INITIATION OF CONGRESSIONAL LEGAL CHALLENGE TO BOLIVIAN NATIONAL COUNTERNARCOTICS LAW BY MOVEMENT TOWARDS SOCIALISM CONGRESSMAN EVO MORALES

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Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
06701894
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RIPPUB
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U
Document Page Count: 
5
Document Creation Date: 
December 28, 2022
Document Release Date: 
September 27, 2018
Sequence Number: 
Case Number: 
F-2017-02169
Publication Date: 
September 13, 2002
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PDF icon initiation of congression[15503460].pdf175.66 KB
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Approved for Release: 2018/09/20 C06701894 -SEeRET117F- Autonomy Exported Documents SECRET/NF Approved for Release: 2018/09/20 C06701894 Approved for Release: 2018/09/20 C06701894 Page 1 of 4 Reference CLASSIFICATION OWNERPRODUCER DISSEMINATION PRIMARYKEY KOTYPE DATAPROVIDERNAME DOCUMENTNUMBER DTG ENVELOPE FROM PRECEDENCE SCSANSAGENCY SCSOURCE SCTYPE TO 2002-09-13-19.08.03.540000 USA NF 20020913190803540000 Message wiseae � � 132257ZSEP02. - R TTSZYUW. RUEAIIA 1549 2582303.-SSiS--RIIEFIDIA. ZNY SSSSS 4 CIA )R � CIA CIA � � DDO SE ET/NF Approved for Release: 2018/09/20 C06701894 Approved for Release: 2018/09/20 C06701894 Page 2 of 4 SECRET/NF PLACE JOB_TITLE CONTENT CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY WARNING: INFORMATION REPORT, NOT FINALLY EVALUATED INTELLIGENCE REPORT CLASS SECRET --NOFORN DIST: 13 SEPTEMBER 2002 COUNTRY: BOLIVIA SUBJ: INITIATION OF CONGRESSIONAL LEGAL CHALLENGE TO BOLIVIAN NATIONAL COUNTERNARCOTICS LAW BY MOVEMENT TOWARDS sociAusy CONGRESSMAN EVO MORALES DOI: SEPTEMBER 2002 SOURCE (b)(1) (b)(3) SUMMARY: IN MID-SEPTEMBER THE MAS PARTY POSED 12 LEGAL QUEST ONS CHALLENGING THE NATIONAL COUNTERNARCOTICS LAW 1008. THE PRESIDENT HAS UNTIL 17 SEPTEMBER TO ANSWER THE CONGRESSIONALQUERY OR HE RISKS -FACING LEGISLATION AMENDING THE 1008LAW. THIS IS THE FIRST OF SEVERAL LEGAL CHALLENGES THAT THE MAS PARTY PLANS T AGAINST THF NATIONAL COUNTERNARCOTICS LAWS. TEXT: 1. THE PRESIDENT OF THE CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES OF (b)(1) THE BOLIVIAN CONGRESS, GUIDO ((ANEZ)) MOSCOSO, FORWARDED AN (b)(3) OFFICIAL LETTER FROM THE LOWER HOUSE OF CONGRESS TO PRESIDENT GONZALO ((SANCHEZ DE LOZADA)) POSING 12 LEGAL, QUESTIONS RELATED TO NATIONAL COUNTERNARCOTICS LAW 1008. THE MOVEMENT TOWARDS SOCIALISM (MAS) CONGRESSMEN WHO SUBMITTED THE QUESTIONS APPLIED ARTICLE 150 OF THE GENERAL RULES FOR THE CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES TO FORMALIZE THEIR ATTACK ON THE LEGALITY OF ASPECTS OF THE 1008 LAW. THE PRESIDENT HAS UNTIL 17 SEPTEMBER TO ANSWER THE CONGRESSIONAL QUERY AND HIS ANSWERS MUST INCLUDE LEGAL ARGUMENTS SUPPORTING THE 1008 LAW. IF THE PRESIDENT FAILS TO RESPOND TO THE 12 QUESTIONS WITHIN THE ALLOTTED TIME, THE CONGRESSMEN MAY INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO AMEND THE 1008 LAW BASED ON THE TACIT ACCEPTANCE OF THE GOVERNMENT THAT THE ASPECTS CONTAINED WITHIN 1008 LAW ARE INDEFENSIBLE. MINISTER (b)(1) OF GOVERNMENT ALBERTO ((GASSER)), MINISTER OF DEFENSE FREDDY (b)(3) ((TEODOVIC)) AND MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE ARTURO ((LIEBERS)) WERE SCHEDULED TO APPEAR BEFORE CONGRESS AT 1700 HOURS ON THE AFTERNOON OF 17 SEPTEMBER TO ANSWER THE MAS PARTY QUERIES. 2. THE FOLLOWING ARE THE 12 QUESTIONS GENERATED BY MAS PARTY CONGRESSMEN EVO ((MORALES)) AYMA, ANTONIO ((PEREDO)) LEIGUE, FELIX ((SANTOS)) ZAMBRANA, SANTOS ((RAMIREZ)) SECRET/NF Approved for Release: 2018/09/20 C06701894 Approved for Release: 2018/09/20 C06701894 Page 3 of 4 SECRET/NF VELARDE, DIONISIO ((NUNEZ)) TACARA, JORGE ((LEDESMA)) CORNEJO, EDMUNDO ((NOVILLO)) AGUILAR, MANUEL ((MORALES)) DAVILA, AURELIO ((AMBROSIO)) MURUCHI, EMILIO ((SEJAS)) MEDINA AND FELIX ((GARCIA)) SURCO. A. WHY DOES THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENTS POLICY RELATE COCA LEAF TO THE ILLEGAL PRODUCT COCAINE? THE GOVERNMENT IS IGNORING ARTICLES 1, 2 AND 3 OF THE LAW 1008 WHICH DESCRIBE COCA LEAF AS A NATURAL PART OF THE ENVIRONMENT, HAS BENEFICIAL QUALITIES AND IS PART OF THE HERITAGE OF THE BOLIVIAN PEOPLE. B. WHY DOES THE GOVERNMENT CLASSIFY THE COCA PRODUCED IN THE CHAPARE AS ILLEGAL? ARTICLES 8, 9 AND 10 OF THE SAME 1008 LAW ESTABLISHED THAT THE CHAPARE IS A COCA TRANSITION ZONE AND COCA PLANTATIONS THERE ARE NOT ILLEGAL? C. WHY ARE COCA PRODUCERS IN THE CHAPARE CLASSIFIED AND TREATED AS CRIMINALS BY THE GOVERNMENT WHEN ARTICLE 12 OF THE NATIONAL 1008 LAW DESCRIBES THE PRODUCTION OF COCA AS A LEGAL ACTIVITY? D. WHY IS THE GOVERNMENT CONTINUING WITH FORCED COCA ERADICATION IN THE CHAPARE IN OPEN VIOLATION OF ARTICLE 14 OF LAW 1008 WHICH ESTABLISHED THAT THE REDUCTION AND SUBSTITUTION OF COCA MUST BE VOLUNTARY AND AGREED TO BY THE COCA PRODUCERS? E. ACCORDING TO ARTICLE 21 OF LAW 1008, ALTERNATIVE DEVELOPMENT AND COCA CROP SUBSTITUTION ARE INTENDED PRINCIPALLY TO BENEFIT THE PRODUCERS OF COCA IN THE CHAPARE. WHY THEN, DOES THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY OF FORCED ERADICATION ACTUALLY CAUSE VIOLENCE, PERSONAL INJURY AND DAMAGE TO THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF BOLIVIANS LIVING IN THE REGION, WHO DO NOT AGREE WITH THIS POLICY? F. WHY DOES THE GOVERNMENT UNILATERALLY PROCEED WITH VIOLENT AND WRONGFUL ERADICATION OF COCA, WHEN UNDER THE SAME ARTICLE 21, THE LAW ESTABLISHED THAT THE PROCESS OF ALTERNATIVE DEVELOPMENT MUST BE CARRIED OUT IN A MANNER AGREED TO BY THE COCA PRODUCERS? G. WHY DOES THE GOVERNMENT NOT COMPLY WITH ARTICLES 22 AND 25 OF THE 1008 LAW, WHICH REQUIRE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A DATE FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF REAL AND EFFECTIVE PLANS TO BRING ABOUT SUSTAINABLE SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR THE CHAPARE REGION? H. HOW IS THE GOVERNMENT USING THE SIZABLE SUMS OF MONEY THAT IT RECEIVES FOR COCA ISSUES? EXPLAIN WHY THIS MONEY HAS NOT EFFECTIVELY MADE IT TO THE PEASANT PRODUCER, AS IS REQUIRED BY LAW? I. WHY HAS THE GOVERNMENT NOT COMPLIED WITH ARTICLE 30 OF THE LAW GOVERNING COCA AND CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES WITH REGARD TO THE GOVERNMENT'S OBLIGATION TO CARRY OUT DEVELOPMENT ACTIONS IN THE AREAS OF ORIGIN FOR THE MIGRANT POPULATION IN THE CHAPARE? J. WITH WHAT CONSTITUTIONAL AND LEGAL BASE WAS THE JOINT TASK FORCE CREATED AND WHY HAS IT BEEN USED FOR THE UNCONSTITUTIONAL REPRESSION OF CHAPARE COCA PRODUCERS? EXPLAIN THE SYSTEMATIC VIOLATIONS OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF PEASANT FARMERS CARRIED OUT BY GOVERNMENT FORCES. K. WHY ARE MILITARY TROOPS ILLEGALLY BASED IN THE CHAPARE IF ARTICLE 280 OF THE CONSTITUTION ESTABLISHES THAT SECRET/NF Approved for Release: 2018/09/20 C06701894 Approved for Release: 2018/09/20 C06701894 �_. Page 4 of 4 SECRET/NF THE MISSION OF THE ARMED FORCES IS TO DEFEND AND PRESERVE NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE, AND NOT TO BE FOCUSED ON INTERNAL ISSUES OR TO REPRESS, HARASS OR VIOLATE THE RIGHTS OF BOLIVIAN CITIZENS? L. WHAT IS THE LEGAL BASIS FOR THE GOVERNMENT'S HAVING SOUGHT TO ERADICATE COCA IN THE YUNGAS REGION, CONTRARY TO THE 1008 LAW WHICH DESCRIBES THF Yl INCIAc COCA PRODUCTION AS LICIT, LEGAL AND PERMANENT? 3. CONGRESSIONAL ACTION BY THE MAS PARTY AGAINST THE 1008 LAW IS THE FIRST OF SEVERAL LEGAL ATTACKS PLANNED BY THE MAS PARTY ON THE NATIONAL COUNTERNARCOTICS LAWS. THE MAS PARTY INTENDS TO CALL INTO QUESTION THE LEGAL BASIS OF 1008 AND, IF SUCCESSFUL, TO HAVE THE LAWS CHANGED IN ORDER TO LEGALIZE COCA PRODUCTION IN THE CHAPARE. THE MAS PARTY CHALLENGE ALSO CALLS INTO QUESTION THE USE OF THE ARMED FORCES IN ERADICATION AS WELL AS THE GOVERNMENT'S AUTHORITY TO DICTATE WHERE IN BOLIVIA COCA MAY BE GROWN. OMMENT: THE GOVERNMENT MUST BE VERY CAREFUL IN HOW IT ANSWERS THE 12 MAS QUESTIONS BECAUSE IF THE GOVERNMENT CONCEDES THAT ANY PART OF THE 1008 LAW IS FLAWED, THEN THE ENTIRE LAW MAY BE LEGALLY CHALLENGED BY THE CONGRESS.) THE MAS PARTY PLANS TO CHALLENGE THE GOVERNMENT'S POSITION AT THE CONSTITUTIONAL- TRIBUNAL IN SUCRE. IF DEFEATED IN BOTH THE CONGRESS AND THE COURTS, THE MAS PARTY IS PREPARED TO SUPPORT ROAD BLOCKAGES AND SOCIAL AGITATION TO FORCE THE GOVERNMENT -1-9 CEASE FORCED ERADICATION IN THE CHAPARE. 4. POC: COMMENTS, EVALUATIONS, AND REQUIREMENTS WELCOME. SECRET/NF (b)(1) (b)(3) (b)(1) (b)(3) -(b)(1) (b)(3) (b)(3) Approved for Release: 2018/09/20 C06701894