Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06LAPAZ2418
2006-09-07 20:32:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy La Paz
Cable title:
MAS STEAMROLLING CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY?
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C O N F I D E N T I A L LA PAZ 002418
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
PASS TO WHA/AS SHANNON, WHA PDAS SHAPIRO, WHA/AND PETRONI
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/07/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL BL
SUBJECT: MAS STEAMROLLING CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY?
Classified By: DCM Krishna Urs for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L LA PAZ 002418
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
PASS TO WHA/AS SHANNON, WHA PDAS SHAPIRO, WHA/AND PETRONI
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/07/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL BL
SUBJECT: MAS STEAMROLLING CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY?
Classified By: DCM Krishna Urs for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) Constituent Assembly
delegates approved the general outline of their own draft
rules of order September 6 by simple majority (141 of 255
votes) without permitting debate. Opposition parties had
attempted to postpone a vote on the rules of order by
requesting a meeting with Assembly leadership to continue
negotiations. After Assembly President (and MAS delegate)
Silvia Lazarte ignored their request, the opposition
abandoned the session. Podemos Constituent Assembly
representative Carlos Goitia told poloff that the MAS' next
step will likely be to approve its rules in a more detailed
fashion, section by section. While he is pessimistic about
the opposition's ability to convince the MAS to compromise,
he said they will continue to press (via negotiations) for a
two-thirds vote on constitutional changes. If negotiations
fail, he says the opposition may take its case to the
Interamerican Court.
2. (C) Goitia said the opposition is hopeful regarding the
impact of the regional strike planned for September 8 in
Santa Cruz, Tarija, Beni, and Pando, which is intended to
publicly challenge MAS attempts to steamroll the Assembly.
He said support from Cochabamba and/or Chuquisaca would
demonstrate that more than half of the country opposes MAS'
authoritarian management of the Assembly to date. Goitia
complained about executive branch interference in the
Assembly, and particularly Morales' encouragement of social
sectors to go to Sucre to "oversee" its work. He said social
sectors threaten and harass delegates every time they pass
through the Assembly's entrance/exit. Goitia also mentioned
that the local press criticized the presence of Venezuelan
security personnel within the Assembly.
3. (C) Comment: While the Assembly is scheduled to resume
session the afternoon of September 7, most opposition members
are looking to the September 8 regional strike to break the
stalemate. Via the strike, the opposition hopes to send the
GOB a strong message that its demand for a two-thirds vote on
constitutional changes is serious and that the MAS'
anti-democratic tactics are unacceptable, without tipping the
balance toward a more intense confrontation. But with
military troops ready to keep roads open and indigenous
organizations mobilizing to hold counter-demonstrations in
support of the MAS, it may be a fine line to walk. End
comment.
GREENLEE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
PASS TO WHA/AS SHANNON, WHA PDAS SHAPIRO, WHA/AND PETRONI
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/07/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL BL
SUBJECT: MAS STEAMROLLING CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY?
Classified By: DCM Krishna Urs for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) Constituent Assembly
delegates approved the general outline of their own draft
rules of order September 6 by simple majority (141 of 255
votes) without permitting debate. Opposition parties had
attempted to postpone a vote on the rules of order by
requesting a meeting with Assembly leadership to continue
negotiations. After Assembly President (and MAS delegate)
Silvia Lazarte ignored their request, the opposition
abandoned the session. Podemos Constituent Assembly
representative Carlos Goitia told poloff that the MAS' next
step will likely be to approve its rules in a more detailed
fashion, section by section. While he is pessimistic about
the opposition's ability to convince the MAS to compromise,
he said they will continue to press (via negotiations) for a
two-thirds vote on constitutional changes. If negotiations
fail, he says the opposition may take its case to the
Interamerican Court.
2. (C) Goitia said the opposition is hopeful regarding the
impact of the regional strike planned for September 8 in
Santa Cruz, Tarija, Beni, and Pando, which is intended to
publicly challenge MAS attempts to steamroll the Assembly.
He said support from Cochabamba and/or Chuquisaca would
demonstrate that more than half of the country opposes MAS'
authoritarian management of the Assembly to date. Goitia
complained about executive branch interference in the
Assembly, and particularly Morales' encouragement of social
sectors to go to Sucre to "oversee" its work. He said social
sectors threaten and harass delegates every time they pass
through the Assembly's entrance/exit. Goitia also mentioned
that the local press criticized the presence of Venezuelan
security personnel within the Assembly.
3. (C) Comment: While the Assembly is scheduled to resume
session the afternoon of September 7, most opposition members
are looking to the September 8 regional strike to break the
stalemate. Via the strike, the opposition hopes to send the
GOB a strong message that its demand for a two-thirds vote on
constitutional changes is serious and that the MAS'
anti-democratic tactics are unacceptable, without tipping the
balance toward a more intense confrontation. But with
military troops ready to keep roads open and indigenous
organizations mobilizing to hold counter-demonstrations in
support of the MAS, it may be a fine line to walk. End
comment.
GREENLEE