Cablegate: Miners Threaten Blockade; Political Stand-Off

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DE RUEHLP #2729 2842026
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 112026Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY LA PAZ
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0831
INFO RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 6171
RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 3485
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 7346
RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 4608
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0037
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 1862
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 1903
RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO 1811
RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO 4072
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 0448
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 4498
RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 9073
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0254
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS LA PAZ 002729

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/AND
TREASURY FOR SGOOCH
ENERGY FOR CDAY AND SLADISLAW

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ELAB EMIN PGOV PREL BL
SUBJECT: MINERS THREATEN BLOCKADE; POLITICAL STAND-OFF
CONTINUES

REF: LA PAZ 2723

1. (U) Following last week,s violent conflict in Huanuni and
failed talks with the government (reftel), the Cooperative
Mining Federation threatened to blockade roads throughout the
country or march to La Paz if the government does not agree
to provide compensation for the victims, families and for
the destruction that occurred during the fighting by midnight
October 13. Meanwhile, the GOB is continuing talks with the
state-owned mining workers, who are demanding nationalization
of all Bolivian mines. Around 1,500 members of the
State-owned Mining Federation and the Bolivian Workers,
Union marched through El Alto and downtown La Paz on October
10, resulting in minor clashes in El Alto. The new mining
minister announced that the GOB,s national mining plan will
be released on October 31.
GOLDBERG

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