MANPADS: EX-PRESIDENT RODRIGUEZ ON THE DEFENSIVE

S E C R E T LA PAZ 002246

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/22/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL PARM MASS MARR BL
SUBJECT: MANPADS: EX-PRESIDENT RODRIGUEZ ON THE DEFENSIVE

REF: A. LA PAZ 2763 (2005)

B. LA PAZ 2983 (2005)

C. LA PAZ 3167 (2005)

D. LA PAZ 3634 (2005)

E. LA PAZ 92

Classified By: Ambassador David N. Greenlee for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
.


1. (S/NF) Summary: Congress will soon decide whether to
approve criminal charges against ex-President Rodriguez for
the transfer of MANPADS to the United States for destruction
in October 2005. Given the upcoming vote, Rodriguez is
ramping up his rhetoric, again denying that he approved the
transfer (and alleging the Embassy was complicit in failing
to inform him of it) and asserting that if he's found guilty,
Washington will share the blame. Embassy representatives
have said publicly that the USG complied in good faith with
GOB requests for help in disposing of outdated military
equipment; Rodriguez challenged the Embassy August 20 to come
forward with proof of such a request. As the pressure on
Rodriguez mounts, he will likely continue to look for ways to
avoid taking the fall for the transfer, even if that means
placing the blame squarely on us. End summary.


2. (SBU) In the next few weeks, Congress will decide whether
to approve the GOB's legal case against former President
Rodriguez for the transfer of MANPADS to the United States
for destruction in October 2005. Congress' mixed commission
(comprised of members of both houses) has the case but has
not yet placed it on the agenda for debate. Two opposition
parties (Podemos and National Unity) have pledged to oppose
MAS efforts to prosecute Rodriguez; if that holds, Rodriguez
should have the political support needed to derail the case.


3. (S/NF) Given the upcoming vote, Rodriguez is ramping up
his rhetoric, denying August 17 that he approved the MANPADS
transfer and alleging the Embassy was complicit in failing to
inform him of it. Rodriguez asserted that if he's found
guilty, Washington will share the blame and "shouldn't leave
us hanging." (Comment: Ministry of Defense officials told us
following the transfer that Rodriguez personally approved it,
and Embassy officers listened to the Minister of Defense
briefing Rodriguez by telephone moments before the written
agreement was signed in October 2005 (reftels D and E).
Rodriguez has said publicly that he was in agreement with the
destruction of the missiles, but not with their removal for
that purpose from Bolivia. End comment).


4. (SBU) The Ambassador has said publicly that the USG
complied in good faith with GOB requests for help in
disposing of outdated military equipment pursuant to OAS
resolution 2145 (6/7/05). On August 20, Rodriguez again
publicly challenged the Embassy to come forward with proof of
such a GOB request, claiming that as Commander in Chief of
the Armed Forces, he never solicited U.S. assistance. He
further said that Embassy officials told him in October that
it was "now or never" if Bolivia wanted to dispose of the
missiles.


5. (S/NF) Comment: Rodriguez has expressed gratitude for our
attempts to assist him with short-term employment (both here
and in Washington). However, as the pressure mounts in
coming weeks, Rodriguez will likely continue to look for ways
to avoid taking the fall for the transfer, even if that means
placing the blame squarely on us. When asked, we will
reiterate our policy of not commenting publicly on security
matters. End comment.
GREENLEE