Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08LAPAZ919
2008-04-21 22:29:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy La Paz
Cable title:  

EVO ASSAILS "TREASONOUS" CATHOLIC CHURCH HIERARCHY

Tags:  ASEC BL PREL PGOV 
pdf how-to read a cable
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C O N F I D E N T I A L LA PAZ 000919 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/21/2018
TAGS: ASEC BL GOV PREL
SUBJECT: EVO ASSAILS "TREASONOUS" CATHOLIC CHURCH HIERARCHY


Classified By: EcoPol Chief Mike Hammer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L LA PAZ 000919

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/21/2018
TAGS: ASEC BL GOV PREL
SUBJECT: EVO ASSAILS "TREASONOUS" CATHOLIC CHURCH HIERARCHY


Classified By: EcoPol Chief Mike Hammer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: Bolivian President Evo Morales accused the
Catholic Church hierarchy of "treason and deception" on April
19, casting doubt on the Church's future role as a mediator
in the growing crisis between the Government and the
opposition prefects in the eastern lowlands. Morales was
reportedly infuriated by Cardinal Terrazas's comments
challenging the Government's claims that slavery continues to
exist in parts of Bolivia. President Morales' actions are in
keeping with earlier attempts to highlight international
support for his Government and to criticize and isolate those
who would contradict or disagree with his positions. End
Summary.

--------------
YOU SAY SLAVERY, I SAY INDENTURED SERVITUDE
--------------


2. (C) The conflict with the Catholic Church erupted
following the Government of Bolivia's April 10 assertions
that slavery exists in parts of Bolivia, including the
Southern "Chaco" region, and that "more than one thousand
Guarani families work as slaves in the Chaco." (Comment:
The claims were likely designed to fortify Government as-yet
unsuccessful efforts to redistribute land in the Chaco. End
Comment). In a sermon delivered to his congregation in Santa
Cruz on April 13, Cardinal Terrazas responded that it was
incumbent on the Government to "show us the proof (of
slavery),and let us know where we can find them" since it
was "no longer possible for us to just continue attacking
each other with slogans." Following this challenge from the
Church, the Government Vice-Minister of Lands back-tracked
somewhat the following day, stating that the Government
utilized the word slavery "figuratively" to describe
conditions of indentured servitude where workers in effect
are not compensated for their work.


3. (C) Clearly unhappy with this pushback, Morales lashed
out at the Catholic Church on April 19 for what he termed its
"treason and deception." While delivering agricultural
machinery to the town of San Julian in Santa Cruz, Morales
fumed that it "doesn't matter that the (Cardinal and bishops)
won't help us in our fight, but they should help the people
who need it." Cardinal Terrazas responded on April 20 with

an appeal for calm and opined that the President is "poorly
informed" about the situation and the Church's presence in
the Chaco. The Cardinal said that in spite of these attacks
the Church would "turn the other cheek" but would continue to
speak the truth. In a clear expression of displeasure with
the Catholic Church, Morales met with representatives of the
Methodist Church and expressed his historical and current
support for this denomination.

-------------- --------------
ARCHBISHOP WELCOMES MEDIATION, BUT NOT OPTIMISTIC
-------------- --------------


4. (C) The Charge met privately with Archbishop Tito Solari
during a visit to Cochabamba on Friday, April 18. Reflecting
on the last two years, Solari expressed regret that the hopes
that President Morales would be able to deliver democracy and
improved economic conditions to Bolivia's marginalized
classes had dissolved. The Archbishop lamented Morales's
inability to deliver inclusive change to Bolivia; instead the
country has become more divided into increasingly polarized
civil groups. Solari offered that not all social groups are
for Evo, despite what he termed as Morales' trademark in
attempting to take over those social groups seen to be
"veering off course." He bemoaned the pattern of "attack,
counter-attack" that characterizes the current state of
affairs in Bolivia, observing that Evo himself clearly feels
under attack from many fronts ("as an Indian, as a cocalero")
and is desperate at this point.


5. (C) Solari observed that the Church was completely caught
off guard by the violence in Cochabamba in January 11, 2006
and at the time did not even know which players to consult to
try to calm the situation. They have clearly done their
homework since then and have welcomed the potential role as
mediator of the conflict. The Archbishop postulated that
serious negotiations would not commence until after the May 5
referendum vote in Santa Cruz, as the two sides were
"obviously preparing more for confrontation than for
dialogue." Solari expressed the Church's concern for
potential violence in Santa Cruz, especially given rumors
about arms entering into both camps.


6. (C) Solari highlighted the difficulty facing any future
negotiations, as both sides are so fragmented. He commented
that there is no cohesion among the opposition prefects, and
on the other side that President Morales is influenced by
competing advisors with their own agendas, particularly
Minister of the Presidency Juan Ramon Quintana, Vice
President Alvaro Garcia Linera, and Venezuelan President Hugo
Chavez. Although Solari remarked that in meetings the
Church's representatives had always found that everyone
eventually looked to Evo for decisions, he did not seem clear
about whether it would be Evo who would decide about whether
and how to end the current conflict, and if so on what terms.
"God help us," he concluded.


7. (C) Comment. President Morales' harsh rebuke of the
Catholic Church reflects his "for us or against us" mentality
and his preference for "mediators" with a pro-government
slant. The Morales administration is quick to cite the
comments of any international observers who offer words of
support and has on several occasions even twisted their words
to try to discredit and de-legitimize the upcoming Santa Cruz
referendum. President Morales departed for the United States
on April 21 to attend the Permanent Forum on Indigenous
issues and reportedly to seek international support to "end
slavery in Bolivia." Evo will also give a speech at Brown
University.


8. (C) The question remains what will happen in Santa Cruz
on May 4, and more importantly what will happen on May 5 and
thereafter. Most agree that if hard-line social groups loyal
to the MAS government enter Santa Cruz city on May 4 and
attempt to disrupt the autonomy referendum, there will be
violence. If the violence results in deaths, the Government
could take a hard-line and declare martial law. In any case,
most observers agree that the only way out of the current
stalemate is for the Government and opposition prefects to
sit down and negotiate. End Comment.
URS