COCHABAMBA: JANUARY 13-14 UPDATE

UNCLAS LA PAZ 000103

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON BL
SUBJECT: COCHABAMBA: JANUARY 13-14 UPDATE

REF: A. LA PAZ 96

B. LA PAZ 84

C. LA PAZ 83

D. LA PAZ 75

E. LA PAZ 54

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Summary
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1. (SBU) Prefect Manfred Reyes Villa remained in Santa Cruz
through January 15, stating security conditions did not
permit his return to Cochabamba. He dropped his call for a
new autonomy referendum, but a large contingent of pro-MAS
groups continued protests in Cochabamba's main square over
the weekend of January 13-14. The pro-MAS groups have called
another "cabildo" (town hall meeting) for the afternoon of
January 16. On January 13, President Morales called on the
Congress to pass a law that would permit the recall of all
elected officials via referendum. The same day, Minister of
the Presidency Juan Ramon Quintana announced that Juan Carlos
Chavez, the Vice-Minister for Civil Defense, had been fired
for having diverted government supplies (food and bedding) to
the cocaleros (pro-MAS protesters). While tensions appear to
have dissipated over the weekend, pressure on Prefect Reyes
continues, (and is again mounting against La Paz Prefect Jose
Luis Paredes),and is likely far from over. Post will
continue to closely monitor the protests. End Summary.

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Prefect Reyes Still in Santa Cruz
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2. (U) Prefect Manfred Reyes Villa remained in Santa Cruz
through January 15, stating security conditions did not
permit his return to Cochabamba. The GOB's Vice-Minister for
Social Movements, Alfredo Rada, has publicly guaranteed
Reyes' safety if he returns to Cochabamba. Over the weekend,
Reyes met with Catholic Cardinal Terrazas and the prefects
from Santa Cruz, Tarija, Beni, and Pando.

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Protests Against Reyes Continue
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3. (U) Following Reyes' meeting with Terrazas, he announced
that he was dropping his call for a new autonomy referendum.
Despite this reversal, a large contingent of pro-MAS groups
continued protesting in Cochabamba's main square over the
weekend of January 13-14. (Note: Most Cochabamba businesses
outside of the square re-opened on January 15. End Note).
Many cocaleros and campesinos left Cochabamba on January 12
but returned to the city on January 15 to continue their
protests. The pro-MAS groups have called another "cabildo"
(town hall meeting) for January 16. Some pro-MAS groups have
asked that members of the Cochabamba Departmental Council
attend the cabildo so that they can vote for a new prefect.

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Morales Calls for Recall Legislation
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4. (U) President Morales called on the Congress to pass a
law that would permit the recall of all elected officials via
referendum. (Comment: Details regarding this proposal remain
unclear. End Comment). Some pro-MAS groups in Cochabamba
are now following President's Morales' example and are
looking for a "democratic" way for Reyes to resign. Reyes
offered to be the first to submit to such a recall referendum.

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GOB Vice-Minister Fired
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5. (U) On January 13, Minister of the Presidency Juan Ramon
Quintana announced that Juan Carlos Chavez, the Vice-Minister
for Civil Defense, had been fired for having diverted
government supplies (food and bedding) to the pro-MAS
cocaleros and campesinos. This followed the media's
publishing of photos showing MAS Deputy Leonilda Zurita
providing the supplies (which carried the GOB civil defense
logo) to the protesters.

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Comment - Tensions Lowered for Now
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6. (SBU) While tensions appear to have dissipated over the
weekend, pressure on Prefect Reyes continues, (and is again
mounting against La Paz Prefect Jose Luis Paredes),and is
likely far from over. Post will continue to closely monitor
the protests. End Comment.
GOLDBERG