PM SEEKS TO NEGOTIATE END TO ONGOING PROTESTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L LIMA 000904 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/25/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR PTER PE SUBJECT: PM SEEKS TO NEGOTIATE END TO ONGOING PROTESTS REF: A. LIMA 888 (AND PREVIOUS) ¶B. LIMA 794 Classified By: CDA James Nealon for reasons 1.4b and d. ¶1. Summary: (C) Amazonian protests against several presidential decrees have ended, but a handful of spinoff -- and unrelated -- protests continues to nag the GOP. Prime Minister Yehude Simon traveled to Andahuaylas June 16 and to Cusco June 17 seeking to strike deals to end these protests. End Summary. ¶2. (C) After resolving prolonged protests by Amazonian groups last week, PM Simon's work as fire fighter in chief has not yet finished. On June 16 Simon successfully resolved the conflict in Andahuaylas Province, Apurimac Region, at least for the moment, by convincing protest leaders to accept a truce until September, when long-planned work on a major highway project demanded by locals is set to begin. Simon also promised to establish working groups to study the demands of the protestors to repeal several presidential decrees, and to review the new water law. ¶3. (C) The Prime Minister traveled today (June 17) to Canchis Province, Cusco, where protestors are demanding the cancellation of the region's mining concessions, a major hydroelectrical project, and various presidential decrees, as well as the repeal of the new water law. Local contacts say protestors have not interrupted a major holiday celebration this week thanks to an agreement negotiated with the Regional President, but roadblocks on the route to Puno continue. Our contacts are concerned the Cusco protest could be thornier because Simon failed to fulfill pledges made to Canchis during protests in November 2008. Meanwhile, a prominent Lima newspaper today cited leaked intelligence linking the Canchis protests to the Bolivian Government and several local radical groups. (Note: See Ref B for more on the GOB's believed links to protests in Canchis. End Note.) ¶4. (SBU) Other protests continue in Junin Region, east of Lima, and in Puno in the south. The roadblocks in Junin relate to a labor dispute with the local metallurgical operations of a foreign-owned mining company. In Puno, local protestors have launched a 72 hour strike, and the GOP has responded by committing to send military personnel to back up local police in their effort to maintain order. ¶5. (C) Comment: Small protests have spread in the aftermath of the violence of the Amazonian protests, as local leaders have sought to take advantage of the government's current perceived weakness to press long-held demands. In an effort to make sure these small protests do not spread like brush-fire, Prime Minister Simon has been reduced to the role of "bombero" (fireman),travelling around the country putting out flames. The test of his success may come on July 7th - 9th, when national unions and protest groups have called for a general strike to press for the annullment of more presidential decrees. NEALON