BOLIVIA'S BENI: STILL RESISTING EVO

C O N F I D E N T I A L LA PAZ 002477 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/20/2018 TAGS: ASEC PREL PINR PGOV BL SUBJECT: BOLIVIA'S BENI: STILL RESISTING EVO Classified By: EcoPol Chief Mike Hammer for reasons 1.4 (b,d.) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY. The Bolivian department (state) of Beni is commonly referred to in the press as part of the "wealthy lowland opposition" but statistics prove that most of the population live in extreme poverty. Struggling farmers, including a colony of Canadian Mennonites, fear sweeping land reform proposals that would displace them. The region is also annually plagued by flooding that halts production and creates further conflict between the local prefecture and the national government. Local leaders fear a Pando-like government military action but are prepared to resist, armed if necessary. END SUMMARY. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - EVO DELIVERS, BUT NOT IN BENI - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶2. (C) Although the opposition states are constantly referred to as "wealthy," the majority of Beni appears as a lowland El Alto. In the most recent census, 76% of the Beni population live in poverty, while the Bolivian average is 58.6%. Despite these facts, Beni has received the lowest amount of funding from the "Evo Delivers" aid program, less than half of what Pando has received, despite being six times the population of Pando. Beni Congresswoman Margot Arriaga tells Emboff that one of the main reasons that Beni receives lower funding is the national government's interest in "buying" Pando, whose small population makes for a much easier aid impact. The governor himself on several occasions has lamented to Emboff that "President Evo Morales doesn't care about the poverty in Beni because the majority won't give him their vote." - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND, THIS LAND IS MY LAND - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶3. (C) Given its agricultural base, land issues in Beni are a constant and growing conflict. One group of rural farmers whose land resides near one of the major rivers is blocking efforts to prevent flooding of the river, in hopes that the river itself will "shift," giving them more land rights. The situation has yet to turn violent, but the prefecture remains worried over the situation. The annual flooding forces thousands of families to leave their homes and move to shelters while the prefecture waits for government approval to receive foreign aid. Officials have discussed once again moving the capital of Trinidad, which has already been relocated three separate times, but experts say the constantly changing river is unpredictable and moving the city would be more costly than just trying to protect it. ¶4. (C) A group of Canadian Mennonites are also being forced to face land redistribution issues as the national government claims they are illegally on land belonging to the state. Special Advisor the Governor Carlos Dellien told Emboff that the Mennonite group bought the land around five years ago from then Governor Romero, who sold the property as his own. The land did legally belong to the prefecture, and now the national government is seizing it and forcing the colony to leave. There are few options for the group, except to appeal to the Bolivian congress to grant an exemption under the reasoning that they bought the land in good faith. (NOTE: Romero is now an acting senator from the Revolutionary Nationalist Movement (MNR) and according to Dellien, has sold his constitutional vote to the national government to avoid fraud charges. END NOTE.) - - - - - - - BLACK LISTED - - - - - - - ¶5. (C) After the violence in Pando and detainment of its Prefect, word spread quickly in the Media Luna of a military "black list" containing names of people to monitor and possibly arrest. Due to Dellien's proximity to the prefect and his family's history in Beni, police contacts told him he is on the list. Dellien's extended family have all been targeted, and they are making contingency plans for escape, mostly to Germany, where the family has visas. Prefect Suarez is worried that he too could be arrested. Dellien said that most opposition members are prepared to flee across the border to Brazil via the town of Guayaramerin. - - - - COMMENT - - - - ¶6. (C) Prefect Suarez has maintained high levels of support throughout the department and insiders say the police in the region show allegiance towards him. Growing poverty, floods and MAS fear tactics have not defeated the Benianos, who are not yet willing to concede the department to Evo. If the national government were to try to execute a Pando-like operation, it is likely to be met with armed resistance. END COMMENT. URS