Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06LAPAZ3301
2006-12-06 21:21:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy La Paz
Cable title:  

HUNGER STRIKES TURN VIOLENT, PRESSURE MOUNTS

Tags:  BL ECON PGOV PHUM PREL 
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PP RUEHLMC
DE RUEHLP #3301/01 3402121
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 062121Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY LA PAZ
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INFO RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 6358
RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 3682
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 7548
RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 4802
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 2054
RUEHGT/AMEMBASSY GUATEMALA 0602
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RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID 3213
RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO 1950
RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO 4252
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RUEHRI/AMCONSUL RIO DE JANEIRO 0917
RUEHSO/AMCONSUL SAO PAULO 2084
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RUMIAAA/USCINCSO MIAMI FL
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 LA PAZ 003301 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/18/2016
TAGS: BL ECON PGOV PHUM PREL
SUBJECT: HUNGER STRIKES TURN VIOLENT, PRESSURE MOUNTS

Classified By: ECOPOL Andrew Erickson for reason 1.4 (d).

-------
SUMMARY
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 LA PAZ 003301

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/18/2016
TAGS: BL ECON PGOV PHUM PREL
SUBJECT: HUNGER STRIKES TURN VIOLENT, PRESSURE MOUNTS

Classified By: ECOPOL Andrew Erickson for reason 1.4 (d).

--------------
SUMMARY
--------------


1. (C) Violence erupted during the afternoon of December 5
when Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) militants confronted a
group of hunger strikers in La Paz's historic San Francisco
church. Meanwhile, the hunger strike in support of a
two-thirds voting mechanism in the Constituent Assembly (CA)
is growing nationwide. Digging in their heels in opposition
to the GOB, the hunger strikers have attracted
opposition-minded prefects and other community leaders,
giving them greater credibility and galvanizing broader
support. Nonetheless, the strike remains almost entirely a
middle-class and elite phenomenon. President Morales has
refused to negotiate, electing instead to lash out at the
opposition with wild charges and promising to defend his
government militarily. As Morales struggles to find his way
out of this latest political crisis, he appears disinclined
to abandon his favored tactics of confrontation. End summary.

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VIOLENCE ERUPTS IN HISTORIC CHURCH
--------------


2. (C) In the afternoon of December 5, a group of
approximately one hundred Movement Toward Socialism (MAS)
sympathizers stormed Bolivia's historic San Francisco Church
in central La Paz and dislodged a small group of hunger
strikers inside. Facing a crowd armed with dynamite,
novelist Juan Claudi Lechin, Santa Cruz Business Federation
President Gabriel Dabdoub, and retired General Alvin Anaya
escaped from the church unharmed but seriously shaken.
Church leaders reported there were no injuries but claimed
the MAS intruders vandalized the church, broke windows, and
burned the hunger strikers' sleeping bags and medical
provisions. Fearing for their safety, the hunger strikers
promised December 5 to continue with their peaceful protest
in an undisclosed location. Responding to the violence and
vandalism of church property, Santa Cruz Bishop Sergio
Gualberto declared the church a place of protection and
refuge, saying that it had never experienced similar acts of

violence, even during the years of Bolivia's dictatorship.
Speaking privately to Polcouns, Lechin expressed
disappointment that the Church has not responded more
aggressively to this incident, but offered the view that the
Church has larger interests at stake. He also claimed the
Church remains enamored with the prospect of the changes in
Bolivian society held out by the Morales regime.


3. (C) Polcouns met with Lechin and several hunger strikers
December 6, who explained they entered the hunger strike due
to their "deep concern and rage" regarding the direction
Morales is leading the country. Lechin repeated his December
5 comments that the GOB has adopted a "fascist style, that
like Hitler, begins with popular discourse and ends with
cruel dictators." Lechin expressed frustration the
international human rights community and international press
did not give sufficient attention to the disturbing trends in
Bolivia today. Polcouns asked about the group's strategy.
Lechin suggested the group would continue the hunger strike
through the planned December 7 to 10 South American Summit in
Cochabamba. He also noted that in his view, a nasty and
personal attack advertisement slandering him in the December
6 edition of La Razon newspaper had been directly paid by the
GOB. Lechin's father was an historic figure in Bolivia's
labor movement; the advertisement accused him of betraying
his father's legacy.


LA PAZ 00003301 002 OF 003


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SAFEGUARDING PROTESTERS NOT A GOB PRIORITY
--------------


4. (SBU) The hunger strike in support of a two-thirds voting
mechanism in the Constituent Assembly (CA) is growing
nationwide. Instead of cracking down on confrontation, the
GOB in the San Francisco church incident actually enabled mob
violence to occur against the strikers. Minister of
Government Alicia Muoz pulled police protection of the San
Francisco church December 5, citing "other security
priorities." When pressed, Muoz reportedly stated "the
police can not be worn down providing protection for a group
of people that initiated what all view as a political
strike." Following the mob attack on the church, the GOB
finally bowed to public pressure by the Permanent Assembly of
Human Rights, and Muoz reversed her decision and restored
police protection to the church. The police are now guarding
an empty church.

-------------- --
HUNGER STRIKE GROWING, GAINING VIP PARTICIPANTS
-------------- --


5. (SBU) Digging in their heels in opposition to the GOB, the
hunger strikers have attracted opposition-minded prefects and
other community leaders, giving them greater credibility and
galvanizing broader support. Nonetheless, the strike remains
an elite phenomenon. Pando Prefect Leopoldo Fernandez,
Tarija Prefect Mario Cossio, and the presidents of the Civic
Committees in Beni and Santa Cruz joined the hunger strike
December 5. These latest additions bring the total number of
political leaders involved in the hunger strikes to fifty-six
PODEMOS members of congress, two prefects, and numerous civic
and neighborhood leaders. Reportedly, there are more than
one thousand hunger strikers across Bolivia.
-------------- -
MORALES ATTACKS, PROMISES TO DEFEND GOVERNMENT
-------------- -


6. (SBU) Despite growing pressure, President Morales has
refused to negotiate, electing instead to lash out at the
opposition with wild charges and promising to defend his
government militarily. Using the December 5 anniversary of
Viacha, a city in the Altiplano, to respond to opposition
demands, Morales stated the absolute majority voting
mechanism in the CA is non-negotiable. Accusing the hunger
strikers of corruption, human rights violations, and
narco-trafficking connections, Morales attempted to discredit
the efforts of the opposition and promised the government
will defend itself against these attacks. Army Commander
Freddy Bersatti endorsed Morales' comments and claimed the
military stands ready to preserve the country's national
unity against the strikes.

--------------
COMMENT
--------------


7. (C) The small-scale violence on December 5 is
representative of Bolivia's growing political tensions and
intolerance. In the past twenty-four hours, Morales has
continued to stir the political pot. Vice President Garcia
Linera, on the other hand, has posed as the voice of reason,
offering GOB respect for autonomy. although largely ignoring
the striker's principal demand, respect for the enabling
legislation requiring two-thirds approval of the new
constitution. The upcoming South American Summit (December 7
to 10 in Cochabamba),and the international attention Bolivia
will receive as a result may pressure the GOB to move toward
consensus. Given the government's proven hostility to

LA PAZ 00003301 003 OF 003


dialogue and compromise, however, the growing pressure of the
hunger strikes is likely to prove an embarrassment for a GOB
hungry for Latin American political credibility. End Comment.
URS