B. 2006 LIMA 3823
C. 2006 LIMA 2927
D. 2005 LIMA 4441
E. 2003 LIMA 1098
Sensitive But Unclassified, Please Handle Accordingly.
Summary
-------
1. (SBU) Post hosted 48 cocalero (i.e., coca-producer)
leaders on 1/18, including seven mayors and Nelson Palomino,
secretary general for a large cocalero federation. The
SIPDIS
cocaleros main assertions were: extreme poverty plagues their
communities and coca is one of their few profitable
agricultural commodities; foreign aid has been poorly managed
in the field; municipalities, not NGOs, should be the
development implementers; and cocaleros are not
narcotraffickers. Palomino and his group took a more
moderate stance than expected with us, GOP officials, and the
press, but given his past radical, pro-coca and anti-U.S.
statements, it is doubtful this will stick. End Summary.
Palomino and friends
--------------------
2. (U) Nelson Palomino, Secretary General of the
Confederation of Agricultural Producers of Coca-Growing
Valleys (CONPACCP), led a delegation of seven pro-coca
mayors, an indigenous (Ashaninka) representative, and over 35
cocaleros (coca producers) in a meeting with Embassy staff on
1/18. (Note: Palomino was released from prison in 2006 after
serving three years of a 10-year sentence for inciting
violence, kidnapping and other crimes during cocalero
protests. Despite prohibitions on political activity he led
a pro-coca political movement that won 17 mayor seats in the
VRAE this past November. End Note) The representatives came
from the Apurimac and Ene River Valley (VRAE) and requested a
meeting with the Embassy during their 2-day trip to Lima to
meet with GOP officials on the VRAE Plan (ref A). This was
the first encounter with Palomino in over five years
(Palomino met once with Embassy staff in 2001-2002 before his
prison sentence.) He reportedly harbors ambitions for
political office, and hopes to harvest the disenfranchised to
achieve this. (Ref B, C)
Moderated message?
------------------
3. (U) The cocaleros emphasized the need to "eradicate
extreme poverty" (not mentioning the need to eradicate coca)
in the region and to increase their income opportunities.
They downplayed their standard coca industrialization and
decriminalization rhetoric, but still drew distinctions
between coca and cocaine and coca farmers and
narcotraffickers. Palomino said he would support a gradual
reduction in coca if other crops were profitable. Following
a USAID presentation of past VRAE Alternative Development
projects, Palomino acknowledged U.S. investment and good
will, but opined the money was mismanaged and wasted on
projects that were "over-valued and poorly constructed."
With seven mayors from his pro-coca party listening, he
asserted that municipalities, not NGO's, should implement
development projects. (Note: In the last 3 years USAID has
invested over $7.8 million USD in the VRAE and continues to
work in 65 VRAE communities. Security risk and coca
replanting are specific challenges in the region. End Note.)
Emboffs emphasized that coca cultivation retards economic
development and that a successful counternarcotics program
requires eradication, interdiction, and alternative
development.
Atmospherics
------------
4. (SBU) The tone of the meeting was friendly and civil.
Palomino's group was mostly rural farmers (campesinos),
informally dressed, with no ties to be seen. They were
disciplined, and Palomino maintained order. During the
meeting he used hand gestures to tell people when to stand
and sit. Though he showed a degree of respect and deference
to the mayors, he was clearly in charge and emphasized that
they were campesinos and cocalero leaders before being
elected. To set himself apart from the other speakers,
Palomino stood up from the table to speak for about 15
minutes, much longer than anyone else. He is a skilled
orator who spoke without notes. After the meeting, the
cocaleros individually expressed their appreciation to
Embassy staff for the meeting.
Comment
-------
5. (SBU) We chose to meet with Palomino, his mayors, and
cocalero leaders to hear first-hand their message, see how
they operate, and reach out to a group that expressed
interest in dialogue but has consistently opposed our
counter-narcotics program. Palomino's message was more
conciliatory than expected, and he expressed a desire to work
with us to foment economic development and reduce poverty.
This is in sharp contrast with his past rhetoric opposing
U.S. and GOP counter-narcotics programs and demonizing the
U.S. Palomino's moderate stance may well be a political
ruse. He has been an advocate of increased coca production
in the VRAE, an area where over 97 percent of the coca goes
to narcotrafficking, and has actively undermined GOP and U.S.
counternarcotics efforts in the region. Despite this, the
meeting was a first step in what could be a longer-term
dialogue with an active and sometimes hostile sector. End
Comment.
POWERS
| EMBASSY GETS TO KNOW COCALERO LEADER AND PRO-COCA MAYORS | |
2007 January 26, 18:12 (Friday) |
07LIMA218_a |
UNCLASSIFIED,FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY |
UNCLASSIFIED,FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY |
|
-- Not Assigned -- |
5294 |
-- Not Assigned -- |
TEXT ONLINE |
-- Not Assigned -- |
TE - Telegram (cable) |
|
-- N/A or Blank -- -- N/A or Blank -- |
-- Not Assigned -- |
-- Not Assigned -- |
|
Content
Raw content
UNCLAS LIMA 000218
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, SNAR, PE
SUBJECT: EMBASSY GETS TO KNOW COCALERO LEADER AND PRO-COCA
MAYORS
REF: A. 2006 LIMA 4766
B. 2006 LIMA 3823
C. 2006 LIMA 2927
D. 2005 LIMA 4441
E. 2003 LIMA 1098
Sensitive But Unclassified, Please Handle Accordingly.
Summary
-------
1. (SBU) Post hosted 48 cocalero (i.e., coca-producer)
leaders on 1/18, including seven mayors and Nelson Palomino,
secretary general for a large cocalero federation. The
SIPDIS
cocaleros main assertions were: extreme poverty plagues their
communities and coca is one of their few profitable
agricultural commodities; foreign aid has been poorly managed
in the field; municipalities, not NGOs, should be the
development implementers; and cocaleros are not
narcotraffickers. Palomino and his group took a more
moderate stance than expected with us, GOP officials, and the
press, but given his past radical, pro-coca and anti-U.S.
statements, it is doubtful this will stick. End Summary.
Palomino and friends
--------------------
2. (U) Nelson Palomino, Secretary General of the
Confederation of Agricultural Producers of Coca-Growing
Valleys (CONPACCP), led a delegation of seven pro-coca
mayors, an indigenous (Ashaninka) representative, and over 35
cocaleros (coca producers) in a meeting with Embassy staff on
1/18. (Note: Palomino was released from prison in 2006 after
serving three years of a 10-year sentence for inciting
violence, kidnapping and other crimes during cocalero
protests. Despite prohibitions on political activity he led
a pro-coca political movement that won 17 mayor seats in the
VRAE this past November. End Note) The representatives came
from the Apurimac and Ene River Valley (VRAE) and requested a
meeting with the Embassy during their 2-day trip to Lima to
meet with GOP officials on the VRAE Plan (ref A). This was
the first encounter with Palomino in over five years
(Palomino met once with Embassy staff in 2001-2002 before his
prison sentence.) He reportedly harbors ambitions for
political office, and hopes to harvest the disenfranchised to
achieve this. (Ref B, C)
Moderated message?
------------------
3. (U) The cocaleros emphasized the need to "eradicate
extreme poverty" (not mentioning the need to eradicate coca)
in the region and to increase their income opportunities.
They downplayed their standard coca industrialization and
decriminalization rhetoric, but still drew distinctions
between coca and cocaine and coca farmers and
narcotraffickers. Palomino said he would support a gradual
reduction in coca if other crops were profitable. Following
a USAID presentation of past VRAE Alternative Development
projects, Palomino acknowledged U.S. investment and good
will, but opined the money was mismanaged and wasted on
projects that were "over-valued and poorly constructed."
With seven mayors from his pro-coca party listening, he
asserted that municipalities, not NGO's, should implement
development projects. (Note: In the last 3 years USAID has
invested over $7.8 million USD in the VRAE and continues to
work in 65 VRAE communities. Security risk and coca
replanting are specific challenges in the region. End Note.)
Emboffs emphasized that coca cultivation retards economic
development and that a successful counternarcotics program
requires eradication, interdiction, and alternative
development.
Atmospherics
------------
4. (SBU) The tone of the meeting was friendly and civil.
Palomino's group was mostly rural farmers (campesinos),
informally dressed, with no ties to be seen. They were
disciplined, and Palomino maintained order. During the
meeting he used hand gestures to tell people when to stand
and sit. Though he showed a degree of respect and deference
to the mayors, he was clearly in charge and emphasized that
they were campesinos and cocalero leaders before being
elected. To set himself apart from the other speakers,
Palomino stood up from the table to speak for about 15
minutes, much longer than anyone else. He is a skilled
orator who spoke without notes. After the meeting, the
cocaleros individually expressed their appreciation to
Embassy staff for the meeting.
Comment
-------
5. (SBU) We chose to meet with Palomino, his mayors, and
cocalero leaders to hear first-hand their message, see how
they operate, and reach out to a group that expressed
interest in dialogue but has consistently opposed our
counter-narcotics program. Palomino's message was more
conciliatory than expected, and he expressed a desire to work
with us to foment economic development and reduce poverty.
This is in sharp contrast with his past rhetoric opposing
U.S. and GOP counter-narcotics programs and demonizing the
U.S. Palomino's moderate stance may well be a political
ruse. He has been an advocate of increased coca production
in the VRAE, an area where over 97 percent of the coca goes
to narcotrafficking, and has actively undermined GOP and U.S.
counternarcotics efforts in the region. Despite this, the
meeting was a first step in what could be a longer-term
dialogue with an active and sometimes hostile sector. End
Comment.
POWERS
Metadata
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P 261812Z JAN 07
FM AMEMBASSY LIMA
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INFO RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 4297
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 7179
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 0102
RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ JAN QUITO 0956
RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 1068
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHMFIUU/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHEHOND/DIRONDCP WASHDC
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