COCHABAMBA CIVIC COMMITTEE ASKS FOR HELP

C O N F I D E N T I A L LA PAZ 001812

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/29/2017
TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL BL
SUBJECT: COCHABAMBA CIVIC COMMITTEE ASKS FOR HELP


Classified By: DCM Krishna Urs for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

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Summary
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1. (C) On June 28, members of the Cochabamba civic committee
met with the Ambassador and DCM to voice their fears over
what they call the MAS' "anti-democratic" agenda. The
committee's Cochabamba-specific concerns include GOB budget
cuts, failure of the GOB to deliver on infrastructure
projects, and what it sees as GOB complicity in the increase
in narco-trafficking originating from the Chapare. Citing
what he called the MAS' goal to perpetuate and concentrate
its hold on power, the civic committee president explained
that his group is now focusing on national issues, such as
defending democracy -- more specifically the judiciary -- and
stopping the MAS agenda both in and out of the constituent
assembly. Arguing that the civic committee serves as a check
on MAS power, the committee members asked for embassy
assistance, noting the embassy was the first organization it
had approached. The Ambassador responded that the USG shares
many of the committee's concerns regarding the threats to
Bolivia's fragile democracy, but that the USG cannot directly
support a political group such as the committee. End Summary.

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The Committee's Perspective
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2. (C) Cochabamba civic committee President Oscar Zurita
opened the meeting by outlining the committee's main
grievances against the GOB. He explained that the GOB has
failed to provide Cochabamba 140 million bolivianos (USD 17.5
million) in budgeted funds, has not distributed the
department's fair share of gas tax revenues (IDH),and not
delivered on needed (and promised) educational resources.
Zurita lamented the GOB's failure to deliver on several
critical road projects and a gas pipeline that aims to link
Cochabamba with the gas-rich eastern departments. He also
blamed the GOB for the collapse of Lloyd Aero Boliviano
(LAB),Bolivia's national air carrier. Finally, he argued
the GOB was responsible for increases in narco-trafficking
originating from the Chapare. Concerned with what he called
the MAS' desire to perpetuate and concentrate its hold on
power, the president explained that the civic committee is
now expanding its focus to national politics, such as
defending democracy -- more specifically the judiciary -- and
stopping the MAS agenda both in and out of the constituent
assembly.


3. (C) Civic committee member Jose Orellana explained that
the January 8-11 conflict in Cochabamba demonstrated the MAS
party's lack of respect for democratic institutions (in this
case the democratically elected prefect). He added that
since the opposition political parties are weak, committees
like their own have an increasingly important role as a check
on the MAS. Orellana argued that the civic committee needs
to expand its work beyond the city of Cochabamba into rural
areas where it is weak, but added that to execute such a
strategy required more resources. He then asked for the
embassy to support the committee's efforts.


4. (C) Retired Air Force General Freddy Vargas focused much
of his discussion on Cochabamba's strategic importance.
Unlike other departments which are clearly pro-MAS or
pro-opposition, Vargas explained that Cochabamba hangs in the
"balance" and that President Morales is committed to bringing
the department firmly into the MAS camp. Vargas, showing his
military roots, called Cochabamba the MAS' "theater of
operations" and that the committee needs the embassy's
"logistical support" to confront the MAS.

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Ambassador's Response
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5. (C) The Ambassador responded that the USG shares many of
the committee's concerns regarding the threats to Bolivia's
fragile democracy, but that the USG cannot provide direct
support to a political group such as the committee. He
explained that such support would feed into President
Morales' (unfounded) claims of U.S. interference in Bolivia's
domestic politics. Furthermore he contended that the
president would use such a connection to discredit the
committee's work. While rejecting direct support, the
Ambassador mentioned that the USG does support democracy
projects and stated that the committee was free to submit a
written project proposal. The meeting closed with the group
asking for USG assistance in the event that they found
themselves under direct GOB threat.

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Comment
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6. (C) We share retired General Vargas' assessment of
Cochabamba as a key department where pro- and anti-MAS forces
are locked in a political (and at times physical) battle for
control of the prefecture. The Cochabamba civic committee
recognizes its weakness outside Cochabamba city, thus its
rural outreach strategy. However, its fundraising tactic of
looking first to the U.S. Embassy is unfortunately common in
Bolivia. To paraphrase the retired General Vargas, "the
committee needs help so the embassy is the first door we
knocked on." The Cochabamba civic committee has
understandable goals, but appears to lack creativity in their
implementation. End Comment.
GOLDBERG