“I am not a terrorist.” – sign on the National Mall, April 2006
On that crisp April afternoon on the National Mall in Washington, DC, the multitude of Latinos and their families draped themselves in American flags, flags from their homeland and waved handwritten signs. Some of those placards pleaded for better treatment for undocumented […]
Towering over La Paz Mayor Juan del Granado, Mexican President Vicente Fox (standing six-foot-five) was given the key to the city and the prestigious Condor of the Andes. However, his visit was not well received by all. Several MAS Congressmen showed their discontent with Fox’s visit. (Picture here)
En esa sesión, los diputados Iván […]
What do you think of when you hear the word - genocide? Auschwitz, Darfur, Rwanda? How about Goni and El Alto? The Attorney General’s office in Bolivia has six months to present the case of genocide against former President Gonzalo “Goni” Sanchez de Lozada.
The Bolivian Congress insisted he should be accused […]
In the most unofficial of formats, here are ten stories that stood out in my memory in 2004.
Bolivia Gas Referendum
For the first time in over 70 years, Bolivia participated in a direct democratic exercise. Even though the vaguely-worded questions left the door open for broad interpretation, democracy in Bolivia shifted, if […]
Negotiations resumed yesterday in Tucson, Arizona for the Andean Free Trade Agreement (AFTA) involving the Andean countries of Ecuador, Colombia, and Peru. Bolivia is participating as an observer. The trade in question not only includes goods and products crossing respective borders, but may also include measures to deregulate and privatize essential services such as […]
Speculation arose last month that the international tribunal, (Icsid) from the World Bank was ready to hand down a ruling concerning Aguas del Tunari. Speculation also followed that the ruling wouldn’t be very favorable for Bolivia. As you may remember, the “Guerra del Agua” in Cochabamba forced the Banzer adminstration to scrap privatization […]
A bomb rocks the Ministry of Defense in La Paz. Fortunately, the explosion took place at night and no one was injured. This was the latest explosion by dynamite in the last ten days. Other targets included a military installation and the television channel P.A.T., which current President Carlos Mesa was one […]
I ran across a great website: enlared.org, which provides great information regarding municipalities, legislation and other public information. Over the weekend, I am going to spend some time investigating. An example of some information I found:
Monthly (Official) Salaries for the Mayor (2003):
Santa Cruz: Bs. 20875 ($2,609 USD)
La Paz: Bs. 19500 ($2,437 USD)
Cochabamba: […]
Bolivia is one of 16 countries that have qualified to receive aid from the Millenium Challenge Corporation for the coming year. Because of its place as one of the world’s poorest countries and because it shows sign of stability (in comparison with places in complete chaos), Bolivia can stand to receive grant money from […]
Even though, the strike in Santa Cruz was a relative success in the eyes of the regional “leaders”, as predicted there were strong-armed tactics and violence towards those that did not choose to join the strike.
En las ediciones meridianas, los medios televisivos cruceños mostraron imágenes de grupos de brigadistas que emplearon chicotes para obligar a […]
As promised, the Comites Civicos of Santa Cruz and Tarija have come through on their threat. An organized general strike began this morning at 12 a.m. For the next 24 hours, no markets will be open, no cars, buses, or taxi will operate, and businesses will be closed. Now, it is not […]
Plans for a department-wide strike, threats of a refusal to pay taxes, and even whispers of an orchestrated golpe, sounds like the shenanigans of the COB (Central Obrero Boliviana), right? Guess again, but now the same tactics used by the far-extreme left are being used by the far-extreme right. The Comite Civico of […]
In a rare interview granted to the Miami Herald, former President Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada reiterated that he does not believe he can receive a fair trial in Bolivia. The former President stated that he would prefer being tried by an outside independent judge, and mentioned Spanish judge Baltazar Garzón as a possibility.
However, Bolivia […]
Former President and all-around bad guy Slobodan Milosevic could be heading to Bolivia. The United Nations has formally requested that Milosevic be kept in a prison in Bolivia. The prision “El Abra” could be the site of Mr. Milosevic´s new home in exchange for the UN payment towards the prisoners´ meals.
A Bolivian television channel broadcasted live the Congressional vote to determine whether ex-President Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada would stand trial. The poorly configured sound system did not allow for clear understanding of each Congressperson´s opinion or vote. However, in the end, the result was Goni will stand trial, along with his entire cabinet.
The […]
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 […]
Thank heavens for CNN en Español, the cable channel that broadcasted live Carlos Mesa’s address to the United Nations.
As expected, he reiterated Bolivia’s longstanding claim for access to the Chile. Mesa will speak to whoever listens and always at an international meeting of world leaders. He said that “El problema marítimo […]
President Carlos Mesa is scheduled to address the United Nations on Wednesday. Among the topics he is expected to address include the Referendum results, the ongoing diplomatic struggle to regain access to the sea, and the current state of Bolivia.
He also appeared on CNN where he was asked:
CNN: - Cuéntenos ¿qué ha sido lo […]
Any plan that touches the volatile coca leaf and cocaine issue will undoubtedly be received through leery lenses. Past experiences of forced eradication, human rights abuses, alternative development failures, and a sense of imposition would make any cocalero highly skeptical.
Yet, Bolivia has no choice in the matter. Spurned by external pressues, namely from […]
Last week, word circulated that Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada had recorded a videotape in his Washington, DC office. The content of this tape was a guarded secret. Members of his party (MNR) acknowledged the tape, yet refused to provide more details.
Secrecy like this suggested revealing information that could send the country into a […]