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