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Marzo 27, 2006
Fall Out from the Bombings
Questions still remain in the aftermath of last week’s bizarre bombings in La Paz. Two are behind bars while a country is relieved that it seems to be an isolated event.
How did someone with such a past receive a license to sell explosives?
In hindsight, a mentally unstable individual with a criminal history usually should not be given the authority to sell explosives. However, Lestat Claudius de Orleans (LCOM) aka Tristan Jay Amero acquired such a license from officials in Potosi. The commercialization of dynamite is not uncommon in a city where this is just tools of the trade in the mining field. However, the blame game is in full swing as police and immigration officials want to wipe their hands clean. Clearly someone dropped the ball by not fully investigating this man’s background and someone may have gone through the motion for a conveniently placed bribe. Maybe this will cause some public servants to think twice that a seemingly innocent and simple act of bending the rules and cutting corners may result in a tragic outcome.
Will this cause a spike in Anti-American sentiment?
Protestors against U.S. policy always were able to distinguish between the citizens of the United States and the actions of their government. Tourists have never been targets of these protests or jeered while curiously observed these marches through Bolivian streets. LCOM is very unrepresentative of the majority of U.S. citizens, but his actions could cause Bolivians to look suspiciously upon North Americans or other “gringos”. Days after the bombing, BBC reporter Paul Mason wrote, “We had to keep explaining we were not Americans, or Goni supporters, or bombers. I am not kidding.” Some who may have only heard President Morales’ premature statements of linking LCOM as an agent of the U.S. may not have followed up with the information linking LCOM with obvious unstable statements and actions.
How will Morales’ foot-in-the-mouth statements affect the country?
A week after the free-trade agreement between Colombia and the U.S. drasticall affected Bolivia’s ability to export soybeans to Colombia, Bolivia was set to speak to the U.S. about reconsidering this part of the agreement. Clearly the U.S. was “concerned” about Morales’ words insinuating that the bomber was somehow related to the U.S. government. U.S. ambassador David Greenlee cancelled some appearances. The comments could set the warming relationship, as proven by Morales’ meeting with Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, back to the ice age. What took two months to construct appeared to be torn down in the matter of hours.
What about the victims?
The focus has remained entirely on the unusual turn of events and past of LCOM and his Uruguayan girlfriend. Internet research has uncovered interests in satanism, fleeing from Communists, faeries and racy calendars. However, little has been written about the true innocent victims in this crime. LCOM wrote in his journal that he had expected 150 dead in the bombings and seemed to be disappointed upon learning that only 2 had perished. They were Mónica Farfán and Roberto Aliaga, The hotel owners also were devasted. According to news reports, the hotel owners of the Riosinho and Linares were uninsured, surely they never foresaw protecting themselves against dynamite blasts. Now they must decide whether to rebuild with little money or close up for good.
Why was the Chilean consulate targeted?
If two random budget hotels had been the only targets, then we could probably close the book on this case. However, it was revealed the bomber fully intended to destroy the Chilean consulate in La Paz. The strained relationship between the two countries have also appeared to be improving with reciprocal visits by the two Presidents to the others’ countries. If a bomb did manage to damage or destroy the building, it would have certainly been an international incident with unknown consequences. What would have made this seem less of another random target is the fact that Bolivia and Chile have this historical relationship and that the attack would have coincided with the Day of the Sea activities. Was there a political statement behind this target? Did LCOM want to make it seem that it was a Bolivian who attacked the consulate? Did LCOM target the consulate thinking he was doing a favor for Bolivia? LCOM is painted as a psychopath, but he obviously knew what such an attack would have meant.
This story has already become yesterday's news in many of the newspapers. Placing LAB back in the hands of its former President and news about the Constituent Assembly are now taking precedent.
Posted by eduardo at Marzo 27, 2006 08:25 PM