Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06LAPAZ1265
2006-05-10 13:20:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy La Paz
Cable title:
DISCRIMINATION WITHIN THE MAS?
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LA PAZ 001265
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/09/2016
TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL BL
SUBJECT: DISCRIMINATION WITHIN THE MAS?
REF: A. LA PAZ 1254
B. LA PAZ 1101
Classified By: Charge D'Affairs Kimberly DeBlauw for reasons 1.4 (b) an
d (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LA PAZ 001265
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/09/2016
TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL BL
SUBJECT: DISCRIMINATION WITHIN THE MAS?
REF: A. LA PAZ 1254
B. LA PAZ 1101
Classified By: Charge D'Affairs Kimberly DeBlauw for reasons 1.4 (b) an
d (d).
1. (C) Summary: While the GOB continues to ride a wave of
euphoria following President Morales' May 1 nationalization
of hydrocarbons, an undertow of discontent grows within the
Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) due to alleged intra-party
discrimination based on gender and race, as well as Morales'
autocratic bent. The MAS, which promised to include the
long-marginalized indigenous in its political program, is
increasingly vulnerable to pressure from both sides: the
indigenous masses are disappointed that Morales did not
include more of them in his party's Constituent Assembly (CA)
candidate lists, and MAS party insiders criticize Morales for
instituting a new brand of discrimination which appears to
favor the indigenous. End summary.
2. (C) The GOB continues to ride a wave of euphoria following
President Morales' May 1 nationalization of hydrocarbons, but
an undertow of discontent is growing within the Movement
Toward Socialism (MAS) due to alleged intra-party
discrimination based on gender and race. Two female MAS
representatives in Congress told poloff that the MAS
discriminates against women; the party failed to name women
to leadership positions on congressional committees, and has
not supported bills drafted by its female members. One
female deputy admitted that Morales had named a woman as
vice-president of Congress, but criticized the move as
symbolic. Many MAS deputies and contacts have also cited
racial discrimination within the ranks of the MAS, favoring
the indigenous and isolating "karas" (a derogatory Aymara
word for whites). One deputy, a long-time political ally of
Morales, expressed frustration that her ideology seems to
matter less than her "class" or race.
3. (C) Discontent is also growing with the ranks of the MAS
based on President Morales' autocratic leadership style (see
reftel A). A MAS deputy confided to poloff that Morales
notified the party of his intent to nationalize hydrocarbons
at the eleventh hour. The Presidential Palace called MAS
representatives at 1 a.m. on May 1 to summon them to the
palace at 4 a.m., where they were told about Morales' plans
to nationalize hydrocarbons later in the day. The deputy
complained about the "syndicalist" nature of the announcement
and Morales' failure to solicit input from his party. At the
same meeting, Morales criticized his deputies for not
defending him and his policies publicly. MAS representatives
were unsure what to make of this criticism, given Morales'
standing order that no MAS deputy or senator speak publicly
without his express authorization.
4. (C) Another example of Morales' autocratic bent is
Adriana Gil's expulsion from the MAS party over the weekend
of May 6-7. Gil, previously rumored to be intimately
associated with Morales, was a substitute municipal council
member and MAS youth leader in Santa Cruz, but was also
rumored to be "calling the shots" for the MAS' Santa Cruz
congressional delegation. In April, she publicly supported
MAS militants who seized a Santa Cruz customs office in order
to protest appointments made by the central government
without their approval, and also publicly expressed support
for Brazilian-owned EBX, which the GOB recently shut down for
illegal operations (see reftel B). Accusing Gil of
perpetuating the "old political system" and contradicting the
central government, Morales ordered her (as well as MAS
department leader Vidal Quenta) expelled from the party. Gil
intends to appeal the decision and denies wrongdoing.
5. (C) Comment: The MAS, which promised to include the
long-marginalized indigenous in its political program, is
increasingly vulnerable to pressure from all sides. On one
hand, the indigenous masses are disappointed that Morales did
not include more of them in his party's Constituent Assembly
candidate lists. On the other, MAS party insiders criticize
LA PAZ 00001265 002 OF 002
Morales for instituting a new brand of discrimination in
Congress which appears to favor the indigenous. As the
Constituent Assembly approaches, Morales will have to work to
maintain solidarity within his party's congressional
delegation and find some meaningful way to include the
indigenous in the CA process, or risk losing their support.
End comment.
DEBLAUW
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/09/2016
TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL BL
SUBJECT: DISCRIMINATION WITHIN THE MAS?
REF: A. LA PAZ 1254
B. LA PAZ 1101
Classified By: Charge D'Affairs Kimberly DeBlauw for reasons 1.4 (b) an
d (d).
1. (C) Summary: While the GOB continues to ride a wave of
euphoria following President Morales' May 1 nationalization
of hydrocarbons, an undertow of discontent grows within the
Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) due to alleged intra-party
discrimination based on gender and race, as well as Morales'
autocratic bent. The MAS, which promised to include the
long-marginalized indigenous in its political program, is
increasingly vulnerable to pressure from both sides: the
indigenous masses are disappointed that Morales did not
include more of them in his party's Constituent Assembly (CA)
candidate lists, and MAS party insiders criticize Morales for
instituting a new brand of discrimination which appears to
favor the indigenous. End summary.
2. (C) The GOB continues to ride a wave of euphoria following
President Morales' May 1 nationalization of hydrocarbons, but
an undertow of discontent is growing within the Movement
Toward Socialism (MAS) due to alleged intra-party
discrimination based on gender and race. Two female MAS
representatives in Congress told poloff that the MAS
discriminates against women; the party failed to name women
to leadership positions on congressional committees, and has
not supported bills drafted by its female members. One
female deputy admitted that Morales had named a woman as
vice-president of Congress, but criticized the move as
symbolic. Many MAS deputies and contacts have also cited
racial discrimination within the ranks of the MAS, favoring
the indigenous and isolating "karas" (a derogatory Aymara
word for whites). One deputy, a long-time political ally of
Morales, expressed frustration that her ideology seems to
matter less than her "class" or race.
3. (C) Discontent is also growing with the ranks of the MAS
based on President Morales' autocratic leadership style (see
reftel A). A MAS deputy confided to poloff that Morales
notified the party of his intent to nationalize hydrocarbons
at the eleventh hour. The Presidential Palace called MAS
representatives at 1 a.m. on May 1 to summon them to the
palace at 4 a.m., where they were told about Morales' plans
to nationalize hydrocarbons later in the day. The deputy
complained about the "syndicalist" nature of the announcement
and Morales' failure to solicit input from his party. At the
same meeting, Morales criticized his deputies for not
defending him and his policies publicly. MAS representatives
were unsure what to make of this criticism, given Morales'
standing order that no MAS deputy or senator speak publicly
without his express authorization.
4. (C) Another example of Morales' autocratic bent is
Adriana Gil's expulsion from the MAS party over the weekend
of May 6-7. Gil, previously rumored to be intimately
associated with Morales, was a substitute municipal council
member and MAS youth leader in Santa Cruz, but was also
rumored to be "calling the shots" for the MAS' Santa Cruz
congressional delegation. In April, she publicly supported
MAS militants who seized a Santa Cruz customs office in order
to protest appointments made by the central government
without their approval, and also publicly expressed support
for Brazilian-owned EBX, which the GOB recently shut down for
illegal operations (see reftel B). Accusing Gil of
perpetuating the "old political system" and contradicting the
central government, Morales ordered her (as well as MAS
department leader Vidal Quenta) expelled from the party. Gil
intends to appeal the decision and denies wrongdoing.
5. (C) Comment: The MAS, which promised to include the
long-marginalized indigenous in its political program, is
increasingly vulnerable to pressure from all sides. On one
hand, the indigenous masses are disappointed that Morales did
not include more of them in his party's Constituent Assembly
candidate lists. On the other, MAS party insiders criticize
LA PAZ 00001265 002 OF 002
Morales for instituting a new brand of discrimination in
Congress which appears to favor the indigenous. As the
Constituent Assembly approaches, Morales will have to work to
maintain solidarity within his party's congressional
delegation and find some meaningful way to include the
indigenous in the CA process, or risk losing their support.
End comment.
DEBLAUW