Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07LAPAZ3240
2007-12-12 23:05:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy La Paz
Cable title:
EVO'S MINISTER SANCTIONED; BLAMES OUR AMBASSADOR
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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)
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
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