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Febrero 28, 2005
Easier Said Than Done
Gustavo Torrico (MAS) had this to say about President Carlos Mesa via La Epoca weekly newspaper's Frase de la Semana:
“Mesa es como esos chicos malcriados que siempre se meten en problemas y después hay que ir a salvarlos. Sería bueno que aprenda a gobernar”
Where would one "learn how to govern"? So far no one to date has been able to manage all of the different forces within the country, while trying to reduce poverty and create more economic opportunities for Bolivians. His critics often cite the fact that he has no backing of a political party, as if it were a bad thing and as if it were his fault. Would they prefer that from the beginning that he ask for the backing of a political party in exchange for some cabinet seats and other governmental jobs? It would just have been business as usual. Clearly he is trying to find a balance between two polar opposites (who both consider him the number one enemy). Why would anyone want to be President when neither side wants to compromise?
Posted by eduardo at 10:26 AM | Comments (2)
Febrero 25, 2005
Monkey Update
The current bid to name a new species of monkey found in the Madidi National Park in Western Bolivia is up to $22,000. Bidding ends on March 3.
Posted by eduardo at 12:47 PM | Comments (0)
Febrero 23, 2005
Bolivia News From the Neighbors
One site that I've been checking regularly has been a site called Bolivia..Lo Mejor Que Tenemos. The site's owner scans the online newspapers from the region to see what they are writing about Bolivia. Today's listing of stories uncovered some interesting developments in Peru and Mexico.
Evo Morales lanzará versión de su partido político en Perú - From the Chilean Newspaper "La Tercera"
Mafias de México buscan expandir narcotráfico a Bolivia y Perú - From the Mexican Newspaper Diario Hoy
This is a pretty good service on this page because it scans the web for info about Bolivia. As the number of different sources continues to grow, then there is more information to formulate opinions. Other newspapers regularly featured come from Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Spain, Portugal and the Miami "El Nuevo Herald".
Posted by eduardo at 02:50 PM | Comments (0)
Febrero 21, 2005
Genocide It Is
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 of genocide - a term usually reserved for the systematic and planned extermination of an entire national, racial or ethnic group.
Two of his ministers, Carlos Sanchez Berzain and Yerko Kukoc were also named in these charges. His entire cabinet has also been named as accomplices. The charges stem from the deaths of 60 in El Alto and approximately 200 injured during the unrest of October 2003. Goni and Sanchez Berzain currently reside in the United States and may face extradition
Posted by eduardo at 10:43 PM | Comments (3)
Febrero 19, 2005
The IMF in Bolivia
Ricardo de Rato, IMF Director, visited Bolivia and met with several individuals and groups. As expected much of the meeting touched on the sale of hydrocarbons. The IMF released a statement from De Rato:
"Nevertheless, crucial challenges remain. It will be critical to take advantage of the favorable world economy to move forward and forge consensus on policies aimed at reviving investment and addressing social concerns as part of the process of establishing the basis for sustained growth. In particular, sound management of Bolivia's rich hydrocarbon resources will be crucial to develop the economy to the benefit of all. New investments will be essential for this purpose, inevitably involving the private sector, and within a transparent and efficient framework. Bolivia's rich natural resources, if well managed, hold the promise of raising living standards and reducing poverty.
Even Evo Morales had a meeting and photo-op with Mr. De Rato.
Morales clarified his position regarding the Hydrocarbons Law that he is supporting.
Por su parte, el jefe del MAS, Evo Morales, aseguró que De Rato le manifestó la preocupación existente en el FMI por la situación financiera que atraviesa el país. También hablaron sobre la Ley de Hidrocarburos que promueve el MAS y que supuestamente no daría garantías a la inversión privada.
"Nosotros le manifestamos que en la ley no estamos pidiendo confiscación. Estamos convencidos que es importante tener socios, pero que sí queremos ser dueños de nuestras riquezas", aseguró Morales. Pidió además que el FMI cambie el modelo económico actual y “repare los daños que hicieron tanto el Banco Mundial como esta entidad".
Posted by eduardo at 09:01 PM | Comments (0)
Febrero 18, 2005
Bolivar and International Competition
Club Bolivar, which almost won the Copa Sudamericana last year, beat Brazilian power Santos last Wednesday 4-3 in the first match in Group 2 of the Copa Libertadores. The team from São Paulo, which Pele made famous, was blindsided by Argentine midfielder Cristian Zermatte and his hat-trick.
I have been without Fox Sports for a quite while and have not had all of the International soccer matches at home. So in what is quickly turning into a tradition, I watched the game at my cousin's house where we ordered a pizza and sipped on increasingly-tolerable Inca Kola.
Posted by eduardo at 03:43 PM | Comments (2)
Febrero 16, 2005
Speaking Up
During my backpacking time in Peru in 2001, schedules would change and decisions would be made instantly. Going with the flow would be my modus operandi. As a result, I would usually have to take what was available in terms of transportation. On my way back to Puno and the Bolivian border, the last bus from Arequipa was just about sold out. The last ticket was the last seat near the bathroom. I crossed my fingers hoping that the bathroom had been out of order for some time, if not I could expect dozens of people going in and out leaving their stink behind. When buses are sold out, you can always count on the driver and his lackeys to sell precious aisle floor space to anyone desperate to make it to the next destination.
Sitting in the back with my headphones, I observed a younger Indian woman make her way to the back. She spotted a padded seat-like box that might make the 10 hour trip a little less arduous. However, minutes later this robust thug-like man, who also needed to make it to Puno, would spot the young Indian woman, who appeared to potentially have a more comfortable ride ahead of her. He told her to get up and that the driver said that he could have whatever she was sitting on. Obviously a blatant lie, he felt entitled to take her resourcefulness away from her. What could she do? He told her to get up again and to hand him her small stool-like seat. I was watching the whole scene unravel in front of me, and for some reason, I said “por que?” (in reference to why must she give up her seat to you?).
I was merely a background observer prior to that outburst, and now the thug focused on me. “Tienes algun problema?” In that split second I imagined myself responding “yes, you’re my problem” and things escalating from there, saving the day and receiving a medal for bravery from the town mayor. Also in that small lapse of time, I imagined the guy flipping out a knife and my vacation ending rather unfortunately. So I didn’t answer back, watched the young Indian woman give up her stool, and found myself stewing the entire ten hour bus ride back to Puno.
It certainly didn’t help that I observed this guy’s every move the entire way back. He reached into his pocket and started thumbing through an X-rated deck of cards, quietly ogling the naked Queen of Hearts. He was even more annoying as he was the only one laughing out loud at the live-action version of the Jungle Book playing on small television screens.
The young Indian woman ended up propped up against the out-of-order bathroom, where she eventually mustered up the drowsiness to fall asleep. For some reason, I’ll never forget that woman and wondered what if I did tell that guy that I did have a problem.
Posted by eduardo at 05:18 PM | Comments (2)
Febrero 15, 2005
Tiquipaya
What used to be a remote pueblito on the outskirts of Cochabamba is now just part of the urban growing center of Cochabamba. The road to Tiquipaya used to be kilometers and kilometers of open spaces, but gradually it was all filled in by concrete, brick and mortar. Tiquipaya is quechua for "Place of the Flowers". Even though it's no longer the quiet rural village that it once was, it is still a getaway from the noise and bustle of Cochabamba.
Approaching Tiquipaya, the cholita is a recognizable landmark that was moved during the construction of the Avenue extending from Av. Simon Lopez.
Posted by eduardo at 11:33 AM | Comments (1)
Febrero 13, 2005
Alaska and Let's Name a Monkey
Latest scan of online newspapers for Bolivia news:
It's been 8 months since the Referendum on the export of the sizable gas reserves and nothing has been resolved. This Washington Times opinion-piece criticizes the Indian leaders that wish to create a state monopoloy to control the reserves. It also cites examples of Alaska and Chad, where poor communities have benefitted from their natural resources by rejecting not tapping these reserves.
In 1971, the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act addressed this directly by creating regional and village corporations comprised of native Alaskans. These received the right to exploit the resources of more than 44 million acres, with a $1 billion payout directly to native Alaskan shareholders. Native Alaskans still reap vast sums, totaling billions of dollars yearly.
Alaska's indigenous-owned corporations now get the energy jobs and government contracts, using their revenue to create new businesses and jobs for their communities. As a result, structural poverty has vanished among targeted Alaskan indigenous communities in a single generation. The key has been ownership by indigenous people, not a state bureaucracy.
The Wildlife Conservation Society is trying to raise money to help Madidi National Park in Western Bolivia, which has been threatened by construction. The discovery of a new species of monkey may bring revenue to help manage the park.
The animal, a variety of titi monkey of the genus Callicebus, was first spotted in 2000 in Madidi National Park in Bolivia. Observations made since then convinced the discoverers -- including Dr. Robert Wallace of the conservation society -- that the monkey was a new species.
Ordinarily, the person who discovers a species has the right to name it, and species often have been named for people who supported research or financed an expedition.
An online auction will sell the naming rights for this new species. On February 24, the auction will begin on the site ww
w.charityfolks.com.
Posted by eduardo at 02:16 PM | Comments (2)
Febrero 11, 2005
Bolivians in Virginia (Part I)
Jokingly they refer to Arlington, VA as “Arlibamba” in reference to the huge number of Bolivian immigrants, especially those from Cochabamba who headed the first wave of mass movement twenty years ago. I’ve only been the area for less than a year, but my wish is to get more involved with the Bolivian community in the Metro DC area. Throughout my post-college life I’ve gravitated towards the Latino immigrant community in Omaha. However, that community was exclusively Mexican and Salvadoran. This was my chance to make some connections and see how I can contribute to a Bolivian community.
The U.S. subsidiary Los Tiempos USA of the Cochabamba newspaper of the same name had printed an open invitation to Bolivian immigrants to a meeting with members of the Diplomatic staff from the Bolivian embassy and consulate. Center stage would be a dialogue about immigration issues and an update on the progress towards the issuance of a Matrícular Consular, a card that all Bolivian immigrants could obtain as a form of identification much like their Mexican counterparts.
By the time the start time of 7 p.m. had arrived, only a small handful of people were anxiously waiting in the offices of the Centro de Justicia in Falls Church. I took a seat near the back, which was a perfect spot to sit back and observe and listen to what would take place over the next three hours.
As people waited for the program to start and as more people would wander in according to Latino time, complete strangers would find a common bond. As their fellow strangers in a strange land, the Bolivian immigrants would swap stories. The first question asked was always “how long have you been here?” with the average length of time being around three years. The next query would be about their hometown back in Bolivia. As usual, most were from Cochabamba, with Paceños and Cruceños also in the room.
The informal conversation over the next 15 minutes while everyone waited for the room to fill, would range from criticisms towards immigrants who now were residents or citizens, how they rarely care about those who recently arrived to the whole autonomy issue raging on back in Bolivia. Naturally I wanted to jump in to the conversation, but I decided to just listen.
In spite of the differences of hometown, length of stay in the country or whether or not they were in the country legally, most of the people who came out on a cold Thursday night had something in common: they were all looking for a better life for themselves and their families within the context of a lingering cloud of uncertainty that weighs heavily. No one knows what the future holds, especially for the tens of thousands of undocumented Bolivian immigrants living in the immediate area.
To be continued.
Posted by eduardo at 02:09 PM | Comments (6)
Febrero 10, 2005
It Worked
The pressures from the Civic Committee in Santa Cruz convinced Ricardo Paz to resign his post as coordinator of the Unidad de Coordinación de la Asamblea Constituyente.
From El Deber:
ED: ¿Hubo presiones para que usted deje el cargo de coordinador de la Unidad de Coordinación de la Asamblea Constituyente?
RP: La resistencia en los últimos días, especialmente de parte del Comité pro Santa Cruz, hace que yo dé un paso al costado, no quiero ser un pretexto para que este proceso no se realice. Espero que ésta mi salida, si es que resultaba ser un problema, lo viabilice, sin que le presenten más cortapisas.
So basically Paz resigned so he wouldn't be used as an excuse in order to derail the process. Good for him, as he clearly knows the Constituent Assembly is not about him or his position.
Posted by eduardo at 12:01 AM | Comments (0)
Febrero 09, 2005
Carnaval in a Pueblito
As I mentioned in an earlier entry, Carnaval is not limited to the larger urban centers. The blog Almada de Noche spent some time with his friends in the little town of Arbieto, 30 km from Cochabamba. The small town is helped supported by remesas (remittances) sent from abroad. The festivities obviously lack the blatant commercialization of their counterparts in Oruro and Santa Cruz.
There are some great pictures, including Carnaval masks depicting the Incredible Hulk and OBL. See his entry here.
Posted by eduardo at 02:14 PM | Comments (0)
Let's Get the Constituent Assembly Rolling
As one of the five priorities set by Carlos Mesa after the latest political crisis, the Constituent Assembly is gathering steam. There are many things to decide long before the Assembly convenes to rewrite the Constitution, including timeframe, number of delegates, and the timing of the Referendum on autonomies.
However, any move made by the President or the Unidad de Coordinación para la Asamblea Constituyente (UCAC), a special commission headed by delegate Ricardo Paz, will sure to draw a watchful eye.
This is a monumental task that requires concessions from both the left and the right, even though each side believes their ideas are the only ones that count. Paz will work closely with Senator Carlos Sandy (MAS - Oruro), head of the Comisión Especial de Congeso (CECAC), with the objective of "opening a the most democratic and participative process in the republican history of the country: the Constituent Assembly."
Easier said than done.
The leaders of the Civic Committees in Santa Cruz are already crying foul. They've apparently found a new public enemy no. 1 in Paz, who they accuse of being a "anti-Cruceño manipulator"
Pointing to a visit by Paz to San Julian, a small town in the Santa Cruz Department. The newspaper El Nuevo Dia decided to interpret Paz's words for him.
Ricardo Paz Ballivián, coordinador para la Asamblea Constituyente y hombre de confianza de Carlos Mesa, fue duramente criticado por la dirigencia cívica y un analista cruceño. Ambos consideraron que su actuación en el desbloqueo de San Julián sólo perjudicará las negociaciones entre Santa Cruz y el Gobierno. Paz felicitó a los campesinos por el bloqueo de tres días “en defensa de la democracia”,
Notice how the newspaper managed only to quote "in defense of democracy" and not the words where Paz supposedly congratulated the campesinos for blockading the road. Even in other news sources, there was no sign of the exact quote. Most likely Paz congratulated the campesinos for standing up for autonomies within the context of a new Constitution, and not through a populist mega-propaganda-fueled party that took place last month.
The commission is studying proposals regarding the number of delegates to the Assembly. Based on Census numbers from 2001, the Department with the highest population (because it has two of the top four cities in terms of population) is La Paz, with the highest number of delegates, followed by Santa Cruz and Cochabamba. Their proposal will sure to draw criticisms from minority groups, who may have more economic power but clearly do not have the comparable numbers.
Posted by eduardo at 12:10 PM | Comments (0)
Febrero 07, 2005
Carnaval in Bolivia
All over Bolivia, Carnaval is in full swing. The most famous of festivities take place in the old mining town of Oruro, where during the weeks around Carnaval, the city comes alive. I’ve only experienced Carnaval in Oruro and Cochabamba, because of the similarity of dates. The Corso de Corsos in Cochabamba is such a let-down after seeing the excitement in Oruro, although the weather is nicer in Cochabamba. I hear Tarija’s party is pretty sweet. A lot of my friends have favorite pueblitos where Carnaval is a more intimate party, without a lot of the commercialization seen in the larger cities.
My first Carnaval in Oruro was in 2001 when I tagged along with my cousin’s co-ed fraternidad. He dances with Caporales San Simon, one of the most well-known groups in the country. These fraternidades dance a typical Bolivian dance such as Morenada, Tinku or Caporales (just to name a few). With their elaborately designed costumes, costing up to $200, the Caporales are often one of the most anticipated groups to dance in the entrada. Stands line the street, while beer and food are consumed at an astonishing rate. On my first trip to Carnaval, I had no idea what to expect.
Since all of the 60+ people who came with us from Cochabamba, would be dancing during that time, I had no other choice than to help out as a limonero. Basically I would act as the waterboy/bodyguard. Hardly anyone drank water during the break in the action, even though it’s tough physical exertion to dance in the high altitude of Oruro. My job would be to buy beers from the vendors at 3 X 10 Bs. ($1.25) for the dancers, and often they would insist that I share one with them.
As the night raged on, the number of drunks increased, so did their courage of the spectators to try and sweet talk the girls in the group. Sometimes they would walk onto the street, put their arm around them and try to steal a kiss. I had to be prepared and would often need to pry them off of the young lady. It never escalated into anything dramatic, as a simple courteous plea would often be more than enough. Sometimes it would be as simple as saying “salud” (cheers) with the beer in our hands, and soon their mind would be off of whatever they were trying to do. They were too jolly to push the envelope, not to mention that I was probably considerably taller and bigger than most typical Bolivians.
Bolivia.com has a summary of the festivities in Oruro, Santa Cruz, La Paz and Cochabamba.
Posted by eduardo at 01:59 PM | Comments (4)
Febrero 04, 2005
Mesa Shakes Up Cabinet
As expected, President Carlos Mesa has reshaped his cabinet for the third time since assuming the Presidency. Also, as expected, new cabinet members represent sectors of the country that have opposed Mesa or recently came out in public support for him.
For example, Walter Kreidler, who has strong ties to the Santa Cruz businessmen, has been named Minister of Economic Development.
Also, individuals closely tied with members of the bancada patriótica and newly elected mayors were given Cabinet positions.
La bancada patriótica que es afín al Gobierno tiene tres representantes en el Ejecutivo: el ministro de Servicios y Obras Públicas, René Gómez García; el de Asuntos Campesinos y Agropecuarios, Víctor Gabriel Barrios; y el de Asuntos Indígenas, Pedro Ticona. Barrios es hijo del senador emebelista Franz Barrios; y Ticona responde a la corriente de Filemón Escóbar (MAS).
Los alcaldes, que apoyaron a Mesa mientras duró el conflicto con Santa Cruz, también tienen presencia en la nueva estructura. El ministro de Minería y Metalurgia (cartera creada), Jorge Espinoza, fue propuesto por el burgomaestre potosino, René Joaquino.
All this is an effort to increase backing in Congress, something he had not received in his 1+ year in office. Of the 16 cabinet positions (<--click to see graphic), only 7 were "ratificado" and remained in their positions.
Posted by eduardo at 10:57 PM | Comments (1)
Febrero 03, 2005
Cochabamba Overpass
Right before the Municipal Elections, the new mega-project "Distribuidora de la Muyurina" was completed. This concrete and steel overpass was celebrated because it was a much needed relief from traffic congestion. Before, the traffic traveling along la Costanera (riverside), to Sacaba, towards la laguna Alalay and la Universidad Catolica Boliviana all inevitably jockeyed for position entering the traffic circle and during rush hour, this caused delays. However, the project was criticized because of its high cost and potential for corruption.
Manfred Reyes Villa (NFR) on the left and Jhonny Antezana (NFR) on the right.
"Thanks Cochabamba for my life better during these past ten years"
Cost for the Muyurina Distribuidora: $ 6 million USD
Overcharge: $ 1 million USD
Price paid by the Cochabambinos: $ 7 million USD
Committee for the Fight Against Corruption
That phantom committee really doesn't exist, but more than likely the posters were put up by a rival campaign. Throughout the city many of the posters were "vandalized" and others were ripped down later on through the day.
There was an extensive public information campaign because some drivers were intimidated by the sheer magnitude of the structure.
Posted by eduardo at 01:32 PM | Comments (1)
Febrero 02, 2005
Will Mesa Make it to 2007?
The Miami Herald publishes portions of the Latin American Advisor from the Inter-American Dialogue. Today's topic focused on Bolivia. The question:
Question: Less than a year and a half after Bolivian President Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada was forced out of office, political turmoil is resurfacing in the Andean nation with protests and strikes. Will President Carlos Mesa survive the remainder of his term?
Read the answers here.
Posted by eduardo at 06:25 PM | Comments (2)
Bolivia's New Coach
The Bolivian Football Federation picked their third coach since late 2003, to salvage the rest of the World Cup qualifying schedule. Ovidio Messa has a tall task ahead of him, which consists largely of crawling out of the cellar. Even though Bolivia currently sits last with 10 points from 11 games (3 points for a win, 1 point for a tie), it is only four points behind the fifth World Cup slot. The fifth place team would play a play-off with the winner of the Oceania region, most likely Australia or New Zealand.
Bolivia's next match is against Argentina in La Paz, some time in March.
Posted by eduardo at 02:40 PM | Comments (3)