[NYTr] After a Violent Weekend, Morales Leads a March in Bolivia
 
Date: Mon, 26 Nov 2007 18:28:01 -0600 (CST)

Via NY Transfer News Collective  *  All the News that Doesn't Fit
 
Prensa Latina, Havana
http://www.plenglish.com

Morales Leads March in Bolivia

La Paz, Nov 26 (Prensa Latina) On Monday, Bolivian President Evo Morales
joined the group of farmers who are marching for several days in
support of social measures and the State's Political Constitution.

The statesman's unexpected appearance at daybreak today produced a
whoop of joy and support from the almost 1,500 demonstrators, who have
marched hundreds of kilometers from different departments of the country
to the government headquarters.

Morales leads the demonstration, along with union and indigenous
leaders, who reject the Senate"s continuous obstacles to several
beneficial projects to the country, like the universal "Dignity"
pension for elders. [See 3rd item below]

The measure establishes the monthly payment of 200 bolivianos ($25) to
people older than 60 years old, but the Senate approved it with changes
in financing sources.

Social organizations reject the Senate's refusal to finance that benefit
with the departmental incomes of the Direct Tax on Hydrocarbons.

According to rural leader Isaac Avalos, the Senate aims to put off the
measure, which was an improvement in the social policy of the
government, worthy of the Bolivian people's approval.

The rally supports the Constituent Assembly and its most recent
decision to approve the Constitution's general structure, despite the
opposition's attacks and maneuvers to destabilize the country, Avalos
said.

hr iff mv mf PL-3

                            ***

Bolivia: Opposition Violence in Sucre

La Paz, Nov 26 (Prensa Latina) The Bolivian government accused the
oligarchic opposition on Monday for the clashes that left three people
dead in the southern city of Sucre, after the approval of the new
Political Constitution

Minister of the Presidency Juan Ramon Quintana held authorities from
the Chuquisaca Department responsible for turning Sucre into a dark
scene of intolerance and racism, because of a democratic process of
change supported by the people.

A mob encouraged by the Inter-institutional Committee staged several
violent actions in Sucre over the weekend to sabotage the resumption of
the Constituent Assembly, suspended since August due to the hostile
environment.

The multitude attacked the military academy where the forum was held,
took over public and police institutions, freed about 100 prisoners
from a jail, and burned the residence of Mayor David Sanchez.

They also kidnapped and later executed soldier Jimmy Quispe, causing a
deployment of police.

Quintana lamented the incidents, but stressed the government will reply
to violence with more democracy and maturity, and a call for dialogue
and consensus.

The clashes forced the Assembly to change its headquarters, admitted
Quintana, due to the total lack of guarantees in Sucre.

The drawing-up of details of the new Constitution will take a few days,
and a later referendum will determine if the people accept it, the
minister concluded.

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                            ***

Bolivian Deputies to Discuss Elderly Rent

La Paz, Nov 26 (Prensa Latina) Starting on Monday, Bolivia's Lower
House will debate the Senate-approved modifications to the life elderly
rent, called Dignity Rent, putting emphasis on the sources of funding,
parliamentary sources said.

The social measure had been ratified by the deputies, including those
of the governing Movement to Socialism (MAS), who are a majority in the
Senate.

However, it established that the funds must come from direct taxes on
hydrocarbons.

The Senate approved the measure, but it made amendments and decided
that the rent must be paid from taxes on financial transactions and
profits from the Central Bank of Bolivia.

It also said that the funds for the Dignity Rent must come from the
foreign debt relief, profits from privatized companies and part of the
revenues of the state-owned company Yacimientos Petroliferos Fiscales
Bolivianos.

MAS senators questioned the Senate's decision, which yields to pressure
from the so-called Crescent Moon (the departments of Beni, Pando, Santa
Cruz and Tarija), which oppose the Evo Morales government.

The President himself expressed indignation on Saturday at the
ingratitude and ambition of authorities in the aforementioned
departments, "which do not want to share their resources with the
poor," he pointed out.

Morales also criticized the stance taken by the Senate's Finance
Committee, which said the Dignity Rent must be paid from other sources,
which will create new taxes for Bolivians, Morales said.

The Dignity Rent has been warmly welcomed by Bolivian social sectors,
which have organized marches and demonstrations in all nine departments
of the country.

hr jg ga PL-27
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