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RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 9412
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RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
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RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC

C O N F I D E N T I A L LA PAZ 001453 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/30/2018 
TAGS: PGOV PREL BL ASEC PTER
SUBJECT: BOLIVIAN SECURITY ASSURANCES STILL FAR FROM IDEAL 
 
REF: A. LA PAZ 1391 
     ¶B. LA PAZ 1406 
     ¶C. LA PAZ 1426 
     ¶D. LA PAZ 1435 
 
Classified By: EcoPol Chief Mike Hammer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
¶1. (C) SUMMARY. In a response to our diplomatic note 
presented June 19, the Bolivian Ministry of Foreign Affairs 
(MFA) provided us a note (text para 8) that continued to 
defend its actions regarding the June 9 attack on the 
Embassy. Although the MFA said it will comply with its Vienna 
Convention obligations, the response made no reference to our 
request that the government take appropriate action against 
protest-instigator Roberto de la Cruz. Recent statements made 
by Vice-President Garcia Linera requesting that a "hard hand" 
be used on opposition groups that similarly protested in 
front of the Venezuelan consulate in Santa Cruz suggest that 
a security double-standard is in effect. We will be providing 
another dipnote to the MFA regarding security threats to 
USAID personnel and property in the Chapare region of 
Cochabamba. END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. (C) The MFA delivered their response to U.S. Diplomatic 
Note 195 on June 30. The MFA remained on the defensive, 
citing article 22 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic 
Relations of 1961, and stating that the Bolivian Government 
did what was necessary June 9 to "protect the American 
Embassy's facilities from all intrusion or damage." 
 
¶3. (C) The response note also addressed the concerns over the 
removal of the Police Commander of La Paz on June 10. The MFA 
states that the removal "should not be construed as 
contradictory to the governmental responsibility." According 
to the note, the decision was had already been made under a 
"programming policy" and "included the removal of other 
police authorities in several departments." (NOTE: This 
response ignores Minister of Government Rada's June 9 
declarations that the police commander used "repressive 
force" and acted inappropriately against the demonstrators. 
END NOTE) They assure that the security of the Mission and 
its employees "will be guaranteed with similar or higher 
effectiveness." 
 
¶4. (C) The Government also took the opportunity to point out 
that the protest was motivated by El Alto leaders and 
citizens who have felt "negatively affected" by the USG 
decision to grant asylum to Former Defense Minister Carlos 
Sanchez Berzain, currently indicted for a slew of charges 
including genocide. (NOTE: The MFA does not mention protest 
leader Roberto de la Cruz nor any plans to act on de la Cruz' 
current threats to the Embassy. De la Cruz continues to 
threaten to burn down the Embassy and burned a scale model of 
the Chancery at a rally in El Alto. END NOTE.) 
 
¶5. (C) The response note comes two days after Vice-President 
Garcia Linera criticized Santa Cruz Youth opposition group 
Union Juvenil Crucenista (UJC) for protesting at the 
Venezuelan Consulate in Santa Cruz. Garcia Linera requested a 
"mano dura" (hard hand) be used on the participants, despite 
no one being reported injured. 
 
¶6. (C) In a separate incident over the weekend, the 
Government moved quickly to arrest 3 youths that were alleged 
to be carrying dynamite sticks in Sucre during the prefecture 
elections. These students represent the opposition, hence the 
swift Government reaction. We plan to cite these arrests as 
we continue to ask that the Government take similar actions 
against those who carry dynamite in protests aimed at us. 
 
¶7. (C) We are preparing yet another dipnote regarding recent 
threats and actions from cocaleros against USAID facilities 
and personnel. The dipnote will clearly outline legal 
obligations under both the Vienna Convention and the 
bilateral assistance arrangement between the U.S. and 
Bolivia. The note will also ask for an explanation for 
President Evo Morales' statements congratulating the 
cocaleros' decision to remove USAID from the Chapare region. 
 
¶8. (C) TRANSLATED TEXT OF THE DIPLOMATIC NOTE: 
 
      The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship, Vice 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship, present its 
compliments to the Honorable Embassy of the United States of 
America and acknowledges receipt of its note No. 195 dated 
June 19, in which the Embassy expresses its concern about the 
security status of the Diplomatic Mission in the wake of the 
June 9 demonstration, which occurred in its surroundings. 
 
      In this regard, the Foreign Ministry of the Republic 
wishes to express to the Honorable Mission that Bolivia is 
respectful of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 
of 1961, and for this reason it ratifies the compliance of 
Article 22 of the Convention, on the adoption of all 
appropriate measures necessary to protect the American 
Embassy's facilities from all intrusion or damage. 
 
      In compliance with such commitment, on June 9, the 
Government of Bolivia complied with its duty to protect the 
American Embassy with effectiveness; to that purpose the 
necessary security measures were taken through the Bolivian 
Police. Within the responsibility of the Bolivian state, it 
is expressed that in the future, if necessary, the security 
of the facilities of the Honorable Diplomatic Mission, as 
well as of the employees that work in it, will be guaranteed 
with similar or higher effectiveness. 
 
      The Foreign Ministry also wants to express to the 
Honorable Diplomatic Mission that the removal of the Police 
Departmental Commander of the Department of La Paz should not 
be construed as contradictory to the governmental 
responsibility mentioned in the preceding paragraphs; such 
decision was made with a previously established programming 
policy for the Bolivian National Police, which also included 
the removal of other police authorities in several 
departments. 
 
      While reiterating the responsibility of the Government 
of Bolivia to provide security and protection to the 
Honorable Diplomatic Mission and to its employees, the 
Foreign ministry, however wishes to appeal to the 
understanding of the Honorable Mission on the grounds that 
such protest was motivated by leaders, residents, and civic 
institutions of the city of El Alto, who feel negatively 
affected by the U.S. Government's decision to grant political 
asylum to Mr. Carlos Sanchez Berzain who is being indicted in 
Bolivia for the crimes of genocide, homicide, serious 
injuries, most serious injuries, and crimes against freedom 
of the press, which were perpetrated mainly against the civil 
residents of that city. 
 
      The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship, Vice 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship, avails itself this 
opportunity to reiterate the Honorable Embassy of the united 
States of America the assurances of its distinguished 
consideration. END TEXT. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
URS