CHARGE'S VISIT TO COCHABAMBA

C O N F I D E N T I A L LA PAZ 002604 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/18/2023 TAGS: BL EFIN PGOV PHUM PINR PREL SNAR SUBJECT: CHARGE'S VISIT TO COCHABAMBA REF: LA PAZ 2507 Classified By: CDA Krishna Urs for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) The Charge made a one day trip to Cochabamba on December 15 to highlight the U.S. Mission's positive agenda, which goes forward despite strained relations. During his trip he participated in donations to a USAID street children's shelter, and visited the NAS supported Trafficking in Persons police unit and the NAS supported Cochabamba Police' Office of Professional Responsibility. The Charge also met with media pundits and local business community leaders. While the pundits and businessmen agree that the recent national government corruption scandals and attacks on the press and Catholic Church have hurt President Evo Morales' ratings, all are in agreement that he still has enough support to pass his Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) constitution on January 25, 2009. End summary. -------------- STREET CHILDREN -------------- ¶2. (U) The Charge presented $10,000 worth of kitchen equipment at the USAID supported Stars in the Streets Foundation. The foundation works with children, teenagers, and young adults living on the streets of Cochabamba. The ceremony featured former glue-sniffing children and young adults who the foundation has rehabilitated and helps secure employment. The USAID Special Development Activity Fund will make it easier for the foundation to serve meals and support the overall goal of assisting these groups to reduce the consumption of drugs, theft, and prostitution. -------------- MISSING CHILDREN -------------- ¶3. (C) The Charge visited the NAS supported Trafficking in Persons Cochabamba Unit of the Special Police Force Against Crime (FELC-C),which has investigated 51 trafficking in persons cases representing a 50% increase over the number of cases in 2007. One recent Labor Exploitation case involved 255 Bolivian citizens sent to Russia to work. NAS has a robust TIPS program coordinated with the Bolivian National Police, Prosecutor's Office, NGOs, and international organizations. During the visit the Charge donated computer equipment for the office. TIPS is one area where we are able to coordinate well with Bolivian authorities and which is much appreciated, even by the MAS. -------------- RESPONSIBLE POLICE -------------- ¶4. (U) The Charge also donated computer equipment to the Bolivian National Police Cochabamba Office of Professional Responsibility and Disciplinary Tribunal. The Office of Professional Responsibility is an important project providing guidance and support to the Public Ministry to identify and address the issues of corruption and unacceptable behavior within the National Police Force. NAS has been closely involved with the creation, implementation, and continued development of the institution. -------------- CONCERNED MEDIA -------------- ¶5. (C) In an off-the-record conversation with media analysts, all commented on the recent Morales administration's corruption scandals and attacks on the press and Catholic Church. Newspaper columnist Roberto Laserna believes that even though President Morales may lose some support as a result of the scandals, the new constitution will pass on January 25, 2009. "The referendum is not about the constitution" according to Laserna, "it is about Evo. It comes down to do you put your trust in Evo or not." Laserna predicts the constitution will win but hopes the opposition will put up a unified front for the "no" vote. As Laserna see things, "if the constitution is approved by less than 65% then the opposition will be ok and will survive." Laserna recommended the Mission review its anti-drug policies because "what may have worked in the past doesn't work with Evo." ¶6. (C) Columnist Winston Estremadoiro said he is "very pessimistic" and worried about "social control" provisions in the new constitution. "Do not confuse the MAS government's so called 'social movements' for grass roots movements" commented Estremadoiro. He also believes that even though the new constitution will pass, "it will not last very long as this is a divided country." Estremadoiro lamented that "traditional political parties are still playing by the old rules and not fighting with new ways and new leaders." -------------- AND EVEN MORE CONCERNED BUSINESSMEN -------------- ¶7. (C) A roundtable with Cochabamba business chamber presidents from a cross section of industries led to several unanimous conclusions: the new constitution will pass, the Government of Bolivia will be forced to devalue the boliviano after the first quarter of 2009, and businesses will continue to get severely battered by Morales' economic policies purposely designed to weaken the private sector. President of the Private Business Federation of Cochabamba Rudy Rivera believes that the Morales administration has been able to consolidate political power and is "now starting to really focus on obtaining economic power by strangling us to death." He ran down a laundry list of actions the Bolivian government has taken this year against the private sector, highlighting new taxes, exchange controls and an artificially high boliviano, lost markets in the U.S., European Union, and Andean Community, and retroactive forced salary increases. Rivera made a plea for the USG "not to economically isolate us like Cuba as we need a beacon of capitalistic light." ¶8. (C) Willy Soria, President of the Cochabamba Agricultural Association, blasted Minister of Planning Susana Rivero as a "liar who cannot be trusted." He pointed out that Rivero had guaranteed him on a Friday that the competency to issue certificates of origin would stay in the business chambers' hands and then on Monday the Bolivian government issued a decree returning responsibility back to the national government. According to Soria, this will allow the Bolivian government to track inflows and outflows of legitimate merchandise and funds. Soria complained of corruption in the Bolivian Plant and Animal Health Service (SENASAG) and is particularly concerned that "there is no control or oversight of imported foodstuff into Bolivia." ¶9. (C) The Charge was scheduled to meet with Cochabamba Prefect Rafael Puente but the meeting was canceled due to Puente's abrupt resignation on December 12. Puente publicly stated that he resigned as governor because of pressure from the MAS to reward party card holders with government jobs. A press report on December 17 claims Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca had clashed with former Prefect Puente because he wanted to reward his girlfriend with the prefecture's Secretary General position. The new prefect, MAS hard-liner Congressman Jorge Ledezma, swore in Nelly Pinto Melgarejo as the new Secretary General of Cochabamba on December 17. (Note: FM Choquehuanca's wife recently complained about her husband's "white" girlfriend at a Women's Diplomatic Association luncheon and said she was considering filing for divorce. End Note.) -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶10. (C) Cochabamba is sometimes referred to as "the ham in the sandwich." It's geographic location in the middle of the country and almost equal racial divide between indigenous and mixed (mestizo) makes Cochabamba to be the place where conflicting policies and politics clash. Cochabamba is also the home base of President Evo Morales and his MAS party is actively making strides to consolidate power throughout the department, including the majority anti-Morales Cochabamba city. President Morales swore in a MAS hard-liner governor on December 15. The political and private sector opposition in Cochabamba find themselves isolated and have yet to be able to form a cohesive national front. End comment. URS