VZCZCXYZ0038
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHLP #1761/01 1781524
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 271524Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY LA PAZ
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4106
INFO RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 6881
RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 4227
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 8110
RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 5361
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 2595
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 2751
RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO 4688
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 5226
RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 9824
RUMIAAA/USCINCSO MIAMI FL
RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA 0382
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL

UNCLAS LA PAZ 001761 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BL
SUBJECT: COCHABAMBA CONFLICT CASES SHOW LITTLE PROGRESS 
 
REF: A. LA PAZ 103 
 
     ¶B. LA PAZ 96 
     ¶C. LA PAZ 84 
     ¶D. LA PAZ 83 
     ¶E. LA PAZ 75 
     ¶F. LA PAZ 54 
 
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Summary 
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¶1. (SBU)  Poloff visited Cochabamba on June 20 and met with 
the human rights ombudsman's local representative and the 
district attorney (DA) to discuss the status of the 
investigations into the Cochabamba conflict of January 8-11. 
In only one of the three deaths is there a suspect and in 
that case the evidence may be circumstantial.  The primary 
actors behind the Cochabamba conflict -- the prefecture and 
the MAS -- have filed claims against each other.  Each 
accuses the other of fomenting the riots.  Due to a legal 
technicality, the cases have been transferred to the Sucre 
DA.  The Cochabamba DA has called the transfer a blessing, 
given the political nature of the cases.  End Summary. 
 
--------------------------------- 
The Human Rights Ombudsman's View 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) Augusto Siles, the human rights ombudsman's 
representative in Cochabamba, explained that the 
investigation into the murder of Juan Ticacolque, a pro-MAS 
40-year old cocalero, was progressing and the police had a 
prime suspect.  He lamented that the case of Christian 
Urresti, a 16-year old anti-MAS protester, was closed 
(basically on hold) because witnesses are afraid to come 
forward.  Siles explained that his office had taken a 
doctor's testimony regarding the condition of Urresti's body, 
but even the doctor (who was not an eye-witness) feared for 
his safety.  Siles also mentioned that the case of Luciano 
Colque, (another pro-GOB cocalero who was rendered comatose 
and died 45 days following the conflict) has also failed to 
progress. 
 
----------------------------------- 
The District Attorney's Perspective 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶3. (SBU)  The Cochabamba district attorney (DA) Cesar 
Cartagena confirmed many of Mr. Siles' statements.  The DA 
also explained that the cases are no longer under his 
supervision.  Apparently, representatives from the prefecture 
and the cocaleros each filed claims against each other in 
Cochabamba and in Sucre (the judicial capital).  Under 
Bolivian law, two DAs cannot investigate the same case, so in 
May the Sucre DA took over the cases and obtained copies of 
the cases files. 
 
¶4. (SBU)  DA Cartagena mentioned that while his office was 
still managing the cases, he managed to get two of La Paz's 
best homicide detectives to secretly come to Cochabamba to 
investigate the deaths. Yet even with their expertise, they 
were not able to make any progress on the Urresti case.  In 
the Juan Ticacolque case, Cartagena explained that 
authorities had a prime suspect.  According to Cartagena, 
forensics experts determined that Ticacolque was killed with 
a 22 caliber bullet.  The prime suspect is a man who police 
detained near the scene of Ticacolque murder for carrying a 
22 caliber pistol.  (Note: The only link between the suspect 
and Ticacolque appears to be the 22 caliber pistol. 
Cartagena never mentioned whether the pistol showed evidence 
of being fired or of eye witnesses to the shooting.  End 
Note). 
 
¶4. (SBU)  The primary actors behind the Cochabamba conflict 
-- the prefecture and the MAS -- have filed claims against 
each other, accusing each other of fomenting the riots. 
Representatives of the prefecture have filed claims against a 
host of Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) leaders, including 
alternate MAS senator Leonilda Zurita and current minister of 
justice Celima Torrico.  The prefecture claims that both 
participated and perhaps led the riots which resulted in the 
prefecture building's fire.  Cartagena indicated that neither 
woman had cooperated with his office's investigation prior to 
his sending the case to Sucre.  The MAS has filed charges 
against prefect Manfred Reyes Villa.  The case essentially 
argues that Reyes Villa's call for a new autonomy referendum 
incited the pro-GOB cocaleros to protest which eventually led 
to their burning the prefecture building.  The case also 
charges the prefect abandoned his responsibilities (when he 
traveled to Santa Cruz and La Paz) during the conflict. 
 
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Comment 
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¶5. (SBU)  The division and vitriol between supporters of the 
prefecture and the central government ensure that any 
investigation will be extremely difficult.  Due to a lack of 
political will and the resources to conduct a proper 
investigation the families of the three victims may never see 
justice.  Not surprisingly DA Cartagena called the transfer 
of the cases from his district to Sucre a "blessing from 
God."  End Comment. 
GOLDBERG