« Evo Satisfied? | Main | Left Behind: Bolivian Migration to Spain »
Mayo 11, 2005
Another Round of Talks
I never expected Mesa to veto the law that was sent to his desk. Then again, the bill contained so many articles that it was so hard to determine what was what. In his address to the nation, Mesa said that this law contains some serious deficiencies that would not accomplish the export of gas for the benefit of Bolivians.
So now what? Mesa has invited every possible representative to a national dialogue ""Encuentro por la Unidad Nacional" to be held in Sucre on May 16. Among those invited are:
Former Presidents Jorge Quiroga, Jaime Paz Zamora and Bolivia's only female President, Lidia Gueiler
President of the Congress
President of the Chamber of Deputies
President of the Constitutional Tribunal
1 Senator, 1 Deputy from the 9 Departmental Brigades
Heads of the political parties
Mayors of the 9 Departmental capitals, plus El Alto
2 Representatives from the Municipal organizations
Presidents of the 9 Departmental Civic Committees
4 Representatives of Indigenous organizations
2 Representatives from Labor Organizations
2 Represenatitives from Business Groups
This Noah's Ark of representation has little chance to come to a consensus. If for so long, the extreme divisions of the country have resorted to name-calling and a move to the extreme rather than the center, what could a national meeting accomplish? This Hydrocarbons Law was supposedly a compromise of the two polar positions.
Attempts of dialogue and finding common ground have been in vain. Mesa's intentions were good and noble (avoiding the death of one single Bolivian), but when neither side chooses to compromise, no amount of optimism and hope can win out. For Mesa's sake, he should just resign and say he did the best he could and hope that whoever takes power (the far-left or the far-right) does not cause even more destruction.
How would anyone resolve this issue? Side with one extreme position and wait for the consequences? Would it be responsible to pass the 50% royalties or nationalization and wait for the Civic/Business Leaders of Santa Cruz to claim the oil fields as their own personal playgrounds? Would it be responsible to allow the oil companies to write their own Hydrocarbons Law and wait for the full wrath of social groups to close down Congress by force?
Posted by eduardo at Mayo 11, 2005 09:34 PM