Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06LAPAZ2452
2006-09-11 19:20:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy La Paz
Cable title:
CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY STALEMATE CONTINUES
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UNCLAS LA PAZ 002452
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/AND P.FRENCH AND L.PETRONI
NSC FOR D. FISK
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON BL
SUBJECT: CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY STALEMATE CONTINUES
REF: A. LA PAZ 2415
B. LA PAZ 2418
UNCLAS LA PAZ 002452
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/AND P.FRENCH AND L.PETRONI
NSC FOR D. FISK
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON BL
SUBJECT: CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY STALEMATE CONTINUES
REF: A. LA PAZ 2415
B. LA PAZ 2418
1. (U) Most political and media analysts describe the
regional September 8 strike as a success (see September 8
ASDAR),but the Constituent Assembly remains deadlocked, at
least for the moment, over whether delegates should use a
simple majority or two-thirds vote to approve constitutional
changes. Organizers of the strike, who favor a two-thirds
vote, declared a "truce" September 9 but will reevaluate
their position on September 14 if the MAS continues to insist
on a simple majority. The Assembly's governing board will
resume negotiations September 11 to be followed by a meeting
of Assembly party leaders September 12, just before the
plenary resumes session.
2. (SBU) One opposition Assembly delegate told us he is
sanguine regarding the negotiations, but said that the GOB,
which has kept MAS delegates on a short leash, "will have to
give." The GOB said September 10 that it is willing to
change the rules of order in partial response to opposition
demands; nonetheless, there has been no change in the MAS
position on a simple majority. President Morales said
September 9 that "absolute majority is democracy," and that
"in indigenous communities, majorities and minorities don't
exist, but consensus." He again argued that the two-thirds
vote mentioned in the Assembly's enabling legislation refers
only to a one-time vote on the final constitution, not to its
individual provisions. (Note: The enabling legislation is in
fact ambiguous on this point. End note). Morales added if
the final two-thirds vote fails, the GOB will take the new
constitution directly to the people for their approval.
3. (SBU) National Unity (UN) leader Samuel Doria Medina has
told the Ambassador that opposition and MAS delegates had
worked over the weekend in an effort to craft a compromise.
While no deal was reached, Doria Medina was optimistic that a
deal could be worked out if both sides were prepared to be
"creative."
4. (SBU) Comment: News reports showing more prosperous Santa
Cruz youth preventing poor indigenous residents from working
September 8 are not likely to engender sympathy for the
opposition's cause, particularly in the Altiplano. For now,
a stalemate persists between the MAS and the opposition.
Still, the strike ended after 24 hours and negotiations
continue, leaving some room for cautious optimism. End
comment.
GREENLEE
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/AND P.FRENCH AND L.PETRONI
NSC FOR D. FISK
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON BL
SUBJECT: CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY STALEMATE CONTINUES
REF: A. LA PAZ 2415
B. LA PAZ 2418
1. (U) Most political and media analysts describe the
regional September 8 strike as a success (see September 8
ASDAR),but the Constituent Assembly remains deadlocked, at
least for the moment, over whether delegates should use a
simple majority or two-thirds vote to approve constitutional
changes. Organizers of the strike, who favor a two-thirds
vote, declared a "truce" September 9 but will reevaluate
their position on September 14 if the MAS continues to insist
on a simple majority. The Assembly's governing board will
resume negotiations September 11 to be followed by a meeting
of Assembly party leaders September 12, just before the
plenary resumes session.
2. (SBU) One opposition Assembly delegate told us he is
sanguine regarding the negotiations, but said that the GOB,
which has kept MAS delegates on a short leash, "will have to
give." The GOB said September 10 that it is willing to
change the rules of order in partial response to opposition
demands; nonetheless, there has been no change in the MAS
position on a simple majority. President Morales said
September 9 that "absolute majority is democracy," and that
"in indigenous communities, majorities and minorities don't
exist, but consensus." He again argued that the two-thirds
vote mentioned in the Assembly's enabling legislation refers
only to a one-time vote on the final constitution, not to its
individual provisions. (Note: The enabling legislation is in
fact ambiguous on this point. End note). Morales added if
the final two-thirds vote fails, the GOB will take the new
constitution directly to the people for their approval.
3. (SBU) National Unity (UN) leader Samuel Doria Medina has
told the Ambassador that opposition and MAS delegates had
worked over the weekend in an effort to craft a compromise.
While no deal was reached, Doria Medina was optimistic that a
deal could be worked out if both sides were prepared to be
"creative."
4. (SBU) Comment: News reports showing more prosperous Santa
Cruz youth preventing poor indigenous residents from working
September 8 are not likely to engender sympathy for the
opposition's cause, particularly in the Altiplano. For now,
a stalemate persists between the MAS and the opposition.
Still, the strike ended after 24 hours and negotiations
continue, leaving some room for cautious optimism. End
comment.
GREENLEE