Octubre 13, 2004
Goni Trial Close
The problem with the upcoming municipal elections is that every issue will now become politicized. Political parties that have fallen out of favor are trying to recapture the illusion of being on the side of the people. One cannot blame politicians, who, by definition, base their decisions on the likelihood of being elected or re-elected.
One such issue is the "Trial of Responsibilities" of former President Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada. Large popular sectors are pushing for this trial for his role in the civil unrest last October. Most of the Congress, including former coalition members MIR and NFR are pushing for this trial to proceed, and to also include ex-ministers Carlos Sanchez Berzain and Yerko Kukoc.
President Carlos Mesa is supporting the trial.
Other extreme left political parties and groups like MIP and COB are proposing to try the entire cabinent accusing them of "murder, genocide, human rights violations, acts against the Constitution, and civil rights abuses."
Genocide?
If and when this trial takes place, you can count on any number of defenses that will try to bring others down with them. Already one of the accused, Yerko Kukoc, who was found in possession of hundreds of thousands of Bs. from the reserved funds, is trying to use this strategy. Yesterday, he produced a receipt that accused coalition member and MIR chief Jaime Paz Zamora of receiving nearly $50,000 per month in exchange of supporting the coalition.
More names to follow.
Posted by eduardo at Octubre 13, 2004 02:04 PM
Comments
I agree a trail's important. I hope it's fair. But the accusations of genocide are just grandstanding. Worse, I take the C. S. Lewis approach ... using the term "genocide" to mean a few deaths, strips the word of its meaning. Genocide is Rwanda, the ovens of Auschwitz, the rape camps in Srbrenica. Not a confrontation between poorly armed police & more poorly armed rioters.
Posted by: Miguel Centellas at Octubre 13, 2004 06:38 PM
Agreed 100% about the genocide term.
Posted by: eduardo at Octubre 13, 2004 07:08 PM
Hey...remember me??? it's been awhile....i'm happy to see you are back in Bolivia...I'm planning a trip for the holiday season with a hopeful visit to paraguay where a close friend of mine is serving in the peace corps...i'm off to work now so i'll read your journal later but as viewed it quickly i was quite impressed....you should write for a newspaper like your brother...:) hope all is well...~Martha~
Posted by: Martha at Octubre 27, 2004 09:42 AM