PROTESTS FIZZLE INTO THIRD AND FINAL DAY

C O N F I D E N T I A L LIMA 000982 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/09/2019 TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL SOCI PHUM ELAB PE SUBJECT: PROTESTS FIZZLE INTO THIRD AND FINAL DAY REF: LIMA 971 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: CDA James Nealon for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: The second of three days of general, nationwide protests continued with underwhelming impact and participation. In Lima, gatherings were small and marked by internal discord. In some provinces, protesters blocked roads and paralyzed public transportation and schools, but gatherings were mostly small and peaceful. Given organizers' early hopes, this round of protests surely constitutes a fizzle. End summary. ¶2. (C) The second of three days of general, nationwide protests continued with underwhelming impact and participation. The major public transit union announced it had called off the third day of protests, allegedly because the army had impeded protesters' marches. It appeared, however, the strike had simply failed to gather sufficient participation. Other sectors outside of Lima have retained some momentum and will continue the third day of strikes as previously scheduled. ¶3. (C) In Lima, gatherings were small and marked by internal discord. Peruvian National Police contacts told us the largest gathering had around 2,000 demonstrators in downtown Lima, where protesters burned a coffin adorned with the images of President Garcia's outgoing cabinet. According to press reports, indigenous leader Miguel Palacin publicly voiced his disapproval of Ollanta Humala's presence at the protest, since, according to Palacin, the protests were not meant to be political. Classes were canceled at some schools, and on the outer rims of the city there were minor clashes between protesters and police. Very few bus and taxi drivers participated in the strike. ¶4. (C) In parts of Puno, Huancavelica, Ayacucho, and Cuzco, protesters managed to block roads and shut down schools, markets, and public transportation. Elsewhere, gatherings were mostly small and peaceful, and in more than half the country, there was no participation in the strike whatsoever. A contact in Cuzco informed us everything was back to normal in the city of Cuzco, but that roads leading to Puno were blocked by miners. Roads within Puno reportedly remained blocked as well. ¶5. (C) Comment: Given the early hopes of protestors to take advantage of the government's weakness and disarray in the aftermath of the June 5 Bagua violence and subsequent scattered protests throughout the country (refs),this higly publicized nation-wide 3-day event surely constitutes a fizzle. NEALON