Detail Accounts of Events in Bolivia - Between Sept. 21 - October 2
George Ann Potter, October 4
UPDATE MONDAY NIGHT 11:30PM 10/2/00
Negotiations fell apart today.
The rural teachers' bases rejected their leadership's agreement yesterday with the GOB. The rural and urban teachers' national strike, now more than a month long, will continue, if not escalate.
The Coordinadora announced that its particular demands had been met but would continue supporting other sectors until theirs were also met. Some members of the CSUTCB said they no longer trusted the Coordinadora, which according to them has political aspirations. Both sides called for continuing and increasing blockades around and within Cochabamba city. These divisions, especially in the CSUTCB, existed before current conflicts began.
Prisoners around the country entered into a hunger strike as planned.
Police wives in LP lifted their 5 day hunger strike.
The city of El Alto was convulsed today as more than 90,000 marched and blocked roads, including La Paz's international airport. Students started throwing rocks. Armed forces responded. In the city of La Paz, there were confrontations in front of the San Francisco Church in the center.
The Tarija Movement of Landless demonstrated and were met with armed forces' use of live ammunition against their blockades.
The state universities of Cochabamba and Santa Cruz are on strike.
Blockades continue throughout the country.
Negotiations in Chimore between the Six Federations and the GOB broke down this late afternoon over zero coca option in the Chapare. Morales may give a press conference tomorrow but today remained silent.
In personal communication today with the US Embassy, one of their officials told me that what they are supporting are not military bases but barracks, that the funds ($2 million this year and another $2 million next year) are not from Plan Colombia but directly from the Dept. of Defense/Pentagon/Southern Command budget, that the switch from constructing new "barracks" to upgrading exisiting facilities may well cost as must since new buildings may need to be built, and that other than the existing Chimore facilities they were not sure of the exact location of the other two Chapare "barracks" in question. The US Embassy did not want to comment on the zero coca issue at this time.
The Church, Defensora del Pueblo and APDHB met this early evening with supposed members of the CSUTCB and asked the GOB to meet with them tomorrow at 9am. The GOB refused. CSUTCB leader Mallku claimed he was not invited and that those who did attend were a break away group. He further said he no longer trusts the Church or the Defensora del Pueblo.
The GOB asked main opposition party MNR to cease and desist from making political statements. MNR replied that the GOB should remove the armed forces from current conflicts. The President of the Senate accused the mass media and the Church of being conspirators in inciting conflict. The media replied angrily but the Church has not yet replied. The head of the Congressional (diputados) human righrs commission suggested that all congressmen personally donate toward a relief fund for those wounded and families of the killed in recent conflicts, including scholarships for orphaned school age children (to be managed by the Church) as well as for small debtors who are asking for debt relief. Moreover, he urged that the GOB's monies announced to buy "luxurious vehicles" be converted to this fund. He also wants Congress to call the Minister of Defense before Parliament for questioning regarding armed forces used in recent conflicts.
CSUTCB leader Mallku gave an hour long interview this evening on tv. Here are excerpts from that conversation.
- He started off asking forgiveness for possible previous insults to the press when he "may have lost his head" - later he excused his not perfect Spanish, his second language after Aymara
- The causes of the current conflict are generations old
- The main demands are a total revamp of the land ownership law INRA, withdrawal of the water and water export laws, and respect for coca, a basic religious and social instrument in Bolivian indigenous culture
- He did not attend this late afternoon meeting with the Church and Defensora del Pueblo because he was meeting with his bases and was not really invited anyway - those who did meet were a "break away" group who had been expelled from the CSUTCB before the current conflicts began - despite this perceived breach of current moderators, he claimed there are no others in the country and mentioned the UN as a possible alternative
- The CSUTCB continues to insist on meeting with the GOB in the countryside and the GOB continues to refuse. He said "We offer our best food, clothes, dance and even flowers and pefume"(implying that to the city folk, indigenous peasants smell badly) and guarantee their safety, "But when we meet in the city with them they wash their hands with alcohol after shaking ours"
- He is no longer a guerrillero as before (not one person was killed during his EGTK days) - now is a new experience - in Bolivia it is impossible to have an armed popular movement because "even the rocks have ears" (referring to government infiltrators and surveillance)
- Even though the power elite are racist, he and his movement are not - if they had a greater voice and power they would seek dialogue, but there are 2 Bolivias, the city and the indigenous countryside, the latter which needs its own government - if an idigenous became president of the entire country he (sic) would be like the Inka
- The name/word Mallku is Aymara for he who leads an ayllu on a rotating basis
- His movement not only includes peasants but also transport drivers, "gremiales" (market vendors?), rural teachers and colonos
- He is willing to die (spill blood for the Pachamama) for the cause
- If he met with Banzer, it would be president (indigenous peasant) to president (urban white elite)
Later in the evening there was a televised debate between the Minister of Finance and the head of the private business sector, that was surprisingly hostile. Much of the debate was technically "over the heads" of the viewing public and moderator. Here are some high (low?) lights:
- GOB reiterates and emphasizes that coca eradication has been the number one economic problem, followed by private business sector (including banking) failure to invest in the country (even accusing this sector of egregious capital flight and too tight capital and over-extension on loan debts) -without foreign investment, things would be even worse, he also strongly suggested an MNR/business sector conspiracy against the current GOB - he further declared that the Bolivian business sector is ill prepared for inevitable globalization and that the country is in danger of losing international credibility with the Paris Club and other northern financial interests
- The business sector representative replied that the GOB was more interested in pleasing theWorld Bank and IMF than the Bolivian people, with their (GOB) orthodix neo-liberal policies, that the current GOB blames everyone but themselves for the current crisis and looks for relief not structural solutions (GOB Finance Minister announced that today the USG offered $11 million for emergency job creation), that growth with fair distribution is not on the agenda, added "what growth?" and that the Banzer government is "killing the economy" and "may fall"
- There was an irresolute discussion on capitalization and NO discussion of the recently conducted National Dialogue, required by the World Bank and IMF for debt relief
It is now 1am Tuesay. More later today.
UPDATE MONDAY MORNING 10/2/00
Rural teachers' leaders reached an agreement with the GOB yesterday afternoon. It is not clear if their bases are in agreement. Urban teachers will continue their strike
The Church, Defensora del Pueblo and APDHN met throughout the afternoon yesterday with CSUTCB leader Mallku. It seems some move toward negotiations was achieved after yesterday morning's emotional meeting with the GOB. At the same time, key GOB ministers met with Banzer in his home and expressed optimism in all dialogues to date, except that with the CSUTCB's Mallku. Some reports indicate a growing division within the CSUTCB
The Coordiandora has called for a civil meeting today at 3pm in the main plaza of Cochabamba. Negotiations with the GOB appear to be positive.
The Six Federations of the Tropico Chapare will have another meeting among themselves today in Shinahota, followed by a meeting in Chimore with the GOB, scheduled for 4pm. Coordinandora leader Oscar Olivera will also attend.This morning Evo Morales remained firm on the request for one sixth hectare of legal coca per Chapare family and asked for theGOB to put in writing that no 3 new military bases will ever be built in the area. The cocaleros are going to propose that a 3 month commission be formed to convince the US government regarding the sixth hectare of legal coca and the role of the cocaleros in controlling narco-trafficking. Select members of Congress are questioning Morales' immunity against government prosecution as a national congressman
The four main opposition sectors also remain adament that the GOB pay for the medical costs of wounded and support the families of those killed.
Last night main opposition party leader and ex-president of Bolivia "Goni" gave a televised interview explaining his withdrawal from the national economic dialogue, expressing his waning willingness to help the GOB, but doubts that it is interested or competent to govern. He presented a agricultural recovery plan which Northern funders had approved in his last year as president. He said his final decision to leave the economic dialogue came when Banzer consulted the military last week instead of the Congress and political parties. Analysts and some party politicians agreed that the political parties and Congress have been irresponsible in their absence during the last two weeks of convulsion in the country.
Police wives continue in their La Paz hunger strike. Some of their fmailies have been threatened by GOB agents. Prisoners are due to start a national hunger strike today.
Road blocks continue throughout the country, especially along the most important Santa Cruz, CBBA, La Paz/Altiplano corridor
The Bolivian Minister of Economic Development released a report indicating that since 1980 the average annual growth rate achieved no more than 1.9% growth, resulting in a per capita loss of 0.5% per year. The GNP per capita was less in 1999 than in 1980.
UPDATE SUNDAY MORNING 10/1/00 (note: I have started a new file since the last updates were getting long - updates on the last two weeks are available upon request)
One person was killed and 29 were injured by indiscriminate military use of force in Vinto yesterday, near Cochabamba city. Governor Orias blames the armed forces, declaring he only provided logistical support. There are now 12 civilian deaths (5 in La Paz department and 7 in Cochabamba department, including the Chapare). Civilian wounded are estimated at over 120.
The GOB and teachers' union met yesterday to discuss the government's latest offer. They will meet again today at 4pm but agreement is uncertain.
CSUTCB leader Felipe Quispe (Mallku) met with GOB, Church, Defensora del Pueblo and APDHN representatives this morning at 8am at the Caritas Nacional, La Paz offices. Mallku had previously said he would not shake hands with GOB officials whose hands were washed in peasant blood. The meeting was short and contentious. The CSTUCB continues to insist on meeting in the countryside with its bases present. The GOB refuses. Peasant blockades around the country continue with over 50,000 peasants participating. The blockades will continue until the water and land title laws are cancelled or fundamentally changed. Mallku observed that the CSUTCB had given the GOB nearly 4 months to negotiate before bolckades were imposed but that the GOB had refused to meet until violence (including civilian deaths) started. The Defensora del Pueblo who attended the brief meeting, expressed her concern about the hostile tone of both sides and sounded less optimistic than in earlier days. There is no date or place planned for further negotiations
Six Federations of the Tropico (Chapare) leader and national Congressman Evo Morales and Coordinadora del Agua y la Vida's Oscar Olivera met in Santa Cruz yesterday for the second day with GOB, Church, Defensora del Pueblo and APDH representatives. The GOB agreed to postpone reconstruction (not new building) of three military bases in the Chapare but Morales said that was the same as building new ones. No agreement was reached on zero coca option. Olivera said the Coordinadora would only negotiate its demands in concert with teacher, peasant and cocalero demands, but seemed to indicate that Coordinadora specific demands were reaching agrrement and he would probably give a press conference this afernoon. Morales returned to the Chapare where dialogue might resume tomorrow in Chimore, though late breaking news at 10:15am indicates that the Six Federations will first meet tomorrow in Shinahota to decide where they stand. Meanwhile blockades on the Santa Cruz/Cochabamba road will continue and violence may escalate. Food is getting so scarce in the Chapare that the armed forces are only given one meal a day and civilians are also suffering, as throughout the country.
The Cochabamba Department economic emergency recovery plan, now 76 days old, has not yet begun to be implemented by the GOB
Analysts are increasingly blaming the GOB's inability to govern for the country's convulsions. The Coordiandora del Agua and peasant and cocalero sectors had asked for months for dialogue which was not answered by the GOB. As in April, until violence ensued, the GOB refused to negotiate. Now, almost the entire country is paralyzed
Main opposition party leader and ex-president "Goni" gave a lengthy interview on the radio this morning, coinciding with the MNR's press release about the current crisis. To quote, " The country is living one of its most difficult moments in its democratic life. A contradictory and incoherent coalition government has led us to an economic crisis which is drowning us and causing uncontrollable social convulsions which have led to confrontations which get worse every day&ldots;. The atitudes and actions of the coalition political parties have convinced us that there is no political decision to radically confront the economic crisis&ldots; and that MNR's participation in looking for a solution is considered unnecessary and not desireable by them, which is why we have left the process of looking for solutions within the government. &ldots;. (MNR again calls on the Church to mediate, for the GOB to name a socio-economic czar and for coalition party MIR head Jaime Paz to become more active)&ldots; Finally, this crisis can only be overcome if the current government assumes a profound change in atitude and actions and if the heads of the coalition parties do not forget their responsibilities and proclaim their commitments to Bolivia"
UPDATE MONDAY MORNING 10/2/00
Rural teachers' leaders reached an agreement with the GOB yesterday afternoon. It is not clear if their bases are in agreement. Urban teachers will continue their strike
The Church, Defensora del Pueblo and APDHN met throughout the afternoon yesterday with CSUTCB leader Mallku. It seems some move toward negotiations was achieved after yesterday morning's emotional meeting with the GOB. At the same time, key GOB ministers met with Banzer in his home and expressed optimism in all dialogues to date, except that with the CSUTCB's Mallku. Some reports indicate a growing division within the CSUTCB
The Coordiandora has called for a civil meeting today at 3pm in the main plaza of Cochabamba. Negotiations with the GOB appear to be positive.
The Six Federations of the Tropico Chapare will have another meeting among themselves today in Shinahota, followed by a meeting in Chimore with the GOB, scheduled for 4pm. Coordinandora leader Oscar Olivera will also attend.This morning Evo Morales remained firm on the request for one sixth hectare of legal coca per Chapare family and asked for theGOB to put in writing that no 3 new military bases will ever be built in the area. The cocaleros are going to propose that a 3 month commission be formed to convince the US government regarding the sixth hectare of legal coca and the role of the cocaleros in controlling narco-trafficking. Select members of Congress are questioning Morales' immunity against government prosecution as a national congressman
The four main opposition sectors also remain adament that the GOB pay for the medical costs of wounded and support the families of those killed.
Last night main opposition party leader and ex-president of Bolivia "Goni" gave a televised interview explaining his withdrawal from the national economic dialogue, expressing his waning willingness to help the GOB, but doubts that it is interested or competent to govern. He presented a agricultural recovery plan which Northern funders had approved in his last year as president. He said his final decision to leave the economic dialogue came when Banzer consulted the military last week instead of the Congress and political parties. Analysts and some party politicians agreed that the political parties and Congress have been irresponsible in their absence during the last two weeks of convulsion in the country.
Police wives continue in their La Paz hunger strike.Some of their fmailies have been threatened bu GOB agents. Prisoners are due to start a national hunger strike today.
Road blocks continue throughout the country, especially along the most important Santa Cruz, CBBA, La Paz/Altiplano corridor
The Bolivian Minister of Economic Development released a report indicating that since 1980 the average annual growth rate achieved no more than 1.9% growth, resulting in a per capita loss of 0.5% per year. The GNP per capita was less in 1999 than in 1980.
UPDATE SUNDAY MORNING 10/1/00 (note: I have started a new file since the last updates were getting long - updates on the last two weeks are available upon request)
One person was killed and 29 were injured by indiscriminate military use of force in Vinto yesterday, near Cochabamba city. Governor Orias blames the armed forces, declaring he only provided logistical support. There are now 12 civilian deaths (5 in La Paz department and 7 in Cochabamba department, including the Chapare). Civilian wounded are estimated at over 120.
The GOB and teachers' union met yesterday to discuss the government's latest offer. They will meet again today at 4pm but agreement is uncertain.
CSUTCB leader Felipe Quispe (Mallku) met with GOB, Church, Defensora del Pueblo and APDHN representatives this morning at 8am at the Caritas Nacional, La Paz offices. Mallku had previously said he would not shake hands with GOB officials whose hands were washed in peasant blood. The meeting was short and contentious. The CSTUCB continues to insist on meeting in the countryside with its bases present. The GOB refuses. Peasant blockades around the country continue with over 50,000 peasants participating. The blockades will continue until the water and land title laws are cancelled or fundamentally changed. Mallku observed that the CSUTCB had given the GOB nearly 4 months to negotiate before bolckades were imposed but that the GOB had refused to meet until violence (including civilian deaths) started. The Defensora del Pueblo who attended the brief meeting, expressed her concern about the hostile tone of both sides and sounded less optimistic than in earlier days. There is no date or place planned for further negotiations
Six Federations of the Tropico (Chapare) leader and national Congressman Evo Morales and Coordinadora del Agua y la Vida's Oscar Olivera met in Santa Cruz yesterday for the second day with GOB, Church, Defensora del Pueblo and APDH representatives. The GOB agreed to postpone reconstruction (not new building) of three military bases in the Chapare but Morales said that was the same as building new ones. No agreement was reached on zero coca option. Olivera said the Coordinadora would only negotiate its demands in concert with teacher, peasant and cocalero demands, but seemed to indicate that Coordinadora specific demands were reaching agrrement and he would probably give a press conference this afernoon. Morales returned to the Chapare where dialogue might resume tomorrow in Chimore, though late breaking news at 10:15am indicates that the Six Federations will first meet tomorrow in Shinahota to decide where they stand. Meanwhile blockades on the Santa Cruz/Cochabamba road will continue and violence may escalate. Food is getting so scarce in the Chapare that the armed forces are only given one meal a day and civilians are also suffering, as throughout the country.
The Cochabamba Department economic emergency recovery plan, now 76 days old, has not yet begun to be implemented by the GOB
Analysts are increasingly blaming the GOB's inability to govern for the country's convulsions. The Coordiandora del Agua and peasant and cocalero sectors had asked for months for dialogue which was not answered by the GOB. As in April, until violence ensued, the GOB refused to negotiate. Now, almost the entire country is paralyzed
Main opposition party leader and ex-president "Goni" gave a lengthy interview on the radio this morning, coinciding with the MNR's press release about the current crisis. To quote, " The country is living one of its most difficult moments in its democratic life. A contradictory and incoherent coalition government has led us to an economic crisis which is drowning us and causing uncontrollable social convulsions which have led to confrontations which get worse every day&ldots;. The atitudes and actions of the coalition political parties have convinced us that there is no political decision to radically confront the economic crisis&ldots; and that MNR's participation in looking for a solution is considered unnecessary and not desireable by them, which is why we have left the process of looking for solutions within the government. &ldots;. (MNR again calls on the Church to mediate, for the GOB to name a socio-economic czar and for coalition party MIR head Jaime Paz to become more active)&ldots; Finally, this crisis can only be overcome if the current government assumes a profound change in atitude and actions and if the heads of the coalition parties do not forget their responsibilities and proclaim their commitments to Bolivia"
UPDATE SATURDAY MORNING 9/30/00
The Church, the Defensora del Pueblo and the National Permanent Assembly of Human Rights brought GOB and protesters together yesterday. In Santa Cruz, Evo Morales and Oscar Olivera met with Minister Fortun and other GOB representatives, along with highest level Church mediators, for seven hours. The two main contentions continue impassable between the GOB and the coca growers and their supporters - forced zero option coca and building of three military bases in the Chapare. The meeting continues again this morning at 9am, but Morales gave until 3pm before he returns to the Tropico to lead more extreme protests. 15 armored military vehicles are on their way to the Chapare. Older people, pregnant women and children in the area are hiding in the jungle in fear for their lives. Men and women are ready to fight. Peasants in Carrrasco decided to turn off the oil line valves that run through their area as a further pressure on the GOB to negotiate.
The Church, Denesora del Pueblo and APDHN met with previously in hiding CSUTCB leader , Felipe Quispe ("Mallku) in La Paz. He agreed to meet with Banzer on Monday in the countryside but rejects meeting sooner or in La Paz or with Cabinet ministers. Mallku says he and other peasants are not Bolivian and that the country is not free because of foreign intervention. The US State Department reiterated its support for the Banzer government and its policies regarding full Chapare coca eradication and building of three military bases there.
On Friday, and anticipated for today as well, La Paz, Santa Cruz and Cochabamba remained blocked inside and out of the cities. Demands remain for CBBA Governor Orias' resignation.
Aguas del Tunari is planning to sue the GOB for canceling their contract. The Coordinadora del Agua is planning a counter-suit.
Prisoners in Cochabamba's prisons will enter into a hunger strike on Monday.
Some CSUTCB leaders threaten to blow up all the country's main electric pylons next week if negotiations are unproductive
The teachers' union meets again with the GOB today - the GOB's latest offer was a pay raise of about $10 month, rejected by the teachers
The workers' hospital in CBBA is running out of resources and can only attend 40% of patients.
The GOB says it will not pay families of those civilians hurt and killed in the two weeks of conflict so far. However, Fortun said from Santa Cruz that the GOB is covering medical costs of the 4 seriously wounded in the Chapare and evacuated to SC. There are over 110 wounded and 11 dead nationally.
Rumors that the military made demands on Banzer Thursday afternoon have been denied by the GOB. Nonetheless, the press has a list of 8 demands allegedly made by the armed forces. The most troubling, if true, is that they asked Banzer to ask Parliament for special emergency rights to act against the social conflict. Other alleged points include arresting all protest leaders, allowing the combined forces to use all arms available to them against protesters and that the Defensora del Pueblo and APDHN also speak out on behalf of the military and police.
UPDATE FRIDAY MORNING 9/29/00
Three more civilians were killed yesterday in the Altiplano town of Huarina. A Military plane gassed protestors from the air, then troops shot at the peasants blocking the road. This brings the total of civilian deaths to 11 over the last two weeks (the previously reported death of a soldier was later denied by the GOB). Seven of the dead civilians were killed by live ammunition fired by government troops. The other four died of conflict related causes. There are nearly 100 wounded civilians and some 30 wounded soldiers and police.
Pres. Hugo Banzer met with the armed forces yesterday then delivered a televised speech last night. Most of Banzer's speech focused on the coca producing Chapare. He reiterated that forced coca eradication would continue and that new military bases would be built there. The military bases will serve not only to control coca but also to promote alternative development. Banzer declared that "anyone against eradication is for narco-traffickers," and also accused protesters of sedition. Teachers, peasants, coca growers and the Coordiandora del Agua were all cited and allusion was made to the MNR. He said that the GOB's conciliatory attitude was over and that a "hard hand" would now be used. Banzer cancelled a trip to Japan planned to start today. He called to resume the National Dialogue. The GOB, the Church and the Defensora del Pueblo called for negotiations again. Peasant leader "Mallku" (Felipe Quispe) replied he could not participate since he is in hiding and fears for his life. Moreover, Mallku added that it is difficult to dialogue with the GOB's attitude. Cocalero leader and Congressman Evo Morales also said he was fearful of leaving the Chapare to negotiate. Morales added that if demands are not met, that the peasants in the Chapare will start taking over government offices in the Tropico next week. Leaders of the Coordinadora are also in hiding. Negotiations with the teachers started yesterday.
1,230 trucks and buses arrived in Cochabamba yesterday, after being stranded in the Chapare for nearly 2 weeks. The GOB calculates it will cost $40 million to repair roads throughout the country, half of that for the Cochabamba/Chimore-Chapare road. The governor of La Paz inaugurated a food air lift to that blocked city yesterday. Tarija is cut off from the north of the country. Santa Cruz was also blocked yesterday. Today, the Coordiandora is calling for demonstrations in the city of Cochabamba. The armed forces are organizing military caravans of 200 vehicles each throughout the country to clear road blocks.
The GOB settled with the University SigloXX, allocating to the university 3 million bolivianos per year.
Police wives are on a hunger strike in La Paz.
Main opposition party MNR withdrew from the economic summit asking the Church to intervene and the GOB to name an economic czar. MNR also called on government coalition party MIR head and ex-president Jamie Paz Zamora to become more active in resolving the country's crisis.
UPDATE THURSDAY 9/28/00
The GOB announced that no armed forces or their commanders will be tried for civilian killings and other abuses. The President of the Human Rights Commission of Parliament replied that he and others are "watching" and might take action. The GOB said that "tolerance is over."
Negotiations with teachers continue.
Two more cocaleros were killed in the Chapare. The Six Federations called for elections next year. There are now 3600 extra troops in the Tropico. Cochabamba is considered the "thermometer of the country."
The Church again called for dialogue. The Defensora del Puebhlo asked that schools and clinics be built in the Chapare instead of military bases. The GOB said no. US Ambassador said the bases will be built.
2000 women marched for peace in Cochabamba but the organizers decried that government officials infiltrated the march and would not let the "people's voice be heard."
The business sector called for a political summit.
UPDATE WEDNESDAY 9/27/00
Governing political party ADN accuses opposition party MNR of subversion.
Cocaleros ask to be allowed one sixth of a hectare of coca per family for licit uses, equivalent to 6,500 hectares in total. The GOB rejects this proposal and reiterates that forced eradication and military base construction will continue. The US Embassy says failure to maintain these policies could endanger US aid to Bolivia.
A serious confrontation in Colomi (between Cochabamba city and the Chapare) resulted in many wounded.
"Operation Rescue" to liberate 1300 stranded vehicles and 5000 passengers in the Chaapre began with 3600 combined armed forces
GOB ministers came to Cochabamba to negotiate with the Coordinadora del Agua, which refused to meet because Governor Orias was present. Orias is considered directly responsible for the deaths of two peasants last Sunday, when he flew over the conflict zone giving orders to troops on the ground.
The Coordinadora proposes the formation of a National Commission made up of the Church, the National Assembly of Human Rights and the Defensora del Pueblo to negotiate pending issues directly with popular leaders. Coordinadora leaders said "those from above who accuse us protesters of being subversives, savages and vagabonds, don't know the country in which they live. Let them come down from their fancy offices and see that we are their neighbors, workers and fellow citizens. The fight we are in now is only a battle. The war against the neoliberal model is just beginning, but rest assured it will continue"
Senators and congressmen from Cochabamba propose suspension of military base construction in the Chapare, creation of a tropical agriculture institute, resolution of the CBBA/Chimore road problem, and a commission to look at alternative development
The Defensora del Pueblo says Bolivia is in a virtual state of siege and that human rights are being abused.
Food prices around the country are up as much as 200%. The National Chamber of Commerce says the country has lost $200 million. Private debtors blocked banks in Cochabamba calling for cancellation of their debts.
The GOB's plan to hire new school teachers mostly failed
Leaders of the teachers, Coordinadora and peasants are going into hiding as warrants are out for their arrest. Coca leader Morales is also a national congressman and has immunity for now
UPDATE TUESDAY MORNING 9/26/00
There are now six dead in conflicts. One is a young soldier. Four of the civilian deaths are attributed to armed forces use of live ammunition. One civilian death was caused by a rock thrown by peasants. There are many more wounded and detained after a week of violence.
Roads throughout the country remained blocked. La Paz, Cochabamba, Santa Cruz, Potosi and Sucre are virtually isolated. The GOB was only able to clear the road from Villa Tunari to Cochabamba for 30 kilometers and at least 3000 vehicles are trapped at that distance from Villa Tunari. Among the passengers are foreign and national press. Fortun said this morning, that the GOB would complete the job today, but the Six Federations leaders maintain that road blocks remain. Troops near Sipi Sipi, where the first two peasant deaths occurred on Sunday, are armed with war materiele and armored vehicles.
Fortun again rejected the Chapare cocaleros' proposal to be able to have a minimum amount of controlled coca per family.
Civil society in La Paz has called for a complete shut down of that city tomorrow.
Opposition party CONDEPA added its voice to those calling for Banzer's resignation.
Corections from Monday's report
The death in the Chapare of a 17 year old student by a military bullet occurred in Cesarzama, near Chimore, not near Ivergazama - others were also seriously wounded
Fortun is Minister of Government, not the Presidency
The Altiplano death was near Guaqui, not in Desaguadero
UPDATE MONDAY 10PM 9/25/00
The Minister of Education has called on all parents of students in government schools that did not open today to meet tomorrow at their children's respective schools and review resumes of replacement teachers for those fired today. Said parents will be excused from their places of work (even if private) to do so. Striking teachers blocked the streets of La Paz today, bringing the city to a halt for several hours. Tomorrow a nationwide teachers' hunger strike begins. According to the Minister of Education, nationally 45% of government schools were open today, though in La Paz 88% were closed.
In Cochabamba, city blockades in the afternoon were minimal compared to last February and April. Five youths were detained. The Coordinadora del Agua y La Vida met in the afternoon with the Minister of Housing and reached tentative agreement on one point - writing regulations for the water law, but the Coordinadora said the blockades would continue until all points are settled in writing. A meeting is scheduled for tomorrow between the Coordinadora and Minister of Government, Fortun, but that meeting may be cancelled by occurances in the Chapare later in the afternoon today (see below) and Governor Orias' evening declarations (see below).
1500 troops were sent to Parotani where two peasants were killed yesterday. The peasants continue to try to block the road.
Peasants threatened to take over Corani, Cochabamba's electric facility. Troops have been sent in to prevent this.
In the Chapare, at 4pm the Six Federations refused to negotiate with the government unless the issues of zero coca and the 3 military bases could also be on the table. The GOB refused to discuss these issues, or Banzer's resignation. The GOB also made some unintelligible statement about the military bases helping in alternative development efforts. At 4:30, the roads around Villa Tunari were unblocked by the armed forces and a caravan of previously stranded vehicles 10 kilometers long began the ascent to Cochabamba city for the first time in over a week (parts of the road are still blocked but transport should be able to get through somehow for now). Many press and others stranded in Villa Tunari all week are trying to get back to the city of Cochabamba as I write. It is uncertain when they will make it. At approximately 5pm, a 17 year old peasant was killed by a lethal combined government forces bullet near Ivergazama in the Chapare. There were also two wounded. (I have written this section in bold and italics because even though most of the country is convulsed, the Chapare remains the tensest area and least likely to be resolved, unless the US changes its policies regarding zero coca and military bases in the Tropico of Cochabamba). This event guarantees more conflict, no dialogue for now and the Coordinadora's likely canceling of tomorrow's meeting with Fortun..
The other possible reason for the Coordiandora to cancel the meeting with Fortun is that Governor Orias announced tonight that he was invoking some law (I don't understand) that allows the government to arrest "agitators." It is thought that there are already 70 names on the arrest list.
Two people died on the blocked old road from Cochabamba to Santa Cruz: an older woman due to hardship caused by the blockade and a new born baby whose mother could not get adequate medical attention.
In the department of La Paz, the roads to Peru and Oruro (and therefore Chile) remain blocked. The military is out in force. Near Desaguadero there was another military caused death and 13 wounded.
The Yungas of La Paz has also entered the fray with peasants blocking the road. A civilian was killed by a rock thrown by peasants.
In Chuquisaca, near isolated Monte Aguda, peasants for three days have surrounded that department's main oil/gas rig which belongs to US based oil company Maxus. The Chaco Oil Co. and Transredes facilities outside of Santa Cruz, which have also been surrounded by peasants for several days, are now "free."
The country is said to be losing $20 million day due to blockades and food prices have risen as much as 150%. In Santa Cruz, food producers have asked the GOB to initiate a commercial and military air bridge to get their goods to markets.
Main opposition party, MNR, made a public statement today asking if the current government could continue. A special cabinet meeting was held this afternoon to decide that a state of siege would not be invoked since it would require parliamentary approval and the MNR could/would block such an initiative. Coalition parties (MIR and UCS) of the government have been strangely silent. Some opposition party congressmen are threatening to go on a hunger strike.
UPDATE MONDAY 2:20PM 9/25/00
The city of La Paz is immobilized by striking teachers. The Minister of Education has fired all teachers who did not work today. Teachers have declared a national hunger strike.
In the Altiplano (LP/Desaguadero road two more people have been seriously wounded - one in a coma and the other shot in the kidneys. Serious fighting is going on.
The Yungas peasants have joined the fight and are blocking the road to LP.
Sucre and Potosi are isolated.
At 4pm today, Evo Morales will give the Six Federations latest response to the GOB. Villa Tunari remains blocked.
The Coordinadora del Agua y la Vida called for the resignation of Cochabamba governor and increased road blocks nearer the city. As of a half hour ago the three most important avenues in the city were beginning to be blockaded by protesters.
More tonight.
UPDATE MONDAY MORNING 8am SEPTEMBER 25, 2000
Three, not two civilians, were killed by the military yesterday. The original two reported late yesterday were killed in Parotani, at some 20 or so miles from the city of Cochabamba. In light of this, the Coordinadora del Agua y la Vida and Evo Morales have declared they will no longer talk to Governor Orias, who sent in the troops. The third killing happened in the Altiplano (Desaguadero).
The Government is sending, or has already sent, combined armed forces around the country to clear road blocks. In the Chapare, Villa Tunari remained blocked, but Shinahota had been taken over by the military.
In the Altiplano there are no negotiations taking place since CSUTCB leader proposed meeting with Minister Fortun in Achacachi but the Minister said he would never meet with the peasant leader in the countryside, where the leader "won't even look him in the eye."
The Coordinadora del Agua y la Vida had dialogued with the Governor over the weekend, but after the two killings near Cochabamba, the Coordinadora refused to meet with him anymore, asking that the ministers of Agriculture, Housing and Basic Services make themselves available instead. The Coordiandora's demands remain:
- No payment to Aguas del Tunari for breaking their contract
- Acceptance of the water law amendments proposed by the Coordinadora
- Discussion on a new comprehensive water resources law
- Change the agrarian reform law INRA to assure peasant land security and title
- Review and revise electric tariffs in the countryside and cities
- Withdraw mining contracts that contaminate rivers, especially the Rive Arque
- Sanction those who stole earthquake reconstruction funds and other frauds
- Meet the demands of the teachers and cocaleros
The Six Federations of the Tropico have presented a counter-proposal to the Government (GOB):
- Instead of the GOB building military bases in the Chapare and a policy of zero option coca, and as a requirement for lifting the road blocks, the "cocaleros" offer to control narco-trafficking in the area
- They also ask to be allowed to maintain half a hectare of coca per family for licit coca use, and that the Six Federations pay taxes on their coca in exchange for demilitarizing the area
- That the GOB meet the demands of the teachers' union, the CSUTCB and the Coordinadora del Agua y la Vida
The GOB continues to declare that the military bases and zero coca option are non-negotiable.
The GOB had agreed to:
- Build produce markets in Sacaba (near Cochabamba city) and look for new markets in Santa Cruz, within 20 days
- Build an agro-industrial complex in the Chapare, to be approved by the Coordinadora and the Six Federations
- Provide 16% of funds to build a potable water system in Villa Tunari
- Asphalt the road from Villaroel to Ivirgarzama and conduct a serious engineering study of the El Sillar portion of the Cochabamba-Santa Cruz road
- Make Shinahota and Bulo Bulo independent municipalities
- Look for foreign technical assistance to help all the municipalities in the Chapare
- Assure that the National Park Isiboro Secure be off limits to developers and not ceded to the Beni
- Not expel any peasants from the Chapare
- Create an agricultural and environmental university in the area
- Have the Vice-Minister of Alternative Development conduct a study to support peasant initiatives in this area
- Create an inter-institutional commission on human rights for the Chapare
In light of the failure to reach full accord, especially on construction of the military bases and forced zero option coca eradication, and yesterday's killings, it is not clear if the 11 points already agreed upon will hold or not. Dialogue on all fronts also appears to be indefinitely suspended.
The Minister of Education and the national head of the teachers' union discussed their conflict on tv last night for an hour. No agreement was reached. The teachers maintain that the GOB's plan is a first step toward priviatizing this sector. The GOB has been giving school directors police training over the weekend and will have troops at government schools today. Again, any teacher or school director who fails to go to work today will be fired. The school year may be called off this week, 2 months short of completion. The average school teacher salary is $80 month.
At 10am this morning there is an open meeting at the main plaza in Cochabamba to discuss next steps by civil society.
UPDATE SUNDAY 5PM SEPTEMBER 24, 2000
Two peasants were killed and 11 wounded today in road block confrontations with government forces on the road between Cochabamba and Oruro.
The Coordinadora del Agua y la Vida cancelled a negotiating meeting this afternoon with the Governor of Cochabamba.
Peasant leaders from the Chapare did not return to Cochabamba today to continue dialoguing with the Government and road blocks continue there as well.
UPDATE SUNDAY MORNING SEPTEMBER 24, 2000
Beginning late yesterday afternoon, the Six Federations of the Tropico (cocaleros) leaders met with Government officials (Ministers of the Government and Agriculture and Cochabamba governor) for ten hours. Evo Morales and other Tropico leaders had to be flown out of the conflictive and blockaded Chapare on a small air force plane. The Catholic Church brought the two sides together. The National Permanent Assembly of Human Rights also played a role. Only 5 out of 13 "cocalero" demands were tentatively agreed upon, with the peasant leaders returning immediately to their "bases" for ratification before signing an accord. Morales and other Chapare leaders are supposedly due to return to the city of Cochabamba today to continue negotiations.
PRELIMINARY TENTATIVE AGREEMENTS
The Chapare peasants agree to lift the road blocks to allow stranded passengers and produce through
The Government agrees to:
- the creation of a tropical university in the Chapare under the supervision of the UMSS university in Cochabamba city
- asphalt the road between Ivergarzama and Puerto Villaroel
- look for markets for Chapare products alternative to coca
- not relocate any peasants from the Chapare
- revise the agrarian reform law
Many of these issues had already been "decided" by the government prior to the meeting. The most difficult and important issues remain in abeyance, including no construction of new military bases in the Chapare and no zero coca option in the region. Morales asked the Government to convince the US Embassy on these points, a clear indication of where such decisions are actually made.
Yesterday was also another violent day in the Chapare. A student received a bullet wound in the back and was evacuated to the city of Cochabamba. There are another 6 cocaleros also wounded by bullets. For their part, the peasants stoned a bus of foreign tourists trapped in the area. The tourists were evacuated by plane.
The Cochabamba based Coordinadora del Agua y la Vida organized more road blocks around the city.
In other parts of the country, CSUTCB leader said he was willing to negotiate with the Government in any provincial capital but would not first lift the road blocks around the country.
UPDATE SATURDAY MORNING SEPTEMBER 23, 2000
Since 8 of Bolivia's 9 Departments are now convulsed with civil actions and Government responses, this missive will list the most critical cases alphabetically.
ROAD BLOCKS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY
La Paz Dept. - Copacabana, San Roque, Vilaque, Patamanta, Huatjata, Tiquina, Huarina, Achacachi, Ancoraimes, Puerto Acosta, Desaguadero, Tacachira, Laja, Tambillo, Tiahuanacu, Guaqui
La Paz/Oruro - Villa Remedios, Tambo Quemado
Oruro/Cochabamba, Santa Cruz/Cochabamba (new and old roads), Sucre/Cochabamba, Sucre/Potosi, qnd other road blocks throughout the main corridors of the country
Throughout the country 1000s of travelers are trapped along road blocked roads and in bus terminals.
Nationally, prisoners are about to enter in a hunger strike protesting the new amnesty law which does not meet their expectations under the Jubillee2000 appeal.
COCHABAMBA DEPARTMENT
This centrally located and third most important department of the country is totally blocked in all directions from the rest of the country, now for several days. There are more than 50 road blocks throughout the department. In the city of Cochabamba yesterday, 10,000 marchers gathered finally in the central square and called for intensified road blocks over the weekend. On Monday another mass meeting will be held to decide on further and more extreme measures. Small private debtors also blocked all major banks in the city yesterday, forcing them to close. The department's agro-animal producers have lost $40 million since the blockades began. Food prices here and throughout the country have skyrocketed and scarcity is becoming a problem. Talks between the Coordinadora del Agua y la Vida and the governor broke down yesterday. Coordinadora leader, Oscar Olivera (this year's Letelier -Moffit Human Rights awardee in Washington, DC - mid October) said that the Coordinadora will only negotiate at a departmental level, including the demands of the teachers, peasants and cocaleros.
The tropical Chapare area of the department has been the hardest hit in all the country. At midday yesterday, some 800 troops entered the zone's most important town, Villa Tunari, over a bridge, armed with tear gas and live ammunition. 500 peasants met them head on at 200 meters, armed with sticks and stones. At 1:10 pm the troops started using gas, rubber and real bullets but the wind was in favor of the peasants who held the bridge until 3:30. Shooting and gassing continued at least until 5:30pm. Throughout the night the civilian population of Villa Tunari was harrassed by helicopters and shooting continued. Similar events took place throughout the day in nearby towns of Chimore, Luaka Ñ and Senda 3. Every chance they get, peasants reblock the roads after the troops clear them. Three isolated incidents of peasants using dynamite in road blocks were reported. In Ivergazama the road blocks are every 50 yards or so, not even bicycles can get through.
Results from yesterday alone
In Villa Tunari there were 12 civilians injured; 11 from gas canisters and one in the leg from a combat bullet. Peasants claim that troops stole 10 bikes and destroyed 20 more, 3 civilian trucks were also destroyed and at least three homes ransacked and destroyed by troops. 20 civilians were detained but only 7 appeared at the Chimore jail. There is serious concern for the well being of the other 13. Two military personnel were temporarily held by the peasants. The Government claims that one peasant shot one bullet in the air.
A US journalist in Villa Tunari all week reports that an informed and reliable source told him that there is a $6,000 bounty out for anyone who shoots and kills Congressman Evo Morales, leader of the Six Peasant Federations of the Tropics. Morales late in the day called on solidarity from the Coordinadora del Agua y la Vida in the city of Cochabamba.
LA PAZ DEPARTMENT
The university student who was injured and in a coma since early in the week, finally regained consciousness. Students from his university joined with other in calling for Banzer's resignation. Teachers paralyzed the country's main city, La Paz, three times on Friday and threaten to do so again on Monday, along with wives of low level police officers who mutineered in April, and whose demands were agreed to by the Government but never met. The blockades on the Altiplano continue, and although troops were brought in to clear them there was no violence. As soon as roads are opened by the combined forces, they are re-blocked by the peasants. One army battalion on the Altiplano near Achacachi was surrounded by peasants and held indefinitely.
The Cabinet met yesterday and declared that any teachers who do not return to work on Monday will be fired. They also set in motion several economic emergency acts such as reprogramming municipal debts, increasing funds for commercial loans and stop gap aid for small producers. Without releasing any details, the UNDP also said it would help bail out the corrupt and bankrupt ex-FONVIS (government supported housing).
SANTA CRUZ DEPARTMENT
The agricultural sector is losing $2 million a day, so far $8 million and counting. The poultry sector has lost $12 million so far as chicks and chickens could not be brought to market or fed or were lost in blockades. The Chaco Oil Co. and Transredes facilities outside of Santa Cruz are still controlled by 300 peasants. Teachers continue to threaten to close the city's International Expo-Fair, the largest in the country, which opened yesterday. 10,000 Students and teachers took over the main square for several hours yesterday. The city and Department remain isolated from the rest of the country.
SUCRE DEPARTMENT
The official capital of the country is also incomunicado with the rest of the country. Transport workers took over the City Council, denouncing the previous day's accord.
GOVERNMENT RESPONSE
The Government is still saying that it will use the fullest force of the law against those inciting sedition and will certainly not resign. There are now six sectors of Bolivian society calling for Banzer's resignation (the first time this has happened in over 15 years). These sectors include: the national peasant federation (CSTUCB), the Six Federations of the Tropics (known as cocaleros), the national teachers union, the Coordinadora del Agua y la Vida, factory workers and some opposition political parties such as the MBL and MAS. Though not yet calling for Banzer's resignation, the head of the national private business association declared yesterday that the crisis is the result of the government's lack of coherent economic policies. "This is a government which does not recognize the problems caused by the economic crisis," he stated.
The Government is offering to negotiate with all sectors once blockades are lifted but will not debate forced eradication, the 3 new to be built army bases in the Chapare, or return of teachers to work on Monday. The Church, the Defensora del Pueblo and the Asamblea Permanente de Derechos Humanos have once again offered to mediate but have so far been turned down, though at 12:30pm (right now) there may be some negotiations going forward.
UPDATE FRIDAY MORNING SEPTEMBER 22, 2000
According to today's Los Tiempos (Cochabamba's main daily newspaper)
· Thousands of rural teachers and CSUTCB peasants will block all roads leading in and out of Santa Cruz beginning Sunday the 24th
· A new prisoner amnesty law will be passed on October 2
· Part of the newly asphalted road from Oruro to Cochabamba was dynamited, causing severe damage
· 300 peasants still block Chaco Oil Co. and Transredes facilities outside of Santa Cruz
· The Ministry of Education offers teachers an annual $500 bonus based on a competency test to half the country's teachers beginning next year - the teachers' union rejects the proposal
· Economic loses due to roadblocks throughout the country are now calculated at $30 million and rising; remaining foodstuffs in markets are being sold at exorbitant prices as supplies dwindle
· Peasants are threatening to close Cochabamba's water company, SEMAPA's reservoir for failure to receive payment for their land; Cochabamba's governor has not replied to the peasants' request for payment in over 6 weeks
· The CSUTCB, the Rural Teachers Union and another congressman back Evo Morales' call for Banzer's resignation and new elections; US Ambassador to Bolivia, Manuel Rocha, said his government supports Banzer, unlike their favorable position supporting neighboring Peru's President Fujimori's call for early elections; despite national Bolivian convulsions, Rocha focused on violence in the Chapare
· More than 800 combined Government forces are accused of using combat ammunition and not just tear gas yesterday in Villa Tunari and Shinahota; Evo Morales was slightly wounded when he put himself between rock throwing cocaleros and armed troops attempting to pacify the situation; the Chapare Defensor del Pueblo accused the Government of gross human rights violations
· The Government acknowledged that Evo Morales sent them a communique requesting to dialogue but that they (the Government) refuse to discuss coca erradication and the soon to be built military bases in the Chapare; other issues like changes to the land reform and water rights laws are already being considered
DISTURBANCES IN BOLIVIA SEPTEMBER 14 TO 21, 2000
Current disturbances in 7 of Bolivia's 9 departments started last week in La Paz when the national teachers' union marched for a 50% pay raise and other demands (the actual average teachers' monthly salary is less than $100/month) . Earlier this week, teachers' marches continued in La Paz, Cochabamba and in other departments. The Ministry of Educatation offered a graduated pay raise next year based on job tenure and teacher qualifications but also said that it would proportionally cut any teachers' pay who had not shown up for work during the strikes and marches. Moreover, the Minister said he had no idea where the Government would find the money to pay the increases. The union and its members did not accept the Government's proposal and have called for a national conference of teachers on Friday, September 22 to analyze the Government's position. Meanwhile, the teachers' strike remains in effect indefinately and a massive national march and/or hunger strike is possible.
Students from the Siglo XX University carried out their own marches in La Paz this week demanding more Government resources for their education. On Tuesday, a student received a direct hit to his head from a teargas cannister and is now in a coma with an uncertain medical prognosis. The National Bolivian Permanent Assembly of Human Rights was quoted in the press as declaring this incident to be attempted murder and torture by the police.
Also beginning last week, peasants in the Entre Rios/Bulo Bulo area of the Carrasco Province of the Cochabamba tropics began a road block demanding that their years old petition for municipal recognition be met by the Bolivian Parliament. The Government agreed six days later and entered the area to dislodge the blockade with the Carrasco peasants standing by. An hour later the blockade was reinstalled by the peasants who said it would remain until they saw written proof that their demands had been met.
Public health doctors went on strike this week. Within a day the Government agreed to reimburse them for unpaid back pay from last year (1999) with no reprisals since the complaint was justifiable and the fault of the government itself.
Prisoners throughout the country are either on hunger strikes or planning them as the three branches of the Government debate the newly passed Jubilee2000 law, challenged by the Judiciary, which would give amnesty to thousands of Bolivians currently in prison.
Heavy transport drivers blocked the center of Bolivia's capital, Sucre, with huge trucks for a week. Yesterday an agreement was reached by the local university, cement factory owners and transport drivers.
The National Pesant Union (CSUTCB) began country-wide road blocks earlier this week closing the two roads to the Peruvian border (via Copacabana and Desaguadero), the main roads from La Paz to Cochabamba (on the Altiplano via Oruro and Pongo), and the old road from Cochabamba to Santa Cruz and Sucre/Potosi. All roads leading into and out of Cochabamba (the geographic center of the country) are closed, calculated to cost the department at least $3 million a day (the Government declared that over $20 million has been lost nationally since the road blocks began and that foreign trade contracts are in danger of being cancelled). Food markets are nearly empty. CSUTCB leader, Felipe Quispe, blames the Government for refusing to discuss their demands made over 90 days ago.
Yesterday outside of Santa Cruz, 300 peasants took over three Chaco Petroleum Co. processing plants, shutting them down. Thursday, five plants were closed, but late day negotiations eased the situation and peasants withdrew. There is now concern that other Santa Cruz Department peasants may take action soon in the Chiquitania region where the Bolivian subsidiary, Transredes, of US oil company ENRON, is building a gas line through a delicate ecological zone inhabited by indigenous.
The now world famous Cochabamba Coordinadora del Agua y la Vida (their protests in April spread to other parts of the country and resulted in a national state of seige being declared by the Government), entered into discussions with the Government on Monday, September 18. Their demands are:
1) Final dissolution of the Aguas del Tunari contract
2) Develop and approve the new water law 2066 regulations within 2 months
3) Dissolve the agrarian reform law INRA and replace it with one based on consultation with peasants
4) Improve Standard of Living Conditions including subsidized transport fees for students, adeqaute public health and education and decent working conditions for people working in these sectors, review of electricity rates and tariffs, clean up of the contaminated Arque River, and full medical attention to those civilians injured in April clashes with the Government
5) Respect for human rights, especially no construction of military bases in the Chapare and no forced coca erradication
6) An anti-corruption campaign within the Government, especially concerning misuse of earthqauke reconstruction funds from Aiquile and FONVIS in general, and corruption in the customs agency
The Monday discussions with the Government were unsatisfactory and on Tuesday the Coordinadora announced that there would be a march in Cochabamba on Wednesday (mostly led by the teachers' unions) and that the city's access roads would be blocked indefinitely by the CSUTCB. The Coordinadora has called for closing down the city on Friday the 22nd.
Of equal, if not greater renown are the coca growers' Six Federations of the Tropics of Cochabamba. Last August 24 they sent a written petition to the Government to discuss and dialogue on 9 points:
1) Access to their own non-coca produce markets in Santa Cruz, Cochabamba and the Southern departments of the country
2) Fulfillment of the signed contract with the Government in October, 1997 for an agro-industrial complex in the Chapare
3) The need for a tropical agriculture and environmental protection university in the Chapare that recognizes and respects the biodiversity of the region
4) Absolute guarantee for current land tenancy in the area
5) A permanent all weather road from Cochabamba to Santa Cruz, through the Chapare
6) A public evaluation and audit of alternative development funds "invested" in the Chapare (over the last more than a decade)
7) The involvement of the Defensora del Pueblo in investigating human rights abuses in the area and compensation for deaths and injuries caused by Government confrontations over the last several years
8) No construction of bunker-like military bases in the Chapare (to be funded primarily by the US) which exceed standards in other parts of the country and represent a violation of national sovereignty and are the focus of foreign intervention in the name of the War on Drugs
9) Discussion of alternative licit uses of coca
No reply was ever received from the Government and on September 5, the Six Federations sent letters to the Catholic Church, the Defensora del Pueblo and the National Bolivian Asssembly of Human Rights requesting their intervention towards dialogue. These three most respected Bolivian institutions did appeal to the Government but either received no reply or were flatly rejected. As late as Sunday night, September 17, the "cocaleros" were willing to dialogue but again the Government refused. On Monday morning, the 18th , road blocks (made of stones and trees) were put up along the Cochabamba/Santa Cruz road. On Tuesday night the Government sent additional combined armed forces into the area (there are already combined forces present undertaking forced coca erradication). By Wednesday, there were 5 wounded civilians (all from gas cannister wounds) and 6 detainees. Today, Thursday the 21st, Government forces took over and militarized Villa Tunari (the most important town in the Chapare) and headed toward Santa Cruz where there are more blockades along the way. Official international alternative development workers are trying to helicopter out. Another 3 wounded were reported today in Villa Tunari, at least one of whom is cocalero leader Feliciano Mamani, whose wounds were serious enough for him to be medically evacuated to Santa Cruz on a US NAS/DEA helicopter. This humanitarian act was mediated by the Church, the Defensora del Pueblo and the Human Rights Assembly. In the next towns after Villa Tunari, Shinahota and Chimore, more injured are reported, including the mayor of Chimore who was severely beaten by Government forces and arrested. Once again the Government seems to be concentrating its forces in the Chapare even though road blocks and other demonstrations continue around the country. This is also the only sector the Government unilaterally refused to meet and dialogue with before the conflicts began.
Last night the Government still refused to dialogue and said that all protesters who attempt to stop the flow of national transport will receive maximum legal reprisals. Under the Bolivian Constitution, the Government can not declare a second state of siege (the first one was in April) this year and is anticipated to use armed forces to control the situation instead.
Today the Defensora del Pueblo spoke out against all road blocks which she declared "capricious" because they hurt all Bolivians.
The Catholic Church however finally managed to convince the Government today to dialogue with the Chapare cocaleros. The Government agreed if all Chapare road blocks were first removed. Publically the Government said that coca erradication and the to be constructed military bases were off limits to discussion. This years, months, weeks and days late concession to discuss other issues was rejected by the Six Federations' top leader, Congressman Evo Morales, who called for Bolivian President General Hugo Banzer's resignation instead. Several Government ministers and spokespeople declared Morales' statement to be seditious and accused the cocaleros of being in consort with narco-traffickers, as in Colombia, but provided no evidence or proof.
National peasant (including cocalero), teacher and Coordinadora del Aqua y la Vida leaders and their followers are cordinating efforts to the extent that communications allow, but the Government's critique remains focused on the Chapare cocaleros.
END