Cablegate: Would-Be Immigrants Temporarily Take Santa Cruz

VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHLP #0850 0871816
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 281816Z MAR 07
FM AMEMBASSY LA PAZ
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2986
INFO RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 6663
RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 3987
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 7874
RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 5128
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 2352
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 2467
RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID 3395
RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO 4508
RUEHZP/AMEMBASSY PANAMA 0254
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 4997
RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 9578
RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA 0235
RHMFIUU/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RUMIAAA/USCINCSO MIAMI FL
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RULSDMK/DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION WASHINGTON DC
RUEANHA/FAA NATIONAL HQ WASHINGTON DC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS LA PAZ 000850

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR EB/TRA/OTP, EB/TRA/AN, WHA/AND LPETRONI
STATE PASS TO DOT FOR CCOLDREN AND BHEDBERG
STATE PASS TO FAA FOR CCAPESTANY AND KBERQUIST
COMMERCE FOR JANGLIN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAIR ECON PGOV BL
SUBJECT: WOULD-BE IMMIGRANTS TEMPORARILY TAKE SANTA CRUZ
AIRPORT

1. (U) Frustrated by repeated delays, an estimated 300 Lloyd
Aereo Boliviano passengers temporarily "took" Santa Cruz'
Viru Viru International Airport March 27, angrily confronting
Lloyd employees and demanding that the carrier operate
scheduled flights to Madrid. Thousands of Bolivians have
departed for Spain in recent weeks, desperate to travel
before April 1, when Spain and other EU/Schengen countries
will require visas of Bolivian travelers.

2. (U) Press reports indicate that police quickly restored
order, but tensions remain high, with as many as 500
passengers waiting for flights. Lloyd General Manager
Franklin Taendler said the carrier would operate an early
evening flight March 28, but the firm appears to lack the
necessary jet fuel; press reports suggest, in fact, that
Lloyd personnel asked each passenger for $300 cash to help
with the purchase.

3. (SBU) Comment: Bolivians have grown increasingly desperate
to leave as the April 1 deadline has approached. An
estimated 3,000 people departed for Spain the week of March
19, and thousands more have sought tickets. Even the GOB has
aided the exodus, using a Bolivian Air Force-operated
Transporte Aereo Militar (TAM) aircraft to transport 86
passengers to Sao Paolo March 26 to catch connecting flights
to Europe. End comment.
GOLDBERG

© Scoop Media