Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07LAPAZ1991
2007-07-19 13:46:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy La Paz
Cable title:
POLICE CONFRONT MINERS, GOB ACCUSES INTERNATIONAL
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C O N F I D E N T I A L LA PAZ 001991
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/18/2017
TAGS: EMIN EINV BL
SUBJECT: POLICE CONFRONT MINERS, GOB ACCUSES INTERNATIONAL
COMPANIES
REF: A. LA PAZ 1976
B. LA PAZ 1403
C. 06 LA PAZ 2557
Classified By: Ambassador Philip Goldberg for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)
-------
Summary
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L LA PAZ 001991
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/18/2017
TAGS: EMIN EINV BL
SUBJECT: POLICE CONFRONT MINERS, GOB ACCUSES INTERNATIONAL
COMPANIES
REF: A. LA PAZ 1976
B. LA PAZ 1403
C. 06 LA PAZ 2557
Classified By: Ambassador Philip Goldberg for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)
--------------
Summary
--------------
1. (C) The police are continuing to confront cooperative
(i.e. independent) miners in El Alto and La Paz with tear
gas, and the leaders of the cooperatives are now speaking of
"arming" themselves in an ongoing struggle. The national
federation of cooperative miners (FENCOMIN) has stated that
they will initiate stronger pressure tactics and will not
speak with the government until the wounded miners are
compensated, the 10 detained miners are released, and all
confiscated items (dynamite included) are returned (ref A).
The police, meanwhile, are displaying the hundreds of sticks
of dynamite (roughly 60 pounds so far) that they have
confiscated from the "peaceful" protesters.
--------------
Inflammatory Rhetoric from GOB and Miners
--------------
2. (C) Cooperative leaders have publicly expressed outrage
that their "peaceful" (dynamite-carrying) protest was met
with such force on the part of the GOB. "We will arm to
defend ourselves, as Vice President Garcia Linera said in
Achacachi (a reference to Garcia Linera's call to arms in a
speech to the red ponchos in 2006, ref C)" a mining leader
stated, adding "we used to be in alliance with Evo Morales."
For his part, Vice President Garcia Linera declared that "the
state-salaried miners had historically fought to maintain
democracy and to recover the natural resources, but the
cooperatives are very different and defend their local
interests." Thus Garcia Linera seems to be publicly
supporting the salaried miners who, less than a week ago,
shut down much of the country and tried to bring explosives
into La Paz. As discussed before (ref B,) FENCOMIN
leadership has been concerned for a while that the MAS party
has turned against them. (Comment: Garcia Linera's
statement may be designed to increase traditional friction
between the salaried and cooperative miners and, as FENCOMIN
president Andres Villca alleged to Emboffs May 18th, the GOB
may in fact be trying to do away with or at least weaken the
cooperatives. End comment.)
--------------
GOB Accuses International Mining Companies
--------------
3. (C) GOB ministers have also publicly accused the "large
mining companies" (i.e. international companies such as the
three U.S. companies, Apex's San Cristobal, Coeur D'Alene's
San Bartolome and Newmont's Inti Raymi) of fomenting the
current cooperative protest. The Vice Minister of Government
said in a television interview that the cooperatives were
acting at the behest of large mining companies who do not
agree with the mining policies of the GOB. (Comment: The
cooperatives have a long history of disagreement with this
government's mining policies, and have in fact won victories,
particularly on tax and concession issues.) The head of the
Mining Association, Humberto Rada, immediately issued a
statement clarifying that although the mining association
members have concerns about the changes to the mining code
and tax regime, they are not in any way backing the violent
protests in La Paz. (Comment: San Bartolome president Jim
Duff informed Emboff on July 18 that in fact the actions of
the cooperatives are directly damaging his company:
construction at the site has been shut down for two days due
to blockades between the site and the city of Potosi. Calls
to other industry contacts reveal that so far operations at
San Cristobal and Inti Raymi have not been affected.)
--------------
What Lies Ahead?
--------------
4. (C) In terms of the immediate situation, the question now
is whether the miners will still be present in La Paz and El
Alto during the large community demonstration or "cabildo"
scheduled for the 20th. Although the gathering is expected
to be peaceful, the presence of the miners could complicate
the situation. In the longer term, the cooperatives'
original stated goal of "taking" Sucre may be delayed (or
dropped) as they focus their attentions and their actions in
La Paz.
GOLDBERG
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/18/2017
TAGS: EMIN EINV BL
SUBJECT: POLICE CONFRONT MINERS, GOB ACCUSES INTERNATIONAL
COMPANIES
REF: A. LA PAZ 1976
B. LA PAZ 1403
C. 06 LA PAZ 2557
Classified By: Ambassador Philip Goldberg for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)
--------------
Summary
--------------
1. (C) The police are continuing to confront cooperative
(i.e. independent) miners in El Alto and La Paz with tear
gas, and the leaders of the cooperatives are now speaking of
"arming" themselves in an ongoing struggle. The national
federation of cooperative miners (FENCOMIN) has stated that
they will initiate stronger pressure tactics and will not
speak with the government until the wounded miners are
compensated, the 10 detained miners are released, and all
confiscated items (dynamite included) are returned (ref A).
The police, meanwhile, are displaying the hundreds of sticks
of dynamite (roughly 60 pounds so far) that they have
confiscated from the "peaceful" protesters.
--------------
Inflammatory Rhetoric from GOB and Miners
--------------
2. (C) Cooperative leaders have publicly expressed outrage
that their "peaceful" (dynamite-carrying) protest was met
with such force on the part of the GOB. "We will arm to
defend ourselves, as Vice President Garcia Linera said in
Achacachi (a reference to Garcia Linera's call to arms in a
speech to the red ponchos in 2006, ref C)" a mining leader
stated, adding "we used to be in alliance with Evo Morales."
For his part, Vice President Garcia Linera declared that "the
state-salaried miners had historically fought to maintain
democracy and to recover the natural resources, but the
cooperatives are very different and defend their local
interests." Thus Garcia Linera seems to be publicly
supporting the salaried miners who, less than a week ago,
shut down much of the country and tried to bring explosives
into La Paz. As discussed before (ref B,) FENCOMIN
leadership has been concerned for a while that the MAS party
has turned against them. (Comment: Garcia Linera's
statement may be designed to increase traditional friction
between the salaried and cooperative miners and, as FENCOMIN
president Andres Villca alleged to Emboffs May 18th, the GOB
may in fact be trying to do away with or at least weaken the
cooperatives. End comment.)
--------------
GOB Accuses International Mining Companies
--------------
3. (C) GOB ministers have also publicly accused the "large
mining companies" (i.e. international companies such as the
three U.S. companies, Apex's San Cristobal, Coeur D'Alene's
San Bartolome and Newmont's Inti Raymi) of fomenting the
current cooperative protest. The Vice Minister of Government
said in a television interview that the cooperatives were
acting at the behest of large mining companies who do not
agree with the mining policies of the GOB. (Comment: The
cooperatives have a long history of disagreement with this
government's mining policies, and have in fact won victories,
particularly on tax and concession issues.) The head of the
Mining Association, Humberto Rada, immediately issued a
statement clarifying that although the mining association
members have concerns about the changes to the mining code
and tax regime, they are not in any way backing the violent
protests in La Paz. (Comment: San Bartolome president Jim
Duff informed Emboff on July 18 that in fact the actions of
the cooperatives are directly damaging his company:
construction at the site has been shut down for two days due
to blockades between the site and the city of Potosi. Calls
to other industry contacts reveal that so far operations at
San Cristobal and Inti Raymi have not been affected.)
--------------
What Lies Ahead?
--------------
4. (C) In terms of the immediate situation, the question now
is whether the miners will still be present in La Paz and El
Alto during the large community demonstration or "cabildo"
scheduled for the 20th. Although the gathering is expected
to be peaceful, the presence of the miners could complicate
the situation. In the longer term, the cooperatives'
original stated goal of "taking" Sucre may be delayed (or
dropped) as they focus their attentions and their actions in
La Paz.
GOLDBERG