BOLIVIAN DRUG CHIEF DEFENDS U.S.

C O N F I D E N T I A L LA PAZ 003039

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEA: OEL/TOTH, BLANCO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/17/2027
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON BL
SUBJECT: BOLIVIAN DRUG CHIEF DEFENDS U.S.

Classified By: EcoPol Chief Mike Hammer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary: Felipe Caceres, Vice-Minister of Social
Defense in charge of Bolivia's counter-narcotics efforts,
told DEAOffs November 16 that he complained to Bolivian
President Evo Morales about the anti-U.S. rhetoric erupting
from Presidency Ministry Juan Quintana. He also defended
U.S. anti-narcotics and development aid during a cell phone
conversation with Morales while he was meeting with DEAOffs.
He mentioned that a fifth column of old-school socialist
intellectuals with the governing MAS party is trying to
sabotage efforts to pass a new constitution that would
enable Morales to be reelected. Instead, this rogue MAS
group wants Vice President Alvaro Garcia Linera to take over
after the current constitutionally-mandated single term of
Morales. Caceres said he will meet with Minister of
Government Alfredo Rada to discuss the budget and activities
of the Embassy's Narcotics Affairs Section November 19. End
Summary.

Drug Chief and Evo Confidant Blasts Anti-U.S. Minister
-------------- --------------


2. (C) DEA officers met with Vice-Minister for Social Defense
Felipe Caceres November 16 to promote greater cooperation and
used that as a springboard to review bilateral relations.
Caceres, Bolivia's anti-narcotics chief and an indigenous
advisor personally close to Evo, eagerly endorsed DEA's idea
for conference of neighboring states to discuss communication
intercept legislation. He then launched into criticism of
recent Bolivian Government attacks on U.S. assistance. He
told DEAOffs he was concerned about our (over) reaction to
"dangerous statements" by Presidency Minister (Chief of
Staff) Juan Quintana. Caceres said he complained to
President Morales that Quintana's "unhelpful" rhetoric was
making it difficult to do his counter-narcotics job. Caceres
allegedly told Morales, "I work with these people everyday; I
need to keep up relations with them." Caceres said Morales
downplayed the recent volley of anti-U.S. statements as just
political rhetoric. He assured Caceres that he should not be
concerned and told him to discuss the matter directly with
Quintana. Caceres talked to Quintana the same day, but said
Quintana was defensive and unreceptive to changing his
intransigent tone regarding the United States.

Managing Evo's DEA Flashbacks
--------------


3. (C) During the conversation with DEA agents, Caceres
answered a cell phone call from Morales, who wanted feedback
on his discussion with Quintana. DEA agents overheard
Caceres telling Evo that Quintana is "mismanaging" the
government's relations with the U.S. and that he needed U.S.
assistance from DEA, the Embassy's Narcotics Affairs Section
(NAS),and USAID. Caceres told DEA agents he valued all USG
assistance, pointing out how important USAID bridge, road, or
other infrastructure projects can be in anti-narcotics
efforts. He said he regularly tries to keep Morales'
anti-U.S. suspicions in check, explaining to Evo "you are
living in the past ... this is not the DEA of years ago" when
Evo was a coca grower union leader. Caceres allegedly
stresses constantly with Morales the importance of DEA
intelligence, training, and logistical support.

Trouble in MAS Paradise
--------------


4. (C) Caceres also told DEA officers, in hushed tones, that
some ministers and MAS leaders do not want the Constitutional
Assembly to succeed, specifically Quintana and Government
Minister Alfredo Rada. He asserted some MAS leaders with
roots in the leftist/socialist ideological movement are
frustrating Constitutional Assembly efforts to write a new
Bolivian Constitution behind the scenes because they secretly
do not want President Morales to serve another term. (Note:
The MAS have prioritized changing the constitution's single
presidential term to multiple or unlimited terms. End Note.)
Instead, Caceres explained, they want the "next person in
line," Vice President Alvaro Garcia Linera, to follow Morales
into the presidency. Caceres is decidedly not part of this
movement.

"White Advisors" and the Dark Side of the MAS
--------------


5. (C) In a separate conversation with NAS Director November
16, Caceres said, "Evo is surrounded by white advisors who
have caused him to lose his focus." Caceres confirmed that a
meeting was scheduled for November 19 with Minister of
Government Rada to review the NAS budget and specifically the
economic incentive payments provided from NAS to
anti-narcotics police, prosecutors, and others.


6. (C) Comment: In Caceres, the U.S. appears to have at least
one ardent defender inside Evo Morales' inner circle. The
animosity between Quintana and Foreign Minister Choquehuanca
concerning control over foreign affairs is already a
well-known "secret." The cleavage Caceres alleges between
MAS' old-school leftist intellectuals and its hodge-podge of
civic, indigenous, farming, coca, and union organizations
might explain the discordance, contradictions, and disconnect
among government ministries, branches, and advisors. It also
helps explain the mixed messages we receive about U.S.
relations: while Minister Quintana alleges U.S. conspiracies,
FM Choquehuanca is out stressing Bolivia wants better ties
with the U.S. Based on the recent attacks against the United
States, it appears Quintana has the upper hand. Furthermore,
while it is not uncommon for Rada to review the NAS budget,
given the current climate and rumors of possible action
against the U.S., we cannot discount the possibility that
Rada will attempt to curtail some aspect of our
counter-narcotics program. End Comment.
GOLDBERG