Bechtel, Bolivia resolve dispute

[bemildred]

Company drops demand over water contract canceling

Santiago, Chile -- San Francisco-based Bechtel Corp. has dropped a $25 million dispute against the Bolivian government for canceling a water contract, after major street demonstrations forced a Bechtel-owned subsidiary to withdraw from Bolivia's third-largest city.

The construction and engineering conglomerate and three international partners had asked for $25 million in compensation after Bolivia canceled a 40-year water deal in 2000 with Cochabamba, 239 miles southeast of the capital, La Paz.

---

But today, an agreement is expected to be signed in the Bolivian city of Santa Cruz, ending the five-year dispute. Under the terms of the agreement, according to a joint statement issued by the Bolivian government and the shareholders of Aguas del Tunari, neither side will be liable for monetary compensation, and a statement will be included that reads that "the concession was terminated only because of the civil unrest and the state of emergency in Cochabamba and not because of any act done or not done by the international shareholders."

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In Spain, both King Juan Carlos and Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero asked one of Bechtel's partners, Abengoa SA, to withdraw from the dispute, said Eduardo Rojas, Bolivia's deputy minister of public works. Under the agreement, the Bolivian government will purchase 80 percent of shares held by the two holding companies -- International Water and Abensur -- that own Aguas del Tunari, according to Rojas. The other 20 percent will remain in the hands of private investors. Bolivia is also liable for legal fees of $1.6 million.

I just want to say that King Juan Carlos of Spain is one helluva a man.

SFGate

[Judi Lynn]

1. Simply amazing. Bechtel people should have been tarred and feathered

How DARE they treat the very, very poor and unsuspecting people of Bolivia like this. From the article:

The Bolivian government took over the water concession after thousands of residents protested water rates that increased reportedly by as much as 200 percent. In ensuing clashes with the army, a 17-year-old protester was shot to death and hundreds were injured.
(snip)

This is wonderful. WONDERFUL.

We have seen the very wealthy will not limit their greed, nor will they ever find it possible to stop taking more and more from the very people who of course have less and less. This is heaven for Republicans, but hell for everyone else.

Thanks for such good news. Zapatero is such a magnificent change from Aznar, _Bush's friend.

[hang a left]

2. Is this part of the same area

that Moon is buying up?

[bemildred]

4. I thought that was in Paraguay? nt

[hang a left]

5. I thought for some reason it was in both countries.

I don't know why I am thinking that. I will do a search.

[hang a left]

6. You are right. And I should know better than to even question that.

You are up on most things South American. I just remember reading several posts in a thread you started a month ago. I am just confusing the different countries and all the different American interests there.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=2006110#2006113

[bemildred]

7. I can assure you that I am wrong from time to time ...

:hi:

[rooboy]

3. Interested observers can view "The Corporation"...

which tells the story of Bechtel and the Bolivian people - and why you should never let vipers like that in your city.

[1932]

10. The interviews with the Bolivian leaders of the revolt were inspiring.

Smart people who care about their fellow citizens more than they care about making a few people very wealthy -- it was encouraging.

[Cassandra]

8. So, I guess the people...

own the rainwater again.

[Judi Lynn]

9. Isn't that outrageous? Who would have EVER guessed a corporation

could try to prohibit citizens from collecting rainwater for personal use? Good grief.

[Cassandra]

11. Bushco has decreed in Iraq...

that farmers are not allowed to save seed for replanting but must buy seed from American companies. And you may wonder why even more people hate us....or perhaps you don't wonder.

[Judi Lynn]

13. It reminds a person of when the Spanish invaded South America

and other parts of this hemisphere, and carried away absolutely everything of value to themselves, and burned all their records, so there simply was NOTHING left of their world.

There won't be too much left of Iraq, as it would seem. Even growing our crops, for crissakes.

[Ignacio Upton]

16. Well the Prime Minister of Spain is helping Bolivia in this case

Today the predator is international corporations that use a nationa's infarstructure to line their pockets.

[WhiteTara]

12. the victory for Bolivia is complete

Baechtal is out and the people are free from the tryanny of that monster corporation. Long live the peope. Down with the dictators and corporate monsters.

[Joe Chi Minh]

14. I dare say Bechtel have yet to answer for enormous sums of

"missing" tax-payers' funds, paid to them for their "activities" in Iraq.

[Joe Chi Minh]

15. I assume Bechtel were beneficiaries of that extremely munificent

liberality. Does anyone know if they were, or was it just Halliburton. Or are they very closely associated?"

[WhiteTara]

17. I doubt it either

but at least the people moved them out of there and they have breathing space for the next battle that is sure to come.