Bolivia news roundup
06.15.2004[The LiLA upgrade accidentally left me w/o a working password. So I'm posting this here, rather than there.]
After the month-long standoff w/ striking public teachers, Mesa's replaced the Minister of Education. Donato Ayma frequently backpedaled when dealing w/ the strikers, often contradicting the stern line adopted by Mesa's government. Things got out of hand when La Paz teachers kidnapped & hospitalized a vice minister. Now, Soledad Quiroga (daughter of Marcelo Quiroga Santa Cruz) heads the Education Ministry.
Over the weekend, Mesa gave in to demands by Beni campesinos & removed the department's prefect. The new prefect, Fernando Avila, announced his commitment's to the department, not the central government. This in the wake of meeting between civic leaders from the four media luna departmnts (Santa Cruz, Beni, Tarija, Pando) denounced "Andinocentrism".
Meanwhile, the bloqueo towards Copacabana's lifted; the road to Desaguadero's still blocked.
NFR, the party of Manfred Reyes Villa, is suspected of plotting to overthrow Carlos Mesa's government. According to Evo Morales, who accused NFR of conspiring w/ Jaime Solares (leader of the COB). Despite fervent denials from NFR spokesmen, suspicions are high. After all, both Solares & Reyes Villa worked for the Luis Garcia Mesa dictatorship — which included Klaus Barbie in its ranks.
A few days ago, an NFR-sponsored march in Cochabamba became violent after municipal workers (the NFR machine dominates the city's politics) attacked citizens who whistled at them. The main aggressors were bodyguards of Cochabamba's former mayor, Reyes Villa. The march opposed the gas referendum. City employees were required to participate in the march.
The sea issue is again making all the front pages in anticipation of upcoming Bolivia-Chile summit meetings. In a surprise move, Bolivian diplomats now support Chile's argument that the issue is bilateral, not multilateral. The Bolivian position involves offering gas sales to Chile in exchange for access to the sea w/ sovereignty rights. Meanwhile, Lagos proposes greater regional economic integration.
Posted by Miguel at 01:18 PM
Comments
Chile's president had a presentation in Spore recently. His talk was abt encouraging FTAs and promoting Chile's economic potential. During the Q-and-A, I asked him abt the Bolivian-Chile situation and whether political problems in Bolivia (it being the neighbour) might scare away investors. I don't know.. from the murmur in the room, perhaps my question did make some potential investors hesitate? oops.
Posted by: Stephanie at June 15, 2004 03:18 PM
No, the problems w/ Bolivia won't scare away investors. I think for Chile it's a non-issue. While it's just a prop for Mesa's popularity at home. Chile has one of the soundest investment images in the region.
I think the murmur probably just made people think you were a crazy Bolivian. ;-)
And, yes, I know that last bit will get me in more hot watter w/ many Bolivians who think Chile's to blame for 100 years of bad Bolivian government & irrational policy-making. Oh, well.
Posted by: miguel at June 15, 2004 08:10 PM