One Cocalero Dead Written on September 29, 2004, by Eddie.
One of President Carlos Mesa’s self-professed accomplishments over the past year has been the avoidance of violence between the various social sectors and the government. Even though yesterday’s death of cocalero Juan Choque ended that streak of a year free of bloodshed, some are quick to place the entire blame and Mesa and his government without taking into consideration the responsibility of the cocalero movement.
The event took place far from the streets of the urban centers, where cameras and reporters could have better understood that morning’s occurrences. We only have the word of the two sides, and each has a stake to appear as the innocent party acting only in self-defense.
Immediately after word came that violent confrontation took place in the Reserve Isiboro-Secure 250 km from Cochabamba, and far from the beaten trail of the Chapare, newspapers dispatched reporters to try to piece together what took place. The daily La Razon:
“Según el dirigente, los enfrentamientos se registraron por la provocación de los uniformados, a pesar de que en la mañana, en una pequeña reunión con los militares se acordó que no habría erradicación.
Salazar (cocalero leader) sostuvo, sin embargo, que los militares rompieron su compromiso y atacaron a los campesinos disparando sus armas y ocupando la escuela de Bustillos, incluso con los niños estudiantes adentro.
El comandante de la Fuerza de Tarea Conjunta (FTC), teniente coronel Darío Leigue Moreno, afirmó que los campesinos emboscaron a los soldados y policías que se dirigían a erradicar cultivos de coca.
Sostuvo que los cocaleros no sólo utilizaron piedras, palos y machetes, sino también dinamita y hasta armas de fuego, situación que obligó a los uniformados a hacer también uso de sus armas de reglamento.
Looking at the webpage for Bolivia Indymedia, for a different perspective, the lead article makes sure to emphasize that the cocaleros are the only innocent and honorable party.
“Durante la vigilia pacífica del movimiento cocalero para resistir la erradicación forzosa de coca, las Fuerzas de Tarea Conjunta al no cumplir con lo acordado salieron por detrás a erradicar ocasionando un enfrentamiento..”
Extra emphasis is written that all events and assemblies by cocaleros are peaceful (in case you missed it the first time).
Nota: Se seguirán realizando las concentraciones masivas y las vigilias de manera pacífica
Evo Morales, who at times has been trying to play the role of reasonable opposition leader, declared from left-field, “Yo no sé si es una provocación del Gobierno o del Gobierno de Estados Unidos para desestabilizar la democracia. Esto vamos a investigar”.”
Besides the death of the 37 year old man, there are also 9 injured campesinos, including a four year old child. However, there are also injured campesinos, who happen to be wearing military uniforms. In a sense, this pits people from similar communities against each other, and often ends tragically.
From La Razon:
Heridos Uniformados: Néstor Quewaña Veizaga, Rubén Cayo Mamani Sullcani, Fortunato Quispe Poma, José Apaza Apaza. Police officer Mario Laime Laura con herida aparentemente de bala en el dedo medio del pie derecho
Judging from their names and applying a blanket generalization, the surnames would suggest that these are poor young men from indigenous backgrounds who were doing their jobs.
There have been reported instances of military soliders, often as young as 18 that have been thrust into this mountainous task, having overstepped their bounds by violating basic human rights. Often lacking in sensitivity in dealing with this issue, it’s easy to see how these soldiers are placed in a no-win situation. Obviously there have been many instances where the military have used extreme force and harsh tactics, but too often the extreme left takes the position that there can only be one wrong party in these situations. Yet, there are always two sides to every story and a shared responsibility.
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