[NYTr] Evo Morales: "For the first time in history, we can win" Date: Tue, 2 Aug 2005 11:58:14 -0500 (CDT) autolearn=ham version=3.0.4 X-Spam-filter-host: pascal.ctyme.com - http://www.junkemailfilter.com Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit sent by Walter Lippmann (cubanews) [The rise of non-white and indigenous leaders across Latin America is part of the general process of both continental integration and political realignment that is transforming the political landscapt of Latin America. And, in contrast to the minimal but viciously hostile coverage Evo Morales has received in the rightist US-dominated media, we can be certain Telesur, another aspect of continental integration, will provide far more fact-based and sympathetic reporting on Morales's campaign for the Bolivian presidency. Morales is today being vilified by the media subservient to Washington. For a single example: WALL STREET JOURNAL on "The Cubanization of Latin America" http://www.walterlippmann.com/docs137.html -WL] GRANMA INTERNATIONAL - August 1, 2005 http://www.granma.cu/ingles/2005/agosto/lun1/32ganar-i.html EVO MORALES "For the first time in history, we can win" EVO Morales, leader of the Movement Toward Socialism (MAS), made an appeal for unity to all trade union and indigenous leaders in his country to demonstrate in the upcoming December elections that "for the first time in history, we can win." In an interview with the local weekly Pulso about his party's strategy for reaching the presidential palace, Morales commented that "within the campesino movement, there is a very advanced awareness that we Indians should be governing ourselves; however, as was seen in 2002, it is important to have alliances with other social forces in the countryside and the city." Within those forces, he included small businesses, cooperatives, campesino producers' associations, and artisans, which together generate about 80% of jobs in Bolivia and use about 15% of state resources. "Those sectors are our allies," he said. Morales seemed optimistic about an agreement with the Movement Without Fear (MSM) as a step toward a broad front. "The talks are very advanced, although the front is not totally confirmed. In Santa Cruz there will be a lot of surprises. I get calls from businessmen who tell me, `we're democratic businessmen, not fascist businessmen.' Before, when I boarded a plane, some people would comment, `look, first-class Indians traveling by plane'; some people would whistle at me, while others would say, `it's the corrupt who are whistling,' and the plane would be divided. Now the airplane feels like my office, with meetings, people who come up to me, give me advice. There are nationalist businessmen, patriots, who want to be on the side of their country, earn, invest and do social work." With respect to whether a MAS vice presidential candidate could emerge from among businessmen, he responded that certain opinions in the MAS hold that the formula should be an East-West one. "We have not talked about whether it should be a businessman, farmer, intellectual, woman...I think that it is a fact is that Santa Cruz does not just have people who strike out at (campesinos and MAS militants). Santa Cruz is a province where cultures and peoples come together. There are Quechuas there, Aymaras, Guaranms, Chiquitanos; and there are immigrants like Dabdoub, Matkovic that is Santa Cruz." He commented that MAS is gaining ground, including in the city of Santa Cruz. "It is impressive. There is a sort of oil-landowner power, an alliance of transnationals with the landlords, to get in the way of advances in building a political tool that seeks equality and justice in Santa Cruz, which is growing. That is why I say that there will be surprises in Santa Cruz," he added. CONVENING A CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY Asked about what the MAS position would be if it had to form alliances in Congress, Morales responded that "that would be speculating too far ahead. We are hoping to win with a majority plus one. Our proposal is for a second round, but that can only happen through a Constitutional reform or a constituent assembly. If the people really want to change the economic model, they have to back a majority in Congress, and in that way not be dependent on quotas, privileges, carving things up and tricks." "That is why we need unity, to approve election legislation. With the mass mobilizations of May and June, it was not possible to get that law underway. Later, we insisted in Congress that before the general elections, we should go to a constituent assembly. And the press itself said, `Evo is getting bogged down in the general elections,' and people understood that the responsibility of this transition government is to call elections. So, if the people mobilize, then there will be a constituent (assembly) next year, and even better if we win." Morales added that the constituent assembly should be the maximum authority for changing economic policy and dealing with nationalization, not just of hydrocarbon resources, but all of the country's natural resources. The MAS leader noted that there are civic sectors in Santa Cruz that fear that the constituent assembly will be transformed into a popular assembly, in which the indigenous people will take revenge, but he made it clear that, "what this is about is not revenge, nor submitting to anyone, but fundamentally about how we must recognize unity in diversity. If there are immigrant Croats in Santa Cruz who were born in Bolivia, they are Bolivians, with the same duties and the same rights as any Quechua, Aymara, Guaranm or Chiquitano. The big problem, especially in Santa Cruz, is a political mafia that does not want to give up its cushy jobs, or living off the state. But they are not the majority." Nevertheless, he acknowledged that they will propose a law to guarantee a 60-70% presence of Quechua, Aymara and Guaranm people. He affirmed that, according to a recent survey, 86% of Santa Cruz residents are in favor of a constituent assembly. THE UNITED STATES WANTS TO COCA-IZE THE MAS Morales accused the U.S. embassy of putting pressure on the coca issue, hoping to "coca-ize" the MAS in order to isolate it. It should be clear that there must be a struggle against drug trafficking, he said, but that it should not be confused with the eradication of coca. "The industrialization of the coca leaf must be implemented not as cocaine, of course along with gas and oil, and I am convinced that markets exist for it." *** The Wall Streetn Journal - June 9, 2005 AMERICAS BUSINESS NEWS Bolivian Peasants Want Big Say in Next Leader LA PAZ, Bolivia Protesters who forced President Carlos Mesa to resign returned to the streets to denounce a congressional leader poised to replace him and to demand early elections that could boost the presidential aspirations of an anti-U.S. Indian leader. Evo Morales, the leftist Indian leader who has been a key figure in protests, said early national elections are crucial to defusing the political and social crisis. He also demanded a constitutional assembly to address demands for more power for Indians and to begin a debate on nationalizing Bolivia's oil industry. Weeks of protests have crippled Bolivia's economy and strangled La Paz, the capital. Mr. Mesa offered his resignation Monday night after only 19 months in power. Yesterday, Chile's LAN Airlines and U.S. carrier American Airlines, two top regional carriers, said they had suspended flights to La Paz. LAN said it suspended flights for yesterday and today. American said it had suspended flights to La Paz but continued service to Santa Cruz, the country's wealthiest city and home of the business elite. Lawmakers scrambled yesterday to arrange a special congressional session to choose Mr. Mesa's successor this morning in the historic capital of Sucre. Local news media reported peasant protesters were headed there in a bid to prevent Congress from convening. Mr. Morales vowed the protests would escalate if Senate leader Hormando Vaca Diez -- who under Bolivia's constitution would become president upon Mr. Mesa's exit -- accepts the post. Mr. Vaca Diez hails from the eastern region of Santa Cruz and is widely seen as a conservative and free-market supporter. His party has been mired in past corruption scandals and is widely discredited among Indian and labor groups in the western highlands. "Vaca Diez, we are ready for war!" marchers chanted. Bolivia is split between the Indian and labor groups, and the ruling class from Santa Cruz and the oil-rich gas fields to the south. Bolivia has the second-largest gas and oil reserves in South America after Venezuela, and disruption or nationalization of the energy industry has executives fearful about billions of dollars in investment and supplies to neighboring nations. * ================================================================ .NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems . Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us . .339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org .List Archives: https://olm.blythe-systems.com/pipermail/nytr/ .Subscribe: https://olm.blythe-systems.com/mailman/listinfo/nytr ================================================================