BOLIVIA: ENGAGING MAS-CONTROLLED ORURO

UNCLAS LA PAZ 000225

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

USAID/LAC DEBBIE KENNEDY, EDWARD LANDAU

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID BL
SUBJECT: BOLIVIA: ENGAGING MAS-CONTROLLED ORURO

REF: A. LA PAZ 220

B. 08 LA PAZ 1055


1. (U) Charge's February 6 trip to Oruro to visit
USAID-supported organic sweet onion and quinoa projects was
well-received in the Oruro press and by the indigenous
communities which benefit from USAID's projects. In Amachuma
Catuyo, organic sweet onion farmers thanked the Charge and
USAID for tools, technology, and marketing training projected
to increase the producers' incomes by 16 percent from 2008 to

2010. The onion project benefits 937 people, while 1,200
people benefit from USAID's Quinoa Grain Project, which
provides producers with technology, management, and market
access support to increase producers' income by 20 percent.
The Charge also visited USAID's Quinoa Flower Project, which
seeks to improve the income of 178 single mothers from
Caracollo, supporting their production of dried Quinoa
flowers for domestic and export markets.


2. (SBU) In past meetings with Emboffs, Oruro Prefect Alberto
Aguilar (a strong ally of President Evo Morales and member of
his Movement Toward Socialism--MAS--party) has readily
associated himself with the successful USAID projects in
Oruro, one of the poorest departments (states) in Bolivia
(ref B). On this occasion, however, Prefect Aguilar did not
attend, sending in his place the Departmental Secretary of
Productive Development Carlos Ari. Ari privately told Emboff
that he regretted the expulsion of Ambassador Goldberg: since
that time, many projects that the Prefect had planned to
undertake with the USG have been "paralyzed" because the
Prefect "had to distance himself" from the Embassy.
Nevertheless, Ari said that the prefecture would like to
re-establish a good relationship with the USG under President
Obama in the hopes of continuing aid projects.


3. (U) In a statement to the press, Charge emphasized the
USG's hopes for good relations and commitment to helping the
poorest and most vulnerable segments of Bolivian society:
"Despite the difficult relations that we have had with
Bolivia in the last year, we remain committed, we want to
continue with aid programs to Bolivia." Charge added that
USAID's cooperation is "a commitment with the Bolivian
people."


4. (SBU) Comment: According to the prefect's office, Aguilar
was unable to attend this event because of a schedule
conflict, although in the past he has participated in USAID
events and recognized USG support. Aguilar is a skillful
self-publicist, however, and generally can be expected to
make good use of press coverage such as that which the
Embassy's Public Affairs Section arranged for Charge's visit.
Aguilar's decision to "distance himself" from the USG, even
at an event where he could associate himself with benefits to
his constituents, is emblematic of the challenges the Mission
faces when working in MAS strongholds such as Oruro.
Grassroots support for USAID projects from beneficiaries is
almost always strong, but official recognition of our
cooperative efforts is minimal or nonexistent. The day after
Charge's Oruro trip to support programs that have benefited
over 2000 of Bolivia's poorest citizens, President Evo
Morales addressed a crowd in the MAS stronghold of El Alto,
repeating his allegations that the United States is a de
facto imperial power and calling for "permanent struggle
against colonialism, neoliberalism, and fundamentally against
imperialism" (ref A). End comment.
URS