BOLIVIA: PREFECTS PROMISE PROTESTS IF TALKS TANK

C O N F I D E N T I A L LA PAZ 000266

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/08/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL BL ASEC
SUBJECT: BOLIVIA: PREFECTS PROMISE PROTESTS IF TALKS TANK

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



1. (SBU) Bolivia's National Democratic Council (consisting of
the autonomy-seeking eastern and lowland departments or
states) met on February 7 to declare that they will grant
President Evo Morales until February 13 to respond to their
demands on autonomy and resources to the departments. If the
opposition departments are not satisfied by the central
government's response, they plan to initiate protests and
other pressure tactics, says the declaration signed by the
prefects of Santa Cruz, Beni, Tarija, Pando, and the interim
prefect of Cochabamba.


2. (C) Karen Balcazar, Director of International Relations
for the prefectural government of Santa Cruz, informs us that
the opposition departments are making the rounds of embassies
in La Paz to explain the situation, particularly so that
"when the dialogue fails, it is clear to the international
community that the Morales government is to blame." Santa
Cruz prefect Ruben Costas quoted Vice President Garcia
Linera's adamant statement that 'not one comma of the
constitution will be moved' as evidence that "...(the central
government) are telling us that there is no more dialogue on
this matter." Meanwhile, government spokesman Alex Contreras
tried to shift blame onto the departments, saying
"practically, they're breaking the dialogue." Government
Minister Alfredo Rada went further, characterizing the
opposition prefects' declaration as a provocation that could
result in "violence, death and confrontations."


3. (SBU) Joining in the February 7 declaration were civic
leaders from Santa Cruz, Beni, Tarija, Pando, Cochabamba and
also leaders from Chuquisaca, the home of the constitutional
capital of Sucre, where three deaths occurred in November
2007 during confrontations over the draft constitution. The
declaration also demands that the central government convoke
an election for the prefect of Chuquisaca (note: the previous
Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) prefect has left the country.
End note.) The opposition prefects and civic leaders also
repeated their objection to any cuts in hydrocarbons taxes to
the departments, and they asked that the central government
"cease its interference in the National Electoral Court so as
not to obstruct the departmental courts in the administration
of departmental referendums."


4. (C) Comment: Although the central government has invited
the prefects to more talks, neither side seems to feel that
any progress will be made. It is not clear what protest
measures the opposition departments might take, but it is
likely that blockades and strikes would figure in their
plans; there is also a possibility of scattered violent
confrontations. What is apparent is that both the central
government and the opposition want the other to be blamed for
the failure of the dialogue. End comment.
GOLDBERG