Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06LAPAZ3368
2006-12-13 18:01:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy La Paz
Cable title:
OPPOSITION ABANDONS CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY
how-toVZCZCXRO4364 PP RUEHLMC DE RUEHLP #3368 3471801 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 131801Z DEC 06 FM AMEMBASSY LA PAZ TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1646 INFO RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 6389 RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 3713 RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 7583 RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 4833 RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 2085 RUEHGT/AMEMBASSY GUATEMALA 0609 RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 2158 RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID 3226 RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO 1977 RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO 4281 RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 4722 RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 9307 RUEHRI/AMCONSUL RIO DE JANEIRO 0930 RUEHSO/AMCONSUL SAO PAULO 2101 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 LA PAZ 003368
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/13/2016
TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL BL
SUBJECT: OPPOSITION ABANDONS CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY
REF: A. LA PAZ 3204
B. LA PAZ 3222
C. LA PAZ 3224
Classified By: Ambassador Philip S. Goldberg for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d
).
C O N F I D E N T I A L LA PAZ 003368
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/13/2016
TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL BL
SUBJECT: OPPOSITION ABANDONS CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY
REF: A. LA PAZ 3204
B. LA PAZ 3222
C. LA PAZ 3224
Classified By: Ambassador Philip S. Goldberg for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d
).
1. (C) Due to the increasing intransigence of President
Morales' Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) and its refusal to
negotiate on the voting mechanism in the Constituent Assembly
(CA),96 opposition delegates (Podemos, National Unity-UN,
Leftist Revolutionary Movement-MIR and the Road to Change-CC)
abandoned the Assembly December 13 until further notice. An
opposition delegate told poloff that MAS leaders have "closed
off any possibility of dialogue" and that MAS delegate Ramon
Loaiza told opposition party leaders that the MAS will
approve Bolivia's new constitution without them. UN leader
Doria Medina said December 13 that the opposition "can't do
anything until the MAS changes its attitude," and that the
opposition decided "not to be a part of this farce."
2. (C) Comment: While opposition delegates say they'll return
to the CA if the MAS initiates a true dialogue, the MAS has
given no indication to date that it will give any ground.
Moreover, it seems that the opposition could be setting
itself up for a repeat of what happened last month in
congress when the MAS passed several controversial bills in
the opposition's absence (reftels). Although the legalities
are unclear, it would appear that the MAS can meet the
Assembly's quorum of 128 delegates and begin making
constitutional changes. If the opposition permanently
abandons the Assembly, the MAS may even be able to approve
the final draft constitution, given that the convoking
legislation requires the approval of two-thirds of delegates
present. In short, barring an unimaginable act of generosity
on the part of the GOB, the opposition may have set
themselves up to be absent while the MAS approves its ideal
constitution, however suspect such a document would be. End
comment.
GOLDBERG
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/13/2016
TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL BL
SUBJECT: OPPOSITION ABANDONS CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY
REF: A. LA PAZ 3204
B. LA PAZ 3222
C. LA PAZ 3224
Classified By: Ambassador Philip S. Goldberg for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d
).
1. (C) Due to the increasing intransigence of President
Morales' Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) and its refusal to
negotiate on the voting mechanism in the Constituent Assembly
(CA),96 opposition delegates (Podemos, National Unity-UN,
Leftist Revolutionary Movement-MIR and the Road to Change-CC)
abandoned the Assembly December 13 until further notice. An
opposition delegate told poloff that MAS leaders have "closed
off any possibility of dialogue" and that MAS delegate Ramon
Loaiza told opposition party leaders that the MAS will
approve Bolivia's new constitution without them. UN leader
Doria Medina said December 13 that the opposition "can't do
anything until the MAS changes its attitude," and that the
opposition decided "not to be a part of this farce."
2. (C) Comment: While opposition delegates say they'll return
to the CA if the MAS initiates a true dialogue, the MAS has
given no indication to date that it will give any ground.
Moreover, it seems that the opposition could be setting
itself up for a repeat of what happened last month in
congress when the MAS passed several controversial bills in
the opposition's absence (reftels). Although the legalities
are unclear, it would appear that the MAS can meet the
Assembly's quorum of 128 delegates and begin making
constitutional changes. If the opposition permanently
abandons the Assembly, the MAS may even be able to approve
the final draft constitution, given that the convoking
legislation requires the approval of two-thirds of delegates
present. In short, barring an unimaginable act of generosity
on the part of the GOB, the opposition may have set
themselves up to be absent while the MAS approves its ideal
constitution, however suspect such a document would be. End
comment.
GOLDBERG