BOLIVIAN PRESS ATTACKED

C O N F I D E N T I A L LA PAZ 003100

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/26/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BL
SUBJECT: BOLIVIAN PRESS ATTACKED

REF: LA PAZ 2854

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



1. (SBU) Summary: The past weeks have been marked by
government rhetoric against press bias. On November 26,
following a large rally where President Morales and several
social sector leaders verbally attacked the media, violence
erupted against both journalists and media headquarters.
After Evo accused the press of "lying" and incited his
supporters, his presidential spokesman deplored the violence
and denied any relationship between the attacks and Movement
Toward Socialism (MAS) affiliated social groups. End Summary.


2. (SBU) On November 24 at a ceremony to award a Venezuelan
check to a municipal government in the department of
Cochabamba, President Morales accused some journalists of
"lying to the country." He claimed that the owners of the
media outlets were forcing journalists to distort the news
and distribute false information about the way in which the
new constitution was approved by the Constituent Assembly.
He asked the gathering if they wanted the press to continue
to lie and was met with a resounding, "No, no, no!"


3. (SBU) On November 26 when Evo led a large protest of
campesinos and coca leaf producers in front of the Senate
building in La Paz, he reiterated his attacks against press
"bias and distortion." His accusations were picked up by
community leaders. Edgar Patana, the El Alto leader of the
Workers Regional Federation, told the crowd that much of the
media had sold out to "neoliberalism" and could only see
their own commercial interests. He added ominously that, "El
Alto will take care of the media." Fidel Surco, leader of an
indigenous syndicate group, blamed the media for the riots
and tumult surrounding events in Sucre over the weekend.
Speeches were met by chants of "Death to the media that
doesn't tell the truth."


4. (SBU) Following the demonstrations, a mob attacked
members of the press during an interview with Justice
Minister Celima Torrico. The crowd accosted journalists from
various media outlets and broke cameras. Following these
attacks, the crowd moved to the radio station headquarters of
Fides, the most influential and credible radio network in
Bolivia, where they painted the walls with threats such as
"you are warned." By the evening, the group had broken
windows and thrown rocks at the TV networks of Unitel, PAT,
ATB.


5. (SBU) After the violence, the Vice Minister for the
Coordination of Social Movements, Sacha Llorenti, announced
that the social movements that had gathered for the Senate
protests were not to blame for the attacks. Presidential
Spokesman Alex Contraras appeared on a morning news broadcast
and condemned the violence against the media, but he too said
that none of the MAS-affiliated social groups were to blame.

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Comment
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6. (C) Attacks on the media will likely continue as Bolivia
heads toward more turbulent political waters. It should be
noted that Bolivia recently fell from 16 to 68 in the
Reporters Without Borders annual press freedom index.
Moreover, we view with concern government moves to own media
outlets. The state already owns a network of radio stations
and recently announced plans to launch a television network
in 2008 financed by the Venezuelan government.
GOLDBERG