CHAVEZ'S BOLIVIAN MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR

C O N F I D E N T I A L LA PAZ 003013 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/15/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON BL SUBJECT: CHAVEZ'S BOLIVIAN MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR REF: LA PAZ 2954 Classified By: EcoPol Chief Mike Hammer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (U) Summary. Two layovers in Trinidad, Bolivia by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez continue to stir controversy here. President Chavez made the November 9 and 11 stopovers en route to and returning from the Ibero-American Summit in Santiago, Chile, where he reiterated controversial pledges to defend Bolivian President Evo Morales from alleged opposition and U.S.-backed coup attempts. Morales supported Chavez's statements and added any coup attempt would be soundly defeated. The opposition has taken advantage of questionable circumstances surrounding the visits and Chavez's summit statements to rally against "Venezuelan interference." President Morales claimed the November 9 visit was planned and within Chavez's "rights." Coincidentally, the Senate issued a decree November 8 demanding the government object to Chavez's October 14 threat to turn Bolivia into Vietnam should "oligarchs" attack Morales. The Senate has also asked for a report from the Foreign Ministry on Chavez's Trinidad stopovers. Morales has threatened to stop cooperating with the Senate, ostensibly based on its blockage of his legislative agenda. End Summary. Chavez Landings Spur Controversy -------------- ¶2. (U) Opposition forces vehemently attacked "unauthorized" November 9 and November 11 layovers by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in Trinidad, Bolivia, alleging Venezuelan interference in Bolivian affairs. Responses to the contrary on the part of the Bolivian Government, they allege, are further evidence of Evo Morales' "subjugation and surrender" to the Venezuelan government. Some opposition leaders have suggested the layovers validate repeated allegations of Venezuelan planes taking off and landing in Bolivia without authorization, possibly conducting nefarious arms or money transfers. They claim Chavez's coming and going to Bolivia as if it were "his house" is an affront to Bolivian sovereignty and indicates a willingness by Bolivian authorities to allow Venezuela "gross interference" in Bolivia's domestic affairs. Evo: Chavez Right to Inspect Dam Project -------------- ¶3. (U) Bolivian President Evo Morales and Venezuelan Ambassador to Bolivia Julio Montes confirmed that Chavez stopped in Trinidad en route to and returning from the Ibero-American Summit. They said Chavez consulted with Venezuelan military engineers constructing a 28-kilometer dam in the flood-prone northeastern Department of Beni during the early morning November 9 layover. Morales said he had prior knowledge of Chavez's arrival and that the Venezuelan president "has the right" to inspect the dam project. Who's on First, What's on Second, Hugo's in Trinidad -------------- -------------- ¶4. (U) November 9 statements to the press from the Bolivian Director General of Civil Aeronautics confused the issue by claiming a Venezuelan aircraft, not/not Chavez's plane, landed after midnight in Trinidad in order to refuel. Director General Javier Garcia also said the flight was approved by national authorities November 8. On November 10, however, Garcia said only the Air Force would know whether or not Chavez was a passenger and media reported unnamed government sources confirming Chavez was on board. Military Air Transport Public relations Director Johnny Vera explained later that the Bolivian Air Force had given the permission for Chavez's plane to land in Trinidad to refuel. According to press reports, the plane should have been able to complete a non-stop flight between Santiago and Caracas. The Bolivian Air Force stated the plane did not have permission to return directly from Santiago, thus necessitating the November 11 "technical" stopover. Such technical layovers, Vera pointed out, are considered routine and do not require authorization from higher officers. The press was not allowed access to the airfield November 11 as the facility was "militarized" for the one and half hours the Venezuelan craft remained on the tarmac. Controversy Continues -------------- ¶5. (U) Tuto Quiroga, Former Bolivian President and leader of the opposition PODEMOS party, has led the opposition charge. "What we have seen this weekend is a new chapter in this shameful submission." Quiroga pelted the government with questions about the layover, implying covert motives for landing at the small, nearly sea-level airport instead of more convenient and logical alternatives such as La Paz. Bolivian FM David Choquehuanca responded to demands for further explanation of the layovers in Trinidad by labeling opposition critiques as "unfounded." Government officials explained that Chavez's original plan to fly through Santa Cruz was changed to avoid problems associated with the international airport there. (Note: The opposition charges Venezuelan involvement in an attempted government takeover of the airport October 18. Santa Cruz Prefect Ruben Costas, who led successful efforts to return the airport to civilian control, has declared Chavez persona non grata. See reftel. End Note.) Prefect Questions Chavez's Hide and Seek -------------- ¶6. (U) Beni Prefect (Governor) Ernesto Suarez complained November 13 that he was not informed of the layover, which he found inadvisable in light of Chavez's comments about intervening in a Bolivian conflict. "It's not up to the President (Chavez) to come (to Bolivia) whenever he wants to supervise projects. One who arrives in secret, without advance notice, has something to hide." Suarez's criticisms were joined by opposition leaders denouncing the "militarization" of the Trinidad airport. Vice-Foreign Minister Hugo Fernandez explained that security measures needed to be taken and were consistent with the arrival of any foreign leader. Insult to Injury: Vietnam Threat Extended, Expanded -------------- -------------- ¶7. (U) The controversy surrounding the "mysterious" layovers builds on Chavez's October 14 statements that Venezuela would militarily defend Evo's government from a coup or assassination attempt and turn Bolivia into a "Vietnam" for Evo's "oligarchic" opponents (ref). Both Morales and Chavez reiterated that message during their November 10 summit addresses. Chavez led the crowd in cries of "Evo, Evo, Evo" after warning Bolivian supporters of the United States ("pitiyanquies") that any attempt to remove Morales would be met with "a thunder of rifles and machine guns." Chavez tried to temper his warning by adding "we want peace, not war." Chavez repeated his controversial comparison of Vietnam to Bolivia and expanded it to include "one, two, three Vietnams" in Latin America pending U.S. invasions. Morales stated his agenda of change was "impenetrable" and that "there would be a massive uprising to defend against any armed invasion." Making a Monkey Out of Himself, Evo, Fidel" -------------- ¶8. (U) Chavez also opined on "racist" comments of Santa Cruz Prefect Ruben Costas, who called Chavez "the big monkey." In apparent stream-of-consciousness commentary, Chavez first expanded the analogy to include Morales as "the small monkey" and Cuban President Fidel Castro as the "grand monkey." Later he reversed himself, describing himself and Morales as "more indigenous." Prescient Senate Resolution Blasts Venezuelan Interference -------------- -------------- ¶9. (U) The Trinidad layover controversy erupted only a day after the Senate passed a resolution declaring "deep concern and rejection of the grave interference of Venezuela in the internal affairs of Bolivia." The November 8 Senate resolution denounces Chavez's "irresponsible" Vietnam statements, which signal a "disposition to interfere in our country" in conflict with international norms established UN and OAS charters. The resolution demands the government, through the Foreign Ministry, formally protest Chavez's remarks. The immediate response from government spokesman Alex Contreras: "We are not going to comply with this determination, which is absolutely political and partisan." Prescient Evo Threatens to Boycott Senate -------------- ¶10. (U) On November 11, Morales threatened to ignore Senate requests for reports or testimony from the executive. Morales explained any executive brush-off of the Senate would be punishment for Senate stalling of nearly 100 bills. He gave the Senate two weeks to approve his plan to redistribute funds from the Departments (States) to augment payments to the elderly. Morales' threat to boycott the Senate came only a day before the opposition-controlled Senate officially called upon the Foreign Ministry to report on the Trinidad layover controversy. Opposition Senator Roger Pinto requested a similar report from the Minister of Defense. Vice-Foreign Minister Hugo Fernandez said the government would cooperate fully with any investigation because the government complied with all legal requirements. Comment -------------- ¶11. (C) Timing is everything: the opposition resolution seemed vindicated by the Chavez layover controversy and Evo's threat to ignore the Senate provides convenient cover to disregard related inquires. Morales' decision to endorse Chavez's threats to turn Bolivia into Vietnam seems a poor political choice now that the opposition is getting traction on Venezuelan "imperialism." Ironically, the opposition appears to be successfully capitalizing on historic Bolivian sensitivity to foreign "interference," in much the same way that Evo and Hugo use this double-edged sword against the United States. The fact that Evo and Hugo are embracing incendiary rhetoric after two weeks of relative silence suggests that they have either determined that the political fallout from such statements is manageable or that they are deliberately trying to provoke the opposition. GOLDBERG