FM CHOQUEHUANCA: SEX, ROCKS, AND CHILD LABOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L LA PAZ 002663 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/02/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON BL ELAB PINR SUBJECT: FM CHOQUEHUANCA: SEX, ROCKS, AND CHILD LABOR Classified By: EcoPol chief Mike Hammer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (U) In an interview with the Spanish press agency EFE on October 1, Bolivian Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca made several curious comments on a variety of subjects from the imperialist tendencies of the West, to the sexual activity of rocks. Though the interview offered several critiques of the West,, claiming for instance that the Industrial Revolution was &subsidized8 by Bolivian raw materials and that foreign investment in Bolivia has raised the number of poor in the country, the interview was not all negative. Minister Choquehuanca confidently assured the EFE that President Morales is not only the greatest hope for Bolivians, but is also a savior for the world. Minister Choquehuanca also used the interview as an opportunity to expound on the virtues of child labor, stating that such a practice was essential and should be viewed as &joyful, not exploitative.8 ¶2. (U) Perhaps most newsworthy was the Minister's pontification on the subject of stones and sex. When speaking on his personal rejection of capitalism, he reminded the interviewer that neither man nor capital is the center of the universe. Instead, Minister Choquehuanca explained, &first there are the stars, the plants, the animals, the stones. Even the rocks have sex for us. Until the end of time - there are grandfather rocks and children rocks.8 ¶3. (C) COMMENT: Minister Choquehuanca has in the past boasted that he has stopped reading books and instead "read the wrinkles" of Aymara elders ) it seems clear from this interview that his last book was not a science text. Though several of his comments may come off as absurd, it should be noted that Minister Choquehuanca is one of the few true indigenous members of President Morales, cabinet and that such comments may be best understood in the context of his Aymara upbringing. Even so, it remains unclear just how much actual influence Minister Choquehuanca and his observations hold at present in the cabinet. End Comment. GOLDBERG