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.
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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.
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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