regional Director of the
GOP's counterdrug agency (DEVIDA) resides. The worsening
security situation has caused USAID's ADP to evacuate its
regional offices in Tingo Maria several times since January

1.


8. (SBU) COMMENT: The fight between Monzon cocalero leader
Morales and Tocache cocalero leader Obregon is less about
substance than power. Since the arrest of Nelson Palomino
(Ref C),whose leadership was generally respected and
accepted by all the coca federations, regional cocalero
leaders have been unwilling to play second fiddle to anyone
else. (No doubt old-fashioned sexism plays a role in this,
given that two of three main contenders are women.)


9. (SBU) For all of that, the reason Morales cited for
running Obregon out of town under a hail of rocks is
significant: that she had once tacitly endorsed the position
that illegal coca could be eradicated in a "gradual and
consensual fashion." As much as Obregon denies it, she and
some other cocaleros did toy with this position three years
ago - and why not, given that it gave them ample opportunity
to delay eradication. Obregon has long since, however,
moved to a hard line position that is virtually
indistinguishable from that of Morales. This vignette thus
serves as an allegory for the extent to which the cocaleros
have hardened their position despite continuing regional
divisions.


10. (SBU) The apparent bomb blasts are further evidence of
radicalization, and the Mission will continue to reevaluate
security for AD workers. This radicalization is making coca
eradication - both voluntary and programmed - ever more
challenging throughout the coca zones. In 2005 alone,
USAID's AD implementer has had to suspend work in its four
regional offices for 54 days due to security threats. The
Monzon attempt to rally cocaleros with licit farmers against
the FTA would be troubling if it had been more successful or
replicated elsewhere. Morales' attempt to distance himself
from narcotraffickers is a smokescreen in an area where
narcotrafficker money dominates local politics and economic
activity. Media coverage of late has been generally
constructive, and the Mission will continue working with the
press to get the real stories told. As eradication efforts
get under way in the hard-core areas, we expect desperate
moves by cocaleros and will prepare accordingly. END
COMMENT.
STRUBLE