RIC, RESIGNED, SEES BOLIVIA MOVING LEFT

C O N F I D E N T I A L LA PAZ 000290 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/AND TREASURY FOR SGOOCH ENERGY FOR CDAY AND SLADISLAW E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON BL SUBJECT: RIC, RESIGNED, SEES BOLIVIA MOVING LEFT REF: 2006 LA PAZ 3457 Classified By: Ecopol Counselor Andrew Erickson for reason 1.4 (b) and (d). -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) Former Minister of Public works Salvador Ric told Emboffs on February 1 that he resigned in January because of the tight, central control exercised over the ministries by President Morales and his inner circle, which took away Ric's voice. He expressed concern over the government's involvement in instigating conflicts, including December's violent outburst in Cochabamba (reftel). He lamented that the country needs regionally and ethnically inclusive, leftist, but rational, leadership to achieve unity, but that such leadership is lacking. Ric identified himself as a leftist businessman who wants to see the country tackle poverty and eliminate its "beggar" mentality, and aims to cultivate a rational, leftist movement from Santa Cruz. He suggested that La Paz Mayor Juan Del Granado could emerge as an important national leader and warned that a right-wing government, if one were to come to power, could tear the country apart. End summary. -------------- Why Ric Resigned -- No Voice -------------- ¶2. (C) Minister of Public Works Salvador Ric, a Santa Cruz native, resigned his post on January 19, prior to the January 23 cabinet reshuffle. In a meeting with Emboffs on February 1, he explained that he resigned because he was frustrated by tight, central control exercised over the ministries by President Morales and his inner circle, including Vice President Alvaro Garcia Linera, Minister of the Presidency Juan Ramon Quintana, and Peruvian adviser Walter Chavez, who Ric said attended cabinet meetings despite his lack of an official role in the government. He said ministers were not given the leeway to make their own decisions, and that the Morales circle made decisions based on politics, not economics. He said the paltry number of cabinet members from Santa Cruz was due to Crucenos' rejection of GOB offers to join in fear of being called traitors at home. -------------- Bomb Threat on Ric's Business -------------- ¶3. (C) After Ric's resignation, an inactivated bomb was found in one of his Plaza supermarket chain stores in Santa Cruz. 
The case is currently under investigation, but he asserted, without proof, that Walter Chavez, reportedly wanted in Peru for acts allegedly relating to fundraising for a terrorist organization, may have been involved in the threat. -------------- GOB Instigating Conflict -------------- ¶4. (C) In addition to expressing frustration due to a lack of voice and the GOB's disregard for rationality and economics, Ric was also concerned about the government's instigation of conflict. The violent events of Cochabamba (reftel),in which the government clearly played a hand, convinced Ric that elements of the government, possibly influenced by Venezuelans and/or Cubans, are seeking to stir up conflict domestically and internationally and that the GOB is not seeking regional integration, negotiation, or reconciliation. He lamented that the country needs indigenous-inclusive, regionally-representative, leftist, but rational, leadership to achieve unity, but that such leadership is lacking. -------------- Ric's Political Proposal -------------- ¶5. (C) Ric identified himself as a leftist businessman who wants to see the country tackle poverty and eliminate its "beggar" mentality, which he said was pervasive within the government, because many government officials formerly worked for NGOs. He wants to cultivate a rational, leftist movement from Santa Cruz. He supports the government's efforts to improve health, increase the minimum wage, and decrease corruption, about which he noted even Venezuela is concerned. He argued that change was necessary because only seven percent of Bolivia's population lives in first world conditions and that the current economic system had not delivered to the poor masses. He added that the government, despite its claims, is not really leftist or radical in its economic actions, and that if it had been willing to negotiate, it could have gone further on land reform as private business interests realize that change must come to avoid social breakdown. -------------- La Paz Mayor -- Potential Leader? -------------- ¶6. (C) Ric suggested that La Paz Mayor Juan Del Granado has positioned himself to be an important future national leader. He said that Del Granado told him that he thinks Bolivia should improve relations with the United States. Ric did not believe that Vice President Alvaro Garcia Linera, because of his personality, or former Senate President Santos Ramirez, because of a Chinese visa scandal, would have a chance at the presidency. He also added that popular Potosi Mayor Rene Joaquino lacks the necessary force to become a national leader. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶7. (C) Ric seems correct in his assessment that only a leftist government that includes indigenous interests and represents the diverse regions would have a chance to govern divisive Bolivia. His singling out of Juan Del Granado, and dismissal of Rene Joaquino, is interesting, as both names regularly arise in discussion of future political leaders. We agree with Ric on one key point: "El Alto will continue to be El Alto," and a right-wing government would likely lead to greater conflict. End comment. GOLDBERG