Political unknown takes over in Bolivia (This Freeper's Livin' It!)

www.iol.co.za ^ | October 18 2003 at 11:00AM | Alistair Scrutton

[EsclavoDeCristo]

La Paz, Bolivia - Carlos Mesa, a moderate political unknown, took over Bolivia's presidency on Saturday after a month-long bloody revolt by the country's Indian majority forced the resignation of his predecessor.

Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada, a free marketeer and key US ally in the anti-drug war, quit after an estimated 74 people died in a month of protests that saw the siege of the capital by inhabitants of its poor outskirts.

Tens of thousands of farmers, workers and miners marched in and around the world's highest capital for weeks to reject Sanchez de Lozada's US-backed, pro-market policies.

Grievances ranged from a now-shelved plan to export natural gas to the United States, to a US-backed drive to wipe out crops of the staple coca leaf - the raw material for cocaine.

Mesa, the former vice president, is a respected journalist, historian and TV anchorman. He was designated by Congress to serve out Sanchez de Lozada's term, due to end in 2007. But the new leader immediately asked for early elections to be called.

News of Sanchez de Lozada's resignation saw protesters dance, clap and bang drums in the narrow colonial streets. Miners exploded dynamite before singing the national anthem.

But once the party finishes, Mesa faces enormous problems in a country that has undergone its worst crisis in over 20 years of democracy. Plus, he has little electoral legitimacy and no formal political party support.

He will have to negotiate with Indian groups who have shown they can paralyze the country. Many of Bolivia's eight million citizens live on less than $5 a week. The life expectancy in some areas of the Andean country is under 45 years.

Ex-president due to board a flight for Miami Mesa immediately proposed a binding referendum on a gas project that is opposed by Indian groups who say it will only benefit neighboring Chile, the United States and foreign investors.

The 50-year-old leader also promised a reform of an energy law criticized by Indian groups who say foreign firms' profits are too high.

He asked Congress to shorten his mandate and call early elections - effectively asking to be a caretaker leader. He also said his Cabinet would be made up of independents like himself and include no party members.

Sanchez de Lozada, whose first 1993-1997 government was marked by a wave of free market reforms, lasted only 14 months in the job after Mesa and coalition partners abandoned him over the last week for his deadly suppression of protests.

Mesa may well remember one phrase from Sanchez de Lozada's bitter resignation letter sent to Congress on Friday.

"I warn you that the dangers hanging over the country remain intact," the letter read.

Local TV reported that the ex-president, guarded by more than 300 troops, had flown from La Paz to the eastern city of Santa Cruz, where he was due to board a flight for Miami. The reports could not be immediately confirmed.

The US State Department issued a statement on Saturday commending Sanchez de Lozada "for his commitment to democracy and to the well being of his country.

"We call upon all parties to work together to safeguard a democratic and constitutional transfer of power. With such a transfer, the United States stands ready ... to assist the Bolivian people and their government as they undertake the essential task of repairing their national institutions."

[EsclavoDeCristo]

Its crazy how fast the mood changes here. Yesturday I'm on the phone with the American Consular and today most of the rocks and trash are out of the road and everythings fine. Good luck to Carlos Mesa!

[BushisTheMan]

So the party of the people (Communists/Socialists) won. Now the United States gets no gas but gets lots of narcotics shipped in. Some day, the drug users in the U.S. will see how they are undermining the safety of the ordinary people of the United States. They steal to buy drugs, they kill to buy drugs, they commit many, many crimes to buy drugs. And we can thank Bolivia's Party of the People.

[FITZ]

So he wasn't elected? Does he plan to hold elections anytime soon?

[BradyLS]

It's hard to steal from an armed citizenry. We could win the War on Drugs if the stigma were off the law-abiding from owning firearms to protect their family and property.

[BushisTheMan]

Who do you think the socialists and communists try to rally? The rich? No, they focus on the conditions of the poor. They forget to tell the poor that war and civil disorder hurt them much more than a poor wage. Don't get me wrong, I feel sympathy for the class differences in Bolivia, but rioting and destruction and disorder won't help them.

[BushisTheMan]

Meeting in Burger King parking lots is one of the first phases...when it is cool and hip and "all your friends are doing it" but then later, when you can't hold a job because of your drug habit, and your parents have kicked you out of their home too because you steal from them, then comes the other part...stealing from strangers (innocent victims), etc. And I agree that guns might be the answer when they break into your home because of their drug habit.

[Conservative til I die]

The "indians" and poor are real scum in these countries. My ex is from Ecuador, and says they pull this crap all the time. Rioting, throwing rocks, murder, etc. And the capitalists always give in. Guess they really are like our Republicans!

[ARCADIA]

Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada, a free marketeer and key US ally in the anti-drug war, quit after an estimated 74 people died in a month of protests that saw the siege of the capital by inhabitants of its poor outskirts.

It is a good thing the cold war is over, or we would be concerned about losing it. It doesn't look like our "friends" are doing very well lately.

[Conservative til I die]

Some day, the drug users in the U.S. will see how they are undermining the safety of the ordinary people of the United States. They steal to buy drugs, they kill to buy drugs, they commit many, many crimes to buy drugs.

End the drug war and legalize drugs and all of this goes away. But we and the SA governments just keep doing the same things over and over and over again with no change, and wonder why.

[Lael]

What ever happenned to the TIN???

Perhaps, as a Freeper, you could find the answer...When I was growing up, the Bolivian Marxists were always agitating to "Arm the Miners".

[byteback]

End the drug war and legalize drugs and all of this goes away. But we and the SA governments just keep doing the same things over and over and over again with no change, and wonder why.

Mega Dittos Dude!

[Stultis]

President of Bolivia to resign (This Freeper's Living It!) ^
			Posted by Stultis to EsclavoDeCristo On News/Activism ^ 10/17/2003 4:32 PM CDT #19 of 36 ^ The left is pushing a major resurgence in Latin America. For previous articles on Bolivia and related matters, see the following threads: Bolivia's Poor Proclaim Abiding Distrust of Globalization (Socialist Resurgence in Latin America) The Fire Down South...( Latin America--)

[waxhaw]

I've lived nearly 24 years in Latin America - Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Panama, Honduras, El Salvador and Mexico. I've spent time in Guatemela, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and even Belize. Never been to Bolivia but have friends who have lived and worked there in the U.S. government, as missionaries and as private business types. After this many years in Latin America I have no doubt whatsoever that Sanchez de Lozada has bilked that nation for all it's worth and during his tenure the poor became poorer and his rich cronies became richer. He'll retire to his mansion in Miami, joining the hundreds of other ex-Latin American politicians who raped their respective nations and then fled when the mess they created became too much for them. That our State Department "commended" de Lozada for his "committment to democracy and the well being of his nation" simply confirms the fact that he was corrupt. Remember, it was our State Department who condemned former Peruvian president Fujimori for doing what needed to be done - the destruction of the Tupac Amaru and the Sendero Luminoso.

[BushisTheMan]

Ever been to Amsterdam? They did exactly what you are saying will solve the problem. Nothing but drugged-out losers hanging around the central park. They smoke pot all day and the government there hands them a check each month -- a check paid for by the taxes on the non-drugged out population who have to pick u the tab for their lack of employment. Yeah, sounds like a wonderful place. Maybe when these losers figure out their money goes to terrorists and drug lords, they will stop. Doubt it though.

[SierraWasp]

That's those "shining path" commies, isn't it?

[SierraWasp]

I was referring to your reference to this:"and the Sendero Luminoso."

[SauronOfMordor]

They smoke pot all day and the government there hands them a check each month -- a check paid for by the taxes on the non-drugged out population who have to pick u the tab for their lack of employment.

Legalizing drugs while retaining a welfare safety net for druggies is like de-regulating the Savings and Loan industry while still providing them with federal insurance. If you don't balance liberty and responsibility, disaster results.

If you think this means that I think the solution is to make drugs illegal, that's incorrect. The better solution is to not shield the druggies from the consequences of their actions.

Cocaine and opium were available legally in the US prior to around 1911. George Washington grew hemp. We did not have a huge drug problem then. The drug problem exploded in the 60's, after welfare made it possible to eat without working (or being too drugged-out to work)

[StriperSniper]

I don't know what happened to the hat material, but on a thread EDC posted the other day he mentioned miners throwing dynamite, so I guess they are still around.