Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07LAPAZ1621
2007-06-12 13:56:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy La Paz
Cable title:
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION OF BOLIVIAN MINISTERS
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UNCLAS LA PAZ 001621
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON PGOV PINR PREL BL
SUBJECT: BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION OF BOLIVIAN MINISTERS
UNCLAS LA PAZ 001621
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON PGOV PINR PREL BL
SUBJECT: BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION OF BOLIVIAN MINISTERS
1. The June 10, 2007 edition of La Razn ran a background
article on each of President Evo Morales' cabinet members and
their socialist formation. Newly appointed Minister of
Education Magdalena Caijas de la Vega was not included. What
follows is a summary of that article.
2. JERJES MERCADO, Minister of Public Works: Born in Monte
Hojas, approximately 50 kilometers outside of Santa Cruz, his
father left the home before his first birthday. His mother's
death when he was just 11 left him relatively alone. Doing a
number of odd-jobs and working as newspaper salesman, he
managed to support himself while attending school. While
studying journalism at the Evangelical University in Santa
Cruz, he obtained a scholarship to study in the Soviet Union.
CELIMA TORRICO, Minister of Justice: Born in Chilijichi, in
the Carrasco province of Cochabamba, she recalls assuming
community responsibilities at a young age. Her political
career began with her first union involvement against
dictator Luis Garia Mesa. In 2000 she earned a BA in Popular
Participation and took a position as Departmental Counselor
of Cochabamba.
WALKER SAN MIGUEL, Minister of Defense: Having grown up in La
Paz, he recalls the fear incited by the various military
coups. His childhood was punctuated by political events. When
his parents were exiled, he was forced to give up his
studies. In 1981, he returned to school and earned a law
degree. Upon graduation he took a job at Bolivia's Central
Bank, where he served a few years before attending the
Diplomatic Academy.
NILA HEREDIA, Minister of Health: Born in Uyuni, her family
immigrated to La Paz when her father was fired from his
railway job because of union ties. In La Paz, as she studied
medical engineering at a public university, she became
influenced by Che Guevara and joined the militant National
Liberation Army (ELN).
DAVID CHOQUEHUANCA, Minister of Foreign Relations and
Cultures: Born in 1961 in the Altiplano community of Cota
Cota Baja, he is familiar with Quechua and Aymara traditions,
as well as the Baptist practices he inherited from his
parents. In college he formed the Federation of Students.
Under the influence of his philosophy professor, he began his
political career. He went on to study political-economy in
Cuba, but maintains he is neither a Marxist or Socialist.
LUIS A. ECHAZU, Minister of Mining: Born in Sucre, his family
moved to La Paz in the mid-1960s. He earned a degree in
Metallic Engineering from a university in La Paz where he
demonstrated leadership traits and became involved in
politics. He was exiled in 1974 and again in 1978. He
returned to Bolivia dedicated to intellectual and academic
activities, especially those involving the iron and steel
industry.
GABRIEL LOZA, Minister of Planning and Development: Loza left
Bolivia to study commercial engineering in Chile, but had to
return because of the 1973 military coup. While in Chile he
was exposed to youth socialist militants, which gave him
leftist political orientations. He continued his studies in
Venezuela, earning a masters in Business Administration.
SUSANA RIVERO, Minister of Rural Development and Agriculture:
Born in Trinidad on December 8, 1971, she attended catholic
school. While attending law school she had to work to support
her family. Nevertheless, she managed to graduate with
honors. After school she worked at various organizations
promoting human rights. Today she considers herself a
"soldier of the revolution."
ALFREDO RADA VELEZ, Minister of Government: Born in La Paz 41
years ago, his political career began when his Jesuit school
became the victim of Luis Espinal's dictatorship. He fled to
Chile, where he studied sociology and economics. In the
1980's he became a leftist militant. This process exposed him
to rural and urban union movements. He served as president of
the Institute for the Sovereignty of the People, an
organization that had close ties to the MAS and which later
brought him into the current government.
URS
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON PGOV PINR PREL BL
SUBJECT: BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION OF BOLIVIAN MINISTERS
1. The June 10, 2007 edition of La Razn ran a background
article on each of President Evo Morales' cabinet members and
their socialist formation. Newly appointed Minister of
Education Magdalena Caijas de la Vega was not included. What
follows is a summary of that article.
2. JERJES MERCADO, Minister of Public Works: Born in Monte
Hojas, approximately 50 kilometers outside of Santa Cruz, his
father left the home before his first birthday. His mother's
death when he was just 11 left him relatively alone. Doing a
number of odd-jobs and working as newspaper salesman, he
managed to support himself while attending school. While
studying journalism at the Evangelical University in Santa
Cruz, he obtained a scholarship to study in the Soviet Union.
CELIMA TORRICO, Minister of Justice: Born in Chilijichi, in
the Carrasco province of Cochabamba, she recalls assuming
community responsibilities at a young age. Her political
career began with her first union involvement against
dictator Luis Garia Mesa. In 2000 she earned a BA in Popular
Participation and took a position as Departmental Counselor
of Cochabamba.
WALKER SAN MIGUEL, Minister of Defense: Having grown up in La
Paz, he recalls the fear incited by the various military
coups. His childhood was punctuated by political events. When
his parents were exiled, he was forced to give up his
studies. In 1981, he returned to school and earned a law
degree. Upon graduation he took a job at Bolivia's Central
Bank, where he served a few years before attending the
Diplomatic Academy.
NILA HEREDIA, Minister of Health: Born in Uyuni, her family
immigrated to La Paz when her father was fired from his
railway job because of union ties. In La Paz, as she studied
medical engineering at a public university, she became
influenced by Che Guevara and joined the militant National
Liberation Army (ELN).
DAVID CHOQUEHUANCA, Minister of Foreign Relations and
Cultures: Born in 1961 in the Altiplano community of Cota
Cota Baja, he is familiar with Quechua and Aymara traditions,
as well as the Baptist practices he inherited from his
parents. In college he formed the Federation of Students.
Under the influence of his philosophy professor, he began his
political career. He went on to study political-economy in
Cuba, but maintains he is neither a Marxist or Socialist.
LUIS A. ECHAZU, Minister of Mining: Born in Sucre, his family
moved to La Paz in the mid-1960s. He earned a degree in
Metallic Engineering from a university in La Paz where he
demonstrated leadership traits and became involved in
politics. He was exiled in 1974 and again in 1978. He
returned to Bolivia dedicated to intellectual and academic
activities, especially those involving the iron and steel
industry.
GABRIEL LOZA, Minister of Planning and Development: Loza left
Bolivia to study commercial engineering in Chile, but had to
return because of the 1973 military coup. While in Chile he
was exposed to youth socialist militants, which gave him
leftist political orientations. He continued his studies in
Venezuela, earning a masters in Business Administration.
SUSANA RIVERO, Minister of Rural Development and Agriculture:
Born in Trinidad on December 8, 1971, she attended catholic
school. While attending law school she had to work to support
her family. Nevertheless, she managed to graduate with
honors. After school she worked at various organizations
promoting human rights. Today she considers herself a
"soldier of the revolution."
ALFREDO RADA VELEZ, Minister of Government: Born in La Paz 41
years ago, his political career began when his Jesuit school
became the victim of Luis Espinal's dictatorship. He fled to
Chile, where he studied sociology and economics. In the
1980's he became a leftist militant. This process exposed him
to rural and urban union movements. He served as president of
the Institute for the Sovereignty of the People, an
organization that had close ties to the MAS and which later
brought him into the current government.
URS