EVO ENDORSES U.S.-FREE CHAPARE

UNCLAS LA PAZ 001435 SENSITIVE SIPDIS USAID/LAC JOSE CARDENAS, TULLY CORMICK, JOANNE LAWRENCE USAID/LPA SNIDER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER EAID ASEC BL SUBJECT: EVO ENDORSES U.S.-FREE CHAPARE REF: LA PAZ 1426 ¶1. (U) Summary: Bolivian President Evo Morales offered a far-reaching endorsement of the June 25 announcement by cocalero leaders and five mayors from the Chapare region that USAID should be expelled. Morales saluted the announcement and broadened the scope to include all U.S. presence in the Chapare, including NAS and DEA. While some Chapare leaders continue to insist the move will only impact new USAID projects, many cocalero and senior government leaders opined that all projects in the Chapare will cease immediately. End Summary. Evo Endorses Mob Government; U.S.-Free Zone -------------- ¶2. (U) There has been significant confusion concerning the June 25 announcement from coca farmer (cocalero) union leaders and five mayors to kick USAID out of the Chapare region in Cochabamba Department (state) (reftel). On June 26, President Evo Morales provided a far-reaching endorsement, expanding it to an expulsion of any U.S. presence in the Chapare. "I salute the decision of the cocalero movement and the mayors of the tropics of Cochabamba, now I feel, I hope that the Chapare won't only be a territory free from illiteracy (a nod to Cuban-sponsored literacy programs),but rather that the tropical zone of Cochabamba will also a territory free from North American Imperialism; this is the grand desire that we have." ¶3. (SBU) Morales' broadening of a USAID-free zone to a U.S.-free zone tracks with comments of cocalero leaders late on June 25, who demanded all U.S. counter-narcotics personnel be expelled from the Chapare. Although the rhetoric seems to set the stage for a larger scale U.S. exodus from the Chapare, it remains unclear whether plans to expel USAID will be expanded to include our Narcotics Affairs Section (NAS) or DEA presence in the Chapare. Chapare Cocalero leaders met June 26 with Minister of Agriculture Susanna Rivero to ratify the June 25 decision to expel USAID, but did not ask to broaden the scope to include other USG personnel. However, some cocalero leaders and journalists asked leading questions about NAS' activities. ¶4. (SBU) Note: NAS and DEA are not/not removing personnel at this time, but are taking appropriate security precautions (NAS and DEA staff are located on the Chimore military/police base, which is protected by nearly 1,500 police and military personnel). Pending State Department approval, Post will issue a warden message warning Amcits to stay away from the Chapare. We do not have Peace Corps volunteers or Fulbrighters in the region. End Note. Evo Flashback: Bolivian Forces Lured to "Gringo" Dark Side -------------- -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Morales reiterated claims he was attacked by U.S. forces during anti-narcotics-related conflicts in the Chapare in the 1980's. Although he talked about evidence to support the claim, as he has repeatedly alleged in the past, he has yet to produce any of it to either the Embassy or to the public. "The police and armed forces in the Chapare have been trained by the North American military called the DEA, uniformed and armed (by them as well). I have recordings, I have photographs, I have film (to prove it). In 1988 after there was a conflict in Villa Tunari, the North American gringos fired on us in Villa Tunari." He added Bolivian police and armed forces were not to blame for their behavior during anti-narcotics operations in the 1980s, because they were "directed" by prior governments and the United States. Evo's Culture of Dialogue With Himself, Not Us -------------- - ¶6. (SBU) While campaigning for the pro-government candidate for prefect (governor) of Chuquisaca Department (election May 29),Morales also used the opportunity to criticize the United States' alleged protection of ex-Defense Minister Carlos Sanchez Berzain. Morales assured he had no plans to break relations with the United States, then segued seamlessly into accusations that the U.S. Embassy is conspiring against his administration. Continuing his rambling attack, Morales blamed the United States and USAID for heading a conspiracy "against the Indian, against the government, against Evo Morales." Morales schizophrenically added his government embodied a "culture of dialogue" and wanted relations with all countries based on "mutual respect." Morales to Visit "U.S.-Free Territory" June 27 -------------- - ¶7. (U) MAS Congressman Asterio Romero said President Morales would travel to Bulo-Bulo and Shinahota in the Chapare on June 27. In Shinahota, Romero announced a cocalero demonstration for June 27 that would declare the Chapare "U.S.-free territory" and clarify that "no USAID projects will continue working." Romero did not elaborate on what Morales' role, if any, would be in the demonstration. Government/Cocalero Leaders Pile On; Feed Security Doubts -------------- -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Government and Cocalero leaders piled on incendiary anti-U.S. rhetoric June 26 and echoed Morales' broad interpretation of the announcement. Cocalero leader Julio Salazar claimed cocalero groups had begun taking down USAID signs to enforce the decision to "make the Chapare a zone free of U.S. interference." Despite the tough talk of universal and swift banishment of any U.S. presence, some Chapare leaders continue to insist USAID will be allowed to complete existing and/or approved projects. ¶9. (U) Romero insisted there would be no violence or burning of USAID offices, but that USAID personnel were already leaving and the rest would be compelled to leave for "ethical" reasons. The new La Paz Police Commander, meanwhile, assured publicly the security of U.S. Mission employees, although he also ominously warned the Embassy's security personnel to be prepared for attacks. USAID Future: Expropriated and Euro-Replaced? -------------- ¶10. (U) Vice Minister of Social Defense Felipe Caceres reiterated that USAID was conspiring against the government and that cocaleros will expropriate USAID's installations after USAID staff are removed from the Chapare. Caceres, who is responsible for coordinating Bolivia's counter-narcotics and alternative development efforts, said the government would look to the Europeans to replace U.S. counter-narcotics assistance in the Chapare. Caceres said the decision was "a question of dignity and sovereignty." Caceres also assured the security of the U.S. Embassy in Bolivia. ¶11. (U) Minister of Development Planning Graciela Toro insisted the future of USAID in Bolivia would depend on the results of an on-going and overdue government review. Though she hinted that the government would propose changes to USAID programs, Toro said until the government completes its review, "there will be no official decision." Toro added that USAID assistance amounts to about $20 million a year, although the actual amount is more than $90 million. Government and Cocaleros: More Conjoined Than Distinct -------------- -------------- ¶12. (SBU) Vice Minister of Coca Geronimo Meneses said that the government supports the Chapare cocalero's decision because "USAID is interfering in political issues, for example with the Union Juvenil (Note/Comment: the Union Juvenil Crucenista is a Santa Cruz pro-autonomy group. Meneses' accusation is baseless. End Note/Comment.). There are programs, they have the money, but they use it to support demonstrations and do not do the work as we did when we were leaders. It is a political problem that the Government has with USAID, and that will not be allowed." ¶13. (U) Although Vice Foreign Minister Hugo Fernandez said the government agrees with the "social groups" on many issues June 25, he added that the cocalero announcement would be confined to new agreements with USAID only. Fernandez sympathized with the concerns of the cocaleros, but tried to characterize their announcement as an "independent decision," distinct from government policy. ¶14. (U) However, Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca appeared to contradict his Vice Minister June 26, presenting a more aligned and coordinated cocalero/government stance on the decision. "Surely our colleagues have made this decision because they have reasons, (moreover) they are not the first institution to leave the country. There is no reason to worry about this much, this is not a grave subject that could impact in concrete terms relations between the United States and Bolivia." In apparent disregard to USAID's agreements with the Bolivian government and its own authority, Choquehuanca endorsed "this independent decision that the cocalero sector has assumed," but clarified that cocaleros would not "determine the foreign policy of the Evo Morales administration." URS