Octubre 14, 2004
Goni On Trial
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 first vote that called for only Goni and cabinet members Carlos Sanchez Berzain and Yerko Kukoc fell two votes short in order to gain 2/3 majority.
However, when members of Goni´s MNR party announced that they would support a trial for Goni only if the entire cabinet was named as accomplices. Many speculate that this public support, which would implicate members of the ruling coalition parties, such as NFR and MIR, would cause lawmakers from those parties to reconsider their votes.
What made the two-hour transmission interesting, was seeing the chaos and lack of respect among Congress. The telvision viewer, acting as a voyeur, caught glimpses of Evo Morales throwing a wadded-up piece of paper at another Congressman. One also heard the strong words of one Congresswoman castigating her fellow lawmakers who cowardly left the chamber to avoid having to make a public vote. Whenever, a member of the MNR voted "No", one could hear chants of "ASESINO!"
In the end, it appeared as if the MNR´s strategy backfired because the 2/3 majority vote was achieved. One MIP representative publicly ridiculed their strategy, saying that Goni´s former party was "knocked-out."
How this will play out is anybody´s guess. There are rumors that Goni holds American citizenship and won´t have to return to stand trial. Yet, the American ambassador to Bolivia David Greenlee said that that was not true, but refused to comment on whether Goni would be extradited.
Posted by eduardo at Octubre 14, 2004 10:34 PM
Comments
In El Diario I read something interesting. They said that for the second vote a different formula for counting the votes was used. Did you hear anything as to the nature of this formula?
Posted by: MB at Octubre 15, 2004 03:41 AM
Eduardo, never mind my question about the formula. I just figured it out. Thanks.
Posted by: MB at Octubre 15, 2004 04:00 AM
hey eddie
interesting stuff here. dyou ever hang out at VB? tell those kids i say hey.
man, i wish i were down there too.
Posted by: Joe Brown at Octubre 15, 2004 01:26 PM
Actually I am on my over there right now. Last weekend, I hung out with Javier and his Calvert buddies.
La Republika is still closed though, so it´s not the same..
Posted by: eduardo at Octubre 15, 2004 04:00 PM