Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06LAPAZ2717
2006-10-06 21:24:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy La Paz
Cable title:
CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY: PLENIPOTENTIARY DEBATE
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LA PAZ 002717
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/07/2016
TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL BL
SUBJECT: CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY: PLENIPOTENTIARY DEBATE
CONTINUES
REF: A. LA PAZ 2636
B. LA PAZ 2683
C. LA PAZ 2698
Classified By: Amb. Philip S. Goldberg for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
---------
SUMMARY
----------
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LA PAZ 002717
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/07/2016
TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL BL
SUBJECT: CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY: PLENIPOTENTIARY DEBATE
CONTINUES
REF: A. LA PAZ 2636
B. LA PAZ 2683
C. LA PAZ 2698
Classified By: Amb. Philip S. Goldberg for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
--------------
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (C) Nationwide debate continues over the Constituent
Assembly's declared "plenipotentiary" nature, with Supreme
Court President Hector Sandoval and President Morales
exchanging public barbs about the other's "interference" in
Assembly matters. Following MAS party leader Ramon Loayza's
return to the Assembly and conciliatory speech October 4, a
brief window for dialogue reopened, only to close again after
Morales visited Sucre the same day. The Assembly approved 40
plus non-controversial articles of its rules of order this
week, but failed to reach agreement on organization of
Assembly commissions. Political infighting and uncertainty
from the Constituent Assembly seems to be spreading
throughout Bolivian society (see reftel regarding mining
crisis). But at the same time, thousands marched in the
central department of Cochabamba for a "unified and
democratic Bolivia," putting a slightly different spin on the
traditional east-west conflict. End summary.
--------------
CONTROVERSY ON "PLENIPOTENTIARY" POWERS
--------------
2. (C) Nationwide debate continues over the Constituent
Assembly's declared "plenipotentiary" nature, with Supreme
Court President Hector Sandoval and President Morales
exchanging public barbs about the other's "interference" in
Assembly matters. Sandoval expressed his personal opinion,
followed by a Supreme Court resolution, that the Assembly
cannot be plenipotentiary as its only task is to revise
Bolivia's existing constitution, and that the MAS majority
vote declaring it "original" was improper. In response,
Morales criticized the court for interfering in the Assembly,
accusing it of opposing change in Bolivia and of being a
vestige of the "colonial state."
--------------
GROUP HUGS
--------------
3. (C) MAS party leader Ramon Loayza returned to the
Assembly to give a conciliatory and emotional speech October
4, in which he said his near-death experience had led him to
realize that he should work with his counterparts in the
Assembly. Podemos and opposition parties warmly welcomed him
back, and this new-found affection seemed to open a window
for dialogue with assembly members exchanging group hugs.
However, according to opposition representatives, Morales'
October 4 trip to Sucre, in which he again instructed MAS
delegates to pass the rules of debate by simple majority,
foreclosed any chance for dialogue.
--------------
RULES AND COMMISSIONS
--------------
4. (C) The Assembly approved 40 plus non-controversial
articles of its rules of order this week. It approved most
by a two-thirds vote, with Podemos and several small
opposition parties abstaining to protest the simple majority
vote on Article 1, which declared the Assembly
plenipotentiary (reftels A and B). The Assembly is in recess
until October 9, but is stumbling over organization of
Assembly commissions. Each of the 255 representatives is
entitled to participate in one commission or sub-commission,
but parties are jockeying for places on key commissions such
LA PAZ 00002717 002 OF 002
as government reform and autonomy. One Santa Cruz delegate
said that once formed, the commissions will hold hearings on
their respective issues to allow public participation in the
debate, and estimated that the Assembly will not begin any
substantive work until January 2007.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
5. (C) As political infighting and uncertainty from the
Constituent Assembly seems to be spreading throughout Bolivia
(see reftel C regarding the mining conflict),thousands
marched in Cochabamba October 5 for a "unified and democratic
Bolivia." The march represents a welcome reprieve from the
traditional east-west conflict, as Cochabamba is not aligned
with the "media luna" departments of Santa Cruz, Beni, Pando
and Tarija. This march, as well as the Supreme Court
resolution, are intended to pressure the Morales government
to negotiate. End comment.
GOLDBERG
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/07/2016
TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL BL
SUBJECT: CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY: PLENIPOTENTIARY DEBATE
CONTINUES
REF: A. LA PAZ 2636
B. LA PAZ 2683
C. LA PAZ 2698
Classified By: Amb. Philip S. Goldberg for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
--------------
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (C) Nationwide debate continues over the Constituent
Assembly's declared "plenipotentiary" nature, with Supreme
Court President Hector Sandoval and President Morales
exchanging public barbs about the other's "interference" in
Assembly matters. Following MAS party leader Ramon Loayza's
return to the Assembly and conciliatory speech October 4, a
brief window for dialogue reopened, only to close again after
Morales visited Sucre the same day. The Assembly approved 40
plus non-controversial articles of its rules of order this
week, but failed to reach agreement on organization of
Assembly commissions. Political infighting and uncertainty
from the Constituent Assembly seems to be spreading
throughout Bolivian society (see reftel regarding mining
crisis). But at the same time, thousands marched in the
central department of Cochabamba for a "unified and
democratic Bolivia," putting a slightly different spin on the
traditional east-west conflict. End summary.
--------------
CONTROVERSY ON "PLENIPOTENTIARY" POWERS
--------------
2. (C) Nationwide debate continues over the Constituent
Assembly's declared "plenipotentiary" nature, with Supreme
Court President Hector Sandoval and President Morales
exchanging public barbs about the other's "interference" in
Assembly matters. Sandoval expressed his personal opinion,
followed by a Supreme Court resolution, that the Assembly
cannot be plenipotentiary as its only task is to revise
Bolivia's existing constitution, and that the MAS majority
vote declaring it "original" was improper. In response,
Morales criticized the court for interfering in the Assembly,
accusing it of opposing change in Bolivia and of being a
vestige of the "colonial state."
--------------
GROUP HUGS
--------------
3. (C) MAS party leader Ramon Loayza returned to the
Assembly to give a conciliatory and emotional speech October
4, in which he said his near-death experience had led him to
realize that he should work with his counterparts in the
Assembly. Podemos and opposition parties warmly welcomed him
back, and this new-found affection seemed to open a window
for dialogue with assembly members exchanging group hugs.
However, according to opposition representatives, Morales'
October 4 trip to Sucre, in which he again instructed MAS
delegates to pass the rules of debate by simple majority,
foreclosed any chance for dialogue.
--------------
RULES AND COMMISSIONS
--------------
4. (C) The Assembly approved 40 plus non-controversial
articles of its rules of order this week. It approved most
by a two-thirds vote, with Podemos and several small
opposition parties abstaining to protest the simple majority
vote on Article 1, which declared the Assembly
plenipotentiary (reftels A and B). The Assembly is in recess
until October 9, but is stumbling over organization of
Assembly commissions. Each of the 255 representatives is
entitled to participate in one commission or sub-commission,
but parties are jockeying for places on key commissions such
LA PAZ 00002717 002 OF 002
as government reform and autonomy. One Santa Cruz delegate
said that once formed, the commissions will hold hearings on
their respective issues to allow public participation in the
debate, and estimated that the Assembly will not begin any
substantive work until January 2007.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
5. (C) As political infighting and uncertainty from the
Constituent Assembly seems to be spreading throughout Bolivia
(see reftel C regarding the mining conflict),thousands
marched in Cochabamba October 5 for a "unified and democratic
Bolivia." The march represents a welcome reprieve from the
traditional east-west conflict, as Cochabamba is not aligned
with the "media luna" departments of Santa Cruz, Beni, Pando
and Tarija. This march, as well as the Supreme Court
resolution, are intended to pressure the Morales government
to negotiate. End comment.
GOLDBERG