Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07LAPAZ2020
2007-07-23 22:44:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy La Paz
how-toVZCZCXYZ0006 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHLP #2020/01 2042244 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 232244Z JUL 07 FM AMEMBASSY LA PAZ TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4428 INFO RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 6950 RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 4301 RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 8187 RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 5431 RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 2661 RUEHGT/AMEMBASSY GUATEMALA 0625 RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 2833 RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID 3547 RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO 4740 RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 5292 RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 9899 RUMIAAA/USCINCSO MIAMI FL RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA 0428 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
C O N F I D E N T I A L LA PAZ 002020
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/23/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BL
SUBJECT: LA PAZ "UNITY" DEMONSTRATION
REF: A. LA PAZ 2008
B. LA PAZ 1981
Classified By: Ambassador Philip Goldberg for reasons 1.4 b, d
-------
Summary
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L LA PAZ 002020
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/23/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BL
SUBJECT: LA PAZ "UNITY" DEMONSTRATION
REF: A. LA PAZ 2008
B. LA PAZ 1981
Classified By: Ambassador Philip Goldberg for reasons 1.4 b, d
--------------
Summary
--------------
1. (SBU) Local press and opinion makers are touting the July
20th demonstration (cabildo) in El Alto as a complete
success. Logistically the event was a success, with no
violence and only a few minor injuries. Numerically the
event was a success: over a million people attended, with
some estimating as high as two million (all agree this was
the largest public gathering in Bolivia's history.)
Questions remain as to whether the event will cause more
division within Bolivia, despite the stated message of unity.
End summary.
--------------
Mixed Messages: Unity vs. La Paz Power
--------------
2. (C) Although the majority of flags in the crowd were the
Bolivian tri-color national flag (unlike Santa Cruz marches
where the departmental flag dominates),the message of unity
was often lost. Seven of the nine speakers delivered
divisive discourses (castigating "bad Bolivians" in Sucre,
threatening violence, and citing the anger of El Alto, for
example.) In addition, the organizers of the cabildo issued
a demand that the Constituent Assembly drop the issue of
moving the capital by August 6th (or face an indefinite
strike in La Paz department.) Two moderate politicians who
attempted to speak at the event (La Paz Mayor Juan del
Granado and La Paz Prefect Jose Luis Paredes) were prevented
from having an official presence and National Unity party
leader Samuel Doria Medina was blocked from the speakers'
platform by whip-bearing red ponchos (ref A). Many observers
see this gathering as a tit-for-tat response to the Santa
Cruz cabildo in December 2006 which boasted a million
participants. Sucre is now planning its own cabildo for July
25.
--------------
El Alto the Real Seat of Power
--------------
3. (C) Residents of the city of La Paz did participate in the
cabildo (even from the wealthy Southern Zone); however, the
fact that the cabildo physically took place in El Alto and
that the majority of participants were from El Alto
highlighted the true source of power for this event.
Although President Morales maintained his distance from the
cabildo, he draws his support from the Altiplano and, more
specifically, from El Alto (where his approval rating is
consistently over 80 percent.) While the cabildo was
ostensibly organized to highlight the power of La Paz, for
the rest of the country it will likely re-emphasize that,
although decrees may come from La Paz, they are backed by the
citizens of El Alto, who can be mobilized en masse and who
can be expected to take to the streets in support of the
Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) party as needed.
--------------
Do Not Take Away My Livelihood
--------------
4. (C) Part of the large turnout can be attributed to the
personal economic stake pacenos (residents of La Paz) and
altenos (residents of El Alto) have in keeping the capital in
La Paz. The obvious concern over the potential change of
capitals for many participants is a question of employment.
A large portion of the population draws employment from the
presence of the national government. Much of the public
argument against moving the capital has centered solely
around how badly such a move would affect the economy of the
area.
--------------
Comment
--------------
5. (C) Although the cabildo participants were well within
their rights to protest against the possible movement of the
capital, the event was more power-play than protest. The
cabildo will be seen as an "us against them" statement, a
display of Altiplano indigenous power trying to impose itself
over the entire country. President Morales' recent statements
that the Constituent Assembly should not debate the question
of the capital's relocation emphasize his links to the
cabildo participants and may further alienate Bolivian
citizens in other parts of the country. By pitting the
Altiplano against Sucre, the cabildo has left the department
of Chuquisaca (where Sucre is located) with little choice but
to align itself with the autonomy-seeking departments of the
media luna (ref B.) Despite the lip-service to unity, the
cabildo may serve more to divide Bolivia along geographic
lines. End comment.
GOLDBERG
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/23/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BL
SUBJECT: LA PAZ "UNITY" DEMONSTRATION
REF: A. LA PAZ 2008
B. LA PAZ 1981
Classified By: Ambassador Philip Goldberg for reasons 1.4 b, d
--------------
Summary
--------------
1. (SBU) Local press and opinion makers are touting the July
20th demonstration (cabildo) in El Alto as a complete
success. Logistically the event was a success, with no
violence and only a few minor injuries. Numerically the
event was a success: over a million people attended, with
some estimating as high as two million (all agree this was
the largest public gathering in Bolivia's history.)
Questions remain as to whether the event will cause more
division within Bolivia, despite the stated message of unity.
End summary.
--------------
Mixed Messages: Unity vs. La Paz Power
--------------
2. (C) Although the majority of flags in the crowd were the
Bolivian tri-color national flag (unlike Santa Cruz marches
where the departmental flag dominates),the message of unity
was often lost. Seven of the nine speakers delivered
divisive discourses (castigating "bad Bolivians" in Sucre,
threatening violence, and citing the anger of El Alto, for
example.) In addition, the organizers of the cabildo issued
a demand that the Constituent Assembly drop the issue of
moving the capital by August 6th (or face an indefinite
strike in La Paz department.) Two moderate politicians who
attempted to speak at the event (La Paz Mayor Juan del
Granado and La Paz Prefect Jose Luis Paredes) were prevented
from having an official presence and National Unity party
leader Samuel Doria Medina was blocked from the speakers'
platform by whip-bearing red ponchos (ref A). Many observers
see this gathering as a tit-for-tat response to the Santa
Cruz cabildo in December 2006 which boasted a million
participants. Sucre is now planning its own cabildo for July
25.
--------------
El Alto the Real Seat of Power
--------------
3. (C) Residents of the city of La Paz did participate in the
cabildo (even from the wealthy Southern Zone); however, the
fact that the cabildo physically took place in El Alto and
that the majority of participants were from El Alto
highlighted the true source of power for this event.
Although President Morales maintained his distance from the
cabildo, he draws his support from the Altiplano and, more
specifically, from El Alto (where his approval rating is
consistently over 80 percent.) While the cabildo was
ostensibly organized to highlight the power of La Paz, for
the rest of the country it will likely re-emphasize that,
although decrees may come from La Paz, they are backed by the
citizens of El Alto, who can be mobilized en masse and who
can be expected to take to the streets in support of the
Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) party as needed.
--------------
Do Not Take Away My Livelihood
--------------
4. (C) Part of the large turnout can be attributed to the
personal economic stake pacenos (residents of La Paz) and
altenos (residents of El Alto) have in keeping the capital in
La Paz. The obvious concern over the potential change of
capitals for many participants is a question of employment.
A large portion of the population draws employment from the
presence of the national government. Much of the public
argument against moving the capital has centered solely
around how badly such a move would affect the economy of the
area.
--------------
Comment
--------------
5. (C) Although the cabildo participants were well within
their rights to protest against the possible movement of the
capital, the event was more power-play than protest. The
cabildo will be seen as an "us against them" statement, a
display of Altiplano indigenous power trying to impose itself
over the entire country. President Morales' recent statements
that the Constituent Assembly should not debate the question
of the capital's relocation emphasize his links to the
cabildo participants and may further alienate Bolivian
citizens in other parts of the country. By pitting the
Altiplano against Sucre, the cabildo has left the department
of Chuquisaca (where Sucre is located) with little choice but
to align itself with the autonomy-seeking departments of the
media luna (ref B.) Despite the lip-service to unity, the
cabildo may serve more to divide Bolivia along geographic
lines. End comment.
GOLDBERG