EMERGENCY ACTION COMMITTEE MEETING-LA PAZ 9/16 0900

S E C R E T LA PAZ 001984

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/16/2018
TAGS: AMER ASEC AMGT PTER BL
SUBJECT: EMERGENCY ACTION COMMITTEE MEETING-LA PAZ 9/16 0900

REF: LA PAZ 1979 AND PREVIOUS

Classified By: RSO Patrick J. Moore, reasons 1.4c,d


1. (C) Summary: The Emergency Action Committee (EAC) met at
0900 on 9/16 to discuss the expected 9/16 protest of
university students, the possible impact of the
counter-narcotics certification announcement, the ongoing
authorized departure process, and the ongoing political
situation. The Embassy is on minimal staffing, and Charge
asked the EAC to further consider how staffing could be
further reduced in the Embassy on 9/16 in the case of an
emergency. End Summary.

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Expected 9/16 Protest
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2. (C) Sources suggest that between 500 and 1,500 students
from a university in El Alto may march to the Embassy today.
The students have the reputation of being more radical and
potentially violent than other demonstrators. Police
response will again be key: the protest of 9/15 did not turn
violent because of strong police presence supported by
government orders to use teargas if needed. RSO sources
indicate that the police were "relieved" to be given the
chance to do their jobs without political interference or
being used as the government's "puppets." The police's
effective containment of the protest--with government backing
and with the police commander declaring to the press that he
would protect diplomatic missions "at all cost"--is
significant compared with the events of June 9, when the
government encouraged the protesters and later fired the
police commander for his successful protection of the Embassy.


3. (C) Embassy is on minimal staffing today, as a precaution
in case the announcement of the counter-narcotics
certification decision (originally scheduled for 10:30a.m.,
and later delayed to 4:30p.m. ) prompts a violent reaction
from the student protesters or other government-aligned
social groups. In part because of the need to continue
processing authorized departures, the "minimal staffing" list
for 9/16 includes over fifty people. Considering the small
size of the Embassy safe haven, EAC members decided that the
list would be reduced should a demonstration materialize.

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Counter-Narcotics Certification Announcement
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4. (C) EAC welcomed the Washington decision to delay
announcement of the counter-narcotics certification
announcement. In anticipation that the certification
announcement may prompt the Bolivian government to take
action against agencies in country, USAID and NAS directors
checked their letters of agreement with the government and
confirmed that the letter allows agencies 90 days in which to
close down operations if the decision is made to expel an
agency. In addition, the NAS agreement states that the
Bolivian government can only continue to use property given
to the government for counter-narcotics and humanitarian
efforts. It is not clear whether the Bolivian government
will comply with these agreements.

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Political Situation
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5. (C) The declaration of the governments at UNASUR provides
President Morales with strong support. Local media are
repeating Morales' and Chavez' accusations that the USG is
supporting conspiracy in Bolivia. Bolivian state television
is running a series of spots showing footage of the violence
in the northern department of Pando underneath the image of
an American flag. Government-aligned social groups are
currently massing in the central plaza and sources inform us
that they intend to besiege the congress to enable a vote of
"those present" (only government-aligned and Movement Toward
Socialism-MAS-representatives) to call for a referendum on
the MAS constitution. Opposition contacts told us that they
sent out an emergency call to all opposition members of
congress and senators, instructing them to go to their
offices at 6a.m. 9/16 and be prepared to hunker down.



6. (C) Tarija Prefect Mario Cossio met with Vice President
Garcia Linera late in the evening of 9/15. No results of the
"pre-negotiation" meeting are yet public. Ecopol is
following up with contacts to learn more.


7. (S/NF) Despite the government's attempts to keep all
non-state media out of Pando (where the recent violence has
left upwards of thirty dead and many wounded and missing),
private media outlets Unitel, PAT, and La Razon have managed
to enter, slipping through Brazil and have begun sending out
images and news. Reportedly General Pinozo--who is in charge
of the military operation to re-take the airport at Cobija
and the rest of the city--has been adamant about keeping
private media out of the area, forcing reporters onto
military planes to be sent out of the area. DAO reports that
other than the actions in Pando, the military is quiet.


8. (C) USAID reports that its employees and contacts are
hearing rumors of possible attacks on USAID projects. The
9/15 protest redirected to the USAID/NAS building after
police kept the protesters from reaching the Embassy, but so
far police sources do not report any further targeting of the
USAID/NAS building.

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Authorized Departure Going Smoothly
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9. (C) Management informed EAC that there are still
commercial flights available and there are no road blockades
that would complicate overland evacuation. American Airlines
will reportedly resume flights on a modified schedule as of
9/21. As of 9/16, 109 people have requested authorized
departure (not including people "caught out" while out of the
country.) Numbers are increasing steadily as requests are
processed. The Community Liaison Officers (CLOs) and Embassy
support staff will be at the Ambassador's residence all day
9/16 processing authorized departures. The MSD security team
and SSAT team are expected within days.

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Actions Considered
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10. (U) The EAC reviewed actions to take and notifications
needed for Mission personnel and U.S. wardens. The following
is provided:

a. The cascade system was used to inform mission personnel of
decision to go to minimal staffing on 9/16. Alternate command
center (USAID/NAS) will only be used if needed. Section heads
reviewed their minimal staffing requirements and decreased
numbers.

b. EAC emphasized coordination and communication;
announcements regarding the situation at the chancery will be
made over the intercom system and decisions taken away from
the chancery will be relayed to EAC members as quickly as
possible.

c. Another EAC meeting will be held at 5p.m. on 9/16.

d. POCs are RSO Patrick Moore (moorepj@state.gov) and DRSO
Daniel Hernandez (hernandezd@state.gov),IVG 547-8300.
URS