-Caveat Lector- from: v Click Here: <A HREF="http://www.narconews.com/pressbriefing.html">Narco News: Reporting on the Events that Shake �</A> ----- The Narco News Bulletin "The Name of Our Country is Am�rica" -- Sim�n Bol�var Today's Press Briefing October 11, 2000 US Ambassador Rocha Demands Bolivian Blood "Banzer Must Be Inflexible" says Manuel Rocha Rumors of Military Invasion at Dawn AP Continues Media Blackout of Historic Events Morales: "We Will Offer Our Lives" from the daily Los Tiempos, Cochabamba, Bolivia Wednesday, October 11, 2000 Ambassador Rocha: "The Eradication Must Not Be Delayed" La Paz | Los Tiempos.- Not a single half-cato of coca nor delays in the December 15th deadline for "zero coca." That is the position of the US Ambassador Manuel rocha, who recommended to the government of General Hugo Banzer that he not be flexible in negotiations with Evo Morales. Rocha made these statements in the moments in which the tension is building in Chapare. Interview with the Ambassador: Q. How does the United States view the request by Evo Morales to maintain a cato (40 by 40 meter garden) of coca per family? A. I'm not going to comment on this request. This is a negotiation that this man is making with the government and it is internal to the country. I want to respect the negotiations and the posture of the government of President Banzer that Minister Guillermo Fort�n is conducting. What I do want to say is that the policy of Bolivia and its government, regarding Plan Dignidad, has and will continue to have the total support of the U.S. Q. If the government agrees to what Evo Morales has asked, with the US continue cooperating in the drug war? A. From what I understand, the posture of the government is very clear and doesn't merit any speculation. Q. Without compromising the goal of "zero coca," does the U.S. regard the probability of postponing the compliance of this goal for some months while the parties try to achieve consensus and improve the offers of alternative development? A. I don't believe there is any need to think about that, given that the eradication is underway. During these three weeks of social agitation, the eradication has continued without any impediment and I don't believe the government is contemplating a delay. And, definitely, in the colaboration that we are giving Bolivia in the process of eradication, we don't see a need to think about a recess in the eradication activity. As for alternative development, I would like to invite you to see what has been done in recent years, so that you can see the ex-coca growers that today participate in alternative development and how they have been affected by the blockades of these people who don't want to see that coca-cocaine is part of a criminal activity. We have people, many peasants, that have worked very hard that now have suffered three weeks without being able to export bananas, pineapples and palm to Argentina and Chile. Of the 110 million dollars that the US has approved (as additional budget), the bulk of the funds is going to be destined to alternative development... in something viable for the coca growers who have left this business and are dedicated to something legal. Q. The mediators are making an effort to bring the parties together. The positions of each side are at the point of provoking violence in the clearing of the blockade and at this moment everyone awaits signs of a peaceful solution. What signal would the US give to facilitate a peaceful solution? A. The best signal that could come is that those who still insist in this illegal activity of growing illicit coca acknowledge that there are people of more conscience in the Bolivian population, people who understand the coca-cocaine destroys the country's reputation and the dignity of the work of its people. The coca growers contribute to something that is illegal not only in Bolivia but also in the entire world. The best signal would be that those who are conversing with the government rethink their position and desist an activity that has no future, will not have any future, nor acceptance nor legimitacy. US Will Withdraw Money for Cancelled Military Bases La Paz | Los Tiempos.- The United States had budgeted nearly $2 million dollars to construct the military bases in Chapare, an amount that will be withdrawn until the Bolivian government makes a new request, said the US Ambassador Manuel Rocha. "We would have to see what other plans or proposals the Bolivian government has for this region where they wanted to put the military bases. We will see and we are open to any other proposal," he said. Government and Coca Growers Declare War Military Invasion of Chapare is Imminent The coca growers decided to plant a cato per family "or die trying," declaring the Tropic a Zone of Free Production and Intensifying the Blockades. The government did not give an inch in its slogan of "Zero Coca." The Mediation Commission suggested to the authorities that they enact a 30 day truce, without blockades, soldiers nor eradication, but the petition was rejected. The government will not stay still with its arms crossed. This dawn, extra official reports circulated that confirmed the military invasion of Chapare beginning at 4 a.m. The operation will begin at three points. The Interior Minister, Guillermo Fort�n, confirmed that the clearing of the Cochabamba-Santa Cruz highway could begin at any moment. The United States Asks Banzer to Be Inflexible The Coca Growers Want Dialogue, but will Resist with Self-Defense Committees, Armed with Rustic Rifles and Molotov Cocktails The Government and Coca Growers Choose Confrontation The clearing of the blockade could occur on three fronts and with troops from three divisions. The Ninth Division of the Army will attack from Chimor� with 5,000 soldiers. The Eighth Division from Santa Cruz and the Seventh Division from Cochabamba. "Nothing. Not a Cato or anything. Coca or Death!" These were the words most repeated during the assembly of the six federations of coca producers yesterday in the tropical town of Shinahota. The producers did not back down on their demands and went even further to decide new plantings of coca everywhere in the region. And they decided to harden their tactics and the blockade of the Cochabamba-Santa Cruz highway. The Growers are not Tired The government, from the beginning, gambled that the coca growers would grow tired. But the coca growers created a system of organizing the blockades that can last much more time still. The blockade is present for 24 hours a day. While one group guards the blockade, three more (each with a similar quantity of 300 persons at each blockade point) work with the crops and in the planting of pinapple, rice, oranges and yuca root. The coca growers say that these products are not sellable. Yuca root is produced for domestic consumption and the pineapple only bring .5 bolivianos. Also, the market for coca is assured. The principal consumers of Chapare coca are the peasants of Santa Cruz, Cochabamba, Potos� and other tropical regions. Coca Growers Decide to Offer Their Lives Mor than 1,000 coca growers met at noon on Tuesday... and decided to declare Chapare a Free Trade Zone for coca until the government shows its will to negotiate with the base of "one cato per family." "The decision by the rank-and-file is to continue the resistance including by offering our lives," warned Congressman Evo Morales. October 10, 2000 Netwar in Bolivia Banzer Regime Cuts Phone, Radio, and Internet Access from Conflict Zone Coca Growers Declare Chapare to be a "Free Trade Area" Act of War: In Violation of International Law, Water and Electricity Are Also Shut Down Narco News Analysis: From Chiapas 1994 to Bolivia 2000, "it's Deja Vu all over again." The Zapatista uprising in Mexico -- still going -- combined the demand for autonomy of indigenous peoples with high-tech weapons of communications. The internet entered the popular struggle. Today, in Bolivia, despite efforts by Associated Press and other mass media to suppress the news, the internet has broken the blockade. The regime of dictator-turned-"president" Hugo Banzer is so worried that the Indians are using the Internet that he has shut down all phone, internet and radio access to and from the region. The demand is the same as in Chiapas: Autonomy. And the rhetoric by the US and Bolivian governments about "freedom of the press" proves hollow when tested. Narco News will continue to break the blockade. Today, fresh reports out of Bolivia, where the peasants are taking up arms to defend the ancient tradition of coca cultivation so feared by the United States government and its hypocritical drug war. >From somewhere in a country called Am�rica, Al Giordano Publisher The Narco News Bulletin http://www.narconews.com/ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Tuesday, October 10, 2000: Cochabamba | ANF news agency.- By decree of the producers in the Tropic of Cochabamba, the State of Chapare will be a zone of free production of coca and they announced that they will not negotiate until the government accepts the condition of "one kato per family." The announcement was confirmed yesterday by Congressman and coca growers leader Evo Morales Ayma, and he denounced that since noon on Monday, telephone service and electricity had been cut from the entire tropical zone of Cochabama, as well as Radio Sovereignty, the station owned by the six coca-grower federations of the Tropic. He said, at the same time, that in the more populated areas the electricity had been cut since the weekend as well as potable water supplies. Monday, October 9, 2000: Government Prepares Military-Police Invasion "A Mini Colombia," Warn Peasant Farmers LA PAZ/Jatha News Service: The government reported on Sunday that the roads of eastern Bolivia are completely unblocked and public forces are preparing the intervention to clear the Cochabamba-Santa Cruz highway that is blockaded by coca growers.... Coca Growers Arm Themselves for a "Cato" of Coca The coca growers are armed and asked the government to respect the position of one "cato" of coca per family in Chapare, leader Evo Morales warned on Sunday. He said that coca-leaf producers showed their leaders that with the use of machine guns they will turn back the eradicators. He also warned that explosives and rockes will be used to confront troops dedicated to the eradication of coca fields. The congressman and coca growers leader assured that in the six federation of the Cochabamba Tropic the proposal of the government to reduce the allowed coca field to a half-cato (20 by 20 meters) per family was not accepted. He then warned that the conflict will be serious because hunger, misery and unemployment continue increasing in Chapare. He insisted that there is no market for products of the Tropic of Cochabamba. "Step by step we are advancing toward armed conflict. Here, a mini-Colombia is about to happen." from the daily Los Tiempos, Cochabamba, Bolivia Monday, October 9, 2000+ Coca Growers say the Enemy is now the Government of the United States Chapare and La Paz - Los Tiempos and news agencies: The struggle of the peasants in Cochabamba Tropic is now against the government of the United States, not that of Bolivia, said Congressman and coca growers leader Evo Morales yesterday. This decision came due to the role of the US Embassy in the conflict and its total opposition to allow the acceptance of a half-kato of coca per peasant family, an idea, said Morales, that was adopted in some government circles. October 8, 2000 "Now or Never! Coca or Death!" Farmers Chant as they Arm Themselves "Civil War" Vows Evo Morales "The government pledges not to eradicated coca leaf crops in traditional indigenous zones, as established in Article 9 of Law 1008." -- Agreement Signed (10/7) with Peasant Farmers from Some Regions "The Two Bolivias: Still Separated by Blockade" The scant US media coverage of immediate history in Bolivia has turned from black-out to distortion. The spin -- that the crisis is over -- is false. With dicator-turned-"president" Hugo Banzer pulling troops out of some regions in order to concentrate the full wrath of destructive power upon the defiant coca growers of Chapare, the peasants are arming themselves to repel the invasion. Meanwhile, on the 33rd Memorial of the October 7, 1967 assassination of Comandante Che Guevara in Bolivia, two of the sectors that signed agreements with the government in recent days -- the peasant farmers from other regions and the Bolivian water use movement -- warn the government that all is not settled. Campesino leader Felipe Quispe ("El Mallku") gave the government 90 days to comply with its promises or vows to reinitiate the blockades in his regions. Some of Quispe's regions refused to give up the blockade and offered their backing to Evo Morales and the Chapare growers. And the Coordinating Committee for Water and Life reiterated its support for the unconquerable peasant farmers of Chapare and their spokesman Evo Morales. In the drama building on the Cochabamba-Santa Cruz Highway 5,000 troops march toward 60,000 coca growing families, armed and ready to fight. >From the daily Los Tiempos, Cochabamba, Bolivia Sunday, October 8, 2000: Evo Insists: "Coca or Death!" Chapare Los Tiempos.- A tense anticipation characterized the mood of the people of Chapare. The six federations of coca producers met yesterday in large assemblies that ratified their intention to resist with the slogan of "�Coca o Muerte! �Ahora o Nunca!" -- "Coca or Death! Now or Never!" The coca growers are arming themselves to the teeth with the intention to await the military troops that entered the zone, but as of the closing of this edition the feared "armed clearing of the blockade" did not happen. State Police Commander Eduardo Wayar signaled that they still don't have a precise order to begin the clearing of the road blockade. A high military source told Los Tiempos that they will await the moment when the population is found most scattered, and this might not occur until the end of next week. The leader Evo Morales said in Villa Tunari that with the dialogue fracased on the theme of eradication of coca plants, they have decided to resist and offer their lives to the struggle. The blockade of the Cochabamba-Santa Cruz highway remains intact after 24 days with innumerable blockade points that cover more than 200 kilometers. The Congressman and coca-grower said that in his bicycle trip from Chimor� to Villa Tunari he saw the readiness of the coca growers to continue resisting in the blockades. If the government represses us we are disposed to defend ourselves and if a social revolt occurs this will be the exclusive responsibility of the government of the United States that imposes a false policy," he said. The leader Luis Cutipa said that the coca growing bases "are ready to respond bullet for bullet" and that there is rage and indignation that some leaders like Felipe Quispe and Alejo V�liz allied themselves with the government. Morales, however, received the support of some sectors of peasants in Valle Bajo (territory of Quispe's organizations) who still have not lifted the blockades. The coca growers continued transporting the women and children to internal forest zones to keep them from the danger of a possible confrontation with the forces of order. At the same time they loaded their hunting arms, Mauser rifles and slingshots. In Shanahota they informed that they had also acquired sufficient fuel to make molotov coctails... The Final Solution in Bolivia: Coca for Some Regions, Violence for Others Bolivia Divided by Drug War Hypocrisy Narco News Analysis: The Banzer regime has granted one of the two major coca growing unions the rights to continue to grow "traditional coca," along with pledging massive financial investment and agreeing to "95%" of their demands, in order to isolate the coca growers of Chapare. Chapare is the central region of Bolivia that Washington DC has targetted for the next phase of its "zero coca" policy, in which the dictator-turned-"president" Hugo Banzer is a key player. The government claims it will allow coca growers in Yunga and other states where coca eradication had been scheduled for after the upcoming Chapare operation, and those regions lifted their road blockades that have paralyzed the country for 18 days. First, the government will go after Chapare. Does anyone really believe they will stop there? >From the daily Los Tiempos, Cochabamba, Bolivia Saturday, September 7, 2000: La Paz | Los Tiempos.- The government was arrogant and the coca growers of Chapare unmoveable. The dialogue only served to shoot verbal aggressions without coming to agreement. The final word was given by Government Minister Guillermo Fort�n, who upon standing up from the table warned the mediators that if the the blockade does not disperse today, force will be used to clear the roads. The leader of the six coca growing federations of the tropics, Evo Morales, began the day demanding that the government permit the planting of one cato (40 by 40 meter parcel) per family, but Fort�n eradicated this proposal by planting his position expressed to not tolerate even a half a yard of coca bush. Going even further, the government minister set a date of December 15th to eliminate all 1,840 hectares of coca in the state of Chapare... "Only a miracle can avoid violence," said the Public Defender, Ana Maria de Campero, saying that the negotiation harvested failure... Evo Morales... repeated that, in reality, the people condemn "narco-connections," including the "narco-airplane" of the government, and if they want to speak of drug trafficking, they ought to begin at the Government Palace. This statement made Fort�n furious. As chief government negotiator he got up and left the table... ...Morales demanded half a cato (a 20 by 20 meter plot) per family to avoid that the coca growers, due to their poverty, opt to take up arms to resist forced eradication and accused the United States of pressuring the Banzer government. October 5, 2000 7:41 p.m. Update Below: Government Claims Deal Set Bolivia Makes Secret Offer to Coca Growers: 400 Sqare Meters Per Family Growers Demand Double, Blockades Rage On State Makes New Ultimatum to Social Forces A Narco News October 4 Commentary Predicted: "Read between the lines of the US and Bolivian government statements. The only way they can end the unrest is to allow peasant families to grow a small amount of coca per family. As US officials micro-manage the situation from afar.. they are finessing the bottom line: coca growing may be decriminalized for small scale producers. In other words, harm reduction in Bolivia. And yet the governments, rather than trumpet such a move as progress, will instead go to all lengths to claim it didn't happen. This, of course, is only one possible outcome of these earthshaking events...." What we predicted on Tuesday became a governmental offer on Wednesday. According to the daily La Razon in La Paz, State negotiators contacted coca-grower leaders by telephone to make the behind the scenes offer. Here is the report from La Razon today, and other fast-breaking news from Bolivia. >From the daily La Razon, La Paz, Bolivia Thursday, October 5, 2000: "Secret" Negotiation Between the Coca Growers and the Government Fails COCHABAMBA (LA RAZ�N).- With the most absolute reserve and via telephone, the Government proposed to the coca growers the eradication of coca crops over 400 square meters (20 by 20 meters) per family, as an option to solve the conflict that has paralyzed Cochabamba for more than three weeks. The proposal was made by state governor Jos� Or�as, by telephone, yesterday morning to coca growers leader Evo Morales, who is in Chapare. The information was known by government sources, union leaders and coca growers. Unofficially, it was known that the congressman and coca growers leader responded that the minimum acceptable crop per family would be half of one cato, that is to say, about 800 square meters of crops per each coca growing family. A peaceful solution to the conflict was made possible if the Government suspends the forced eradication of coca gardens and leaves more than 1,900 hectares intact that have not been destroyed. Morales did not want to speak of the government proposal, but admitted that he received a phone call not just from a government representative, but also from the commander of the Seventh Division of the Army, General Jos� Antonio Gil. The coca growers leader did not offer details of the conversation, but admitted that on the part of both parties there is now more will to come to an agreement and impeded a new confrontation. Morales said that the proposal by his sector of one catu per family would foster a social control by the coca growing peasants themselves and would also be a more effective way to combat against drug trafficking. "Every end of the year this measure would be applied and any family that cultivated more would lose all its production," he said, later adding that it would be the very same coca growers then helping in the fight against drug trafficking. The proposal by the government also avoided that the Coordinating Committee of the social movement escalated their pressure tactics, according to its leaders, in a display "of support for dialogue and in the interests of sol ving the conflict." Morales spoke with representatives of the Coordinating Committee not only about the option of maintaining the blockades, but also to consider the proposal made by Or�as as "serious"... However, at around 8 p.m., in a new phone call to the coca growers leader, the Government rejected the counter-proposal of this sector and continued with its policy of "zero coca." Or�as declared that he had not spoken at any moment with the coca growers leader Evo Morales and said the Government had neither offered any proposal. "Maximum Red Alert" The clock runs against the government. Every day that passes the economy deteriorates more. Other problems are generated by the conflict. The negotiations advance but at a tortoise's pace. A new deadline imposed by the Executive Branch over the explosion of social revolt. The coalition is thinking about adding new tactics to the conflict this morning, but first will expend all effort to find solutions. The government minister, Guillermo Fort�n, explained that the negotiations can not last much longer because producers and consumers cannot continue living under the current situation. And the situation is dramatic. The businessmen shout in Santa Cruz. Hunger strikes are begun. The soldiers are tired. The sleep temporarily in those moments when it rains in Chapare. The markets are almost empty. The transport workers complain. The despair grows. The teachers and coca growers are trapped with the government. Yesterday, President Hugo Banzer met with some of his ministers in the Government Palace to receive information about the negotiations and blockades. This has happened every day. The official spokesman, Manfredo Kempff, said that the President is confident that the negotiations in the high plains region are going well, "but disgracefully the matter in Chapare did not end well. Evo did not concede on the theme of the catos and the Executive Branch can not just be discounted. The government has given all it can give in concessions, but it can not do any more on the Chapare issue." Does this mean that a plan of using force has been put into march? He answered that the Executive Branch can not permit that the country remains blockaded. >From the daily Los Tiempos, Cochabamba, Bolivia Thursday, October 5, 2000: Congress Rejects Martial Law The country worried this dawn over the possibility that Congress would decide to impose a "state of seige" (martial law), a possibility denied vigorously by Vice President Jorge Quiroga. After six hours of energetic speeches, the congress members decided to postpone their deliberations until today. Anything can happen. In the increasingly tense political environment, there surged an expression of fear from the instransigent and charismatic peasant leader, Felipe Quispe, as he temporarily sought refuge in the headquarters of the press corps of La Paz, less than 300 kilometers from the Quemado Palace. The slow dialogue stays alive but hopes of progress are tenuous. In the end, the coca issue continues being key. The government as well as the coca growers are disposed to maintain diametrically opposed positions. The future of the school year continues to be unknown. The government has a test of fire today, after the warning that the teachers strike could today cause the closure of classes in those schools whose teachers don't accept the (government) offer.... Civil War if they Arrest Mallku La Paz; ANF News Agency.- The Union of Peasant Workers of Bolivia threatened to declare civil war if the government orders the detention of its executive secretary, Felipe Huanca Quispe ("El Mallku")... in response to the intention of the Government Minister, who, hours prior... had solicited the suspension of provisional liberty and called for the apprehension of the mentioned leader. Government: Deal set for Bolivia's farmers >From the Financial Times By Paul Keller in Lima, Per� Last Updated: October 5 2000 18:41GMT The Bolivian government said on Thursday it was on the point of striking a deal with angry farmers who have paralysed the country's major towns with road blocks. The widespread protests, which centre on a government clampdown on coca leaf production, have sparked bloody clashes between protesters, who include peasants and teachers, and troops, who have tried to dismantle makeshift barriers that continue to block several crucial roads. So far 10 people have died in the 18-day conflict, which has produced the worst scenes of rioting for many months. "We are in full negotiation with various groups involved in the conflict and it is expected that today (Thursday) we will find a solution which is line with farmers' demands," a government ministry official said in a telephone interview.Many growers of coca the raw material in cocaine may still reject any deal. Large numbers of indigenous farmers survive only by growing coca, a crop that still has traditional uses and has been cultivated in Bolivia for thousands of years. The government estimated that some 180,000 people had been cut off by the protests. President Hugo Banzer's government is determined to press ahead with the US-sponsored eradication of coca plants in the Chapare area in the Bolivian jungle. It expects to have wiped out almost all of the 38,000hectares of illegally grown leaf in the region by the end of the year. "The government's policy of coca eradication in Chapare is not negotiable," the minister said. But the government has agreed not to build military barracks in the region a major source of friction with the farmers. More Reports As They Come In Recent Press Briefings Generals Don't Want to Fight Bolivian People (Tuesday-Wednesday Briefings) Zero Hour in Bolivia (Sunday-Monday Briefings) Bolivia, US, "Narco-tize" the Conflict (Friday-Saturday Briefings) Thursday's Bolivia Press Briefing (Important Background Info) September 22-27 Press Briefing: Per� Analysis September 21 Press Briefing on the Closing of the Geopolitical Drug Observatory Archive of Plan Colombia Press Briefings September 19-20 Archive of Plan Colombia Press Briefings September 8-18 Archive of Plan Colombia Press Briefings September 1-7 Archive of Press Briefings on Clinton in Colombia from August 24-30 This is your war. This is your war on drugs. Any questions? [EMAIL PROTECTED] ----- Aloha, He'Ping, Om, Shalom, Salaam. Em Hotep, Peace Be, All My Relations. Omnia Bona Bonis, Adieu, Adios, Aloha. Amen. 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