EVO'S MINISTER SANCTIONED; BLAMES OUR AMBASSADOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L LA PAZ 003240 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/13/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL BL SUBJECT: EVO'S MINISTER SANCTIONED; BLAMES OUR AMBASSADOR Classified By: EcoPol Counselor Mike Hammer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (SBU) Minister of the Government Alfredo Rada blamed the Ambassador for the three deaths that occurred during violent protests in Sucre November 22-25 when the ruling MAS party convoked the Constituent Assembly at a military installation. During his two hours of testimony to the Bolivian Senate December 11 , Rada accused the Ambassador of being an accomplice to the fighting in Sucre and of generating instability in Bolivia. According to a Senator who was at the session, Rada reviewed the Ambassador's prior postings (reading from a document) and suggested that the Ambassador was clearly experienced in destabilizing countries, citing his prior work in the Balkans. ¶2. (U) Rada called the hearing an opposition "show," using the deaths as a crass political symbol. He also discounted the investigation of the matter by Sucre prosecutors. Rada has consistently blamed the opposition for the Sucre deaths and is one the most fervent and vocal government proponents of U.S./opposition conspiracy. Last week, Rada questioned the "suspicious timing" of the Ambassador's trip to the U.S. for the WHA Chief of Missions conference, insinuating the Ambassador engineered the visit to coincide with a Washington trip by opposition governors so he could plot against the Morales government. Rada Censured -------------- ¶3. (U) Fifteen of twenty-seven Senators voted to censure Rada, including dissident MAS member Guido Guardia. The rest of the MAS Senators boycotted the hearing. Video and photographic testimony was used to illustrate police brutality and show Rada was giving orders at the Sucre protests. Opposition PODEMOS Senator Tomasa Yarhui gave an emotional presentation where she openly cried as she accused Rada of commanding the police in "the students' massacre." Evo Makes it All Better -------------- ¶4. (U) Upon leaving Congress, Rada immediately drove to the Presidential Palace at about 2130 and did not emerge until after midnight with Evo. Then, after Morales left, Rada declared to the press that President Morales would not accept his resignation following the "right-wing" censure and that it was with "great joy" that he would continue to serve the country as Government Minister. Comment -------------- ¶5. (C) High-ranking government officials appear to have two talking points these days to respond to criticism: charge racism and blame the United States and opposition for all problems. The opposition-controlled Senate is that rare government institution not afraid to take the Morales Administration to task. Evo has threatened to ignore the Senate, but he may not need to worry much longer if rumors we are hearing that the MAS is on the verge of "buying off" opposition Senators are true. End Comment. GOLDBERG