Marzo 09, 2005
Evo Radicalizes
I thought Evo was a "traitor" and a "sellout". Well, at least according to Central Obrera Boliviana (COB) leader Jaime Solares he was. These labels were placed on Evo in reference to his support of the July 2004 Hydrocarbons Referendum, that Morales supported (specifically question #1-3). Last year, Morales was expelled from the COB as he became more moderate in comparison to the more radical sectors on the left (Solares, Felipe Quispe and Roberto de la Cruz). Evo did not advocate a boycott of the Referendum, nor suggested that his followers burn ballot boxes. Evo had ready access to the President as they shared many of the same views, i.e. the Constituent Assembly. Some even wondered whether Evo was an official part of Mesa's government.
Seven months later, that has all changed. Evo considers the President "primary enemy of the people". He has now become marginalized by many working and middle class sympathetic to the left.
Now that Evo has categorically refused to sign the Agreement reached last night, there was a necessity to find other allies to pursue his goals. The only others who would receive him with open arms are the ones that once wanted nothing to do with him.
Earlier today, Evo formed an alliance with Solares (COB), de la Cruz (COR), and Quispe. Abel Mamani of El Alto's FEJUVE did not sign the agreement because he arrived late to the meeting (according to news reports). This alliance's central issue will be the pursuit of a new Hydrocarbons Law that calls for 50% of royalties. Blockades, strikes and marches will be the primary means to achieve this. Even though MAS has had the 2nd largest number of seats in Congress, that political power has been drastically weakened. Members of his own party have left or have been kicked out. Any possibility of forming alliances with other political parties has also been squandered because doing so would hurt the party's credibility (imagine that!).
Now Evo has nothing to lose.
Posted by eduardo at Marzo 9, 2005 05:37 PM