Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06LAPAZ1587
2006-06-12 18:30:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy La Paz
how-toVZCZCXYZ0013 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHLP #1587 1631830 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 121830Z JUN 06 FM AMEMBASSY LA PAZ TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9551 INFO RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 5909 RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 3222 RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 7073 RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 4326 RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 1617 RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 1609 RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO 3835 RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 4251 RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 8798 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC RHMFIUU/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
UNCLAS LA PAZ 001587
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON BL
SUBJECT: LAND CONFLICT IN ORURO
REF: LA PAZ 1517
UNCLAS LA PAZ 001587
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON BL
SUBJECT: LAND CONFLICT IN ORURO
REF: LA PAZ 1517
1. (U) The GOB displaced 7,000 squatters from
privately-owned lands in the Department of Oruro on June 9;
one off-duty police officer was killed in the confrontation.
Members of an organization dubbed the "Roofless Movement"
(similar to the Landless Movement) had been living in tents
on private property for weeks and had instituted a hunger
strike calling for the resignation of MAS officials who had
failed to respond to their demands, including Minister of
Government Alicia Munoz (who is from Oruro) and Governor
Alberto Aguilar. President Morales' June 3 land decrees (see
reftel) emboldened the squatters in their desire to stake out
landholdings. On June 9, the confrontation escalated when
GOB police and military forces attempted to evict the
squatters with tear gas. Although the circumstances are
unclear, one of the squatters, off-duty police officer
Santiago Orocando Arevillca, was shot and killed. Twelve to
fifteen others were injured.
2. (SBU) Comment: The GOB has stated that it will not
negotiate application of the law, and has said squatters
cannot take over productive lands. On its face, the GOB's
intervention in Oruro seems to support the rule of law.
However, many are concerned about the law's uneven
application and blame the GOB for opening the proverbial
Pandora's box with its recent land decrees. It remains to be
seen whether the GOB will continue to use a heavy hand in the
increasing number of land conflicts throughout Bolivia and
whether poor, rural Bolivians will have the patience to wait
for the Constituent Assembly to decide this important issue.
End comment.
GREENLEE
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON BL
SUBJECT: LAND CONFLICT IN ORURO
REF: LA PAZ 1517
1. (U) The GOB displaced 7,000 squatters from
privately-owned lands in the Department of Oruro on June 9;
one off-duty police officer was killed in the confrontation.
Members of an organization dubbed the "Roofless Movement"
(similar to the Landless Movement) had been living in tents
on private property for weeks and had instituted a hunger
strike calling for the resignation of MAS officials who had
failed to respond to their demands, including Minister of
Government Alicia Munoz (who is from Oruro) and Governor
Alberto Aguilar. President Morales' June 3 land decrees (see
reftel) emboldened the squatters in their desire to stake out
landholdings. On June 9, the confrontation escalated when
GOB police and military forces attempted to evict the
squatters with tear gas. Although the circumstances are
unclear, one of the squatters, off-duty police officer
Santiago Orocando Arevillca, was shot and killed. Twelve to
fifteen others were injured.
2. (SBU) Comment: The GOB has stated that it will not
negotiate application of the law, and has said squatters
cannot take over productive lands. On its face, the GOB's
intervention in Oruro seems to support the rule of law.
However, many are concerned about the law's uneven
application and blame the GOB for opening the proverbial
Pandora's box with its recent land decrees. It remains to be
seen whether the GOB will continue to use a heavy hand in the
increasing number of land conflicts throughout Bolivia and
whether poor, rural Bolivians will have the patience to wait
for the Constituent Assembly to decide this important issue.
End comment.
GREENLEE