FOIA RESPONSE : US EMBASSY
CABLE FROM OFFICER SANTOS AMEMBASSY
LA PAZ, BOLIVIA P181523Z September 18, 2002
See text
below
JB's Commentary. This FOIA response from the State Department discusses many relevant issues and illustrates a different Embassy attitude than we have seen in past responses (which, of course, are a small fraction of the cables generated): "Meanwhile, Morales and his cocaleros have also come across well, non-confrontational, and willing to discuss issues further with the GOB," but the writer also adds: "Behind this friendly facade, of course, exists the possibility that, if talks fail, the cocaleros will escalate the confrontation and undertake blockades of the vital Cochabamba-Santa Cruz road." Still, this discourse is far more reasonable than ex-Ambassador Rocha's open hostility.
Cocaleros "have insisted upon a survey of domestic use of coca" and the government side responded by offering "copies of recent studies, including the study by the reputable Gallup-type group CELIN" which was a product of Embassy money and influence, and which, in the estimation of all observers outside the Embassy that this author has spoken with, provides an very inaccurate picture of coca use in Bolivia.
Cocaleros have been long
calling for the expanded marketing of coca products (and they don't mean
cocaine) in order to provide a fuller employment for Bolivians since coca is
the ONLY plant that grows well in a few critical areas, such as the Chapare
and the Yungas. Here is what the FOIA response says about that and another
important issue:
"The
cocaleros have suggested further discussions on the “industrialization” of
coca, essentially finding other markets for coca. Coca toothpaste has been
suggested, though we doubt this has much of a future. This approach has
been tried before with no success. In the end, the only thing coca can
produce effectively, except for coca tea, is cocaine." As John
Gilmore aptly pointed out when he was shown this response, "Did they
forget Coca
Cola?" The
the unique flavor of
coca could be used for other things also. But then there could also be a
market for whole extract coca lozenges, gum and the like for altitude
sickness and as a mild stimulant – both available by prescription or OTC
depending on the country.
There are many possibilities.
Finally, the China Card: A truly interesting issue is the possibility of exporting coca tea to China. "The export of coca tea to other markets, for example to China as explained by GOB officials, is also to be explored." Here one can see that it was also being discussed at the highest levels of the Bolivian government in their talks with the Embassy, and that the Embassy was deeming it worthy of consideration.
Perhaps the worst part of this cable is that it seems to be written with a strange and unreal "neutral" viewpoint. The reality is that what is being reported isn't a spat between two sides in an issue reported by a neutral agent, but the actions of the writer's agent against the cocaleros, as the writer of the cable is not a neutral party, but a very powerful player representing the US.