Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07LAPAZ1571
2007-06-06 20:37:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy La Paz
Cable title:  

BOLIVIAN JUDICIARY GOES ON FIRST STRIKE EVER

Tags:  PGOV PREL BL 
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VZCZCXRO7766
PP RUEHLMC
DE RUEHLP #1571 1572037
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 062037Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY LA PAZ
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3847
INFO RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 6827
RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 4170
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 8055
RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 5304
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 2538
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 2683
RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID 3498
RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO 4654
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 5167
RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 9768
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC
RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA 0351
RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RUMIAAA/USCINCSO MIAMI FL
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC
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
-------

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.

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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