After drafting a constitution without the presence of the opposition, President Evo Morales was forced by the international community to call for a dialogue with representatives of all regions of Bolivia, most of who do not agree with his illegal methods.
The call for dialogue was only a propagandistic claim until the opponent Governors send a formal letter to meet on January 7th. The meeting is set to discuss important topics that currently cause division in Bolivia. On the letter, the Governors proposed explicitly, among others, that the new constitutions and the gas tax redistribution that damages the region’s budgets were to be discussed.
After accepting the letter, Morales spokesmen have recently stated that neither of these crucial subjects would be considered in the dialogue. This is a clear proof of Morales totalitarian views and his opposition to a real dialogue. Meanwhile, the Governors said that they will assist to the dialogue anyways, and will no give in to Morales real intentions to continue his dictatorial path.
jueves, 3 de enero de 2008
sábado, 15 de diciembre de 2007
ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE COMMITTEE PRO SANTA CRUZ, BRANKO MARINKOVIC, IN THE CELEBRATION OF THE STATUTE OF AUTONOMY
Santa Cruz, celebrate! NOW WE ARE AUTONOMOUS!
Let me begin by welcoming my Bolivian brothers, who accompanied me and remained until today in the Hunger Strike. This was a hunger strike, which was attended by many citizens from all parts of the country, citizens of our social institutions, professional associations, educational, peasants, indigenous people, business and civic.
Greetings my brothers from Sucre and Chuquisaca, who came with courage into this strike. This peaceful strike was against authoritarianism and MAS (Evo Morales Party) and in favour of the Statute of Autonomy, to promote democracy and ultimate freedom.
The Civic Committee has fought for decades seeking freedom. And today this struggle for freedom is called Autonomy. Let me once again tell the country and the world: the battle of Santa Cruz for freedom has always been peaceful. It has always been within the law. It has always been through dialogue. Freedom, autonomy and dialogue.
That is the path we have traveled. And the status of autonomy leads us today in that road.
Santa Cruz, through its autonomous status, becomes today the hope of the Bolivian democracy.
Santa Cruz, through its autonomous status, becomes the basis of a united Bolivia.
Santa Cruz, through its autonomous status, becomes today and forever the proposed Bolivia where departments live in solidarity with each other.
Santa Cruz, through its autonomous status, becomes the hope of Bolivia where departments spread their resources among the provinces, districts and indigenous peoples.
Santa Cruz, dear compatriots and dear cruceños:
Santa Cruz, through its autonomous status, offers Bolivia a new opportunity for everyone. Unity in a democracy. Solidarity among departments. Boosting the development of districts, provinces and the development of indigenous peoples. New economic opportunities for all Bolivians.
This is Santa Cruz. That's autonomy. That is the status of autonomy.
Cruceños and Bolivians: Faced with communism, we propose democracy. Faced with the outrage, we propose dialogue. Faced with rising prices and the crisis in which this government has placed us, we propose better jobs. Faced with the authoritarian project of the MAS that benefits only their sectors, we propose autonomy for all, unity and freedom.
Because this is an autonomy for the Bolivian people. It is a statute for all ways of life, all cultures, all people in rural areas and in cities.
Mr President, stop discrediting this autonomy. I suggest that you read our autonomous status. I suggest that you read our statute to realize that this is the autonomy of unity rather than separation as you always say to fool people. Listes to us, and especially respect us, as the free people we are. Take into account our view and read this statute. Read it because this statute, since its first paragraph guarantees and promotes the unity of Bolivia and solidarity among all Bolivians. Rather than blaming us, spend a little time learning our statute.
Our autonomy. Learn once and for all that this is the autonomy of the unit.
Now, our mission as a civic, as cruceños, as fathers and mothers of families, as working people, is to engage life with soul and heart to prepare the referendum for the people to vote and adopt the statute of autonomy.
I call out and invite the people to sign the books and to vote in the referendum for the statute of autonomy.
I call out and invite the people to participate in democratic and peaceful ways in the construction of a new Bolivia, the construction of the autonomous Santa Cruz, in the construction of a Bolivia and Santa Cruz full of new opportunities and full of future and social peace.
Finally, and as it should be, I tell my people, celebrate! Celebrate because today is a day of celebration. Celebrate with all the forces of our hearts, this victory is a victory of the people.
It is a victory for everyone. It is a victory for democracy, a victory of Santa Cruz and Bolivia.
This autonomist victory should encourage further work from us. To strive and work twice as harder. To strive in our jobs. To strive in the countryside. To strive in the industry. In the markets. In the works and place where everything takes place, working with honesty and simplicity, because that is the way of this prosperous land, productive and hospitable.
That is the way of an open-arms Santa Cruz.
The path is long and we have to walk it together. We will have a lot of hard work. But it is worth it. Santa Cruz, Bolivia and self worth.
Viva Bolivia, Viva Santa Cruz, Viva la Autonomìa!
Santa Cruz de la Sierra, December 15, 2007
Let me begin by welcoming my Bolivian brothers, who accompanied me and remained until today in the Hunger Strike. This was a hunger strike, which was attended by many citizens from all parts of the country, citizens of our social institutions, professional associations, educational, peasants, indigenous people, business and civic.
Greetings my brothers from Sucre and Chuquisaca, who came with courage into this strike. This peaceful strike was against authoritarianism and MAS (Evo Morales Party) and in favour of the Statute of Autonomy, to promote democracy and ultimate freedom.
The Civic Committee has fought for decades seeking freedom. And today this struggle for freedom is called Autonomy. Let me once again tell the country and the world: the battle of Santa Cruz for freedom has always been peaceful. It has always been within the law. It has always been through dialogue. Freedom, autonomy and dialogue.
That is the path we have traveled. And the status of autonomy leads us today in that road.
Santa Cruz, through its autonomous status, becomes today the hope of the Bolivian democracy.
Santa Cruz, through its autonomous status, becomes the basis of a united Bolivia.
Santa Cruz, through its autonomous status, becomes today and forever the proposed Bolivia where departments live in solidarity with each other.
Santa Cruz, through its autonomous status, becomes the hope of Bolivia where departments spread their resources among the provinces, districts and indigenous peoples.
Santa Cruz, dear compatriots and dear cruceños:
Santa Cruz, through its autonomous status, offers Bolivia a new opportunity for everyone. Unity in a democracy. Solidarity among departments. Boosting the development of districts, provinces and the development of indigenous peoples. New economic opportunities for all Bolivians.
This is Santa Cruz. That's autonomy. That is the status of autonomy.
Cruceños and Bolivians: Faced with communism, we propose democracy. Faced with the outrage, we propose dialogue. Faced with rising prices and the crisis in which this government has placed us, we propose better jobs. Faced with the authoritarian project of the MAS that benefits only their sectors, we propose autonomy for all, unity and freedom.
Because this is an autonomy for the Bolivian people. It is a statute for all ways of life, all cultures, all people in rural areas and in cities.
Mr President, stop discrediting this autonomy. I suggest that you read our autonomous status. I suggest that you read our statute to realize that this is the autonomy of unity rather than separation as you always say to fool people. Listes to us, and especially respect us, as the free people we are. Take into account our view and read this statute. Read it because this statute, since its first paragraph guarantees and promotes the unity of Bolivia and solidarity among all Bolivians. Rather than blaming us, spend a little time learning our statute.
Our autonomy. Learn once and for all that this is the autonomy of the unit.
Now, our mission as a civic, as cruceños, as fathers and mothers of families, as working people, is to engage life with soul and heart to prepare the referendum for the people to vote and adopt the statute of autonomy.
I call out and invite the people to sign the books and to vote in the referendum for the statute of autonomy.
I call out and invite the people to participate in democratic and peaceful ways in the construction of a new Bolivia, the construction of the autonomous Santa Cruz, in the construction of a Bolivia and Santa Cruz full of new opportunities and full of future and social peace.
Finally, and as it should be, I tell my people, celebrate! Celebrate because today is a day of celebration. Celebrate with all the forces of our hearts, this victory is a victory of the people.
It is a victory for everyone. It is a victory for democracy, a victory of Santa Cruz and Bolivia.
This autonomist victory should encourage further work from us. To strive and work twice as harder. To strive in our jobs. To strive in the countryside. To strive in the industry. In the markets. In the works and place where everything takes place, working with honesty and simplicity, because that is the way of this prosperous land, productive and hospitable.
That is the way of an open-arms Santa Cruz.
The path is long and we have to walk it together. We will have a lot of hard work. But it is worth it. Santa Cruz, Bolivia and self worth.
Viva Bolivia, Viva Santa Cruz, Viva la Autonomìa!
Santa Cruz de la Sierra, December 15, 2007
The challenge of reconciliation. A Message to all Bolivians
By Eduardo Rodríguez Veltzé,
Former President of the Republic
More than two years ago I assumed the presidency to lead a crucial stage of political transition, I did this with the firm purpose of preserving democratic values and principles, the country's unity and continuity.
Now, I find it my duty to convey to all Bolivians my concern at the difficult hours we face again. I do so calmly, without encouraging fights, convinced that there is no prospect of civilized coexistence without the rule of law, without mutual respect and convergence between rulers and ruled, without a fruitful dialogue.
The relationship between Constitution and Democracy is not simple, the texts do not always correspond to the ideals and it is normal to produce tensions. Hence the importance of the responsible exercise of "constituent power" by all citizens and particularly by our assemblymen and leaders, national and local. The constituent power must synthesize our purposes to live in peace, reconciling our differences, organizing a state in which the exercise of public authority has limits and responds to the interests of all the same. This exercise has not had a reasonable performance, its first results have been dyed by illegitimacy, violence and confrontation that has already claimed innocent victims. In Oruro the Constituent Assembly adopted a spurious text, known only by an official partiality, without following the established procedures and without a pluralistic and democratic discussion. These practices violate the right to dissent and reproduce practices of intolerance and exclusion, so I join the condemnation of the abuses of the legal system and all sectarian practices, racism and intolerance which open old and new wounds, rather than helping loyal and peacefully to draw a new social pact.
It is imperative to amend the current constitution and begin a process for the new Constitution to become an expression of a genuine vocation for coexistence and non-sectarian or hegemonic projects of any kind.
I appeal to all, without exception, by place of origin, race or creed, to recover our challenge for reconciliation, for the players of the national policy to be able to conclude agreements democratic, respecting the law, institutions and aspirations that unite all us all Bolivians in our diversity. In particular I invoke Evo Morales, President of the Republic, to bet on unity and peace in a country that prefers to look to the future with hope and with less rancor.
May the spirit of brotherhood and solidarity of the holiday season inspire greater tolerance and harmony among all.
Indigenous Bolivians see better days with the Statute of Autonomy of Santa Cruz
The Indians ayoreos, Guarayos, guraníes, Chiquitano and yuracaré Moxenos opt for autonomy in Bolivia. They show their satisfaction with the adoption of the Statute of the Autonomous in the Department of Santa Cruz.
"We have always been free and autonomous. Our ancestors never lived in slavery and always fought for this and for us is a great achievement", reflected his satisfaction Fernando Chiqueno, delegate to the directory of Comite Pro Santa Cruz by the Ayorea Community to undertake the adoption of the Statute of the Department Autonomous Santa Cruz (EDASC), which was adopted on December 13, 2007 in the Provisional Autonomic Assembly of the Department of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia.
With a unique language, a mixture between ayoreo and Spanish, Chiqueno expressed that he feels pleased and said that the Autonomic Statute adopted takes into account all the indigenous communities in the department.
"Ayoreos, Guarayos, guraníes, Chiquitano and yuracaré Moxenos are betting on autonomy and here we are confident we will have a better life for us Indians. We believe that autonomy will bring more roads, more education and health that benefits the people of our territories. That is what we need the most, for us who come from the provinces", assured this indigenous leader.
Like some thirty indigenous representatives from within the department of Santa Cruz, Fernando Chiqueno follows a hunger strike with more than 300 strikers representatives of the various organizations civilians, businessmen, social and civics, who established the strike down in the main plaza as a rejection of government policies to cut funding (IDH) to the regions and the illegal adoption of the new State Constitution by the government of Evo Morales.
"We have always been free and autonomous. Our ancestors never lived in slavery and always fought for this and for us is a great achievement", reflected his satisfaction Fernando Chiqueno, delegate to the directory of Comite Pro Santa Cruz by the Ayorea Community to undertake the adoption of the Statute of the Department Autonomous Santa Cruz (EDASC), which was adopted on December 13, 2007 in the Provisional Autonomic Assembly of the Department of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia.
With a unique language, a mixture between ayoreo and Spanish, Chiqueno expressed that he feels pleased and said that the Autonomic Statute adopted takes into account all the indigenous communities in the department.
"Ayoreos, Guarayos, guraníes, Chiquitano and yuracaré Moxenos are betting on autonomy and here we are confident we will have a better life for us Indians. We believe that autonomy will bring more roads, more education and health that benefits the people of our territories. That is what we need the most, for us who come from the provinces", assured this indigenous leader.
Like some thirty indigenous representatives from within the department of Santa Cruz, Fernando Chiqueno follows a hunger strike with more than 300 strikers representatives of the various organizations civilians, businessmen, social and civics, who established the strike down in the main plaza as a rejection of government policies to cut funding (IDH) to the regions and the illegal adoption of the new State Constitution by the government of Evo Morales.
Morales divides Bolivia over social contract
By Richard Lapper in Santa Cruz, Bolivia
Published: December 14 2007 18:28
Leg cramps that started on the fifth day of her hunger strike were not enough to stop Beatriz Leigue de Parada’s “hunger strike” against the constitutional changes planned by the left-wing government of Evo Morales.
The 40-year-old administrator and mother of four – like several hundred other strikers camped out in the main square of Santa Cruz, capital of Bolivia’s biggest rebel department – is determined to stick with her protest.
The demonstrators are allowing themselves lots of liquids – as well as four almonds and a centimetre of chocolate per day – and will stop their strike when the governor of Santa Cruz, Ruben Costas, today announces a new autonomy statute for the department. So it is hardly “the resistance until death” struggle promised by the banners above Tent 15, occupied by Ms Leigue and about a dozen other women protesters.
Even so, the scene reflects the fact that tensions between Bolivia’s president – an indigenous Aymaran – and the country’s eastern, relatively wealthy and mainly mixed-race departments are running high. And things could get worse if the government opts to force the conservative rebels into submission by sending in police or troops, forcing a confrontation that could lead to violence or even Bolivia’s break-up. Ms Leigue is worried about the prospect of “repression”.
Other Crucenos [natives of Santa Cruz] fear an even more catastrophic scenario. Ejti Stih, a local artist, is concerned Bolivia could slip into the same pattern of intransigence and irrationality that led her native Yugoslavia to war in the 1990s. “No one would have thought war was possible in 1982 when I left Slovenia,” she says.
Mr Morales has been at odds with the leaders of Santa Cruz and five other eastern departments ever since his election in December 2005. All six are run by the rightwing or centrist parties opposed to his plans to “refound” the nation to give a bigger say to majority Aymara, Quechua and other indigenous groups.
But things became complicated this month when after a year and a half of stalemate over a new constitution, pro-government legislators railroaded a controversial draft in a matter of hours.
Particularly contentious were clauses in the document – which must still be submitted to a referendum – that granted new rights and autonomy not just to departments like Santa Cruz but to loosely defined communities occupied by indigenous people, allowing them to run justice and other affairs along traditional lines.
Mr Morales describes his opponents as a “fascist oligarchy” that has backed conspiracies fomented by its “US imperialist” backers, a stance that would suggest little room for negotiation. But judging by the protests in Santa Cruz at least, matters seem to be more complex.
Some of the strikers are comfortably off. Many are members of a myriad of professional and business associations. Employers – such as the soya processing company where 42-year-old Maria Elena Ascarruz works in marketing – are happy to see their staff take time off. But the Santa Cruz protests are also backed by poor local teachers and some indigenous groups.
Indeed, the movement’s varied social composition, says Julio Cesar Caballero, a local journalist, reflects extensive immigration in the past two decades or so, both from abroad – Spain, eastern Europe and the Middle East – and from Bolivia itself as a result of the boom in crops such as cotton and soya. All this has produced a more open and socially mobile society that is different in many respects from the more communitarian culture of the indigenous highlands.
The protesters are alarmed by the indigenous rights planned in the new constitution, arguing these will make their citizenship second class. But they deny accusations of racism. “We are not the monsters that they say we are,” says Ms Leigue, who adds that she and her friends typically help indigenous domestic employees to study and make progress. “Things evolve. We help people out and are inclusive.”
“This is my country as well. We have to be taken into account,” says Ana Maria Seleme, a divorced mother of two and recently qualified psychoanalyst, 41, as she sips iced tea and smokes a cigarette.
Although the protesters distrust Mr Morales’ socialist rhetoric and links with Venezuela and Cuba, they are more worried by botched economic policies that have increased the cost of living.
Government meddling has led to shortages of diesel, for example, that have made it more difficult for farmers to harvest crops, leading to inflation. Rice prices have tripled in recent months. Monica Gutierrez, a 41-year-old primary school teacher, says the poor parents of many of her pupils are now able to afford to eat only once a day.
And despite the fears of the likes of Ms Stih, the protesters are still hopeful that there will be compromise. “We really want it to be settled,” says Ms Ascarruz. “We don’t want a civil war.”
Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2007
Published: December 14 2007 18:28
Leg cramps that started on the fifth day of her hunger strike were not enough to stop Beatriz Leigue de Parada’s “hunger strike” against the constitutional changes planned by the left-wing government of Evo Morales.
The 40-year-old administrator and mother of four – like several hundred other strikers camped out in the main square of Santa Cruz, capital of Bolivia’s biggest rebel department – is determined to stick with her protest.
The demonstrators are allowing themselves lots of liquids – as well as four almonds and a centimetre of chocolate per day – and will stop their strike when the governor of Santa Cruz, Ruben Costas, today announces a new autonomy statute for the department. So it is hardly “the resistance until death” struggle promised by the banners above Tent 15, occupied by Ms Leigue and about a dozen other women protesters.
Even so, the scene reflects the fact that tensions between Bolivia’s president – an indigenous Aymaran – and the country’s eastern, relatively wealthy and mainly mixed-race departments are running high. And things could get worse if the government opts to force the conservative rebels into submission by sending in police or troops, forcing a confrontation that could lead to violence or even Bolivia’s break-up. Ms Leigue is worried about the prospect of “repression”.
Other Crucenos [natives of Santa Cruz] fear an even more catastrophic scenario. Ejti Stih, a local artist, is concerned Bolivia could slip into the same pattern of intransigence and irrationality that led her native Yugoslavia to war in the 1990s. “No one would have thought war was possible in 1982 when I left Slovenia,” she says.
Mr Morales has been at odds with the leaders of Santa Cruz and five other eastern departments ever since his election in December 2005. All six are run by the rightwing or centrist parties opposed to his plans to “refound” the nation to give a bigger say to majority Aymara, Quechua and other indigenous groups.
But things became complicated this month when after a year and a half of stalemate over a new constitution, pro-government legislators railroaded a controversial draft in a matter of hours.
Particularly contentious were clauses in the document – which must still be submitted to a referendum – that granted new rights and autonomy not just to departments like Santa Cruz but to loosely defined communities occupied by indigenous people, allowing them to run justice and other affairs along traditional lines.
Mr Morales describes his opponents as a “fascist oligarchy” that has backed conspiracies fomented by its “US imperialist” backers, a stance that would suggest little room for negotiation. But judging by the protests in Santa Cruz at least, matters seem to be more complex.
Some of the strikers are comfortably off. Many are members of a myriad of professional and business associations. Employers – such as the soya processing company where 42-year-old Maria Elena Ascarruz works in marketing – are happy to see their staff take time off. But the Santa Cruz protests are also backed by poor local teachers and some indigenous groups.
Indeed, the movement’s varied social composition, says Julio Cesar Caballero, a local journalist, reflects extensive immigration in the past two decades or so, both from abroad – Spain, eastern Europe and the Middle East – and from Bolivia itself as a result of the boom in crops such as cotton and soya. All this has produced a more open and socially mobile society that is different in many respects from the more communitarian culture of the indigenous highlands.
The protesters are alarmed by the indigenous rights planned in the new constitution, arguing these will make their citizenship second class. But they deny accusations of racism. “We are not the monsters that they say we are,” says Ms Leigue, who adds that she and her friends typically help indigenous domestic employees to study and make progress. “Things evolve. We help people out and are inclusive.”
“This is my country as well. We have to be taken into account,” says Ana Maria Seleme, a divorced mother of two and recently qualified psychoanalyst, 41, as she sips iced tea and smokes a cigarette.
Although the protesters distrust Mr Morales’ socialist rhetoric and links with Venezuela and Cuba, they are more worried by botched economic policies that have increased the cost of living.
Government meddling has led to shortages of diesel, for example, that have made it more difficult for farmers to harvest crops, leading to inflation. Rice prices have tripled in recent months. Monica Gutierrez, a 41-year-old primary school teacher, says the poor parents of many of her pupils are now able to afford to eat only once a day.
And despite the fears of the likes of Ms Stih, the protesters are still hopeful that there will be compromise. “We really want it to be settled,” says Ms Ascarruz. “We don’t want a civil war.”
Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2007
THEY DON’T FEAR THREATS OF THE GOVERNMENT. Four regions of Bolivia are preparing massive public concentrations to present their autonomic statutes
As soon as four departments concluded writing their autonomic statutes, political, civic and social leaders of the east and the south of Bolivia, agreed in indicating that the process of implementation of the departmental autonomies is irreversible, while preparing themselves to present it tomorrow (Saturday) in individual massive concentrations. In spite of the threats received from the Government that has billeted the Bolivian Arm Forces and reinforced the city of Santa Cruz with more than 1500 policemen, more than 500 hunger strikers remain with their protest.
“It is the birth certificate of Santa Cruz and of an autonomic Bolivia”, said congressman Pablo Klinsky, president of the Pre-Autonomic Council that met for more than 30 hours to conclude the approval process of the statute that will prevail in the department, which as a result of the private initiative, has the highest growth and development of the country, contributing to the economy with near 40% of the Gross Internal Product (GIP) and a similar percentage in national taxes.
From Pando and Beni, the civic leaders, Ana Maria Melena and Alberto Melgar, sustained that all citizens are motivated to participate in the public presentation of their statutes. From Tarija, the gas capital of Bolivia, Prefect (Governor) Mario Cossio showed that there is a lot of expectation and “impatience” among “tarijeños” (natives of Tarija) to approve the organic document that will govern them after they carry out departmental referendums.
Prefect (Governor), Rubén Costs, doesn’t hide his joy and optimism while indicating that “this new step” towards the consolidation of the political model - administrative and financial -which autonomists propose, will allow us to grow in all areas, guaranteeing the attention of the population’s basic needs in the department that shelters every year an internal migration of over 100,000 people, around 7% according to the data presented by the National Institute of Statistics, NSI.
“We are the hope of social welfare, freedom and integration for every body who was born and arrived in these plains”, stated German Antelo, former president of the Pro Santa Cruz Committee that led the last two concentrations where over half of million people met on June 28th 2006, before the autonomic referendum held on July 2nd, and the one that took place last year on December 15th that reunited a million people, something unprecedented in the history of this Latin American country.
The sociologist and ex- ally of M.A.S. (President Evo Morales’s Political Party), Jose Mirtembaum, sustained in a national T.V. interview that the cosmopolitan quality of Santa Cruz has turned it into a “melting pot of different cultures and races”, allowing it to lead the search of new administration forms for the nation, with direct participation of the regions. For that reason, it is not rare that Santa Cruz leaded 22 years ago the process for the election of all mayors and city councils in Bolivia, a process that had a strong opposition from the government at that time, and that from Santa Cruz started the movement to elect the Prefects (Governors).
“The economic leadership and the vision of integration in a international context have also motivated urgent changes from the political view”, because the obscurity under which the centralism has put us for decades, forced the people to look, during the 60’, for solutions through cooperative systems that have given quality of life to all citizens, to the point that the electrical energy, the drinking water, the sewer system and the telephone system are provided by this cooperatives that now are “assets of thousands of partners and are an example of national cooperativism”, stated Antelo.
Native indigenous unrelated to the government, support autonomic processThe founder of the Bolivian Indigenous Confederation of the East, Cidob (abbreviation of Confederación Indígena del Oriente Boliviano), Jose Urañavi, of the Guaraní Ethnical group, showed his satisfaction due to the approval of the departmental autonomic statute and announced that, along with other chiquitanos (ethnical group from Chiquitos) and guaraní leaders, they will participate in tomorrow’s (Saturday) concentration.
Urañavi also sustained that “four articles in chapter twelve of the new autonomic statute, recognize the rights of all the native population, its culture, its language, uses and customs and gives them direct representation in the Departmental Assembly”.
On the other hand, the Ayoreo cacique (leader of the Ayoreo ethnical group), Fernando Cliquing, indicated that their ancestors always were independent; for that reason, they diffidently support the creation of autonomies in the departments, that recognize the cultural diversity and guarantee conditions for the development of Bolivia’s native population.
“It is the birth certificate of Santa Cruz and of an autonomic Bolivia”, said congressman Pablo Klinsky, president of the Pre-Autonomic Council that met for more than 30 hours to conclude the approval process of the statute that will prevail in the department, which as a result of the private initiative, has the highest growth and development of the country, contributing to the economy with near 40% of the Gross Internal Product (GIP) and a similar percentage in national taxes.
From Pando and Beni, the civic leaders, Ana Maria Melena and Alberto Melgar, sustained that all citizens are motivated to participate in the public presentation of their statutes. From Tarija, the gas capital of Bolivia, Prefect (Governor) Mario Cossio showed that there is a lot of expectation and “impatience” among “tarijeños” (natives of Tarija) to approve the organic document that will govern them after they carry out departmental referendums.
Prefect (Governor), Rubén Costs, doesn’t hide his joy and optimism while indicating that “this new step” towards the consolidation of the political model - administrative and financial -which autonomists propose, will allow us to grow in all areas, guaranteeing the attention of the population’s basic needs in the department that shelters every year an internal migration of over 100,000 people, around 7% according to the data presented by the National Institute of Statistics, NSI.
“We are the hope of social welfare, freedom and integration for every body who was born and arrived in these plains”, stated German Antelo, former president of the Pro Santa Cruz Committee that led the last two concentrations where over half of million people met on June 28th 2006, before the autonomic referendum held on July 2nd, and the one that took place last year on December 15th that reunited a million people, something unprecedented in the history of this Latin American country.
The sociologist and ex- ally of M.A.S. (President Evo Morales’s Political Party), Jose Mirtembaum, sustained in a national T.V. interview that the cosmopolitan quality of Santa Cruz has turned it into a “melting pot of different cultures and races”, allowing it to lead the search of new administration forms for the nation, with direct participation of the regions. For that reason, it is not rare that Santa Cruz leaded 22 years ago the process for the election of all mayors and city councils in Bolivia, a process that had a strong opposition from the government at that time, and that from Santa Cruz started the movement to elect the Prefects (Governors).
“The economic leadership and the vision of integration in a international context have also motivated urgent changes from the political view”, because the obscurity under which the centralism has put us for decades, forced the people to look, during the 60’, for solutions through cooperative systems that have given quality of life to all citizens, to the point that the electrical energy, the drinking water, the sewer system and the telephone system are provided by this cooperatives that now are “assets of thousands of partners and are an example of national cooperativism”, stated Antelo.
Native indigenous unrelated to the government, support autonomic processThe founder of the Bolivian Indigenous Confederation of the East, Cidob (abbreviation of Confederación Indígena del Oriente Boliviano), Jose Urañavi, of the Guaraní Ethnical group, showed his satisfaction due to the approval of the departmental autonomic statute and announced that, along with other chiquitanos (ethnical group from Chiquitos) and guaraní leaders, they will participate in tomorrow’s (Saturday) concentration.
Urañavi also sustained that “four articles in chapter twelve of the new autonomic statute, recognize the rights of all the native population, its culture, its language, uses and customs and gives them direct representation in the Departmental Assembly”.
On the other hand, the Ayoreo cacique (leader of the Ayoreo ethnical group), Fernando Cliquing, indicated that their ancestors always were independent; for that reason, they diffidently support the creation of autonomies in the departments, that recognize the cultural diversity and guarantee conditions for the development of Bolivia’s native population.
viernes, 14 de diciembre de 2007
Evo Morales seeks to impose a setback to their fellows, who resist, and not without reason
By Emilio J. Cárdenas
It is evident that Evo Morales, along with his godfathers and ideologists-Álvaro García Linera, Hugo Chávez and Fidel Castro - has been trying to impose on all the Bolivians a new Constitution that, as we will prove, is a really strange collection of what it looks like a series of silly authentic juridical things. Beyond the good intentions that might probably be presumed.
Bringing Bolivia to the very doors of the precipice which results in violence (without hesitating a moment) Morales did approve illegally (that is, without having to agree with most of the two thirds of constituents, which require both the current Constitution, as well as the "Call Act" to the Constituent Assembly), a new draft of the Constitution for his suffering country.It did session abruptly on the inside of a military barracks in the city of Sucre (the worst scenario for a reform of social pact of any country facilitated by military lured openly with the cheques provided by President Chávez), without the presence of constituents of the opposition, and provoking in the vicinity of barracks several cowardly deaths (when in a scuffle against citizens of Sucre who were at the obvious maneuver by misleading, they were repressed, as if they were animals)
Oh, what a surprise! or "hocus-pocus, here is the new Constitution".
What unusual is that-after more than a year long session-nobody knew the full text of the Constitution that President Morales was to impose on the Bolivian population, suddenly, between roosters awaking and midnight, "it appeared" suddenly to be approved-at full speed-by representatives from the MAS (and two alternate members of the opposition which were ostensibly "bribed", this is bribed from power) on tables
The aforementioned ugly episode deserves to be included in the pages of "Guinness Book of Records", as the most shameful constitutional experience of history.
None of real Autonomies.
The result of these (and having also tried to hide the "Autonomies" that seek departments of the "Crescent moon" from the east of the country, the most working and contributing, after a referendum that will confirm in a transparent manner, convened by a proud Mr. Morales, which has now been ignored) is a situation of tension that can lead to disaster and the physical confrontation among brothers.
And I say among brothers, because it was assumed that all citizens are Bolivian, concept that always evoked a society clearly multi-ethnic, in which all together lived until not long ago-in peace, beyond their multiple nationalities. As it happens, without major difficulties in many other places around the world.
But President Morales and his mentor, the Vice-President Álvaro García Linera have been sowing-visible and constantly-hatred and resentment from power, using, unfairly, the machinery of the State.
A genuine "organized chaos", and some "proofs" as samples
They say that "for a sample a proof shows enough". Here are some proofs which contain the proposed new Constitution for Bolivia that propel President Morales, President Chávez and President Castro, in joint operation. They are either for laughing … or crying.
You, reader will judge, with your own approach, if they are, whether or not, "reasonable".
1. Definition of the State:
According to the Article 1 of the proposed new constitution drafted by the "specialist" from MAS (including the Cubans): "Bolivia is a unitary state, social multinational Community law, free, Autonomous Community and decentralized, independent, sovereign, democratic and intercultural education. It is based on the plurality and in the political pluralism, economic, legal, cultural and linguistic, within the process of integration of the country ".
Amazing puzzle, that-among other profound contradictions-suggests that, having legal pluralism, the rules will be different for each "nation", which is presumably the idea, although shine unusual. And chaotic. But, moreover, how can they have a unitary state and with multinational rights at the same time; or unitary, at once, autonomous and decentralized. What is economic pluralism? How will it be applied? And what about the legal? Will the rights of each other be different? Besides, will the rights of each other be different from others? Also, their civil and political freedoms?
What mammoth disaster of drafting and what horrible confusion of notions!
2. Languages:
For the “Article 5 of the proposed new Constitution designed by MAS,” the official languages of the State are Spanish and all the languages of indigenous nations" (which are 35).
Can you imagine? Dear reader, what will the Official Gazette be tomorrow? And the contractual and statutory texts!! Notable. One fate of endless encyclopedia, but daily.
3 Moral and ethical principles:
According to the Article 8 ° of the new proposed Constitution proposed by MAS, "the State assumes as an ethical principle-moral: ama qhilla, ama llulla, ama suwa ", which in Spanish apparently (does not explain in which of the 35 official languages these principles are set out, nor to which of the ethnic groups are, what makes suspect that they are aimaras) want to say: don’t be lazy, don't be aliar, don’t be a thief. Raper, perhaps, it does not matter. Killer, either. Swindler, possibly much less.
Of the Ten Commandments of Mount Sinai, to the three moral and ethical principles proposed, there is a whole abyss. And, let alone, to the human rights recognized in the community of nations, or on civil liberties and policies that are the traditional of modern democracies.
What madness, like any other. But what it is serious is that the aforesaid principles are not limited to the nation to which surely belongs, but that they intend to impose on the other 34 cultures presumed to be different. Against any logical solution, of course, as everything that makes Morales, who believes himself anointed as "authority" undisputed of all, without any limit, and without having to listen to any minority, never and ever.
4. Presidential periods.
Here is the real "mother of species". This is without doubt, the real reason for the unusual reform that Morales and García Linera seek.
Indeed, the draft of the new constitution, in its Article 166, said: "The term of office of the president and the vice-president of the State is five years, and may be re-elected consecutively".
For ever and ever, accordingly. Without any temporary limit. And without recourse to "switch" as it should be the senior level between husband and wife, to conceal the real eternity of mandates.
As it also happened in Venezuela and Ecuador. Once again, it follows the “Bolivarian model. Of the democratic alternation, if you have seen, I do not agree. In contrast, with open totalitarianism.
5. The chaos "indigenous-peasant".
Morales does not feel part of the Judeo-Christian. It is clear. Rather, the hate. He only accepts the British component of football, for which he has a passion.
However, it is not surprising that Articles 199 and 200 allow that "the nations and peasants will exercise their jurisdictional functions and competition through their authorities and apply their principles, cultural values, standards and procedures". to all? Only to them?
This is the chaos, in its more pure legal version. Despite that it also says: "The original indigenous jurisdiction shall respect fundamental rights established in this Constitution" although interpreted inter-culturally (that is, from 35 possible ways).
In addition, it states that "the original indigenous peasant jurisdiction (if it is not peasant, it is presumed that the rules will be different) will decide in final form; its decisions may not be reviewed by the ordinary jurisdiction (this is without revision, or appeal. And if the decisions have to do with subjects of other nations, what the response is?
Go hell then! Referring to the "fundamental rights" that contains the Constitution since its scope would only be granted or interpreted by the original jurisdiction indigenous peasant (with 35 possible different views).
To make things worse, the resolutions of the jurisdictions originating indigenous peasant, will be "executed in directly". Will there be multiple police powers? How will contradictions be settled which obviously will have to appear in the interpretation of the same rules with 35 different cultural profiles?
Or will there only be an original indigenous jurisdiction … of the ethnicity of Morales… to which everyone, in his case, shall undergo?
Dear reader, I imagine that you are as amazed or astounded as I am. What it can be seen in a first analysis of the proposal from MAS, it looks like a recipe for plunge to a country multi-cultural in the deeper in the chaos and in the backlog more irremediable. And in the arbitrariness in the guise of legality. This is serious. At best is what it is intended… But now that the Venezuelans themselves are encouraged to reject similar proposals from Chávez, the scenario has changed… dramatically.
Emilio J. Cárdenas
Former Ambassador of Argentina to the United Nations.
It is evident that Evo Morales, along with his godfathers and ideologists-Álvaro García Linera, Hugo Chávez and Fidel Castro - has been trying to impose on all the Bolivians a new Constitution that, as we will prove, is a really strange collection of what it looks like a series of silly authentic juridical things. Beyond the good intentions that might probably be presumed.
Bringing Bolivia to the very doors of the precipice which results in violence (without hesitating a moment) Morales did approve illegally (that is, without having to agree with most of the two thirds of constituents, which require both the current Constitution, as well as the "Call Act" to the Constituent Assembly), a new draft of the Constitution for his suffering country.It did session abruptly on the inside of a military barracks in the city of Sucre (the worst scenario for a reform of social pact of any country facilitated by military lured openly with the cheques provided by President Chávez), without the presence of constituents of the opposition, and provoking in the vicinity of barracks several cowardly deaths (when in a scuffle against citizens of Sucre who were at the obvious maneuver by misleading, they were repressed, as if they were animals)
Oh, what a surprise! or "hocus-pocus, here is the new Constitution".
What unusual is that-after more than a year long session-nobody knew the full text of the Constitution that President Morales was to impose on the Bolivian population, suddenly, between roosters awaking and midnight, "it appeared" suddenly to be approved-at full speed-by representatives from the MAS (and two alternate members of the opposition which were ostensibly "bribed", this is bribed from power) on tables
The aforementioned ugly episode deserves to be included in the pages of "Guinness Book of Records", as the most shameful constitutional experience of history.
None of real Autonomies.
The result of these (and having also tried to hide the "Autonomies" that seek departments of the "Crescent moon" from the east of the country, the most working and contributing, after a referendum that will confirm in a transparent manner, convened by a proud Mr. Morales, which has now been ignored) is a situation of tension that can lead to disaster and the physical confrontation among brothers.
And I say among brothers, because it was assumed that all citizens are Bolivian, concept that always evoked a society clearly multi-ethnic, in which all together lived until not long ago-in peace, beyond their multiple nationalities. As it happens, without major difficulties in many other places around the world.
But President Morales and his mentor, the Vice-President Álvaro García Linera have been sowing-visible and constantly-hatred and resentment from power, using, unfairly, the machinery of the State.
A genuine "organized chaos", and some "proofs" as samples
They say that "for a sample a proof shows enough". Here are some proofs which contain the proposed new Constitution for Bolivia that propel President Morales, President Chávez and President Castro, in joint operation. They are either for laughing … or crying.
You, reader will judge, with your own approach, if they are, whether or not, "reasonable".
1. Definition of the State:
According to the Article 1 of the proposed new constitution drafted by the "specialist" from MAS (including the Cubans): "Bolivia is a unitary state, social multinational Community law, free, Autonomous Community and decentralized, independent, sovereign, democratic and intercultural education. It is based on the plurality and in the political pluralism, economic, legal, cultural and linguistic, within the process of integration of the country ".
Amazing puzzle, that-among other profound contradictions-suggests that, having legal pluralism, the rules will be different for each "nation", which is presumably the idea, although shine unusual. And chaotic. But, moreover, how can they have a unitary state and with multinational rights at the same time; or unitary, at once, autonomous and decentralized. What is economic pluralism? How will it be applied? And what about the legal? Will the rights of each other be different? Besides, will the rights of each other be different from others? Also, their civil and political freedoms?
What mammoth disaster of drafting and what horrible confusion of notions!
2. Languages:
For the “Article 5 of the proposed new Constitution designed by MAS,” the official languages of the State are Spanish and all the languages of indigenous nations" (which are 35).
Can you imagine? Dear reader, what will the Official Gazette be tomorrow? And the contractual and statutory texts!! Notable. One fate of endless encyclopedia, but daily.
3 Moral and ethical principles:
According to the Article 8 ° of the new proposed Constitution proposed by MAS, "the State assumes as an ethical principle-moral: ama qhilla, ama llulla, ama suwa ", which in Spanish apparently (does not explain in which of the 35 official languages these principles are set out, nor to which of the ethnic groups are, what makes suspect that they are aimaras) want to say: don’t be lazy, don't be aliar, don’t be a thief. Raper, perhaps, it does not matter. Killer, either. Swindler, possibly much less.
Of the Ten Commandments of Mount Sinai, to the three moral and ethical principles proposed, there is a whole abyss. And, let alone, to the human rights recognized in the community of nations, or on civil liberties and policies that are the traditional of modern democracies.
What madness, like any other. But what it is serious is that the aforesaid principles are not limited to the nation to which surely belongs, but that they intend to impose on the other 34 cultures presumed to be different. Against any logical solution, of course, as everything that makes Morales, who believes himself anointed as "authority" undisputed of all, without any limit, and without having to listen to any minority, never and ever.
4. Presidential periods.
Here is the real "mother of species". This is without doubt, the real reason for the unusual reform that Morales and García Linera seek.
Indeed, the draft of the new constitution, in its Article 166, said: "The term of office of the president and the vice-president of the State is five years, and may be re-elected consecutively".
For ever and ever, accordingly. Without any temporary limit. And without recourse to "switch" as it should be the senior level between husband and wife, to conceal the real eternity of mandates.
As it also happened in Venezuela and Ecuador. Once again, it follows the “Bolivarian model. Of the democratic alternation, if you have seen, I do not agree. In contrast, with open totalitarianism.
5. The chaos "indigenous-peasant".
Morales does not feel part of the Judeo-Christian. It is clear. Rather, the hate. He only accepts the British component of football, for which he has a passion.
However, it is not surprising that Articles 199 and 200 allow that "the nations and peasants will exercise their jurisdictional functions and competition through their authorities and apply their principles, cultural values, standards and procedures". to all? Only to them?
This is the chaos, in its more pure legal version. Despite that it also says: "The original indigenous jurisdiction shall respect fundamental rights established in this Constitution" although interpreted inter-culturally (that is, from 35 possible ways).
In addition, it states that "the original indigenous peasant jurisdiction (if it is not peasant, it is presumed that the rules will be different) will decide in final form; its decisions may not be reviewed by the ordinary jurisdiction (this is without revision, or appeal. And if the decisions have to do with subjects of other nations, what the response is?
Go hell then! Referring to the "fundamental rights" that contains the Constitution since its scope would only be granted or interpreted by the original jurisdiction indigenous peasant (with 35 possible different views).
To make things worse, the resolutions of the jurisdictions originating indigenous peasant, will be "executed in directly". Will there be multiple police powers? How will contradictions be settled which obviously will have to appear in the interpretation of the same rules with 35 different cultural profiles?
Or will there only be an original indigenous jurisdiction … of the ethnicity of Morales… to which everyone, in his case, shall undergo?
Dear reader, I imagine that you are as amazed or astounded as I am. What it can be seen in a first analysis of the proposal from MAS, it looks like a recipe for plunge to a country multi-cultural in the deeper in the chaos and in the backlog more irremediable. And in the arbitrariness in the guise of legality. This is serious. At best is what it is intended… But now that the Venezuelans themselves are encouraged to reject similar proposals from Chávez, the scenario has changed… dramatically.
Emilio J. Cárdenas
Former Ambassador of Argentina to the United Nations.
Suscribirse a:
Entradas (Atom)