Political Crisis Ends In Bolivia

[struggle4progress]

Jun 11, 2005 La Paz

Bolivian protesters took to the streets once more Friday as the country's new president promised to hold early elections and negotiate demands that caused weeks of political turmoil. <snip>

Mr. Rodriguez made clear Friday that he had no ambitions to complete Mr. Mesa's term, which expires in 2007. But he said early elections could be held by the end of the year. <snip>

During weeks of protests mainly in the capital, La Paz, indigenous leaders have demanded more social reforms, justice for the poor and a share of the country's wealth. <snip>

Thousands of miners processed in honor of their comrade Carlos Coro Mayta, who was killed in clashes with security forces on Thursday in the historic Bolivian capital of Sucre.

http://www.politinfo.com/articles/article_2005_06_11_1426.html


<edit:>

Protesters declare truce; Bolivia's new chief faces tough road
Demonstrators call for end to widespread inequality, poverty
By Bill Cormier, Associated Press

LA PAZ, Bolivia — Protesters who drove Bolivia's President from office began to leave occupied oil fields Friday and lifted the first of their 100-odd roadblocks as the country's new leader moved into the Government Palace.

But demonstrators marched on the capital, La Paz, in a show of strength to make sure the new caretaker president respects pledges to call early elections and consider their demands for an end to widespread inequality and poverty.

Evo Morales, the congressman who led the protests, declared a "truce" in a month of demonstrations and consulted with other opposition leaders on whether to declare a formal end to the protests after Eduardo Rodriguez became president.

"One must understand that he is the new president and he has expressed a commitment to listen to our demands," said Morales, a former coca farmer with designs on the presidency. "His election is easing the tensions and we are going to accept a truce." <snip>

http://www.insidebayarea.com/timesstar/ci_2796641

[ugarte]

1. Political crisis takes a timeout

No way is it over. The people want fundamental change, and the oligarchy will not go quietly

[IndianaGreen]

2. No way Bush will let Evo Morales win the elections in Bolivia

Just look at the Che portrait behind Evo Morales in this picture:



Indian leader Evo Morales might
well become the next president

Bolivia activists ready for truce

Bolivian protesters have started lifting roadblocks and ending the occupation of oil fields after a new interim president took office.

Eduardo Rodriguez, former head of the Supreme Court, has pledged to hold a presidential election soon.

But some activists continued rallying in La Paz on Friday to remind the new president that nationalisation of the gas industry is still a top demand.

They are also calling for the constitution to be rewritten.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4082834.stm

[CHIMO]

3. Three Bolivias

Three Bolivias

The Internet, newspapers, and radio airwaves are full of analyses about what the last three weeks of events have meant here in Bolivia. Some of these are more astute than others. Taking both a breath and a step back from the turmoil of the past week I have been trying to sort out myself what all this means. Here’s a reflection on the tense dance between three Bolivias.

The Powerful

Bolivia is a nation run by a tiny elite that doesn’t look, think or share many of the interests of the nation’s poor and Indian majority. What it takes for them to become economic winners is not the same as what it takes for the rest of Bolivia to move ahead economically.

When you spot economic growth indicators for Bolivia the first thing you should ask is who is benefiting. Assuming that the poor move up when growth hits 4% is like saying that if Bill Gates goes to a Thanksgiving dinner in a homeless shelter, on average, everyone eating is a millionaire.

When a small elite holds on to privilege amidst a sea of people who have none, a psychology develops. They assume that their privilege is wholly earned, and all that inheritance, corruption, foreign aid, and an economic system rigged to their advantage have nothing to do with it. People who ask questions are labeled as radicals and conspirators. I have lived here eight years now and have seen this mentality of the powerful in operation in everything from the running of an orphanage and an international school to battles over privatization.

http://www.democracyctr.org/blog/index.htm

[Judi Lynn]

4. We can be sure the Bush people are studying this event

to determine how, when it happens again, the poor can be vilified first, to the point the American right-wing can celebrate any attempt to mow them down in the streets as "terrorists," maybe with a few "Venezuelan insurgents" mixed among them.

This article is outstanding. It was interesting seeing "Bechtel" named directly, after spending some time late one night with some other DU'ers while we nosed around a bit and discovered the elder _Bush is publicly tied directly to Bechtel:

The Cochabamba water revolt exploded that stability with Bechtel’s ouster in April 2000 and for five year’s since the bases of power, elite and movement-based, have been circling each other like two cats poised for fur-ripping battle. When the Aymara of El Alto chase the Congress out of the capital and then miners from Potosi cut off their air escape from Sucre, to the point where the elite’s Vaca Diez strategy goes belly-up, I think you have to say that the exercise of power is titling in the direction of the movements. Quarrel if you like about the validity of their demands, but as a simple measurement of power, the Bolivia elite just got its butt kicked for the fifth time in five years over an issue directly related to economic globalization.
(snip)

The last paragraph gives a person something to really ponder seriously:

But having watched this country closely as a resident for eight years now, I don’t think the people in the streets have any intention whatsoever to back down. The last person I would ever want to pick a fight with is a Bolivian miner with a stick of dynamite in his hand.

Latin America must gain a total break from American greed. PERIOD.

[CHIMO]

6. Agree

I came across the blog from an interview that he gave on Democracy Now. They seem to be paying quite a bit of attention to this.

What seems to be going on are some possible undercurrents that could turn much farther in an unforgiving manner.

It does seem that the takeover of the water by Bechtel in 2000 was the turning point.

[daleo]

7. Water is so critical.

You mess with people's water at your peril, as political and economic elites. Sometimes the globalizers are their own worst enemy.

[burrowowl]

5. Here is hoping the people

get a good candidate. Someone like Chavez of Venezuela!