Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06LAPAZ1211
2006-05-08 11:28:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy La Paz
Cable title:
MILITARY EQUIPMENT: WHAT'S MINE IS MINE, WHAT'S
how-toVZCZCXRO6993 PP RUEHLMC DE RUEHLP #1211/01 1281128 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 081128Z MAY 06 FM AMEMBASSY LA PAZ TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9103 INFO RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 5822 RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 3119 RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 6982 RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 4227 RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 1520 RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 1497 RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO 3766 RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 4160 RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 8706 RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL RUMIAAA/USCINCSO MIAMI FL RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LA PAZ 001211
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/09/2016
TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL BL
SUBJECT: MILITARY EQUIPMENT: WHAT'S MINE IS MINE, WHAT'S
YOURS IS MINE
REF: A. LA PAZ 615
B. LA PAZ 647
C. LA PAZ 681
D. LA PAZ 1157
Classified By: Amb. David N. Greenlee for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LA PAZ 001211
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/09/2016
TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL BL
SUBJECT: MILITARY EQUIPMENT: WHAT'S MINE IS MINE, WHAT'S
YOURS IS MINE
REF: A. LA PAZ 615
B. LA PAZ 647
C. LA PAZ 681
D. LA PAZ 1157
Classified By: Amb. David N. Greenlee for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Summary: In a GOB-requested May 2 meeting with the
Ambassador, Minister of Defense Walker San Miguel and Foreign
Minister David Choquehuanca attempted to set conditions for
the return of counter-terrorism unit U.S. equipment to
MilGroup custody. The Ambassador reminded both ministers
that President Morales had promised to return the equipment
in exchange for our agreement to allow Bolivian military
officers to finish training in the U.S., and cautioned that
further bureaucratic roadblocks could infect other aspects of
the bilateral relationship. The Ambassador also expressed
discontent that GOB troops improperly used the equipment over
April 29-30 to seize Bolivia's hydrocarbons reserves. San
Miguel offered to begin working with the Embassy to inventory
the stockpile and facilitate its return, but as of May 5, the
GOB had not made any concrete progress toward returning the
equipment. End summary.
2. (C) The Ambassador (accompanied by MilGroup commander and
poloff) met with Minister of Defense Walker San Miguel and
Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca at their request on May 2
to discuss the return of U.S. military equipment following
the early March withdrawal of U.S. support for a GOB
counter-terrorism unit (see reftels). San Miguel and
Choquehuanca attempted to set conditions for the return of
the equipment (ammunition, explosives, helmets, radios, body
armor, sniper rifles, and night vision goggles) to a
U.S.-controlled warehouse in El Alto. They contended that
the parties should sign a new agreement, clearly identifying
the equipment and setting forth the conditions for its
return, as well as outlining future GOB use of the equipment.
3. (C) The Ambassador reminded the ministers that President
Morales had given his word to return the equipment in
exchange for our agreement to allow their military officers
to finish U.S. training at the Western Hemisphere Institute
for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC). The Ambassador cautioned
that further bureaucratic roadblocks could result in the
equipment's removal from Bolivia altogether. He said the USG
kept up its side of the agreement, and allowed the GOB
military representatives to complete their training, but that
two months had passed without any movement. The Ambassador
suggested that the two sides conduct a joint inspection and
prepare an inventory of the items, which would meet GOB
concerns for documenting equipment returned to U.S. custody.
Once the transfer has been made, we could consider the
distribution of other U.S. military equipment earmarked for
the Bolivian military but currently being held at the
warehouse.
4. (C) The Ambassador also expressed discontent that GOB
troops improperly used the U.S. equipment over the weekend of
April 29-30 to occupy Bolivia's hydrocarbons reserves (reftel
D). The Ambassador showed the ministers a photo from the
front cover of the leading daily La Razon's May 2 issue, in
which GOB soldiers are brandishing weapons from the U.S.
counter-terrorism stockpile. Choquehuanca said he had
wondered where those weapons came from, and half-heartedly
claimed that they were GOB owned before promising to
investigate the matter.
5. (C) Comment: San Miguel offered to begin immediately
working with the Embassy to inventory the stockpile and
facilitate its return, explaining that the GOB's delay in
returning the U.S. equipment was a natural consequence of the
political fallout after the GOB's transfer of outdated
MANPADS to the United States in late 2005. As of May 5,
however, there was no follow-through-- reportedly because
Armed Forces Commander Vargas was awaiting a written order
from San Miguel. We will continue to press the issue. End
LA PAZ 00001211 002 OF 002
comment.
GREENLEE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/09/2016
TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL BL
SUBJECT: MILITARY EQUIPMENT: WHAT'S MINE IS MINE, WHAT'S
YOURS IS MINE
REF: A. LA PAZ 615
B. LA PAZ 647
C. LA PAZ 681
D. LA PAZ 1157
Classified By: Amb. David N. Greenlee for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Summary: In a GOB-requested May 2 meeting with the
Ambassador, Minister of Defense Walker San Miguel and Foreign
Minister David Choquehuanca attempted to set conditions for
the return of counter-terrorism unit U.S. equipment to
MilGroup custody. The Ambassador reminded both ministers
that President Morales had promised to return the equipment
in exchange for our agreement to allow Bolivian military
officers to finish training in the U.S., and cautioned that
further bureaucratic roadblocks could infect other aspects of
the bilateral relationship. The Ambassador also expressed
discontent that GOB troops improperly used the equipment over
April 29-30 to seize Bolivia's hydrocarbons reserves. San
Miguel offered to begin working with the Embassy to inventory
the stockpile and facilitate its return, but as of May 5, the
GOB had not made any concrete progress toward returning the
equipment. End summary.
2. (C) The Ambassador (accompanied by MilGroup commander and
poloff) met with Minister of Defense Walker San Miguel and
Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca at their request on May 2
to discuss the return of U.S. military equipment following
the early March withdrawal of U.S. support for a GOB
counter-terrorism unit (see reftels). San Miguel and
Choquehuanca attempted to set conditions for the return of
the equipment (ammunition, explosives, helmets, radios, body
armor, sniper rifles, and night vision goggles) to a
U.S.-controlled warehouse in El Alto. They contended that
the parties should sign a new agreement, clearly identifying
the equipment and setting forth the conditions for its
return, as well as outlining future GOB use of the equipment.
3. (C) The Ambassador reminded the ministers that President
Morales had given his word to return the equipment in
exchange for our agreement to allow their military officers
to finish U.S. training at the Western Hemisphere Institute
for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC). The Ambassador cautioned
that further bureaucratic roadblocks could result in the
equipment's removal from Bolivia altogether. He said the USG
kept up its side of the agreement, and allowed the GOB
military representatives to complete their training, but that
two months had passed without any movement. The Ambassador
suggested that the two sides conduct a joint inspection and
prepare an inventory of the items, which would meet GOB
concerns for documenting equipment returned to U.S. custody.
Once the transfer has been made, we could consider the
distribution of other U.S. military equipment earmarked for
the Bolivian military but currently being held at the
warehouse.
4. (C) The Ambassador also expressed discontent that GOB
troops improperly used the U.S. equipment over the weekend of
April 29-30 to occupy Bolivia's hydrocarbons reserves (reftel
D). The Ambassador showed the ministers a photo from the
front cover of the leading daily La Razon's May 2 issue, in
which GOB soldiers are brandishing weapons from the U.S.
counter-terrorism stockpile. Choquehuanca said he had
wondered where those weapons came from, and half-heartedly
claimed that they were GOB owned before promising to
investigate the matter.
5. (C) Comment: San Miguel offered to begin immediately
working with the Embassy to inventory the stockpile and
facilitate its return, explaining that the GOB's delay in
returning the U.S. equipment was a natural consequence of the
political fallout after the GOB's transfer of outdated
MANPADS to the United States in late 2005. As of May 5,
however, there was no follow-through-- reportedly because
Armed Forces Commander Vargas was awaiting a written order
from San Miguel. We will continue to press the issue. End
LA PAZ 00001211 002 OF 002
comment.
GREENLEE