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DE RUEHLP #1984/01 2601939
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O 161939Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY LA PAZ
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8522
INFO RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 9655
RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES PRIORITY 6872
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA PRIORITY 4255
RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO PRIORITY 1318
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEABND/DEA HQS WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY

S E C R E T LA PAZ 001984 
 
NOFORN 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/16/2018 
TAGS: AMER ASEC AMGT PTER BL
SUBJECT: EMERGENCY ACTION COMMITTEE MEETING-LA PAZ 9/16 0900 
 
REF: LA PAZ 1979 AND PREVIOUS 
 
Classified By: RSO Patrick J. Moore, reasons 1.4c,d 
 
¶1. (C) Summary:  The Emergency Action Committee (EAC) met at 
0900 on 9/16 to discuss the expected 9/16 protest of 
university students, the possible impact of the 
counter-narcotics certification announcement, the ongoing 
authorized departure process, and the ongoing political 
situation.  The Embassy is on minimal staffing, and Charge 
asked the EAC to further consider how staffing could be 
further reduced in the Embassy on 9/16 in the case of an 
emergency.  End Summary. 
 
- - - - - - - - - - - 
Expected 9/16 Protest 
- - - - - - - - - - - 
 
¶2. (C) Sources suggest that between 500 and 1,500 students 
from a university in El Alto may march to the Embassy today. 
The students have the reputation of being more radical and 
potentially violent than other demonstrators.  Police 
response will again be key: the protest of 9/15 did not turn 
violent because of strong police presence supported by 
government orders to use teargas if needed.  RSO sources 
indicate that the police were "relieved" to be given the 
chance to do their jobs without political interference or 
being used as the government's "puppets."  The police's 
effective containment of the protest--with government backing 
and with the police commander declaring to the press that he 
would protect diplomatic missions "at all cost"--is 
significant compared with the events of June 9, when the 
government encouraged the protesters and later fired the 
police commander for his successful protection of the Embassy. 
 
¶3. (C) Embassy is on minimal staffing today, as a precaution 
in case the announcement of the counter-narcotics 
certification decision (originally scheduled for 10:30a.m., 
and later delayed to 4:30p.m. ) prompts a violent reaction 
from the student protesters or other government-aligned 
social groups.  In part because of the need to continue 
processing authorized departures, the "minimal staffing" list 
for 9/16 includes over fifty people.  Considering the small 
size of the Embassy safe haven, EAC members decided that the 
list would be reduced should a demonstration materialize. 
 
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
Counter-Narcotics Certification Announcement 
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
 
¶4. (C) EAC welcomed the Washington decision to delay 
announcement of the counter-narcotics certification 
announcement.  In anticipation that the certification 
announcement may prompt the Bolivian government to take 
action against agencies in country, USAID and NAS directors 
checked their letters of agreement with the government and 
confirmed that the letter allows agencies 90 days in which to 
close down operations if the decision is made to expel an 
agency.  In addition, the NAS agreement states that the 
Bolivian government can only continue to use property given 
to the government for counter-narcotics and humanitarian 
efforts.  It is not clear whether the Bolivian government 
will comply with these agreements. 
 
- - - - - - - - - - 
Political Situation 
- - - - - - - - - - 
 
¶5. (C) The declaration of the governments at UNASUR provides 
President Morales with strong support.  Local media are 
repeating Morales' and Chavez' accusations that the USG is 
supporting conspiracy in Bolivia.  Bolivian state television 
is running a series of spots showing footage of the violence 
in the northern department of Pando underneath the image of 
an American flag.  Government-aligned social groups are 
currently massing in the central plaza and sources inform us 
that they intend to besiege the congress to enable a vote of 
"those present" (only government-aligned and Movement Toward 
Socialism-MAS-representatives) to call for a referendum on 
the MAS constitution.  Opposition contacts told us that they 
sent out an emergency call to all opposition members of 
congress and senators, instructing them to go to their 
offices at 6a.m. 9/16 and be prepared to hunker down. 
 
 
¶6. (C) Tarija Prefect Mario Cossio met with Vice President 
Garcia Linera late in the evening of 9/15.  No results of the 
"pre-negotiation" meeting are yet public.  Ecopol is 
following up with contacts to learn more. 
 
¶7. (S/NF) Despite the government's attempts to keep all 
non-state media out of Pando (where the recent violence has 
left upwards of thirty dead and many wounded and missing), 
private media outlets Unitel, PAT, and La Razon have managed 
to enter, slipping through Brazil and have begun sending out 
images and news.  Reportedly General Pinozo--who is in charge 
of the military operation to re-take the airport at Cobija 
and the rest of the city--has been adamant about keeping 
private media out of the area, forcing reporters onto 
military planes to be sent out of the area.  DAO reports that 
other than the actions in Pando, the military is quiet. 
 
¶8. (C) USAID reports that its employees and contacts are 
hearing rumors of possible attacks on USAID projects.  The 
9/15 protest redirected to the USAID/NAS building after 
police kept the protesters from reaching the Embassy, but so 
far police sources do not report any further targeting of the 
USAID/NAS building. 
 
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
Authorized Departure Going Smoothly 
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
 
¶9. (C) Management informed EAC that there are still 
commercial flights available and there are no road blockades 
that would complicate overland evacuation.  American Airlines 
will reportedly resume flights on a modified schedule as of 
9/21.  As of 9/16, 109 people have requested authorized 
departure (not including people "caught out" while out of the 
country.)  Numbers are increasing steadily as requests are 
processed. The Community Liaison Officers (CLOs) and Embassy 
support staff will be at the Ambassador's residence all day 
9/16 processing authorized departures. The MSD security team 
and SSAT team are expected within days. 
 
- - - - - - - - - - 
Actions Considered 
- - - - - - - - - - 
 
¶10. (U) The EAC reviewed actions to take and notifications 
needed for Mission personnel and U.S. wardens.  The following 
is provided: 
 
a. The cascade system was used to inform mission personnel of 
decision to go to minimal staffing on 9/16. Alternate command 
center (USAID/NAS) will only be used if needed. Section heads 
reviewed their minimal staffing requirements and decreased 
numbers. 
 
b. EAC emphasized coordination and communication; 
announcements regarding the situation at the chancery will be 
made over the intercom system and decisions taken away from 
the chancery will be relayed to EAC members as quickly as 
possible. 
 
c. Another EAC meeting will be held at 5p.m. on 9/16. 
 
d. POCs are RSO Patrick Moore (moorepj@state.gov) and DRSO 
Daniel Hernandez (hernandezd@state.gov), IVG 547-8300. 
URS