Bolivian would oppose coca eradication

[Judi Lynn]

Wednesday, September 21, 2005 · Last updated 6:19 p.m. PT

Bolivian would oppose coca eradication

By FIONA SMITH
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

LA PAZ, Bolivia -- Indian leader Evo Morales said he would reject Washington's policy of eradicating much of Bolivia's coca crop if he is elected president and pledged he would work to legalize the leaf used to make cocaine.

Morales, a front-runner in this Andean nation's Dec. 4 election, is an Aymara Indian who led protests that helped oust President Carlos Mesa in June and led to the calling of the December vote.

He rose to power 10 years ago as the leader of the coca growers of the Chapare region, where U.S.-backed eradication efforts are focused.

During a campaign stop in the city of Sucre late Tuesday, Morales said the U.S. government's policies have the sole objective of "eliminating coca" and "tormenting the cocaleros," the people who grow coca.

Morales said he would oppose coca eradication efforts if president, but added that he would still fight cocaine production.
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http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/aplatin_story.asp?category=1102&slug=Bolivia%20Legalize%20Coca



Bolivian!

(Evo Morales)

[CascadeTide]

1. hope he has a wardrobe full of flack jackets

What you want to bet that if he starts gaining support, some crazy hillsman "terrorist" decides to put a bullet in the candidate's skull before being mowed down by state police?