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Viewing cable 08LAPAZ1258, BOLIVIA: DETAINEE FORCED TO CONFESS AGAINST US?

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
08LAPAZ1258 2008-06-04 21:07 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy La Paz
VZCZCXYZ0009
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHLP #1258/01 1562107
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 042107Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY LA PAZ
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7635
INFO RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 8009
RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 5344
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 9287
RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 6511
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 3639
RUEHGE/AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN 0737
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 3903
RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO 5513
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 6263
RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 0963
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUMIAAA/USCINCSO MIAMI FL
RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA 1172
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
UNCLAS LA PAZ 001258 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL BL ASEC
SUBJECT: BOLIVIA: DETAINEE FORCED TO CONFESS AGAINST US? 
 
REF: LA PAZ 1243 
 
- - - - 
Summary 
- - - - 
 
1.  (SBU)  Citing insufficient evidence, a judge ordered 
released anti-government activist Roberto Lenin Sandoval 
Lopez, who was illegally abducted and incarcerated by a 
police intelligence unit on June 2.  The prosecutor in 
Sandoval's case had already decided not to press charges due 
to the government's illegal arrest.  Sandoval claims, that 
while in police custody, officers threatened his life and 
forced him to file a false confession.  Sandoval asserts the 
police pressured him to state that the U.S. Embassy was 
financing a Sucre opposition leader.  Sandoval's alleged 
confession comes at time when the Bolivian government on a 
nearly daily basis accuses the USG of conspiring against it, 
and is continually looking for any reason (real or not) to 
close down or curtail the activities of  USAID.  Various 
social groups are using Sandoval's release as a pretext to 
march on the Embassy on June 9.  The prosecutor and judge 
showed great courage in standing up to President Evo Morales' 
government, which clearly wanted Sandoval behind bars.  Evo 
will likely make both into his latest set of targets in his 
usual rhetorical attacks on the judiciary as corrupt and 
against his government.  Beyond the rhetoric, the prosecutor 
and judge could face threats from Evo's ardent supporters in 
El Alto.  End Summary. 
 
- - - - - - 
Catch . . . 
- - - - - - 
 
2.  (SBU)  Six police officers abducted Sandoval from outside 
his home in Sucre the morning of June 2 and transported him 
to El Alto. The police never presented the legally required 
arrest warrant.  Minister of Government Alfredo Rada at 8:30 
PM on June 2 explained that Sandoval had been detained for 
fomenting terrorism and sedition, attempted murder, and 
several other charges.  Rada claimed that Sandoval was an 
instigator of several violent anti-government events in Sucre 
(reftel). 
 
- - - - - - - - - 
. . . And Release 
- - - - - - - - - 
 
3.  (SBU)  By 6:30 AM June 3, according to press sources, the 
Ministry of Government presented its claims to El Alto 
prosecutor Harry Suaznabar.  Sandoval was among 12 people 
charged with 25 separate crimes including terrorism and 
sedition.  Suaznabar chose not to press charges due to 
problems associated with Sandoval's detention.  Around 3:00 
PM, judge Daniel Espinal reviewed the case and decided to 
release Sandoval because he found no "elements" or evidence 
that "sustained" the charges against him. 
 
- - - - - - - - - - - 
A Forced Confession? 
- - - - - - - - - - - 
 
4.  (SBU)  Sandoval spent approximately 30 hours in police 
custody (in transit to El Alto and within the El Alto police 
facility).  According to a press interview conducted shortly 
after his release, Sandoval claims he was threatened and 
pressured into a forced confession.  Sandoval asserts he was 
forced at gunpoint to state that U.S. Embassy finances Jaime 
Barron, leader of the opposition Chuquisaca 
Inter-Institutional Committee.  Sandoval also alleges his 
police captors forced him to declare that San Xavier 
University, where Barron is rector, is financing the Sabina 
Cuellar's prefect campaign.  (Note: Cuellar is the opposition 
Chuquisaca Inter-Institutional Committee's candidate for the 
June 29 prefect election.  Polling suggests Cuellar will 
easily defeat the pro-government MAS candidate Walter Valda. 
End Note). 
 
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
The Government and Its Supporters React 
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
 
5.  (SBU)  Despite a significant public outcry against 
Sandoval's illegal detention,  including a very pointed 
criticism from Bolivia's human rights ombudsman, the Vice 
Minister of Interior Ruben Gamarra expressed the government's 
"indignation" over Sandoval's release.  Minister of 
Government Rada stated that Sandoval, "constitutes a danger 
to state security."  Rada added that the government's cases 
against the 12 suspects will continue, and that Sandoval's 
capture "permitted the investigation to advance." 
 
6.  (SBU)  Members of various El Alto social groups who 
support President Evo Morales ) including the Regional 
Workers Union (COR) and the Neighborhood Association (FEJUVE) 
- circled the prison where Sandoval was held and demanded he 
be transferred to Conchoncorro prison (a maximum security 
facility).  Police had to disguise Sandoval as one of their 
own to transport him to the court where he was eventually 
freed.  Upon hearing of Sandoval's release, FEJUVE's Ismael 
Herrera announced that El Alto would carry-out a general 
strike on June 9, and that El Alto residents would march on 
the U.S. Embassy.  (Comment: Herrera's declaration to march 
on the Embassy was not news. We have been hearing through 
both public and private sources that the Embassy may be the 
target of demonstrations on January 9.  End Comment). 
 
- - - - 
Comment 
- - - - 
 
7.  (SBU)  It is encouraging that both prosecutor Suaznabar 
and judge Espinal had the strength to follow the law and more 
importantly stand up to Evo Morales' government in the 
Sandoval case.  Both Suaznabar and Espinal took significant 
risks as they work in El Alto, a stronghold of Evo's base 
where radicals often threaten people who do not tow Evo's (or 
their) line.  Furthermore, Evo frequently criticizes the 
judiciary as corrupt and against his government, he can be 
expected to make this argument against Suaznabar and Espinal. 
 End Comment. 
GOLDBERG