El Mat,
The situation in Bolivia seems quite fluid at the moment:
nytimes.com
The New York Times
June 3, 2005
As Protests Paralyze Bolivia President Calls for People's Vote
By JUAN FORERO
BOGOTÁ, Colombia, June 3 - In an effort to end mounting protests across Bolivia, President Carlos Mesa of Bolivia announced an election late Thursday for a citizen assembly to write a new constitution, and a national referendum that would allow Bolivians to vote for greater regional autonomy.
With Bolivia's Congress deadlocked over the two popular demands, and swarms of protesters effectively paralyzing the country, Mr. Mesa told Bolivians in a nationally televised address that the election and referendum would take place on Oct. 16. Political analysts said Congress would still have to ratify the decision, but Mr. Mesa told the people that he had to act fast.
"The country is living in a time of extreme urgency," Mr. Mesa said, explaining that Bolivia could not wait until Congress met again, on Tuesday. "I hope this decision helps the country and puts an end to the uncertainty."
The embattled president's decree, however, did not appear to defuse anger among demonstrators.
Indian groups, labor confederations and anti-globalization organizations that demand expropriation of the private energy industry and a new constitution, continued blocking most of the nation's highways. Cities like La Paz, the capital, remained isolated, with commerce and traffic reduced.
"This decree has no head or feet," said Julio Pabón, a leader of Fejuve, a leading anti-globalization group, speaking by phone from the indigenous city of El Alto. "It just tries to distract the marches we have going on all over Bolivia."
"We will continue," Mr. Pabón added. "We have a full blockade on."
In the affluent eastern state of Santa Cruz, pro-capitalist forces led by that region's elite citizenry rejected Mr. Mesa's offer of an autonomy vote, even though they have been pushing for autonomy. The Santa Cruz leadership, which wants to counter anti-globalization forces in the west, is vehemently opposed to a constituent assembly that could give Bolivia's Indians more say over the nation's economic policies.
"We're in the midst of a fight for power," said Alvaro Garcia, a political analyst who has advised indigenous groups, speaking by phone from La Paz. "These are going to be very intense days."
The protests have picked up momentum since May 17, when Congress raised taxes sharply on the foreign energy companies that flocked to Bolivia to mine Latin America's second-largest natural gas reserves. Aimed at placating a restive population, the tax bill achieved the reverse, prompting demonstrators to mount ever larger protests, with increasing numbers demanding outright expropriation of the gas industry.
Much of the anger has been directed at Congress, which is seen as corrupt, inept and beholden to Bolivia's elite and multinational corporations. Waves of protesters have repeatedly tried to take control of Congress in recent days, only to be repelled by the police.
On Thursday, shortly before Mr. Mesa issued his decree, the Congress enraged protesters by failing to reach a decision on a constituent assembly and the referendum for regional autonomy. Saying they would not meet again until Tuesday, lawmakers were then escorted out under heavy police guard, while protesters heaped scorn on them.
The anger against the elite has been palpable in Bolivia. Indian demonstrators have gone so far as to throw rocks at shops in affluent districts and to rip neckties from businessmen they accuse of being part of the white elite.
The fury and radical nature of the protests seem to have taken even some protest leaders by surprise. The country's most influential indigenous leader, Evo Morales, of the Movement to Socialism, has criticized Mr. Mesa's decree, even though he has called for a constituent assembly.
"Evo is trying to figure out where he can place himself in the new strategy," said Mr. Garcia, an analyst who knows Mr. Morales well. "He cannot sound pleased with the president because there are thousands of followers who are already mobilized." |
