----- Original Message ----- From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Saturday, April 14, 2001 3:33 AM Subject: Bolivia: Security Forces Intervene March, Olivera Detained [STOPNATO.ORG.UK] STOP NATO: NO PASARAN! - HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --------------------------- ListBot Sponsor -------------------------- Start Your Own FREE Email List at http://www.listbot.com/links/joinlb ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 13 Apr 2001 19:16:27 +0200 From: "XminY - Yolanda Carati" <yc(a)xminy.nl> (by way of asianhistory <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>) Subject: Bolivia: Security Forces Intervene March, Olivera Detained To: cattynancy(a)hotmail.com UPDATE: BOLIVIAN ARMY AND POLICE VIOLENTLY INTERVENE THE MARCH FOR LIFE AND SOVEREIGNTY POSSIBLE WIDESPREAD VIOLENCE AND SOCIAL CONFLICT April 12, 2001 Prepared by the Andean Information Network Bolivian army and police forces dispersed a group of marchers near Pongo on the highway between Cochabamba and La Paz. Close to 1,000 heavily armed members of security forces dispersed one column of marchers with tear gas, beat them, and confiscated their personal possessions around three p.m. today (April 12). Two other columns of marchers continue on alternative routes. DETAINEES Oscar Olivera, leader of the Cochabamba Water Coordinadora , Silvia Lazarte, leader of the Bartolina Sisa Women's campesino federation, as well as 103 other marchers (according to Guillermo Fortun, Minister of Government) have been detained. Reports indicate that they were forced onto a bus to return to Cochabamba. Fortun sustains that Olivera was detained with an arrest warrant for subversion. BOLIVIAN CONSTITUTIONAL GUARANTEES VIOLATED Bolivian law stipulates that the marchers cannot be detained for more than 8 hours. Article 7 of the Bolivian constitution guarantees "all people have the right to enter, stay, transit throughout national territory" and the right "meet and associate for legal ends." Bolivian citizens also have the right to protest and freedom to meet. The following civil rights have also been violated: dignity, security, integrity, freedom, physical liberty, freedom of circulation. BACKGROUND ON THE MARCH The March for Life and Sovereignty, made up of social sectors including coca growers, workers, irrigation activists, and members of the Water Coordinadora left Cochabamba on Monday April 9th. Marchers planned to meet up with other groups along the way and with La Paz Yungas coca producers in La Paz on April 23. Marchers demands are wide-reaching. They include an end to forced eradication in the Chapare, no coca eradication in the Yungas region, elimination of the Cochabamba water company's (SEMAPA) debt, approval of the water law and others. Groups represented by the marchers have repeatedly expressed interest in dialogue. The Minister of Labor expressed the government's willingness to negotiate. In spite of this communication, high-ranking government officials gave the order to detain the marchers. On April 11, marchers beat 4 police intelligence officers who had initially identified themselves as member of the Permanent Human Rights Assembly. Political tensions heightened on April 9 when Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada, ex-president and leader of the MNR party. suggested indirectly that Banzer should resign because he is incapable of governing the country. This has caused an uproar here and government officials have threatened to charge him with conspiracy. CHAPARE In the Chapare, self-defense committees have been activated. On Monday there were groups of campesinos in strategic areas waiting to see if there are problems with the march. It is possible that blockades will begin in the Chapare as a result of the intervention. There are constant combined forces patrols throughout the region. Reports indicate that additional forces have entered the region from Cochabamba. For additional information please contact the Andean Information Network: paz(a)albatros.cnb.net or kledebur(a)albatros.cnb.net. ********************************************* * XminY solidariteitsfonds, * * Keizersgracht 132-II, 1015 CW Amsterdam * * Tel: +31 20 6279661 Fax: +31 20 6228229 * * email: xminy(a)xminy.nl http://www.xminy.nl * ********************************************* xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox Claudia K White BS, CT ~Main Line News~(c) 2001 Human & Civil Rights~Campaign International http://www.angelfire.com/ut/Angel1 Web Read & Subscription Information http://www.egroups.com/messages/MainLineNews xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox ______________________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
