The former US ambassador to Bolivia, Manuel Rochawas arrested in Florida this weekend on accusations of acting as an undercover agent for Cuba.
Manuel Rocha He was born in Colombia and grew up in a working class family in New York. He earned liberal arts degrees from prestigious American universities such as Yale, Harvard and Georgetown.
He began in the foreign service as a diplomat in 1981. During his 25-year career, which spanned both Democratic and Republican administrations, Rocha left his mark in different Latin American countries, especially during the years of the Cold War.
His history in the diplomatic service included assignments in countries such as Italy, Honduras, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and as official in the US Interests Section in Cuba when there were no formal diplomatic relations between his country and the communist government of Fidel Castro.
He also served as director for Inter-American Affairs before the National Security Council and was part of the International Council on Terrorism headed by Henry Kissinger, between 1994 and 1995.
was the main American diplomat in Argentina between 1997 and 2000. There he witnessed the collapse of a decade-long monetary stabilization plan backed by Washington, a situation that precipitated a political crisis culminating in a rapid succession of five presidents in just two weeks.
They are most controversial role was in Boliviaserving as ambassador and gaining notoriety for intervening in the 2002 presidential elections with warnings of possible cuts in US assistance if Evo Morales were elected.
After his withdrawal from the State DepartmentRocha ventured into the corporate world, leading a gold mine in the Dominican Republic from 2012 to 2017.
He assumed leadership positions in companies in diversified sectors such as XCoal, Clover Leaf Capital and the legal field with Foley & Lardner, as well as in Spanish public relations firms.
Recently, at 73 years old, Manuel Rocha was arrested in Miami for a criminal complaint. The United States Department of Justice accuses him of failing to register while he allegedly worked for the interests of the Cuban government.
This is considered a violation of federal law that requires people acting under political orders from foreign entities to declare themselves as such.
The arrest of Manuel Rocha It comes as part of a broad initiative by US authorities to combat illicit foreign lobbying.
It is expected that this Monday the authorities will offer more details about the case that is attracting the interest of numerous countries in Latin America and especially the Cuban community.
