On the brink
09.06.2006Technorati tags: Bolivia politics Evo Morales
No time to get into it now (I've got morning classes to prepare for). But it's clear (to me) that Evo's government is approaching Friday's strike called in Santa Cruz, Tarija, Beni, and Pando departments w/ a heavy hand. Various police units are mobilizing to provent the strike. The Secretary of Defense is initiating an investigation of opposition leaders so that they can be tried for sedition & treason. Heavey handed, indeed. Ironic, because Evo's reputation was based on calling regional strikes when he was in the opposition. Now, it seems, those that strike against his government are enemies of the state, not political opponents (and one doesn't compromise w/ enemies of the state, as one would w/ opponents). Things are extremely tense.
You can read more at La Razón, El Deber, and others.
Posted by Miguel at 09:08 AM
Comments
I think the Defense Dept. is specifically investigating the Nacion Camba, who published some questionable material in the newspaper.
Posted by: eduardo at September 6, 2006 10:23 AM
I did read the article only briefly, and it's all sorting itself out too quickly to get a good picture. But the La Razón article seemed to suggest the Minister of Defense wanted to investigate members of the opposition more broadly defined. I can understand investigating members of Nación Camba (but, can we also investigage members of Quispe's organization or some of the tactics the cocaleros used in fighting the national military/police?), but if this turns into a broad assault on the opposition meant to intiminate them -- which is what I think it, in part, is -- then Bolivia's headed into a dangerous political territory. And I worry about that.
Posted by: mcentellas ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.centellas.org/miguel/nav-commenters.gif)
at September 6, 2006 12:07 PM
We're awaiting Friday's "paro". Not sure what is going to happen. Earlier this week the schools were on strike for a day. We're ordered our air conditioner and the store owner said that they will plan to install it on Friday if there isn't a strike!
Posted by: Mom at September 6, 2006 11:13 PM
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