BOLIVIAN JUDICIARY GOES ON FIRST STRIKE EVER

C O N F I D E N T I A L LA PAZ 001571 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/06/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL BL SUBJECT: BOLIVIAN JUDICIARY GOES ON FIRST STRIKE EVER Classified By: ECOPOL Chief Andrew S. Erickson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) Summary: On Tuesday June 5, in the first known strike to affect Bolivia's court system, 2,900 judicial branch employees stayed home. The strike was a response to President Evo Morales' repeated rhetorical attacks on the judiciary. The stoppage provoked mixed reactions among Bolivia's public, angering litigators who had appearances scheduled for June 5. In response, President Morales called the strike "political" and introduced legislation to restructure the judiciary. The impeachment process for four Constitutional Tribunal magistrates will likely stall in the senate, leaving Morales with few options. End Summary. -------------- 24 HOUR STRIKE -------------- ¶2. (U) Bolivia's justice system went on strike for 24 hours on June 5 to protest what it views as the increasingly aggressive behavior of President Evo Morales. Morales has often accused magistrates of being corrupt and "relics" of past regimes. His habit of ruling by decree has placed him increasingly at odds with the Constitutional Tribunal (CT), which has the power to evaluate the constitutionality of his decrees. Morales initiated impeachment charges against four of the five CT magistrates after the magistrates overturned his temporary appointment of four Supreme Court justices. ¶3. (C) Several prosecutors have told Post that Morales' actions have politicized the judicial process by exerting great pressure on them. Under such stress, prosecutors charged with pursuing the impeachments have committed errors such as arriving late to court proceedings and failing to demonstrate enough evidence to warrant the detention of the accused magistrates. In this context, leaders of the judicial branch called a 24 nation-wide strike on June 5. It affected all levels of the judicial system. Throughout the entire country some 2,900 employees participated in the strike making it a success in the eyes of judicial leaders. ¶4. (U) The stated goal of the strikers was to demonstrate the court system's relevance to society. Additionally, they sought to express support for the accused magistrates, the independence of the judiciary, and the process of judicial review. After the strike, leaders said they are now willing to negotiate with the executive power, but warned that Morales needs to tone down his rhetoric. -------------- MORALES RESPONDS -------------- ¶5. (U) Morales responded by calling the strike a political move and introducing a proposal to restructure the judicial branch. Meanwhile, administration officials said that the strikers will be made to forfeit one day's pay. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶6. (C) Comment: Despite Morales' attacks and the perception of extreme corruption in the justice system, the CT remains well respected based on public opinion polls. The impeachment process will likely stall in the Senate, leaving Morales with few options, and until the constituent assembly manages to produce a new constitution, the powers are likely to remain in conflict with each other. End Comment. URS