Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06LAPAZ3457
2006-12-21 21:11:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy La Paz
Cable title:
MAS SEEKS TO UNDERMINE COCHABAMBA OPPOSITION
VZCZCXYZ0008 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHLP #3457/01 3552111 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 212111Z DEC 06 FM AMEMBASSY LA PAZ TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1886 INFO RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 6412 RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0108 RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 3736 RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 7610 RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 4858 RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 2108 RUEHCP/AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN 0202 RUEHHE/AMEMBASSY HELSINKI 0083 RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 2182 RUEHLI/AMEMBASSY LISBON 0089 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0104 RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID 3239 RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO 1995 RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO 4304 RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO 0111 RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 0452 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0109 RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 4745 RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 0279 RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 9332 RUEHSM/AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM 0156 RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE 0735 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0268 RUEHGL/AMCONSUL GUAYAQUIL 0840 RUEHRI/AMCONSUL RIO DE JANEIRO 0939 RUEHSO/AMCONSUL SAO PAULO 2113 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L LA PAZ 003457
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/AND
TREASURY FOR SGOOCH
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/21/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL BL
SUBJECT: MAS SEEKS TO UNDERMINE COCHABAMBA OPPOSITION
REF: LA PAZ 3354
Classified By: Ecopol Counselor Andrew Erickson for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).
-------
Summary
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L LA PAZ 003457
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/AND
TREASURY FOR SGOOCH
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/21/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL BL
SUBJECT: MAS SEEKS TO UNDERMINE COCHABAMBA OPPOSITION
REF: LA PAZ 3354
Classified By: Ecopol Counselor Andrew Erickson for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).
--------------
Summary
--------------
1. (C) On December 14, Prefect Manfred Reyes Villa led a
march attended by over 50,000 people in favor of autonomy and
a two-thirds vote on constitutional articles in the pivotal
department of Cochabamba. In response to the march, the
Regional Workers Federation (COD) held a protest on December
19, which erupted into violence after someone threw a tear
gas grenade. The COD, joined by other social organizations,
vowed on December 20 to pressure the prefect to resign. The
COD's planned pressure tactics against Reyes Villa seem to be
a thinly-veiled MAS attempt to oust a formidable opposition
leader in the "swing state" of Cochabamba. End summary.
--------------
Counter-March Erupts into Violence
--------------
2. (C) On December 14, Prefect of Cochabamba Manfred Reyes
Villa led a march in favor of national unity, regional
autonomy, and the argument that new constitutional articles
should be approved by two-thirds of constituent assembly
members. More than 50,000 people participated in the march.
Reyes Villa proposed holding a referendum on autonomy within
sixty days. In response to the march, the Regional Workers
Federation (COD) held a protest against the two-thirds vote
and autonomy on December 19. The protest became violent
after a tear gas grenade exploded. Protesters blamed the
police for the explosion, while the police chief blamed
university students. Protesters responded to the tear gas by
throwing sticks and stones at the police.
-------------- --------------
MAS-Backed Social Groups Demand Prefect's Resignation
-------------- --------------
3. (C) The COD convened a meeting on December 20 attended by
over forty social sector groups to discuss retaliatory
measures against the prefect. Reyes Villa denied that he had
authorized the use of tear gas against the protesters and
said that the police had found dynamite in some protesters'
backpacks. However, the COD vowed to pressure the prefect
until he resigned, calling him a fascist oligarch. According
to press reports, a Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) senator
declared that MAS-affiliated sectors back the COD's decision.
Reyes Villa stated that he would not resign and that
democracy would be respected. MAS support in Cochabamba is
high; however, the province is divided. Reyes Villa, who was
elected democratically in December 2005 under his own
political party banner, also enjoys significant support -- 47
percent according to polls conducted in early December.
--------------
Comment
--------------
4. (C) The COD's plan to force Prefect Manfred Reyes Villa
from power seems to be a thinly-veiled MAS attempt to oust a
formidable opposition leader in the pivotal department of
Cochabamba. The threats against Reyes Villa are reminiscent
of the actions taken against La Paz' opposition Prefect Jose
Luis "Pepe Lucho" Paredes earlier this month (reftel). End
comment.
GOLDBERG
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/AND
TREASURY FOR SGOOCH
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/21/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL BL
SUBJECT: MAS SEEKS TO UNDERMINE COCHABAMBA OPPOSITION
REF: LA PAZ 3354
Classified By: Ecopol Counselor Andrew Erickson for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).
--------------
Summary
--------------
1. (C) On December 14, Prefect Manfred Reyes Villa led a
march attended by over 50,000 people in favor of autonomy and
a two-thirds vote on constitutional articles in the pivotal
department of Cochabamba. In response to the march, the
Regional Workers Federation (COD) held a protest on December
19, which erupted into violence after someone threw a tear
gas grenade. The COD, joined by other social organizations,
vowed on December 20 to pressure the prefect to resign. The
COD's planned pressure tactics against Reyes Villa seem to be
a thinly-veiled MAS attempt to oust a formidable opposition
leader in the "swing state" of Cochabamba. End summary.
--------------
Counter-March Erupts into Violence
--------------
2. (C) On December 14, Prefect of Cochabamba Manfred Reyes
Villa led a march in favor of national unity, regional
autonomy, and the argument that new constitutional articles
should be approved by two-thirds of constituent assembly
members. More than 50,000 people participated in the march.
Reyes Villa proposed holding a referendum on autonomy within
sixty days. In response to the march, the Regional Workers
Federation (COD) held a protest against the two-thirds vote
and autonomy on December 19. The protest became violent
after a tear gas grenade exploded. Protesters blamed the
police for the explosion, while the police chief blamed
university students. Protesters responded to the tear gas by
throwing sticks and stones at the police.
-------------- --------------
MAS-Backed Social Groups Demand Prefect's Resignation
-------------- --------------
3. (C) The COD convened a meeting on December 20 attended by
over forty social sector groups to discuss retaliatory
measures against the prefect. Reyes Villa denied that he had
authorized the use of tear gas against the protesters and
said that the police had found dynamite in some protesters'
backpacks. However, the COD vowed to pressure the prefect
until he resigned, calling him a fascist oligarch. According
to press reports, a Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) senator
declared that MAS-affiliated sectors back the COD's decision.
Reyes Villa stated that he would not resign and that
democracy would be respected. MAS support in Cochabamba is
high; however, the province is divided. Reyes Villa, who was
elected democratically in December 2005 under his own
political party banner, also enjoys significant support -- 47
percent according to polls conducted in early December.
--------------
Comment
--------------
4. (C) The COD's plan to force Prefect Manfred Reyes Villa
from power seems to be a thinly-veiled MAS attempt to oust a
formidable opposition leader in the pivotal department of
Cochabamba. The threats against Reyes Villa are reminiscent
of the actions taken against La Paz' opposition Prefect Jose
Luis "Pepe Lucho" Paredes earlier this month (reftel). End
comment.
GOLDBERG