SANTA CRUZ BLOCKADE FIZZLES

C O N F I D E N T I A L LA PAZ 002562 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/07/2016 TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL BL SUBJECT: SANTA CRUZ BLOCKADE FIZZLES REF: LA PAZ 2557 Classified By: Charge Kris Urs for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) The September 20 anti-opposition blockade of Santa Cruz has apparently failed. Participation was sporadic at best. Lack of support among social sectors and heavy rain contributed to low protester turnout. Press reported no more than a dozen or so protesters at each location. There was no violence reported and by 10 p.m. all roads were clear. Post spoke with Adolfo Chavez, President of the Eastern Lowlands Indigenous Organization (CIDOB),who said Vice President Garcia Linera personally asked him to call off the strike. ¶2. (C) As we reported in reftel, and in contrast to his plea to Adolfo Chavez, Garcia Linera, in Warisata, asked campesinos and the indigenous to mobilize and be in a "permanent emergency status". The Vice-President also called on his supporters to arm themselves. ¶3. (C) Comment: The fact that the anti-opposition blockade of Santa Cruz fizzled likely contributed to Garcia Linera going to Warisata to re-energize his core base. His remarks have provoked considerable concern among political observers and are being seen as an accurate reflection of his personal views. End Comment. URS