REDACTED: 4 LINES HAS OBTAINED AND REVIEWED A COPY OF THE VIDEO TAPE IN QUESTION. UNFORTUNATELY, THE VIDEO TAPE DOES VERY LITTLE TO PROVE CONCLUSIVELY WHICH VERSION OF THE EVENTS SURROUNDING THE SHOOTING IS CORRECT. WHILE THE VIDEO TAPE WILL BE OF LITTLE HELP IN PLACING THE BLAME FOR THE DEATH OF THE COCALERO LEADER, THE VIDEO TAPE DOES REVEAL OTHER INTERESTING FACTS.

COMMENTS: REDACTED: 3 LINES

TEXT: 1. (C) REDACTED WORDS ATTENDED A 20011220 MEETING WITH REDACTED 1.5 LINES SAID THE. BOLIVIAN ARMED FORCES MILITARY TRIBUNAL HAD RECENTLY FINALIZED ITS DECISION WITH REGARD TO TWO ARMY MEMBERS INVOLVED IN THE 20011206 SHOOTING DEATH OF A CHAPARE RESIDENT INVOLVED IN A CONFRONTATION WITH BOLIVIAN ARMY FORCES ASSIGNED TO THE COCA GROWING REGION. THE SOLDIER WHOSE WEAPON DISCHARGED, CAUSING THE DEATH OF CASIMIRO ((HUANCA)), WAS FOUND TO HAVE ACTED IN SELF DEFENSE AND WAS ABSOLVED OF ANY WRONGDOING. MEANWHILE, THE TRIBUNAL FOUND THAT THE ARMY LIEUTENANT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SOLDIERS INVOLVED IN THIS INCIDENT, FAILED TO EXERT SUFFICIENT CONTROL OVER OF THE SOLDIERS, AND WAS ORDERED CONFINED TO HIS QUARTERS (HOUSE ARREST) FOR 48 HOURS AS PUNISHMENT. REDACTED NAME INDICATED THAT NO FURTHER DISCIPLINARY ACTION WILL BE TAKEN BY THE ARMY AGAINST EITHER THE INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED.

2. (C) REDACTED NAME SAID THE TRIBUNAL’S REVIEW OF THE INCIDENT HAD RENDERED A FAIR JUDGMENT FOR BOTH OF THE MILITARY PERSONNEL INVOLVED. REDACTED NAME SAID THAT THE GOALS OUTLINED IN ‘PLAN DIGNIDAD" (GOB PLAN TO ERADICATE EXCESS COCA IN BOLIVIA) MUST BE MET AND THAT ILLEGAL COCA GROWERS IN THE CHAPARE MUST BE DEALT WITH FIRMLY. REDACTED NAME SAID THE EVIDENCE IN THIS CASE PROVED THAT THE SOLDIER WHOSE RIFLE "ACCIDENTALLY" DISCHARGED WAS ACTING IN SELF DEFENSE AGAINST A "CLEARLY BELLIGERENT COCALERO." REDACTED NAME SAID THAT THE SOLDIER WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED BY THE COCALEROS IF THE WEAPON HAD NOT DISCHARGED.

3. (C) REDACTED NAME SAID REDACTED NAME HAD SEEN THE VIDEO OF WHAT OCCURRED AND WAS BOTHERED BY THE LACK OF "SUFFICIENT" DISCIPLINE AND CONTROL DEMONSTRATED BY THE LIEUTENANT IN CHARGE OF THE ARMY SOLDIERS. REDACTED NAME SAID THAT GIVEN THE EVIDENCE REDACTED NAME REVIEWED, TO INCLUDE THE VIDEO, THE TRIBUNAL’S DECISION OF 48 HOURS OF CONFINEMENT TO QUARTERS IS SUFFICIENT PUNISHMENT FOR THE OFFICER IN CHARGE.

COMMENTS: REDACTED 3 LINES

2. (C) REDACTED WORD(S) THE FINDINGS PROVIDED BY THE MILITARY TRIBUNAL AGAINST THESE TWO INDIVIDUALS FAILED TO RESOLVE THE RADICALLY DIFFERENT VERSIONS Of WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR HUANCA’S DEATH, THE FINDING DISMISSES COCALERO ALLEGATIONS THAT HUANCA WAS SHOT INTENTIONALLY BY ARMY PERSONNEL. AS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED REDACTED WORD(S) THE VIDEOTAPE PROVIDED NO CORROBORATING EVIDENCE FOR THE MILITARY’S VERSION OF WHAT HAPPENED. VARIOUS SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIALS ALLEGE THE EXISTENCE OF A COCALERO ROAD BLOCK; DRUNKEN, AGGRESSIVE, ROCK_THROWING CIVILIANS; AND A SCUFFLE THAT RESULTED IN THE "ACCIDENTAL" SHOOTING. GIVEN THE ASTONISHINGLY POOR MILITARY DISCIPLINE DEMONSTRATED BY ARMY PERSONNEL ON THE VIDEOTAPE, THE TRIBUNAL’S FINDINGS APPEAR TO SIMPLY RUBBERSTAMP AND THEREBY VINDICATE THE MILITARY’S OWN VERSION OF WHAT OCCURRED. THE BOLIVIAN MILITARY’S DECISION TO TAKE NO ACTION AGAINST THE SOLDIER WHOSE WEAPON DISCHARGED AND SIMPLY RESTRICT THE OFFICER IN CHARGE TO HIS QUARTERS IS LIKELY TO GENERATE A FURTHER OUTCRY AGAINST THE GOB’S POLICIES IN THE CHAPARE.

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SUBJ: IIR REDACTED WORD(S) BOLIVIA ARMY INVESTIAGTION INTO THE 200112C6 SHOOTING_RELATED DEATH OF A COCA GROWER IN THE CHAPARE GROWING REGION (U)

REQS: (U) REDACTED 2 LINES

SOURCE: (U) REDACTED WORD(S)

2. (C) THE FINDINGS OF THE INVESTIGATION WERE DATED 20011213 AND WERE CONFIRMED BY THE LEGAL ADVISOR OF THE ARMY’S COMMANDING GENERAL ON 20011218. THE ONLY PUNITIVE ACTION RESULTING FROM THIS INCIDENT WAS LT RAMOS BEING ORDERED TO SERVE 72 HOURS OF CONFINEMENT TO BASE, FOR FAILING TO CONTROL TROOPS UNDER HIS COMMAND. BORA, WHOSE WEAPON CAUSED THE GUNSHOT INJURY WHICH LEAD TO HUANCA’S DEATH, WAS FOUND TO HAVE ACTED IN SELF DEFENSE; HE WAS NOT PUNISHED. REDACTED WORD(S) WAS LATER TOLD BY A REDACTED WORD(S) THAT RAMOS’ CONFINEMENT WAS REDUCED TO 48 HOURS.

COMMENTS: 1. (U) REDACTED 5 LINES DESPITE COMMENTS FROM SENIOR BOLIVIAN MILITARY COMMANDERS AND HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS TO THE CONTRARY, THE VIDEO OF THIS INCIDENT CONTAINS NO CONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE AS TO EXACTLY WHAT OCCURRED IN THE SHOOTING INCIDENT. THE VIDEO SHOWS A SOLDIER WALKING DAZED, WITH A POSSIBLE HEAD WOUND, RETURNING FROM THE AREA WHERE THE SHOTS WERE HEARD. THE VIDEO SHOWS THE TWO WOUNDED COCALEROS AND THE TRIP TO THE HOSPITAL, IN THE BACK Of A NON-MILITARY TRUCK, WHERE HUANCA IS SITTING UPRIGHT WITH NO PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE WOUND. HUANCA LATER DIED AT THE CHIMORE CLINIC.

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SUB: IIR REDACTED WORD(S) BOLIVIAN ARMY INVESTIGATION INTO THE 20011206 SHOOTING_RELATED DEATH OF A COCA GROWER IN THE CHAPARE GROWING REGION (U)

DOCNO: REDACTED WORD(S)

DOCTYPE: REDACTED WORD(S)

FM DIA REDACTED WORD(S)

SUMMARY: (U) BOLIVIAN MILITARY REACTS TO THE SHOOTING DEATH OF MILITANT COCALERO LEADER, CASIMIRO ((HUANCA)), IN THE CHAPARE ON 20011206. REDACTED WORD(S) ON 20011206, BOLIVIAN MILITARY PERSONNEL ASSIGNED TO THE CHAPARE WERE INVOILVED IN A CONFRONTATION WITH COCALEROS THAT LEFT ONE (1) COCALERO DEAD AND ANOTHER WOUNDED.) REDACTED NAME EXPRESSED FRUSTRATION WITH THE CHAPARE SITUATION AND INDICATED THAT REDACTED NAME WISHED THE REGION FULLY MILITARIZED AND PLACED UNDER MARTIAL LAW.

REDACTED NAME BELIEVES THE ONLY WAY TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION IN THE CHAPARE IS TO ASSIGN THE ERADICATION MISSION AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR LAW AND ORDER EXCLUSIVELY TO THE BOLIVIAN ARMED FORCES.

REDACTED NAME INDICATED THAT THE BOLIVIAN NATIONAL POLICE ARE INCAPABLE OF COMPLETING ANY MISSION WITHOUT THE ASSISTANCE OF THE BOLIVIAN ARMED FORCES. REDACTED NAME ALSO INDICATED THAT WHENEVER THE POLICE ARE USED THEY GENERALLY CREATE MORE PROBLEMS THAN THEY SOLVE. REDACTED NAME(S) COMMENTS REFLECT STATEMENTS OFTEN EXPRESSED BY MEMBERS OF THE BOLIVIAN MILITARY, INDICATING THAT THE HISTORIC DISTRUST AND ANIMOSITY TOWARDS THE NATIONAL POLICE EXTENDS TO THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF THE BOLIVIAN MILITARY.)

2. (C) IN A 20011211 MEETING WITH REDACTED WORD(S) WAS PRESENTED

WITH THE BOLIVIAN MILITARY S VERSION OF THE EVENTS OF 20011206. REDACTED NAME(S) VERSION OF THE. CHAPARE INCIDENT IS BASED UPON A BRIEFING GIVEN TO THE BOLIVIAN SENIOR MILITARY LEADERSHIP SHORTLY AFTER THE SHOOTING OCCURRED. THE MILITARY’S VERSION DESCRIBED BELOW DIFFERS IN SEVERAL SIGNIFICANT AREAS FROM RECENT BOLIVIAN PRESS REPORTS OF THE INCIDENT.) ACCORDING TO REDACTED NAME A MILITARY PATROL HAPPENED UPON A COCALERO ROADBLOCK CONSTRUCTED OF CARTONS OF PRODUCE. THE MILITARY PATROL ORDERED THE COCALEROS TO CLEAR THE ROADBLOCK AND LOAD THE PRODUCE ON THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE COCALEROS BEGAN TO COMPLY WITH THE ORDER ANOTHER INTOXICATED AND AGGRESSIVE COCALERO GROUP SURROUNDED THE PATROL AND STOPPED THE FIRST GROUP FROM COMPLYING WITH THE PATROL S ORDERS. AFTER SEVERAL VERBAL EXCHANGES THE SECOND GROUP BEGAN MORE AGGRESSIVE ACTIONS TO INCLUDE THROWING ROCKS AT THE MILITARY PATROL. ONE OF THESE ROCKS HIT A SOLDIER ON THE SIDE OF HIS FACE CAUSING A VASCULAR TRAUMA. AS THE WOUNDED SOLDIER FELL, HE REDACTED WORD(S) POINTED OUT THE INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS INJURY TO A NEAR BY COMPANION. THE UNINJURED SOLDIER DECIDED AT THIS POINT TO APPREHEND THE PERPETRATOR, BUT AS HE APPROACHED THE COCALERO, THE COCALERO TURNED AND RAN FROM THE SCENE. THE UNINJURED SOLDIER DECIDED TO GIVE CHASE. THE SOLDIER CHASING THE COCALERO WAS ARMED WITH A RIFLE, BUT HE HAD SLUNG IT BEHIND HIS BACK TO LEAVE HIS ARMS FREE. THE PERPETRATOR RAN INTO A NEARBY DWELLING AND WHEN THE SOLDIER ENTERED HE WAS CONFRONTED BY TWO (2) ADDITIONAL INTOXICATED COCALEROS. A STRUGGLE BEGAN DURING WHICH THE COCALEROS TRIED TO WREST THE RIFLE AWAY FROM THE SOLDIER. THE WEAPON EVENTUALLY ENDED UP BETWEEN THE SOLDIER AND THE COCALEROS BEFORE IT DISCHARGED AND INJURED ONE (1) COCALERO IN THE ANKLE AND ANOTHER IN THE GROIN. THE GROIN INJURY APPARENTLY SEVERED AN ARTERY AND PROVED FATAL. REDACTED NAME INDICATED THAT AN AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHER HAPPENED TO BE NEARBY AND MANAGED TO RECORD MUCH OF THE CONFRONTATION ON VIDEOTAPE. ACCORDING TO REDACTED NAME THE VIDEOTAPE WILL PROVE THE MILITARY VERSION OF THE INCIDENT AND SHOW CONCLUSIVELY THAT THE SHOOTING WAS NOT A DELIBERATE ACT BY THE SOLDIER.

COMMENTS: REDACTED LINES

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