-Caveat Lector- Bolivian president addresses nation, blames unrest on drug runners By PETER McFARREN The Associated Press 9/28/00 11:27 PM LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) -- Bolivia's president blamed a rash of violent protests on cocaine traffickers, saying Thursday that they're trying to destabilize Bolivia in order to protect their drug crops. President Hugo Banzer said in an address Thursday evening that the government will stand firm in its effort to eliminate cocaine trafficking in the country. But violent protests of the government effort has left 10 people dead and more than 100 injured in the last week. "For us to stop the eradication of coca leaves is to turn over the nation to cocaine traffickers," Banzer said. "We will not surrender in our fight against cocaine trafficking, and those who believe we will are wrong. We will not tolerate any more violence and disorder." His remarks were the first since coca leaf growers and farmers began setting up roadblocks throughout the country to protest the eradication effort. On a separate front, public school teachers went on a general strike this week to protest government layoffs. "We are facing acts of sedition that are being led by sectors backed by cocaine traffickers," the president said. A clash with soldiers Thursday killed two farmers and a school teacher in the Lake Titicaca border town of Huarina. Two coca farmers were killed Wednesday in the Chapare region. Confrontations between soldiers trying to lift roadblocks and protesting coca producers, farmers and teachers left five others dead this week. About 5,000 acres of coca leaf remain in the Chapare, a lush tropical region 380 miles east of La Paz. It's about 5 percent of what existed four years ago. Farmers are feeling the loss their main cash crop -- the base ingredient used to make cocaine. Banzer has said Bolivia will no longer be producing cocaine by the end of the year. The roadblocks went up two weeks ago in the Chapare, after coca farmers demanded the government stop its eradication of coca plants and abandon plans to build three military barracks in the region. The roadblocks spread to the Bolivian Andean highlands, where farmers demanded revision of land reform legislation and an end to coca leaf eradication efforts. They have interrupted traffic to Argentina, Chile, Peru and across the country, and left hundreds of trucks and buses stranded. Thousands of tons of food have been dumped and left rotting because of the roadblocks. Vegetables and fruit have nearly disappeared from city markets. Meat, dairy and other food products have been flown in from producing areas. Government estimates of losses due to protests have surpassed $100 million. The government mobilized thousands of soldiers and police to end the blockades, but new roadblocks go up as soon as old ones are cleared. l Copyright 2000 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. INSIDE NewsFlash <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html">Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/">ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
