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. - - - - - - - - - - - Expected 9/16 Protest - - - - - - - - - - - ¶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. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Counter-Narcotics Certification Announcement - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶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. - - - - - - - - - - Political Situation - - - - - - - - - - ¶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. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Authorized Departure Going Smoothly - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶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. - - - - - - - - - - Actions Considered - - - - - - - - - - ¶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