US behind Bolivia crisis - Chavez

Not nearly enough attention is being paid to Bolivia and the struggle of its citizens. Bolivians have been protesting constantly against the corporate take-over of their country, most notably, their resources. They successfully struggled against the commodification of water in Cochabomba and now they’re fighting vigorously against the privatization of their oil and natural gas reserves, considered the second biggest in Central and South America. Bolivians believe that the profits from these reserves should be used to help Bolivia, not a foreign corporation, much like what’s happened in Venezuela. We would be wise to pay close attention to the events taking place in Bolivia, especially in light of comments comming from all sides.

Speaking on his weekly TV programme, he said US open market policies in Latin America had led to “exclusion, misery and destabilisation”.

He called President George W Bush’s proposal for a regional free trade agreement a “medicine of death”.

Bolivia was brought to a virtual standstill by protesters calling for economic and constitutional reforms.

“Look at Bolivia. Fortunately the Bolivians opened the door toward a peaceful path, but they were on the verge of a civil war,” said Mr Chavez.

Interference

The Venezuelan leader, who is an outspoken critic of Mr Bush’s foreign policy, was responding to suggestions by some US officials that he was stirring up the Bolivian protests.

US assistant secretary of state Roger Noriega said President Chavez’s support for the Bolivian indigenous leader Evo Morales might be partly to blame for the mass protests there.

But a report in the Argentinian newspaper Clarin quoted unnamed diplomatic sources as saying that Mr Chavez may have played a key part in achieving a solution to Bolivia’s crisis.

The report said that a frenetic exchange of phone calls with Caracas encouraged Mr Morales to accept the constitutional outcome.

Clarin also carried an interview with former Bolivian President Carlos Mesa, who said…

Posted by alpinestar
I have lived many lives in many countries. an alchemist on a constant quest for truth. my destiny is as of yet unclear, but i am still immature. i only want to learn as much as i can before i die. minimalism, naturalism and a few other isms define me ...