BOLIVIA: MINISTER SAYS USG SUPPORTS DOMESTIC SPYING

C O N F I D E N T I A L LA PAZ 000194

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/28/2018
TAGS: ASEC PGOV PREL PINR BL
SUBJECT: BOLIVIA: MINISTER SAYS USG SUPPORTS DOMESTIC SPYING

Classified By: EcoPol Chief Mike Hammer for reasons 1.4b,d


1. (C) Summary: After a January 24 statement in which Police
Commander Miguel Vasquez acknowledged that the police
intelligence unit has been spying on politicians (mostly
opposition) and journalists, the media have added a number of
possible spying targets (the Catholic church, foreign
embassies in La Paz). As has become a common Bolivian
government response to domestic problems, the Morales
administration has tried to implicate the USG, with Minister
of Government Alfredo Rada discussing "suggestive" USG
support to police groups in press interviews. For the
moment, the government's actions are still being viewed as
its own abuse of civil liberties, although we will monitor
whether Rada's false accusations against the Embassy stick.
End summary.

Government Minister Rada's Insinuations
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


2. (U) In an interview that received a front-page tease and
full-page coverage, Minister of Government Rada declared that
"at least two intelligence structures" had been found to be
doing "irregular work." The Special Operations Command
"Copes" was, according to Rada, created fifteen years ago
with USG logistical support for training and technology.
Rada insinuated, "...very curiously in January of 2006,
shortly after Evo Morales took office, (Copes) changed its
name to 'Organization of Police Studies,' an apparently
innocent name. But we have discovered that the Copes
continues operating through this other name. It is
suggestive." Although clarifying that it would be
"irrational" to reject U.S. support in all areas, Rada said,
"What we question is the fact that it seems that there are
structures that do intelligence work and it is not clear to
whom they report and it is not clear what type of support
they receive. In our investigation, we will establish what
type of support is given...(and) revealing information will
come out that will show that these parallel structures are a
risk not only for the police but for the security of the
state." In another interview, Rada added, "...Copes and some
other intelligence groups had logistical and training support
from the American Embassy. It is inadmissible that there be
foreign support for parallel intelligence groups that do not
respond to the defined constitutional commands."


3. (U) Press reports also commented on another group within
the national police that works with the Embassy: the security
group in charge of the Embassy's security and roving police
patrol. The article stated that the group "conducts
intelligence work in a direct manner."


4. (U) Some observers are criticizing Minister of Government
Rada for his self-confessed lack of control over these police
entities. La Paz leading daily La Razon opines that it is
"grave" that Rada says he has no control over intelligence
groups, "since that is his responsibility, but graver still
is that espionage is being committed and there are no
sanctions."

Embassy Response
- - - - - - - - -


5. (U) Our official response to Rada's accusations clarifies
that the USG has for many years supported the Bolivian
National Police in a number of areas. This support has
always been provided with the knowledge and under the control
of the Bolivian government, in cooperation with Bolivian
government officials. We state that accusations of police
spying on Bolivian citizens is an issue internal to the
Bolivian government, which should be referred to the
appropriate Bolivian authorities.

Comment- - - -


6. (C) Minister Rada's unsubstantiated insinuations seem
designed to distract attention from accusations that the
government is spying on the opposition and media. At a time
when the government is receiving bad press for its slow
response to natural disasters, we may anticipate more
anti-USG rhetoric in attempts to distract attention from
domestic problems. As when initial accusations against USAID
were followed by press-conferences detailing "interference"
and when a picture of the Ambassador with a bystander at a
trade fair was spun into a "conspiracy," Rada's promised
investigations of Bolivia's internal espionage scandal may
result in extended USG-bashing. End comment.
GOLDBERG