barrio flores

I have no reason to doubt his explanation. Of course, if I were to delve deeper into the story, I would talk to other sources. My point was that the very least we owe Mr. Pinto was to ask him about his relationship with MAS and why the site was designed in Colombia. It seemed like many were quick to judge based on circumstantial evidence. If there is some dark dealings going on, I would like to see some evidence.

I don’t think there some conspiracy going on. The fact that there were other sites in Bolivia designed by the company seems to back up the man’s explanation. I doubt that these are invented NGOs to attract less suspicion.

As far as locally designed sites, take a look at this unofficial site: http://www.masbolivia.org/ once thought to be the official site. Not to put down the work that was done, but there is no comparison to the official site, which is right on par, if not better, than the other two candidates’ sites.

OK, point taken, Eduardo, you make a good statement about contacting the guy, and it was impressive that you did. But I don't think the fact that there are other sites designed by this company is proof of anything more than talent and experience.

I find it ominous that not only is the site headquartered in Colombia (which you know I defend -- a lot) but done by a foreigner. I also am not persuaded that the Medellin address is not part of Morales' message. He may be trying to signal certain people with it. It leaves an impression.

But I also wonder why foreigners feel so entitled to contribute to other countries' campaigns like that? - and it is a significant campaign contribution. The whole aim of this contribution is to influence an election in someone else's country, to impose one's spin-power to ensure the election turns out a certain way; to selfishly get a certain candidate elected in a distant country without having to live under him. And even if the intentions are good, the net result is to make someone else pay the consequences for the Morales program - the coming oppression, the collective farms, the ruined currency, the bureaucratization, the block committees, the internal spies, the death squads that come with land confiscation, the end of investment, the end to freedom of movement, the refugees, the massive rise in poverty. From the comforts of abroad, the vicarious satisfaction of seeing someone confront the U.S. is the cheap reward. It's so scary.

Here this person is, choosing to live in a free and improving country like Colombia, a country very unlike the Morales vision for Bolivia, drawing a living from Colombia's freedom and opportunity, and then wanting to impose an economic black night onto this other country. And it's not even a country one is committed enough to to change one's citizenship! To me that is imperialism. Voicing opinions from abroad is one thing but contributing to a campaign from abroad is disturbing.

In modern communist movements, there is a scary blurring of citizenships. The flag no longer matters, only the 19th-century German ideology does. In Venezuela, Hugo Chavez apparently now has a Cuban as his spokesman, according to what local bloggers have found out. We seem to be in this era where ideology trumps nationality when one is peddling unsalable ideas.

This site makes me think Morales has so little grassroots support that he cannot attract even enough local talent to his campaign. He refuses to accept the natural consequences of that. Instead, he grafts high-octane support on from abroad, unleveling the playing field for the other candidates, because he now has spectacular Madison-Avenue style talent on his side. How would Morales like it if EVERY campaign financed itself from abroad? Would such a campaign feel very 'Bolivian?'

Un abrazo desde Santa Cruz.
Aquí está lo que esperaba "ansiosamente" como pusiste en Global Voice :)
Un abrazo...

http://www.eldeber.com.bo/extra/1251/avi1c.html

Es un gusto pertenecer a esta genial y en crecimiento blogosfera Boliviana...

I posted this info on MABB's website, regarding who and where the other candidates are hosting their websites.
I thought of posting this info here as well.
Just general information you can find on the net.
---------------------------------------------

http://www.whois.sc/unidad-nacional.com

Hosting company is Rackspace (not a cheap choice).
Details :
-----------------
Unidad Nacional
Calle Mercado No. 1045
La Paz, La Paz 00000
BO
591-2-2406040
-----------------

http://www.whois.sc/tutopresidente.org
Hosting company is Rackspace as well.
Details:
---------------------
Registrant Name:Luis F. Quiroga Ramirez
Registrant Organization:Tuto Presidente 05
Registrant Street1:Av. Julio C. Patino S7N
Registrant Street2:
Registrant Street3:
Registrant City:La Paz
Registrant State/Province:N/A
Registrant Postal Code:00000
Registrant Country:BO
Registrant Phone:+591.22354140
---------------------

Do with the information what you best feel like. Draw your own conclusions an dig further if you want.Tuto website's details show another company Jomax.net if you do a search on that you'll see this
http://www.whois.sc/jomax.net Another american company.

I'm not saying they are the ones in charge of the development and design of the website. I'm saying that the pages are hosted in Rackspace.com, that's all. All the design work may still be done in Bolivia. IF you want to find out more, call the people that register the domain. They ought to know something..... :) :)

my 2 cents.

Interesting, Eduardo. I agree w/ taking any emails w/ a grain of salt. It could be nothing more than just a company. And I'm all for a globalized economy, after all.

But, if one wanted to be prickly, one could wonder why the "natioanlist" MAS is using outside sources? Especially w/ the common perception of problems in Bolivia due to "mucho peruano". Silly, trivial, of course.

And whether Evo is tied to narcotrafficking is a deeper issue, of course (and I know you know this), than a web design company. I think it's safe to say he has (at least loose) ties to international narco-terror. And I think regardless of whether or not one agrees w/ his political rhetoric/proposals, it's blindness to not see that long-standing connection.

This is what prompts me to ask the question I asked in my post. This alleged long-standing connection between Evo and narco-terror (it is still alleged to me). It seems that question is being raised not only in the blogsphere but also in the MSM (Bolivia and what not).

I have also tried to contact the MAS people asking them to clarify this issue to no success. Not even a response.

I am wondering that this connection is not as much doing of MAS as of MAS' political opponents. If there is no proof coming to clarify the issue from the party affected, rumors car run wild.

All I asking here is for some transparency.

Well, let's see. Evo was awarded a "peace" medal by Qhadafi about a year ago. The two have met several times over the last few years. During October 2003, Evo flew to Lybia again. There's his connections to Chavez (he's never hidden these) and there's links between Chavez and some of the Colombian insurgencies (which are tied to the drug trade). Many of Evo's advisors were former Bolivian guerrilla/terrorists in the 1970s, and several have mentioned they're willing to take that route again. These guerrilla's were trained by FARC & ELN. Also, several Colombian guerrilla leaders (from ELN) have been arrested in the last two years in the Chapare. Their alibi? They were only helping the Chapare cocaleros organize. As a means of protesting the coca erradication campaign, Chapare cocaleros have often ambushed Bolivian police/military unites, killing many, often w/ high grade weapons & landmines. And, of ourse, Evo organizes the cocaleros, who sell their coca to the Medellin & Cali drug cartels for cocaine processing. Stuff like that seems pretty convincing to me.

That's all fine to hold Evo to a really high standard and question the people he associates with. I have been pretty critical, but am still waiting on evidence concerning the level of support given by Chavez.

However, I was disappointed in the insinuation and inclusion of the Colombia-based webmaster and his connection with drug trafficking. It's sad to soil the name and reputation of someone who may (and probably) be working to contribute for the campaign he more identifies with.

I think it is unfair to automatically mark someone as guilty just because they are associated with Evo/MAS. If that was the case, then anyone associated with PODEMOS and UN are supporting their candidate for a shot at a pega and a chance to steal public funds?

I have no way of knowing the degree of Evo's relationship, whether it is just a working knowledge of, with the drug trade in the Chapare. However, for the amount of enemies and opponents that Evo has in the country, you would think that somebody would be able to nail him with something.

That is exaclty why I am asking for more transparency from the Evo's camp. Perhaps is a bit naive, but if those allegations (and up to now they are just allegations) continue to be circulated, wouldn't Evo have an incentive to put out some defense?

Unless of course, he profits from the controversy. In which case, we are all turning into Evo's campaign managers.

The most likely reason of this association is just coincidence, a common acquaintance of some Evo PR guy and the creator of the website. The persons involved might be acused of naiveness, for not suspecting that this connection might be abused by some conspiracy theorists (Not directed to you, MABB).

Let's drop this absurd website business and use more relevant connections such as the ones that Miguel (ciao!) mentioned. I would be grateful if Miguel can elaborate in the same way as he did in this excellent post http://www.centellas.org/miguel/archives/001483.html#more.
In particular, I am interested in seeing references with respect of Chavez' connections with the Colombian guerrilla and the detention of ELN leaders in Chapare. While the former has been mentioned often, I have failed to see a credible source reporting on it. On the latter, all I remember is the polemical detention of a Colombian human rights activist. To be fair, I also remember some dynamite being involved but I cannot find the article now.

In short, If someone has a credible collection of references about these connections, it is a good time to remember. It is election time after all and people deserve to know.

I agree that transparency is a good thing. However, the use of the internet in political campaigns is still years behind what is taking place in the U.S. and in other places.