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DE RUEHLP #0599/01 0661929
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P 071929Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY LA PAZ
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8327
INFO RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 5651
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RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 6789
RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 4022
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RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 3991
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RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RUMIAAA/USCINCSO MIAMI FL
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LA PAZ 000599 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/14/2016 
TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL BL
SUBJECT: EXECUTIVE KEEPING TIGHT REINS ON CONSTITUENT 
ASSEMBLY 
 
Classified By: Amb. David N. Greenlee for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
¶1. (C)  Summary: In a March 6 meeting with international 
donors, Vice-President Alvaro Garcia Linera complimented the 
Bolivian Congress for approving the enabling legislation for 
the Constituent Assembly (CA), stating that two things are 
clear: the Morales government has a solid plan for action, 
and it has the capacity, flexibility, and patience to 
negotiate in the best interests of the Bolivian people.  Late 
March 6, President Morales promulgated the CA enabling 
legislation and the law providing for a referendum on 
departmental autonomy, and issued a decree creating several 
new government structures (all to be placed under Garcia 
Linera's authority) which will attempt to encourage debate, 
build consensus, diffuse information and consolidate 
citizens' demands regarding the CA.   While the new 
government institutions purport to be inclusive, they also 
enable the executive (namely Garcia Linera) to keep tight 
reins on the unfolding CA process.  End summary. 
 
¶2. (C)  In a March 6 meeting with international donors, 
Vice-President Alvaro Garcia Linera complimented the Bolivian 
Congress for approving the enabling legislation for the 
Constituent Assembly (CA), stating that two things are clear: 
 the Morales government has a solid plan for action, and it 
has the capacity, flexibility, and patience to negotiate in 
the best interests of the Bolivian people.  The 
Vice-President spoke with great pride about Congress' ability 
to put aside differences and come to a quick consensus.  He 
stated that he's optimistic about the CA because the 
differences among Bolivians on key issues are less then they 
appear in public. 
 
¶3. (C)  Late March 6, President Morales promulgated the CA 
enabling legislation and the law providing for a referendum 
on departmental autonomy, and issued a decree creating 
several new government structures (all to be placed under 
Garcia Linera's authority) which will attempt to encourage 
debate, build consensus, diffuse information and consolidate 
citizens' demands regarding the CA.  The new structures are: 
 
--National Office for the CA and Autonomy.  This office will 
be located in Santa Cruz with sub-offices in each department 
to promote debate, meetings, and studies regarding the CA. 
It will also disseminate information regarding the CA to the 
public and coordinate with social sectors. On March 7, 
President Morales will designate a person from Santa Cruz to 
head this office. 
 
--Pre-CA department councils.  Also housed in each of the 
nine departments, these bodies will serve a more technical 
role in the CA process.  They will hear citizens' demands and 
bring issues to the government's attention. 
 
--National Pre-CA and Pre-autonomy Council.  Will bring the 
ten most important actors from the business, political and 
social sectors to the same table to hash out controversial 
issues and reach consensus.  While this organization will not 
have a formal link to the CA, many of the groups comprising 
the Council will presumably also have formal representation 
in the CA.  Garcia Linera explained that this organization 
will serve the same role for the CA as did his meetings with 
political party leaders leading to passage of the CA bill, in 
which they worked through difficult issues in advance, thus 
facilitating the work of Congress. 
 
¶4. (C) Comment: While the new government institutions purport 
to be inclusive, they also enable the executive to keep tight 
reins on the unfolding CA process, as all will come under 
Garcia Linera's direct authority.  During the March 6 
meeting, Garcia Linera spoke with authority about the CA; he 
may have found his niche in the Morales government as its 
intellectual author and proponent.  The MAS has ceded some 
ground in setting up the CA, but given Garcia Linera's 
conviction regarding its importance and the high expectations 
surrounding it, all signs indicate that the executive branch 
 
LA PAZ 00000599  002 OF 002 
 
 
will now shift its attention to making sure that the CA 
progresses according to the GOB's still unclear plan.  End 
comment. 
GREENLEE