BOLIVIAN BISHOP ON EMBASSY ATTACK AND DIALOGUE

C O N F I D E N T I A L LA PAZ 001354

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/16/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL BL
SUBJECT: BOLIVIAN BISHOP ON EMBASSY ATTACK AND DIALOGUE

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

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Summary
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1. (C) In response to the June 9 violent protest by several
thousand El Alto residents against the Embassy, the
Ambassador met with El Alto Bishop Jesus Juarez Parraga to
discuss the mood of the people of his archdiocese. The
Bishop explained that the protest leaders are simply
political opportunists, and that many protesters were ordered
to march on the Embassy. But, he noted, there is a real
resentment amongst some segments of the city against the
United States for having granted asylum to former minister of
defense Carlos Sanchez Berzain. More revealing was the
Bishop's insights into the national talks between the
government and opposition that he and the Catholic Church are
trying to facilitate. The Bishop views neither the Morales
administration nor the opposition as participating in good
faith. Juarez stated that Morales' public declarations in
support of talks have to date been for show. End Summary


2. (C) The Ambassador met with Bishop Jesus Juarez Parraga
on June 13. Juarez' archdiocese covers the city of El Alto,
the source of the protesters who violently attempted to
break-into the Embassy compound on June 9. Bishop Juarez
noted that the June 9 protest was to some degree an
expression of frustration by El Alto residents for the
failure of the national government to prosecute anyone for
the events of October 2003 in which over 60 people died and
400 were injured. Many victims feel that they have not been
appropriately compensated, stated the Bishop.


3. (C) Within this context, it was easy for some civic
leaders to rally a large protest group against the Embassy
once Altenos learned that the U.S. government had granted
asylum to former defense minister Carlos Sanchez Berzain.
Berzain, the Bishop noted, is actually more reviled than
former President Gonzalo 'Goni' Sanchez de Lozada for the
events of October 2003. Sanchez Berzain is despised because
he is largely seen as the "spokesperson" for the Goni
administration officials who El Alto residents deem
responsible for "Black October." Also, many Altenos fear
that Sanchez Berzain' renowned legal skills will result in
his acquittal.


4. (C) The Bishop echoed what we have heard from many
political analysts - that the protest leaders (Roberto de la
Cruz, Braulio Rocha) and others are simply political
opportunists. The opportunists, he noted, view attacks on
the Embassy as an easy way to raise their standing with Evo
in the hopes of obtaining some a high-level government
position or other reward. The Bishop added that most
protesters did not march out of real conviction. On the
contrary most marched because opportunistic leaders ordered
them to do so. He noted that marchers received payments, and
that civic leaders threatened fines to people who chose not
to participate.


5. (C) The Ambassador noted that he has canceled his events
in El Alto for the next few weeks for security reasons and to
avoid giving the government any reason to state that he was
being provocative. Bishop Juarez concurred that the
Ambassador should avoid any public events in El Alto for a
little while, arguing that the "wounds (from June 9) are
still fresh."


6. (C) Bishop Juarez expressed pessimism on the possibility
for a successful national dialogue between the government and
opposition. Juarez, who is one of the Catholic Church's main
facilitators in the national talks, argued that the
government has not participated in good faith. He noted that
opposition has shown little willingness to really negotiate
either. The Bishop argued that Vice President Alvaro Garcia
Linera's recent announcement that national talks should he
postponed until after the August 10 recall referendum is yet
another negative sign that any negotiated agreement will be
long time coming. The recall referendum could actually result
in renewed violence if certain prefects (he mentioned Pando's
Leopoldo Fernandez) lose. Supporters of Fernandez will
likely not accept his recall, thus prompting a confrontation
with Evo's supporters, the Bishop noted.


7. (C) Juarez' assistant Father Eugenio Scarpellini argued
that support for Evo from the international community )
which was once unconditional -- is turning against the
President. Scarpellini noted that it is time for the
international community to present a united front and to
begin pressuring Evo to change his tactics.

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Comment
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8. (C) Most of what Bishop Juarez told the Ambassador was
common knowledge. His views into the national talks between
the government and opposition confirms our assessment that
both Evo and the opposition to date have not acted in good
faith, despite public declarations to the contrary. End
Comment.
GOLDBERG