BOLIVIA SPY SCANDAL: POLICE CHIEF BACKS USG STANCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L LA PAZ 000386

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2018
TAGS: ASEC PREL PGOV BL
SUBJECT: BOLIVIA SPY SCANDAL: POLICE CHIEF BACKS USG STANCE

REF: LA PAZ 374

Classified By: Acting EcoPol Chief Joe Relk for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: Bolivian National Police (BNP) commander
Miguel Vasquez testified before a Senate commission and
refuted Minister of Government Alfredo Rada's espionage
allegations against the Embassy and a USG-funded police unit.
Vasquez rejected accusations that the unit did not report to
him and confirmed that the unit did not carry out activities
beyond its designated counter-narcotics mission. Despite
Vasquez' testimony Rada announced on February 21 that he
stood by his previous declarations, stating that at an
opportune time he would provide documentation to support his
claims. The opposition-controlled Senate appears poised to
continue the investigations, and may look into another police
intelligence unit, which does not receive USG funds.
Meanwhile the Ambassador firmly rejected allegations by the
former national intelligence chief that the Embassy "manages"
many different intelligence groups and maintains records on
all Bolivian citizens for the purpose of determining who
qualifies for a U.S. visa. Vasquez's statements vindicate
the Embassy's position and require Minister Rada explain his
dubious allegations against the Embassy. End Summary.

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Police Chief Refutes Charges Against USG
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2. (U) Bolivan National Police (BNP) commander Miguel
Vasquez testified before the Bolivian Senate on February 21
and negated many of Minister of Government Alfredo Rada's
allegations that a USG-funded police unit conducted internal
espionage. In contrast to Rada's numerous accusations and
insinuation that the USG-funded Police Studies Organization
(ODEP) spied on innocent Bolivian citizens, Vasquez stated
"as far as I know, ODEP did its work as stipulated," meaning
it performed intelligence on narco-trafficking groups.
Vasquez also reiterated his earlier public statements that he
never authorized any internal domestic spying. Vasquez
stated, "These facts I know from media outlets, the press.
There was never an order to perform this type of work."


3. (U) Vasquez also refuted Rada's claims that ODEP (also
known by its predecessor acronym of COPES) only reported its
findings to the U.S. Embassy, failing to notify the police
hierarchy. Vasquez stated, "ODEP coordinated its work with
the General Command. Its case reports -- inherent to the
fight against narco-trafficking )- were (delivered) every
three weeks, every month, but today (ODEP) has been
disbanded." (Note: The unit was disbanded January 29. End
Note). In contrast, Vasquez indicated that another police
intelligence unit, known as the "Special Group" (GE) was not
keeping him informed of its activities. During his February
20 Senate testimony, the former police intelligence chief
intelligence Jose Luis Centellas acknowledged that the GE
unit conducts internal surveillance of "organizations and
institutions that put internal security at risk." Vasquez
stated that he never "received" reports from the GE unit and
was not familiar with the people who comprised the unit. He
added that the Senate would need to speak to Centellas to
obtain more information about GE.

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New Intelligence Unit Under the Microscope
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4. (U) With Police Commander Miguel Vasquez' testimony more
or less absolving ODEP of wrong-doing and Centellas'
testimony which indicated that GE was conducting internal
surveillance, attention now has turned to GE. Opposition
Senator Luis Vasquez (PODEMOS, La Paz),who is leading the
Senate investigation into the domestic spying scandal, stated
February 21 that he would convoke more police officials to
testify. La Paz newspaper La Prensa states the officials
will likely be from the GE unit.

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Rada Stands His Shaky Ground
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5. (U) Police Chief Vasquez' statements contradict many of
Minister Rada's outlandish accusations against the USG and
ODEP. Rada has repeatedly accused ODEP of acting outside the
traditional intelligence structure. Rada has argued that
COPES-ODEP's objectives were threefold: to conduct "political
intelligence" gathering; to surveil individuals; and, to
denigrate the police hierarchy, and the central government.
Rada has also repeatedly stated that ODEP responded to
Embassy's demands because of its USG funding. Despite
Vasquez' testimony, Rada announced on February 21 that he
stood by his previous declarations, stating that at an
opportune time he would provide documentation to support his
accusations.

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Ambassador Rejects "Big Brother" Accusations
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6. (U) The Ambassador on February 21 firmly rejected former
National Intelligence Chief Jose Luis Centellas Senate
testimony that the Embassy "manages" many different
intelligence groups and maintains records on all Bolivian
citizens for the purpose of determining who qualifies for a
U.S. visa. The Ambassador stated, "These declarations by
Centellas are completely false, they are not true. What I
can say is that we have for decades supported a unit within
the police, and this activity was transparent to the
ministers and commanders of the police." The Ambassador
added, "This unit only tried to help Bolivia in its efforts
to train this country in the battle against
narco-trafficking, . . . but all in coordination with the
police."

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Comment
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7. (C) Police Commander Vasquez' testimony matched much of
the February 20 testimony of former ODEP-COPES commander
Miguel Angel Rivera (ref). Both their declarations are
consistent with the Embassy's public statements regarding our
relationship with ODEP-COPES. We have on numerous occasions
confirmed that the USG provided funding to ODEP-COPES, but
that the Embassy has nothing to do with the domestic spying
scandal. Vasquez and Rivera essentially vindicated the
Embassy's position, and leave Minister Rada having to explain
his dubious allegations against the Embassy and ODEP.


8. (C) The ruling Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) party
appears uncomfortable with the investigation. MAS members
have been calling into question Senator Luis Vasquez's
impartiality in the investigation. The Senator has compared
the domestic spying scandal to Watergate; members of the MAS
argue that since Watergate brought down President Nixon,
Senator Vasquez must be looking to take down President
Morales. While Morales is almost certainly safe, Minister
Rada is likely in the opposition's crosshairs. End Comment.
GOLDBERG