Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09LAPAZ409
2009-03-16 15:59:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy La Paz
Cable title:  

GOB RHETORIC MAY SET STAGE FOR FURTHER EXPULSIONS

Tags:  PGOV PREL KDEM PHUM PINR ENVR ASEC BL 
pdf how-to read a cable
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PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHLP #0409/01 0751559
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 161559Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY LA PAZ
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0307
INFO RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 8879
RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 6254
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 0228
RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 7438
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 4485
RUEHCP/AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN 0416
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 4818
RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO 6186
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 7100
RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 1868
RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA 1706
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 000409 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/16/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM PHUM PINR ENVR ASEC BL
SUBJECT: GOB RHETORIC MAY SET STAGE FOR FURTHER EXPULSIONS

REF: A. LA PAZ 407

B. LA PAZ 373

C. LA PAZ 305

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 000409

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/16/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM PHUM PINR ENVR ASEC BL
SUBJECT: GOB RHETORIC MAY SET STAGE FOR FURTHER EXPULSIONS

REF: A. LA PAZ 407

B. LA PAZ 373

C. LA PAZ 305

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


1. (C) Summary: Following the March 9 expulsion of Embassy
officer Frank Martinez (Reftels B, C) and subsequent
government accusations March 12 of more CIA activity in the
country (Reftel A),President Evo Morales charged March 13
and 14 that "foreign agents" were "buying the loyalty" of
Bolivian security forces and that "there is an army official
who has direct contact with the CIA," respectively. The next
day, Government Minister Alfredo Rada made a separate
accusation that the police guarding the Embassy were "truly
working as officers of the U.S. Embassy" and implied they
were supplying intelligence to the CIA. Post fears the GOB
may be setting the stage for further expulsions of Embassy
personnel. The GOB appears to believe it can take such
actions with little concern for reciprocal action by us. End
summary.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Morales Cites Presence of "Foreign Agents"
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2. (U) During a March 13 press conference, President Evo
Morales charged that there were "foreign agents" present in
Bolivia who were "buying the loyalty" of members of both the
army and the Bolivian National Police. The next day, during
a visit to the Circle of Army Officers (COE),Morales said he
had knowledge of a "specific" Bolivian army officer passing
information to the CIA. Morales did not name the officer,
but said he "had personally decided to investigate" the case
and that he had not yet discussed the matter with the
military high command. Government press statements recalled
supposed CIA involvement in the government oil company YPFB
and the expulsion of Frank Martinez before quoting Morales as
saying "to sell information to external agents would be a
great betrayal of the homeland."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Rada Implies Embassy Guards Linked to CIA
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3. (C) Government Minister Alfredo Rada on March 15, after
denouncing that a reporter for government daily Cambio was
held by Embassy guards for two hours for taking photos of the
Embassy's facade, raised the spectre of the guards' potential
involvement with the CIA. Rada initially protested simply
that the reporter was inappropriately held for two hours, but
then held a separate press conference to announce his
suspicions that some of the Embassy guards were "working as
true officers of the U.S. Embassy" and supplying intelligence
information. (Note: The reporter was neither detained nor
brought inside the Embassy. He cooperated willingly when
asked for his identification, and left after ten to fifteen
minutes of conversation. End note.) Rada noted that some
five guards, who are members of the Bolivian National Police
force, had worked at the Embassy for "10 or 11 years" and
said "the party was over." He promised these guards would be
rotated to other positions, which would effectively test
their loyalty and that "if they do not report for duty, they
will be taken as deserters." He also stated he had a list of
which police had received payment from the U.S., which he
promised to make public. Rada did not name any guard
specifically, nor did he discuss specific instances of
passing intelligence, but state press agency ABI and state
radio reported Rada's concern that the guards were working
with the CIA.

- - - -
Comment
- - - -


4. (C) Post is concerned Morales and his advisors are laying
the groundwork for potential further expulsions, perhaps as
early as this week. With each accusation of CIA involvement
in Bolivian internal affairs, the Bolivian government does
further damage to our bilateral relationship. The Bolivians
do not seem to understand there is any downside to using us
as a domestic political tool or that such expulsions (or
threats of the same) make improved relations with the White
House more difficult. State media this weekend linked the
latest accusations not only to the expulsion of Frank
Martinez and supposed CIA involvement in YPFB, but with the
February 2008 departure of security officer Vincent Cooper
and the September 2008 expulsion of Ambassador Goldberg.
Post fears the GOB may be setting the stage for further
expulsions of Embassy personnel. The GOB appears to believe
it can take such actions with impunity. End comment.
URS