LUGO VISIT: TRAVELS WITH EVO

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 LA PAZ 001358 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/17/2028 TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PA BL SUBJECT: LUGO VISIT: TRAVELS WITH EVO REF: A. LA PAZ 1261 ¶B. LA PAZ 1214 Classified By: EcoPol Chief Mike Hammer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (S) Summary: Bolivian President Evo Morales was once again forced to change his domestic travel plans because of opposition protests June 13 and 14. Since April, Morales and other senior officials have been blocked frequently from opposition strongholds despite increased rhetoric from security forces that such interference will not be tolerated (reftels). The military commander in charge of the June 14 event was fired for negotiating with the opposition on a security agreement, according to Military Group sources. Although Paraguayan President-Elect Fernando Lugo, who attended a parallel June 14 event with Morales, said unequivocally that there are no U.S. military bases in his country, this did not stop the Bolivian government from implying that Lugo was suspect about U.S. bases and asking for his own investigation. End Summary. Evo's "No Respect" Tour -------------- ¶2. (U) Bolivian President Evo Morales had to cancel his participation in a June 13 bridge dedication ceremony in Santa Rosa in the Department (state) of Santa Cruz due to clashes between pro-government peasant farmers and the pro-opposition Santa Cruz Youth Movement (UJC). The UJC had temporarily taken control of tolls outside Santa Rosa and broken a pro-government roadblock designed to ensure safe passage for Morales' motorcade. Bolivian Road Administration President Patricia Ballivian apologized in a full-page advertisement to the South Korean builders of the project for the "shameful" acts from protesters with "not respect" for the government that led to the cancellation. Evo Can Run, But Can't Drive -------------- ¶3. (U) The next day Morales was forced to hold a ceremony commemorating the end of the Bolivian/Paraguayan 1932-35 Chaco War at a military base near Yacuiba, Tarija Department, while the originally planned event went forward in nearby Villa Montes. Defense Minister Walker San Miguel called opposition blockade of Villa Montes particularly "arrogant and mean" because the event's special guests, incumbent Paraguayan President Nicanor Duarte and President-Elect Fernando Lugo, also had to be whisked away to the military base. Prefect (governor) Mario Cassio presided "proudly" over the parallel event in Villa Montes, without national 
government representation, foreign guests, or the military. Villa Montes' Mayor Ruben Vaca commented that "it is a pity that President Morales ends up conducting all his acts in garrisons." The government has blamed the diversion on opposition radicals, particularly the UJC. Defense Minister Takes a Hard Line, and Another Defeat -------------- -------------- ¶4. (S) According to our Military Group contacts, General Walter Ponoso (strictly protect),assigned to secure the Villa Montes event site, was sacked by Defense Minister Walker San Miguel June 12. San Miguel was allegedly furious after Ponoso told him he had negotiated an agreement with the opposition to permit Morales to participate in the Villa Montes event on the condition that the government would compensate the widow of a local protester killed during a standoff with the government last year regarding gas field rights. San Miguel refused this condition, or any negotiation with the opposition regarding the ability of Morales to travel, and ordered the commander to adopt alternative measures to carry out the ceremony. The commander defended his peaceful compromise and told San Miguel he was unwilling to use force to carry out the ceremony in Villa Montes. LA PAZ 00001358 002 OF 002 ¶5. (S) San Miguel put Bolivian Army Commander General Freddy MacKay in charge of the event. During a June 13 television interview, Gen. MacKay stated President Morales could travel anywhere in Bolivia at anytime, it was the Bolivian military's responsibility to ensure his security, and that he would personally ensure a successful presidential visit to Villa Montes. MacKay failed to deliver on his promise. Lugo Hails Bedtime for Imperialism -------------- ¶6. (U) Following a June 15 meeting with Morales in La Paz, Lugo complimented Morales' policies as "having relative success" improving the lives of Bolivia's indigenous majority. Lugo said "the age of imperialism is over in this new age in Latin America" and that future Latin American relations with the United States would be "based on respect, equity, and justice." Bases, What Bases? -------------- ¶7. (U) Lugo publicly rejected the notion that there are U.S. bases in Paraguay. He added that after assuming office August 15, he would open Paraguay to any investigation, media or otherwise, "in order to thoroughly dismiss" any rumors on the subject. Bolivian government information service ABI misconstrued the statement to insinuate that Lugo would initiate an official Paraguayan investigation on the U.S. military presence in Paraguay. Comment: -------------- ¶8. (C) Morales' increasing inability to travel freely in his own country underscores the reality that Bolivia is becoming more and more divided between the altiplano highlands and the western lowlands. Since April, Morales and other senior officials have been blocked frequently from opposition strongholds despite increased rhetoric from security forces that such interference will not be tolerated. In Villa Montes, the military once again backed down in the face of a clash with opposition protesters. Despite the embarrassing setbacks of canceled Evo trips and events being relocated to military installations, Vice Minister of Defense Wilfredo Vargas has told us Morales' unequivocal policy is to pull the troops back if civilian casualties become likely. End Comment. GOLDBERG