Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09LIMA982
2009-07-09 19:23:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Lima
Cable title:
PROTESTS FIZZLE INTO THIRD AND FINAL DAY
how-toVZCZCXYZ0003 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHPE #0982 1901923 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 091923Z JUL 09 FM AMEMBASSY LIMA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0858 INFO RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 2481 RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 6698 RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 8420 RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 3982 RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 1445 RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ JUL MONTEVIDEO 9779 RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 2657 RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 2499 RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC RUMIAAA/USCINCSO MIAMI FL
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).
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
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