Bolivia

Shortly after 10 a.m. on June 9, several thousand protestors from El Alto marched into La Paz and surrounded the US Embassy.  The mainly indigenous protestors were demanding the return of ex-President Sánchez de Lozada and ex-Minister of Defense Sánchez Berzaín to Bolivia.  Both men are facing a civil suit in the US and charges in Bolivia for the death of almost 70 civilians during the 2003 "Guerra del Gas."   […]

What is startling  is the approach many Bolivians use to blame Morales and MAS for the nation’s problems. My colleagues frequently speculate on whether or not their fellow Bolivians are masistas…The term masista is often thrown around as an insult, along with campesino, indio, and Evo, by the few that comprise the middle and upper classes. It is clear that Bolivia continues its battles with racism despite multi-cultural reforms within the past few years that seek to rectify the years of discrimination towards campesinos and indigenous peoples. […]

Source: Bolpress Translation by Yoshie Furuhashi at MR Zine Abruptly, and at record speed, the Senate passed a law to hold a recall referendum. President Evo Morales invited the opposition governors of the "Media Luna" (the […]

Bolivia’s Santa Cruz state’s May 4 Referendum saw violence and deep social divides over a set of Autonomy Statutes thatwould increase power for the governmor at the expense of the central government. These interviews and observations from the streets of Santa Cruz cityon referendum day illustrate the great diversity of opinions.

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The May 4th vote for autonomy in Santa Cruz, Bolivia was part of a larger conflict in the region over control of natural resources such as land and gas. It marks a new phase in the polarization of Bolivia, and a new challenge for the region.

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The Real News Network analyst Pepe Escobar says the autonomy referendum in the rich lowland province of Santa Cruz on Sunday is unconstitutional. Escobar says "it’s a dagger in the heart of South American integration. […]

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In the month of February, an unusual plight fell upon the city of La Paz. Torrential rains that hit the region ruptured the water main that services the wealthiest zone of the city, leaving the residents of the Zona Sur (Southern Zone) without water for several days. While it is common for residents in poor barrios not to have access to piped water, upper and middle class residents are accustomed to hearing the gush of clean, running water every time they open the tap. […]