Information on Washington's Interference in Bolivian Affairs

Written by Upside Down World

Monday, 22 September 2008 07:37

U.S. Embassy in La Paz

Gathered here is a collection of articles, letters, videos, reports, observations and resources regarding Washington's recent interventions in Bolivian affairs, attempts to undermine the country's social movements and embolden the Bolivian opposition.

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An Open Letter to the U.S. State Department Regarding Recent Violence in Bolivia

Written by Various Authors

Since the democratic election of Evo Morales in December 2005, the U.S. government has sent millions of dollars in aid to departmental prefects and municipal governments in Bolivia. Last year, the U.S. Agency for International Development spent $89 million of U.S. taxpayer money in the Andean country. At least some of these funds have ended up in the hands of opposition groups linked to recent anti-government violence. A group of Latin America experts have called on the U.S. government to publicly disclose USAID's funding portfolio.

Undermining Bolivia: A Landscape of Washington Intervention

By Benjamin Dangl, The Progressive Magazine

Declassified documents and interviews on the ground in Bolivia prove that the Bush Administration is using U.S. taxpayers' money to undermine the Morales government and coopt the country's dynamic social movements—just as it has tried to do recently in Venezuela and traditionally throughout Latin America.

U.S. Should Disclose its Funding of Opposition Groups in Bolivia and Other Latin American Countries

By Center for Economic and Policy Research

CEPR called on the U.S. State Department, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and other agencies to release information detailing whom they are funding in Bolivia

Politics: U.S. Ties to Bolivian Opposition "Shrouded in Secrecy"

By Haider Rizvi, IPS News

Who in Bolivia is receiving millions of U.S. taxpayer dollars? That is what many Latin America policy analysts in Washington want to know.

Peace Corps, Fulbright Scholar Asked to 'Spy' on Cubans, Venezuelans

By Jean Friedman-Rodovsky and Brian Ross, ABC News

In an apparent violation of U.S. policy, Peace Corps volunteers and a Fulbright scholar were asked by a U.S. Embassy official in Bolivia "to basically spy" on Cubans and Venezuelans in the country, according to Peace Corps personnel and the Fulbright scholar involved.

US Embassy in Bolivia Tells Fulbright Scholar and Peace Corps Volunteers to Spy on Venezuelans and Cubans in Bolivia

Democracy Now!

An American Fulbright scholar and Peace Corps volunteers in Bolivia say the US embassy told them to spy on Venezuelans and Cubans in Bolivia.

Exporting Gas and Importing Democracy in Bolivia

by Reed Lindsay, NACLA Report on the Americas

While accusations of Venezuelan and Cuban meddling in Bolivia remain unsubstantiated, evidence abounds that the United States has aggressively intervened in the landlocked nation of nearly 9 million people.

Bolivia at the Abyss: A Special Report

By Jim Shultz, The Democracy Center

The Role of the U.S. - On Tuesday, following the violence in Santa Cruz, President Morales formally commanded the U.S. Ambassador, Phillip Goldberg, to leave the country. In retaliation the Bush Administration did the same, ordering the departure of Bolivia's ambassador to Washington. Morales cited Goldberg's suspicious meetings with two of the opposition governors on the eve of the attacks and declared, "We do not want people here who conspire against democracy."

Bolivian coca growers cut ties with USAID

By The Andean Information Network

On June 24, 2008 Chapare coca grower unions announced that they will no longer sign new aid agreements with USAID. This announcement comes after two decades of poorly-focused policies, which did little to improve the lives of the majority of Chapare residents, especially during forced eradication.

Video: Bolivia expels US ambassador

Interview with Forrest Hylton, The Real News Network

Bolivian President Evo Morales stated that he was expelling US ambassador Philip Goldberg for allegedly inciting violent opposition protests. The Bolivian leader did not offer specific evidence against Goldberg, but he has long accused the diplomat of conspiring with Bolivia's conservative opposition.

The United States and Bolivia

By Stephen Zunes, Foreign Policy in Focus

The alleged support by the United States of wealthy landowners, business leaders, and their organizations tied to the violent uprising in eastern Bolivia has led U.S. Ambassador Philip Goldberg's expulsion from La Paz and the South American government's demands that the United States stop backing the illegitimate rebellion.

Morales Cites "Evidence" of U.S. Meddling

By Haider Rizvi, Inter Press Service

Bolivian President Evo Morales reiterated the charge Tuesday that the U.S. government was plotting to overthrow his government and that Washington had a hand in the recent episodes of violence in which a number of his supporters were killed and wounded by opposition gangs.

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Email grupo(at)upsidedownworld(dot)org if you recommend other links, articles, documents or material that should be added here. Photo of US Embassy by Evan Abramson.