What do they want?
06.03.2005Technorati tag: Bolivia
For weeks, protesters have demanded an election for a constituent assembly. And the government never denied that, the only question was when, and what kind of election. Sure, parliament went slow, but that's how these things go. So now that Mesa has insisted on a set date (16 October), the protesters change their demand: now they want early general elections (for president & parliament).
The goal posts keep shifting further, making it nearly impossible to negotiate w/ such people. Almost everyone seems to reject the idea of a 16 October dual election: for constituent assembly plus autonomy referendum.
The economic consequences are startling. La Paz & El Alto are at risk of losing 500,000 jobs (small business, venders, etc) as the twin cities have been shut down for so long. Losses are now estimated at $17-20 million per day!.
Parliament failed to come to agreement, and legislators had to be evacuated quickly, and w/ heavy police escort, from Plaza Murillo.
Posted by Miguel at 12:30 PM
Comments
You said it. These people don't want to negotiate. They want to continue until they impose their will. That is a radical position to be in. It helps them to feel as "the victims".
What do you think about moving the seat of government to Sucre?
Posted by: Miguel (MABB) at June 3, 2005 03:31 PM
Nobody understands what the sindicalist leaders want!, again there is a lot of mediatic terrorism (this time not heavily promoted by the TV or press media). There are rumours of a military coup and there's also an anonimous letter in cyberspace against the autonomic demand and against the sindicalist movements that only lacks the signature of the "Department of Information - Bolivia", you can tell it by the time spent in it's elaboration (pretty long and well written) and by the last couple of lines encouraging "bolivianos y bolivianas a defender la democracia" (this BOLIVIANOS Y BOLIVIANAS is typical political gender discourse included in all oficial discourses, panflets, communications, etc...), a john Doe writing this type of letters doesn't take the time to include this s*&t!.
Posted by: Daniel at June 3, 2005 03:54 PM
It's almost like people are begging for an OAS intervention. Which would (I think) just translate into de facto secession.
Posted by: Miguel ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.centellas.org/miguel/nav-commenters.gif)
at June 3, 2005 05:10 PM
Oh, I think movung the capital is a good idea.
Posted by: miguel at June 3, 2005 06:04 PM