Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06LAPAZ732
2006-03-17 19:46:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy La Paz
Cable title:
MAS DISCREDITING STRING OF EX-PRESIDENTS
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C O N F I D E N T I A L LA PAZ 000732
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/18/2016
TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL BL
SUBJECT: MAS DISCREDITING STRING OF EX-PRESIDENTS
REF: LA PAZ 647
Classified By: Amb. David N. Greenlee for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L LA PAZ 000732
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/18/2016
TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL BL
SUBJECT: MAS DISCREDITING STRING OF EX-PRESIDENTS
REF: LA PAZ 647
Classified By: Amb. David N. Greenlee for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (SBU) Summary: Bolivia's MAS-friendly Attorney General
Pedro Gareca (who recently resigned and then withdrew his
resignation) is instituting proceedings against four of
Bolivia's ex-presidents: Eduardo Rodriguez for the Chinese
MANPADS transfer to the U.S., and Jorge "Tuto" Quiroga,
Carlos Mesa, and Gonzalo "Goni" Sanchez de Lozada for failing
to obtain congressional approval before signing state
contracts with hydrocarbons companies. Most analysts believe
that while the cases may allegedly have some legal merit,
they are a well-planned maneuver intended to discredit
potential political rivals (principally Podemos and MNR) in
the current campaign season. End summary.
2. (SBU) On March 9, Attorney General Pedro Gareca, a known
MAS sympathizer who recently resigned and then withdrew his
resignation, indicated his intent to file criminal charges
against former President Eduardo Rodriguez, former Minister
of Defense Gonzalo Mendez and ex-Commander of the Armed
Forces Marco Antonio Justiniano for their role in turning
over Chinese-made MANPADS to the United States (see reftels).
The Attorney General is considering charging the defendants
with total or partial submission to foreign influence,
espionage, issuing orders contrary to the Constitution,
negligence, and destruction/suppression of evidence. Gareca
presented the case to the Supreme Court's criminal division;
next it must be approved by Congress before formal charges
may be filed.
3. (C) Gareca instituted similar proceedings on March 16
against former Presidents Jorge "Tuto" Quiroga, Carlos Mesa,
and Gonzalo "Goni" Sanchez de Lozada for failing to obtain
congressional approval before signing state contracts with
hydrocarbons companies. Article 59 (5) of the Constitution
provides that Congress must authorize and approve all state
contracts that relate to the exploitation of natural
resources. Gareca alleges that the three former presidents
(and many of their ministers and the state oil company)
violated the Constitution by signing a total of 107
hydrocarbons contracts during their respective
administrations.
4. (C) Comment: While the charges may or may not have legal
merit under the Constitution, there is little doubt about the
political motivation behind these charges, particularly given
the upcoming Constituent Assembly elections. Many analysts
believe that Gareca is stretching back in time to charge
Quiroga, who was president for only one year, because he is
the leader of the political party best poised to oppose the
MAS in the Assembly. Especially egregious is the attack on
Rodriguez, the man responsible for preserving Bolivian
democracy and the opportunity for the MAS to win the December
2005 elections. Some had suggested that Rodriguez, Bolivia's
most respected jurist, would be an excellent choice to
preside over the Constituent Assembly. The MAS strategy
appears to be to tie up potential opposition leaders with
personal crises and distract them from the CA. Given the
already weak state of the opposition, the MAS plan just might
work. End comment.
GREENLEE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/18/2016
TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL BL
SUBJECT: MAS DISCREDITING STRING OF EX-PRESIDENTS
REF: LA PAZ 647
Classified By: Amb. David N. Greenlee for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (SBU) Summary: Bolivia's MAS-friendly Attorney General
Pedro Gareca (who recently resigned and then withdrew his
resignation) is instituting proceedings against four of
Bolivia's ex-presidents: Eduardo Rodriguez for the Chinese
MANPADS transfer to the U.S., and Jorge "Tuto" Quiroga,
Carlos Mesa, and Gonzalo "Goni" Sanchez de Lozada for failing
to obtain congressional approval before signing state
contracts with hydrocarbons companies. Most analysts believe
that while the cases may allegedly have some legal merit,
they are a well-planned maneuver intended to discredit
potential political rivals (principally Podemos and MNR) in
the current campaign season. End summary.
2. (SBU) On March 9, Attorney General Pedro Gareca, a known
MAS sympathizer who recently resigned and then withdrew his
resignation, indicated his intent to file criminal charges
against former President Eduardo Rodriguez, former Minister
of Defense Gonzalo Mendez and ex-Commander of the Armed
Forces Marco Antonio Justiniano for their role in turning
over Chinese-made MANPADS to the United States (see reftels).
The Attorney General is considering charging the defendants
with total or partial submission to foreign influence,
espionage, issuing orders contrary to the Constitution,
negligence, and destruction/suppression of evidence. Gareca
presented the case to the Supreme Court's criminal division;
next it must be approved by Congress before formal charges
may be filed.
3. (C) Gareca instituted similar proceedings on March 16
against former Presidents Jorge "Tuto" Quiroga, Carlos Mesa,
and Gonzalo "Goni" Sanchez de Lozada for failing to obtain
congressional approval before signing state contracts with
hydrocarbons companies. Article 59 (5) of the Constitution
provides that Congress must authorize and approve all state
contracts that relate to the exploitation of natural
resources. Gareca alleges that the three former presidents
(and many of their ministers and the state oil company)
violated the Constitution by signing a total of 107
hydrocarbons contracts during their respective
administrations.
4. (C) Comment: While the charges may or may not have legal
merit under the Constitution, there is little doubt about the
political motivation behind these charges, particularly given
the upcoming Constituent Assembly elections. Many analysts
believe that Gareca is stretching back in time to charge
Quiroga, who was president for only one year, because he is
the leader of the political party best poised to oppose the
MAS in the Assembly. Especially egregious is the attack on
Rodriguez, the man responsible for preserving Bolivian
democracy and the opportunity for the MAS to win the December
2005 elections. Some had suggested that Rodriguez, Bolivia's
most respected jurist, would be an excellent choice to
preside over the Constituent Assembly. The MAS strategy
appears to be to tie up potential opposition leaders with
personal crises and distract them from the CA. Given the
already weak state of the opposition, the MAS plan just might
work. End comment.
GREENLEE