SANTA CRUZ LEADERS ALARMED BY EROSION OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L LA PAZ 000501 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/30/2019 TAGS: PGOV ECON KDEM PHUM SNAR ASEC BL SUBJECT: SANTA CRUZ LEADERS ALARMED BY EROSION OF DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS REF: LA PAZ 469 Classified By: Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Christopher Lambert for r eason 1.4 (b). ¶1. (C) Summary: During several recent trips by embassy officials to Santa Cruz, leaders and common citizens alike have expressed concern over the growing anti-democratic tendencies of the Morales government. Issues such as the continued imprisonment of Pando Prefect Leopoldo Fernandez, the self-imposed exile, and irregular arrests and imprisonment of political opponents from the Eastern departments, violence against political rivals such as Victor Hugo Cardenas (who is popular in Santa Cruz),land confiscations for political motives, the growth in narcotrafficking and related violent crime, and the draft electoral law are some of the leading concerns. In a March 27-28 outreach trip to Santa Cruz, A/DCM met briefly with the Prefect (Governor),new Civic Committee President, business leaders, leaders in the forestry sector, a media owner, and the Cardenal. While they understand there are limits to what the U.S. can do to reverse anti-democratic trends in Bolivia, they are grateful for continued U.S. engagement. End summary. ¶2. (C) The Acting DCM traveled to Santa Cruz March 27-28 to participate in the forestry fair EXPOFOREST (partly sponsored by USAID),and had side meetings with several local officials. Santa Cruz Prefect (Governor) Ruben Costas had just returned from a civic march in Sucre, where local residents and opposition leaders called for the restoration of the constitutional court and an end to harrassment of the supreme court. Costas and the new civic committee president Luis Nunez told emboffs that Santa Cruz would hold a similar march on Friday, April 3 to protest anti-democratic moves by the government, highlight the recent threats against private property, call for restoration of the judicial branch, and insist on protection of human and civil rights. Costas and Nunez stressed the necessity of opposition unity in this election year, because by 2010 it will be too late if the MAS is able to gain 2/3 control of the new congress. Both expressed alarm over the draft electoral law which, if passed in the form drafted and passed by the MAS-controlled lower house, will give an unfair advantage to the MAS by increasing representation from MAS rural strongholds at the expense of opposition departments and urban areas, virtually guaranteeing a 2/3 victory (reftel). Electoral Law: Only MAS Indigenous Count -------------- ¶3. (C) Secretary for Indigenous Development at the Prefecture Antonio Surubi (a Chiquitano from rural Santa Cruz) told American Presence Post Officer (APPO) March 17 that the Santa Cruz indigenous community is very upset by the draft electoral law and its treatment of the seats reserved for indigenous delegates. As currently drafted, the method for determining who is "indigenous" requires certification by the local indigenous union. In Santa Cruz, that would mean approval by the Confederation of Indigenous Peoples of the Orient (CIDOB). However, the parallel CIDOB recognized by the MAS government would be the one charged with declaring candidates qualified to run for office. The other, which represents the majority of indigenous people in Santa Cruz, would be ignored. This means that indigenous candidates from Santa Cruz who do not support the MAS would never even make it on to the ballot. Cardinal Will Continue Speaking Up for What is Right -------------- -------------- ¶4. (C) The A/DCM paid a courtesy call on Cardinal Julio Terrazas, who is slowly recovering from his January open heart surgery. Terrazas expressed concern that the political situation in Bolivia during 2009 could become heated, perhaps resulting in violence. He said there did not seem to be much will on the part of the Morales government for a reconciliation with the church, but that he would continue speaking out about problems affecting the Bolivian people according to his conscience. (Terrazas drew the wrath of the government for speaking about the dangers of increased narcotrafficking late in 2008.) He lamented that the current government's policies, rather than resulting in the promised "change" that is needed in Bolivia, are instead reducing job opportunities and dividing the country. Terrazas asked that the U.S. consider restoring ATPDEA trade benefits, as their suspension hurt the poorest people, not the government. Emboffs explained that ATPDEA was directly linked to cooperation against narcotrafficking. Emboffs also explained that despite the Morales government's accusations against the Embassy, including the expulsion of the Ambassador and DEA, the Embassy continued to provide assistance throughout the country. The Cardinal was pleased to hear that our aid to the poorest Bolivians continues. ¶5. (C) Owner of national television station Unitel, Ernesto Monasterio, told A/DCM that government pressure on press freedom is increasing, and he predicted it would get worse as the electoral campaign heated up. He stressed the importance, but extreme difficulty, of amending the electoral law before it is passed by Congress, and then uniting the opposition before December elections. Monasterio asserted that if the current version of the MAS-drafted electoral law is passed, "The game is over. The MAS will rule Bolivia for years to come." The prefect's advisor for international relations, Karen Balcazar (a U.S. citizen),told APPO that a high-level meeting with President Morales at the Summit of the Americas "would send the message that the United States has abandoned the Bolivians fighting for democracy." Outreach--Ever More Important -------------- ¶6. (C) Santa Cruz residents express concern that President Morales' rhetoric against the U.S. Embassy will result in the embassy's closure. They appreciate Embassy officials visiting the region and ensuring first-hand that our assistance programs continue. The A/DCM's remarks at the EXPOFOREST closing ceremony highlighted U.S. government contributions to the forestry sector, especially in helping small, rural and indigenous producers and in supporting sustainable use and biodiversity conservation. Bolivia is proud of its wood exports and sound land management policies. However, several speeches criticized the new constitution as a return to an old regime in which there was corruption in granting land use rights in forests. The Prefect's address called for greater autonomy over forest use permits, so that Crucenos could better protect their natural resources. ¶7. (C) The A/DCM spoke to an AmCham gathering about the global economic crisis and the U.S. stimulus plan. He stopped by the hospital that was hosting a surgical mission of the U.S. NGO Operation Smile, and greeted U.S. and international volunteers, patients, and their families. He also visited a civic education project funded by USAID through the NGO FIDEM and implemented by the Santa Cruz binational center (CBA). This may be the first partnership between USAID and a binational center in the hemisphere, and represents an initiative by the CBA to grow a "civic responsibility" arm in addition to its educational and cultural activities. The project is reaching 21,000 (out of 150,000) residents in the marginalized neighborhood "Plan 3000" which is widely-thought to be a MAS stronghold. However, the local residents are enthusiastic about the USAID/CBA initiative, and received the A/DCM with open arms. While they appreciate the USAID civic education project, they wish for more economic development projects that will create employment opportunities in their growing neighborhood on the outskirts of Snata Cruz. ¶8. (C) Comment: Santa Cruz residents are determined as much as possible to halt democratic back-sliding. Their main request to us is to report accurately to Washington and the international community what is really happening in Bolivia. URS