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UNCLAS LA PAZ 001621 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON PGOV PINR PREL BL
SUBJECT: BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION OF BOLIVIAN MINISTERS 
 
¶1. The June 10, 2007 edition of La Razn ran a background 
article on each of President Evo Morales' cabinet members and 
their socialist formation. Newly appointed Minister of 
Education Magdalena Caijas de la Vega was not included. What 
follows is a summary of that article. 
 
¶2. JERJES MERCADO, Minister of Public Works: Born in Monte 
Hojas, approximately 50 kilometers outside of Santa Cruz, his 
father left the home before his first birthday. His mother's 
death when he was just 11 left him relatively alone. Doing a 
number of odd-jobs and working as newspaper salesman, he 
managed to support himself while attending school. While 
studying journalism at the Evangelical University in Santa 
Cruz, he obtained a scholarship to study in the Soviet Union. 
 
CELIMA TORRICO, Minister of Justice: Born in Chilijichi, in 
the Carrasco province of Cochabamba, she recalls assuming 
community responsibilities at a young age. Her political 
career began with her first union involvement against 
dictator Luis Garia Mesa. In 2000 she earned a BA in Popular 
Participation and took a position as Departmental Counselor 
of Cochabamba. 
 
WALKER SAN MIGUEL, Minister of Defense: Having grown up in La 
Paz, he recalls the fear incited by the various military 
coups. His childhood was punctuated by political events. When 
his parents were exiled, he was forced to give up his 
studies. In 1981, he returned to school and earned a law 
degree. Upon graduation he took a job at Bolivia's Central 
Bank, where he served a few years before attending the 
Diplomatic Academy. 
 
NILA HEREDIA, Minister of Health: Born in Uyuni, her family 
immigrated to La Paz when her father was fired from his 
railway job because of union ties. In La Paz, as she studied 
medical engineering at a public university, she became 
influenced by Che Guevara and joined the militant National 
Liberation Army (ELN). 
 
DAVID CHOQUEHUANCA, Minister of Foreign Relations and 
Cultures: Born in 1961 in the Altiplano community of Cota 
Cota Baja, he is familiar with Quechua and Aymara traditions, 
as well as the Baptist practices he inherited from his 
parents. In college he formed the Federation of Students. 
Under the influence of his philosophy professor, he began his 
political career. He went on to study political-economy in 
Cuba, but maintains he is neither a Marxist or Socialist. 
 
LUIS A. ECHAZU, Minister of Mining: Born in Sucre, his family 
moved to La Paz in the mid-1960s. He earned a degree in 
Metallic Engineering from a university in La Paz where he 
demonstrated leadership traits and became involved in 
politics. He was exiled in 1974 and again in 1978. He 
returned to Bolivia dedicated to intellectual and academic 
activities, especially those involving the iron and steel 
industry. 
 
GABRIEL LOZA, Minister of Planning and Development: Loza left 
Bolivia to study commercial engineering in Chile, but had to 
return because of the 1973 military coup. While in Chile he 
was exposed to youth socialist militants, which gave him 
leftist political orientations. He continued his studies in 
Venezuela, earning a masters in Business Administration. 
 
SUSANA RIVERO, Minister of Rural Development and Agriculture: 
Born in Trinidad on December 8, 1971, she attended catholic 
school. While attending law school she had to work to support 
her family.  Nevertheless, she managed to graduate with 
honors. After school she worked at various organizations 
promoting human rights. Today she considers herself a 
"soldier of the revolution." 
 
ALFREDO RADA VELEZ, Minister of Government: Born in La Paz 41 
years ago, his political career began when his Jesuit school 
became the victim of Luis Espinal's dictatorship. He fled to 
Chile, where he studied sociology and economics. In the 
1980's he became a leftist militant. This process exposed him 
to rural and urban union movements. He served as president of 
the Institute for the Sovereignty of the People, an 
organization that had close ties to the MAS and which later 
brought him into the current government. 
URS