Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09LAPAZ407
2009-03-13 21:24:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy La Paz
Cable title:  

BOLIVIA: CIA ACCUSATIONS SPREADING

Tags:  PGOV PREL KDEM PHUM PINR ENVR ASEC PTER BL 
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VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHLP #0407 0722124
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 132124Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY LA PAZ
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0304
INFO RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 8876
RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 6251
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 0225
RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 7435
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 4482
RUEHCP/AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN 0415
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 4815
RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO 6185
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 7097
RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 1865
RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA 1705
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L LA PAZ 000407 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/13/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM PHUM PINR ENVR ASEC PTER BL
SUBJECT: BOLIVIA: CIA ACCUSATIONS SPREADING

REF: A. LA PAZ 386

B. LA PAZ 374

Classified By: A/EcoPol Chief Brian Quigley for reasons 1.4 (b, d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L LA PAZ 000407

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/13/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM PHUM PINR ENVR ASEC PTER BL
SUBJECT: BOLIVIA: CIA ACCUSATIONS SPREADING

REF: A. LA PAZ 386

B. LA PAZ 374

Classified By: A/EcoPol Chief Brian Quigley for reasons 1.4 (b, d)


1. (C) Summary: Accusations of CIA involvement in Bolivian
"internal affairs" have proliferated since the announcement
of Embassy officer Francisco "Frank" Martinez's expulsion
March 9. President Morales' top advisors, Presidency
Minister Juan Ramon Quintana and Government Minister Alfredo
Rada, each asserted March 12 there were more CIA agents
working to divide the country, including specific - but as
yet unnamed - Embassy officers. Vice Minister of Lands Luis
Alejandro Almaraz Ossio suggested in a press conference March
11 that the CIA staged the seizure of former Vice President
Victor Hugo Cardenas' property (Reftel),demonstrating that
virtually any outrage committed by the GOB is subject to
being shamelessly tied to the U.S. Embassy by the Morales
administration. Post advocates a clear response to these
accusations, lest the Morales administration believe it can
continue to foment such baseless charges. End summary.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
GOB: "There Are More (CIA) Agents"
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


2. (U) In an interview with a Spanish newspaper published
March 13 that was widely reprinted locally, Presidency
Minister Juan Ramon Quintana charged that, "Like Francisco
Martinez, there are several agents that work intensely in
Bolivia to upset democratic stability.8 Similarly, leading
local daily La Razon reported March 13 that Government
Minister Alfredo Rada said the same U.S. scholarship student
that "denounced" Embassy attache Vincent Cooper "also
revealed the name of Francisco Martinez and other U.S.
Embassy employees, whom he identified as CIA agents."


3. (C) According to Javier Flores, a top advisor to former
Vice President Victor Hugo Cardenas, in a press conference
March 11 discussing the seizure and ransacking of Cardenas'
home (reftel A, B),Vice Minister of Lands Luis Alejandro
Almaraz Ossio suggested the fact that a news journalist was
prepared to film the incident and that Cardenas' wife ran
directly to the home where the journalist was located
"reminded him of a CIA operation." He went on to imply the
CIA was involved at the behest of the USG as a way to boost
Cardenas' presidential candidacy.

- - - -
Comment
- - - -


4. (C) In spite of Department and Embassy statements to the
contrary, the government of Bolivia continues to weave CIA
tales. We believe that as domestic political and corruption
scandals intensify the Morales administration may elect to
PNG more Mission members. We advocate a clear response to
these accusations, lest the Morales administration believe it
can continue to foment such baseless charges.
URS