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PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHLP #0103/01 0162106
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 162106Z JAN 07
FM AMEMBASSY LA PAZ
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2088
INFO RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 6456
RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 3777
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 7652
RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 4903
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 2149
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 2233
RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO 4344
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 4786
RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 9378
RUMIAAA/USCINCSO MIAMI FL
RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA 0086
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL

UNCLAS LA PAZ 000103 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON BL
SUBJECT: COCHABAMBA: JANUARY 13-14 UPDATE 
 
REF: A. LA PAZ 96 
     ¶B. LA PAZ 84 
     ¶C. LA PAZ 83 
     ¶D. LA PAZ 75 
     ¶E. LA PAZ 54 
 
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Summary 
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¶1. (SBU)  Prefect Manfred Reyes Villa remained in Santa Cruz 
through January 15, stating security conditions did not 
permit his return to Cochabamba.  He dropped his call for a 
new autonomy referendum, but a large contingent of pro-MAS 
groups continued protests in Cochabamba's main square over 
the weekend of January 13-14.  The pro-MAS groups have called 
another "cabildo" (town hall meeting) for the afternoon of 
January 16.  On January 13, President Morales called on the 
Congress to pass a law that would permit the recall of all 
elected officials via referendum.  The same day, Minister of 
the Presidency Juan Ramon Quintana announced that Juan Carlos 
Chavez, the Vice-Minister for Civil Defense, had been fired 
for having diverted government supplies (food and bedding) to 
the cocaleros (pro-MAS protesters).  While tensions appear to 
have dissipated over the weekend, pressure on Prefect Reyes 
continues, (and is again mounting against La Paz Prefect Jose 
Luis Paredes), and is likely far from over.  Post will 
continue to closely monitor the protests.  End Summary. 
 
--------------------------------- 
Prefect Reyes Still in Santa Cruz 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (U)  Prefect Manfred Reyes Villa remained in Santa Cruz 
through January 15, stating security conditions did not 
permit his return to Cochabamba.  The GOB's Vice-Minister for 
Social Movements, Alfredo Rada, has publicly guaranteed 
Reyes' safety if he returns to Cochabamba.  Over the weekend, 
Reyes met with Catholic Cardinal Terrazas and the prefects 
from Santa Cruz, Tarija, Beni, and Pando. 
 
------------------------------- 
Protests Against Reyes Continue 
------------------------------- 
 
¶3. (U)  Following Reyes' meeting with Terrazas, he announced 
that he was dropping his call for a new autonomy referendum. 
Despite this reversal, a large contingent of pro-MAS groups 
continued protesting in Cochabamba's main square over the 
weekend of January 13-14.  (Note: Most Cochabamba businesses 
outside of the square re-opened on January 15.  End Note). 
Many cocaleros and campesinos left Cochabamba on January 12 
but returned to the city on January 15 to continue their 
protests.  The pro-MAS groups have called another "cabildo" 
(town hall meeting) for January 16.  Some pro-MAS groups have 
asked that members of the Cochabamba Departmental Council 
attend the cabildo so that they can vote for a new prefect. 
 
------------------------------------ 
Morales Calls for Recall Legislation 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶4. (U)  President Morales called on the Congress to pass a 
law that would permit the recall of all elected officials via 
referendum.  (Comment: Details regarding this proposal remain 
unclear.  End Comment).  Some pro-MAS groups in Cochabamba 
are now following President's Morales' example and are 
looking for a "democratic" way for Reyes to resign.  Reyes 
offered to be the first to submit to such a recall referendum. 
 
----------------------- 
GOB Vice-Minister Fired 
----------------------- 
 
¶5. (U)  On January 13, Minister of the Presidency Juan Ramon 
Quintana announced that Juan Carlos Chavez, the Vice-Minister 
for Civil Defense, had been fired for having diverted 
government supplies (food and bedding) to the pro-MAS 
cocaleros and campesinos.  This followed the media's 
publishing of photos showing MAS Deputy Leonilda Zurita 
providing the supplies (which carried the GOB civil defense 
logo) to the protesters. 
 
---------------------------------- 
Comment - Tensions Lowered for Now 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶6. (SBU)  While tensions appear to have dissipated over the 
weekend, pressure on Prefect Reyes continues, (and is again 
mounting against La Paz Prefect Jose Luis Paredes), and is 
likely far from over.  Post will continue to closely monitor 
the protests.  End Comment. 
GOLDBERG