Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06LAPAZ240
2006-02-01 21:05:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy La Paz
Cable title:
RODRIGUEZ CONCERNED ABOUT THREATS TO JUDICIARY
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C O N F I D E N T I A L LA PAZ 000240
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/14/2016
TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL BL
SUBJECT: RODRIGUEZ CONCERNED ABOUT THREATS TO JUDICIARY
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 LA PAZ 000240
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/14/2016
TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL BL
SUBJECT: RODRIGUEZ CONCERNED ABOUT THREATS TO JUDICIARY
Classified By: Amb. David N. Greenlee for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Summary: In a meeting with AID Deputy Assistant
Administrator Mike Magan, the Ambassador and Embassy
officials on January 31, former President (and current
Supreme Court President) Rodriguez shared his concerns that
President Morales will threaten Bolivia's relatively young
democratic institutions. He also said that the MAS has moved
into Sucre, the judicial capital, in order to consolidate
power there, and that the atmosphere is one of "high
persecution." Due to "indirect threats" from the MAS and
the slashing of judicial salaries, Rodriguez and up to half
of his colleagues plan to resign from the Supreme Court in
the next few months. End summary.
2. (C) In a meeting with AID Deputy Assistant Administrator
Mike Magan, the Ambassador and Embassy officials on January
31, former President (and current Supreme Court President)
Rodriguez shared his concerns that President Morales will
threaten Bolivia's relatively young democratic institutions.
He emphasized that the international community has supported
the growth of those institutions since 1982, when Bolivia
ended its last military dictatorship and returned to a
civilian democratic government. Rodriguez stated that Morales
supports democracy to the extent that it propelled him to
power, but that he may not maintain it. Rodriguez said that
"we have to make sure the institutions don't disappear."
3. (C) Rodriguez also said that the MAS has moved into
Sucre, Bolivia's judicial capital, in order to consolidate
power there, and that the atmosphere is one of "high
persecution." He said that the MAS has co-opted many
district attorneys, and that it is building an "aggressive
presence" in Sucre. He said that the MAS already influences
several of his colleagues on the Supreme Court, and implied
that the MAS orchestrated opposition to his return to the
court on January 23.
4. (C) Due to "indirect threats" from the MAS and the
slashing of judicial salaries, Rodriguez and up to half of
his colleagues plan to resign from the Supreme Court in the
next few months. Rodriguez lamented that Morales did not
approach him directly regarding the salary cuts proposed
across all sectors of government. He explained that judges
and lawyers pay almost 25 percent of their salary in taxes,
and that cutting salaries by half will make it difficult for
them to meet their basic financial needs. Rodriguez opined
that the salary cuts are a MAS tactic to "clean house" in
order to pack the Supreme Court and then steamroll through
the Constituent Assembly without judicial opposition (or
virtually any checks on MAS power, assuming it will have
control of the executive, legislative and judicial branches
of government). He worried that lower government salaries
will lead to increased corruption and that the incoming
justices will not be properly trained.
5. (C) Comment: Rodriguez's perspectives sharpen the concern
that the independence of an already weak judicial sector
could be further eroded by the MAS juggernaut. Rodriguez's
departure, along with certain others, would remove an
important counter to the developing trend. End comment.
GREENLEE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/14/2016
TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL BL
SUBJECT: RODRIGUEZ CONCERNED ABOUT THREATS TO JUDICIARY
Classified By: Amb. David N. Greenlee for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Summary: In a meeting with AID Deputy Assistant
Administrator Mike Magan, the Ambassador and Embassy
officials on January 31, former President (and current
Supreme Court President) Rodriguez shared his concerns that
President Morales will threaten Bolivia's relatively young
democratic institutions. He also said that the MAS has moved
into Sucre, the judicial capital, in order to consolidate
power there, and that the atmosphere is one of "high
persecution." Due to "indirect threats" from the MAS and
the slashing of judicial salaries, Rodriguez and up to half
of his colleagues plan to resign from the Supreme Court in
the next few months. End summary.
2. (C) In a meeting with AID Deputy Assistant Administrator
Mike Magan, the Ambassador and Embassy officials on January
31, former President (and current Supreme Court President)
Rodriguez shared his concerns that President Morales will
threaten Bolivia's relatively young democratic institutions.
He emphasized that the international community has supported
the growth of those institutions since 1982, when Bolivia
ended its last military dictatorship and returned to a
civilian democratic government. Rodriguez stated that Morales
supports democracy to the extent that it propelled him to
power, but that he may not maintain it. Rodriguez said that
"we have to make sure the institutions don't disappear."
3. (C) Rodriguez also said that the MAS has moved into
Sucre, Bolivia's judicial capital, in order to consolidate
power there, and that the atmosphere is one of "high
persecution." He said that the MAS has co-opted many
district attorneys, and that it is building an "aggressive
presence" in Sucre. He said that the MAS already influences
several of his colleagues on the Supreme Court, and implied
that the MAS orchestrated opposition to his return to the
court on January 23.
4. (C) Due to "indirect threats" from the MAS and the
slashing of judicial salaries, Rodriguez and up to half of
his colleagues plan to resign from the Supreme Court in the
next few months. Rodriguez lamented that Morales did not
approach him directly regarding the salary cuts proposed
across all sectors of government. He explained that judges
and lawyers pay almost 25 percent of their salary in taxes,
and that cutting salaries by half will make it difficult for
them to meet their basic financial needs. Rodriguez opined
that the salary cuts are a MAS tactic to "clean house" in
order to pack the Supreme Court and then steamroll through
the Constituent Assembly without judicial opposition (or
virtually any checks on MAS power, assuming it will have
control of the executive, legislative and judicial branches
of government). He worried that lower government salaries
will lead to increased corruption and that the incoming
justices will not be properly trained.
5. (C) Comment: Rodriguez's perspectives sharpen the concern
that the independence of an already weak judicial sector
could be further eroded by the MAS juggernaut. Rodriguez's
departure, along with certain others, would remove an
important counter to the developing trend. End comment.
GREENLEE