Enero 05, 2005
I Feel a Bit Dirty
Reading my past post about gas prices, I sound awfully critical of the social movements. I have never hidden the fact that I admire Carlos Mesa and hope that he continues to be a part of Bolivian history (Referendum and Constituent Assembly).
However, I am no apologist for the status quo. My criticisms never defend the political parties and especially not the Santa Cruz business section. I try to be as objective as possible, and if that means criticizing the social movements, who often poorly represent whole marginalized sections of society, then so be it.
But it's never without guilt because it seems like I am saying that their interests are not legitimate. But it's good to see self-criticism, and not by some middle-class Bolivian-American living in another country.
In a book my brother gave me called "Bolivia Al Poder" written by the Movimiento al Pachakuti senatorial candidate in Potosi, Walter Reynaga, who is also a member of the Movimiento Tierra y Libertad Tomas Katari (in other words someone much more in a position to hold these social movements to a higher standard, than I), he talks about ways these groups can improve themselves.
1. Voluntary affiliation of its members
2. Financial contributions to unions, associations, neighborhood councils, school councils, etc. should be totally voluntary and spontaneous, as it is in the allyus. Fines and other penalties to members should also be prohibited. Any type of coercion should be prohibited (including the manipulation of benefits, that members have the right to, i.e. water, electricity, or the fixing of roads, as it relates to neighborhood groups).
3. The prohibition of the re-election of leaders in the three highest leadership positions in these organizations.
Obviously these things are happening, if Reynaga is speaking out against them. Often when social protests and strikes take place, these things are never mentioned. Often times, money changes hands in exchange for participation in a march. Sure the participants may agree with the issue at hand, but does it take away from the true nature of democratic social protest?
Strike News: Good news that it seems that all the strikes and blockades were relatively peaceful. The government reiterated that part of the decrease in subsidies is directly related to the contraband selling of lower-priced gas. People are profiting off of these subsidies apparently.
Posted by eduardo at Enero 5, 2005 02:59 PM
Comments
I think it's VERY important to be critical of social movements, as well as self-critical. Deifying social movements (as often happens in lefty social-activist press like indymedia.org) & putting them up on a pedestal, refusing to look at potential negatives of characters like Evo or Mallku is dangerous. And, no, you don't have to throw the baby out w/ the bathwater — and I don't think you've ever done that.
Also, for the record, I dislike Mesa & don't think he's a very good leader. Beyond rhetoric, he's not really helping (and I think his rhetoric is actually hurting, in some cases, by increasing expectations beyond anyone's ability to deliver). But I don't want him toppled — by anyone.
I think the best "exit strategy" would be to take a lesson from 1985 — call for new elections. I'd speed up the autonomias referendum, then call for a constituent assembly election, and as soon as a new constitution is hammered out, call for new national elections. That trajectory should be spelled out explicitly. I think Bolivians are a very patient people, willing to endure much. But they have to see a light at the end of the tunnel. 2007 is too far away for most people. They need to see a roadmap, w/ the scheduled stops along the way clearly spelled out.
Posted by: Miguel Centellas at Enero 5, 2005 11:19 PM
If there were early elections, who would be the winner? Evo or Tuto? In the case of the latter, it will be business as usual with coalitions, alliances, etc. that has put us in the mess we're at now. One of the real hopes for the country is rewriting the Constitution, and I think Mesa has the political will to get that done.
Posted by: eduardo at Enero 8, 2005 10:28 AM