Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06LAPAZ1517
2006-06-05 20:43:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy La Paz
Cable title:
MORALES ISSUED LAND DECREES WITHOUT PROMISED
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHLP #1517 1562043 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 052043Z JUN 06 FM AMEMBASSY LA PAZ TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9452 INFO RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 5895 RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 3207 RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 7056 RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 4310 RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 1603 RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 1595 RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO 3823 RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 4237 RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 8783 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC RHMFIUU/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
UNCLAS LA PAZ 001517
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/AND
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON BL
SUBJECT: MORALES ISSUED LAND DECREES WITHOUT PROMISED
CONSENSUS
REF: LA PAZ 1337
UNCLAS LA PAZ 001517
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/AND
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON BL
SUBJECT: MORALES ISSUED LAND DECREES WITHOUT PROMISED
CONSENSUS
REF: LA PAZ 1337
1. (U) Despite his May 18 decision not to promulgate
executive decrees redistributing land without consensus,
President Morales issued seven decrees on June 3 after
negotiations with Santa Cruz agricultural and business
representatives broke down June 2. The GOB will redistribute
2.2 million hectares of government lands and give title to
3.1 million hectares of "unproductive" large landholdings to
indigenous communities in Pando, Beni, Santa Cruz and Tarija.
Morales has called the measures an "agrarian revolution," in
which land will be given to indigenous who do not own land or
who own "insufficient" land, and to those who work the land.
In an effort to avoid mistakes made during the 1950's land
reform, the GOB will give farmers seeds, tools (including ten
tractors for each municipality),and financial assistance and
attempt to secure markets for goods produced by small and
medium farmers.
2. (U) Santa Cruz officials have decried Morales' land
decrees, accusing Morales of politicizing the land issue for
his own political gain in the Constituent Assembly and of
revealing his authoritarian tendencies. Morales, in turn,
accused Santa Cruz representatives of breaking off the
dialogue; the press reported that the Agricultural Chamber of
Eastern Bolivia (CAO) and the Chamber of Industry and
Commerce (CAINCO) heard rumors during negotiations that Vice
President Garcia Linera planned to issue the decrees on June
3, which they viewed as negotiating in bad faith.
3. (SBU) Comment: Notwithstanding Morales' bump in popularity
following the May 1 hydrocarbons nationalization, a general
apathy toward the Constituent Assembly had settled in among
voters, particularly among the indigenous/rural population.
With his land decrees, Morales has again generated some
enthusiasm for his political project. For the moment, the
indigenous are elated. End comment.
GREENLEE
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/AND
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON BL
SUBJECT: MORALES ISSUED LAND DECREES WITHOUT PROMISED
CONSENSUS
REF: LA PAZ 1337
1. (U) Despite his May 18 decision not to promulgate
executive decrees redistributing land without consensus,
President Morales issued seven decrees on June 3 after
negotiations with Santa Cruz agricultural and business
representatives broke down June 2. The GOB will redistribute
2.2 million hectares of government lands and give title to
3.1 million hectares of "unproductive" large landholdings to
indigenous communities in Pando, Beni, Santa Cruz and Tarija.
Morales has called the measures an "agrarian revolution," in
which land will be given to indigenous who do not own land or
who own "insufficient" land, and to those who work the land.
In an effort to avoid mistakes made during the 1950's land
reform, the GOB will give farmers seeds, tools (including ten
tractors for each municipality),and financial assistance and
attempt to secure markets for goods produced by small and
medium farmers.
2. (U) Santa Cruz officials have decried Morales' land
decrees, accusing Morales of politicizing the land issue for
his own political gain in the Constituent Assembly and of
revealing his authoritarian tendencies. Morales, in turn,
accused Santa Cruz representatives of breaking off the
dialogue; the press reported that the Agricultural Chamber of
Eastern Bolivia (CAO) and the Chamber of Industry and
Commerce (CAINCO) heard rumors during negotiations that Vice
President Garcia Linera planned to issue the decrees on June
3, which they viewed as negotiating in bad faith.
3. (SBU) Comment: Notwithstanding Morales' bump in popularity
following the May 1 hydrocarbons nationalization, a general
apathy toward the Constituent Assembly had settled in among
voters, particularly among the indigenous/rural population.
With his land decrees, Morales has again generated some
enthusiasm for his political project. For the moment, the
indigenous are elated. End comment.
GREENLEE