http://upsidedownworld.org/main/news-briefs-archives-68/3751-bolivia-tipnis-marchers-return-home-pledge-to-resist-government-consulta
*Bolivia: TIPNIS Marchers Return Home, Pledge to Resist Government Consulta* [image: PDF]<http://upsidedownworld.org/main/news-briefs-archives-68/3751-bolivia-tipnis-marchers-return-home-pledge-to-resist-government-consulta?format=pdf> [image: Print]<http://upsidedownworld.org/main/news-briefs-archives-68/3751-bolivia-tipnis-marchers-return-home-pledge-to-resist-government-consulta?tmpl=component&print=1&page=> [image: E-mail]<http://upsidedownworld.org/main/component/mailto/?tmpl=component&link=aHR0cDovL3Vwc2lkZWRvd253b3JsZC5vcmcvbWFpbi9uZXdzLWJyaWVmcy1hcmNoaXZlcy02OC8zNzUxLWJvbGl2aWEtdGlwbmlzLW1hcmNoZXJzLXJldHVybi1ob21lLXBsZWRnZS10by1yZXNpc3QtZ292ZXJubWVudC1jb25zdWx0YQ%3D%3D> Written by Emily Achtenberg, Rebel Currents Friday, 13 July 2012 08:22 Source: NACLA <http://www.nacla.org/> Following a two-week vigil in La Paz, frustrated lowland indigenous marchers have decided to return to their native communities. Some 1,500 marchers arrived in the nation’s capital on June 27, after a 62-day, 360-mile cross-country trek to protest the Bolivian government’s plan to build a highway through the Isiboro-Sécure Indigenous Territory and National Park (TIPNIS). The marchers are also protesting the government’s proposed *consulta*, or consultation process on the road, which they regard as illegitimate. The protesters were welcomed warmly by the citizens of La Paz but treated with a combination of hostility and indifference by the government of indigenous president Evo Morales. The government refused to dialogue directly with the march leadership, which it has consistently sought to discredit, and barred the protesters from the Plaza Murillo (seat of government) where they were tear-gassed and sprayed with water cannons on two occasions. Government officials did meet and pact with several *dissident march contingents*<http://www.la-razon.com/nacional/Gobierno-pacta-bloque-marcha-indigena_0_1642635734.html>, who agreed to abandon the protest in exchange for promised community benefits. Plagued from the start by poor logistics and inadequate provisions, the march was further debilitated by La Paz’ harsh winter climate that took a special toll on women and some *300 children*<http://www.la-razon.com/nacional/indigenas-permanecen-Paz-junto-padres_0_1643235711.html>who participated in the La Paz mobilization. On July 3, the Morales government signed an *agreement*<http://www.la-razon.com/nacional/Gobierno-acuerda-consulta-corregidores-TIPNIS_0_1644435601.html>with 45 (out of 63) indigenous TIPNIS authorities in support of the *consulta*, which appeared to thoroughly marginalize the protesters. Then, on July 10, the leadership of CIDOB, the lowlands indigenous federation that sponsored the TIPNIS march—including its president Adolfo Chávez—was * replaced*<http://www.la-razon.com/nacional/mujer-preside-Cidob-Chavez-desconocen_0_1648635171.html>at a hastily-organized general assembly by a pro- *consulta* slate, an act that appeared to seal the fate of the TIPNIS protest. For Interior Minister Carlos Romero, who described the march as a “*failed mobilization*<http://www.paginasiete.bo/2012-07-12/Nacional/Destacados/03Nal01120712.aspx>from the start,” the marchers’ return provides an opportunity for the government to begin a “*real dialogue*<http://www.la-razon.com/nacional/Gobierno-marchistas-TIPNIS-verdadero-consulta_0_1648035274.html>” with the 63 indigenous TIPNIS communities through the *consulta* that is scheduled to begin July 29. But TIPNIS leaders have vowed to resist the * consulta* through a variety of tactics, including barring access by government teams to the rivers that traverse the territory. “The struggle isn’t over,” says TIPNIS leader*Fernando Vargas,*<http://www.la-razon.com/nacional/IX-tratara-impedir-consulta-TIPNIS_0_1648635175.html>“we’re just taking it back to our communities.” A judicial complaint under a provision of Bolivia’s constitution that safeguards environmental and patrimonial rights (*acción popular*) is also being considered. The marchers’ opposition to the *consulta*, a fundamental right of indigenous people (under the Bolivian constitution and international law) to “free, prior, and informed consultation,” is problematic even for many who sympathize with their objectives. *Julieta Paredes*<http://www.la-razon.com/opinion/columnistas/instrumento-consulta_0_1645635435.html>, an Aymara activist and founder of the feminist organization*Mujeres Creando*, movingly describes how the TIPNIS marchers have challenged her long-held assumptions about progress, autonomy, property, and land. Still, she writes, “the Ninth March gave me pain and anguish. How can we march against the *consulta*? The *consulta* is an instrument for our people, whether it’s before or after; time isn’t linear.” Originally, the marchers objected to the*consulta *primarily because it would take place after fundamental decisions affecting the road had already been made. This concern has been substantially tempered by the government’s rescission of Brazilian firm OAS’ construction contract, and the corresponding loss of Brazil’s construction financing. In any case, Bolivia’s Plurinational Constitutional Tribunal has recently upheld the “ex post facto” nature of the *consulta, *on the grounds that even projects already underway should be subject to challenge and potential reconsideration. But the Tribunal has conditioned the constitutionality of the *consulta* on the government's ability to carry out a planning and implementation process in good faith, with the confidence of all parties, to achieve consensus. According to anthropologist *Xavier Albó*<http://www.la-razon.com/opinion/columnistas/Consulta-cooptacion-TIPNIS_0_1646235444.html>, “we are far from complying with the conditions that would make the *consulta previa*constitutional.” Rather than demonstrating community consensus, Albó argues, the *consulta*protocol has only achieved a sign-off by indigenous leaders, some more legitimate than others. According to *Fernando Vargas*,<http://www.la-razon.com/opinion/columnistas/Consulta-cooptacion-TIPNIS_0_1646235444.html>only 18-20 of the 45 signatories are authentic community representatives. Of the 63 communities that are required to be consulted, says Albó, 13 are located inside “Polygon 7,” an area of the park dominated by pro-road coca growers which is outside the indigenous territory. While originally settled by lowland indigenous groups who are the intended subjects of the *consulta*, these communities have relinquished their collective land title, shed their native customs, and do not satisfy the “double category” standard of belonging to both the national park and the indigenous territory, as required by the *consulta* law. n Albó’s view, the Morales government’s coincidental distribution of handouts to TIPNIS communities at a time when it is seeking their support for the *consulta*, its determined campaign to discredit lowland indigenous leaders, and its maneuvers to replace legitimate community authorities constitute egregious acts of bad faith which have exacerbated, rather than ameliorated, the TIPNIS conflict. TIPNIS leaders hold the Morales government directly responsible for creating (and subsequently recognizing) a “*parallel CIDOB*<http://www.paginasiete.bo/2012-07-12/Nacional/Destacados/02Nal02120712.aspx>,” which they claim has the legitimate support of only 5 of 13 regional affiliates. What lies ahead for the TIPNIS conflict is anyone’s guess. A recent *poll* <http://www.paginasiete.bo/2012-07-11/Nacional/Destacados/4900000101.aspx>in the four largest cities shows that 43% favor the *consulta*, while 38% support the marchers’ demands against both the TIPNIS highway and the * consulta*. Bolivia’s*Ombudsman*<http://www.paginasiete.bo/2012-07-12/Nacional/NoticiaPrincipal/02Nal01120712.aspx>has called for a postponement of the *consulta*, to avoid the risk of serious confrontations, comply with the Constitutional Tribunal’s mandate, and establish a process that is both legitimate and legal. To the extent that the Morales government has "defeated" the TIPNIS marchers, argues columnist *Ilya Fortún*<http://www.paginasiete.bo/2012-07-05/Opinion/Destacados/17Opi00105-07-12-P720120705JUE.aspx>in a grim assessment, it is only a “pyrrhic victory.” “Although [the government] may succeed in crushing them [the TIPNIS marchers]," he writes, "these events will be recorded in the collective memory as a despicable episode, a symbol of the deceptiveness, decomposition, and decadence of the Morales regime. What seems today to be a victory over these few contestants will be the stigma that, sooner or later, marks the exhaustion of this government and its exit out the back door.” *Emily Achtenberg is an urban planner and the author of NACLA’s weekly blog Rebel Currents, covering Latin American social movements and progressive governments (nacla.org/blog/rebel-currents).* ------------------ Timeline of Bolivian Mining Conflict in Mallku Khota Written by the Andean Information Network July 12, 2012 The several violent, reoccurring conflicts in northern Potosí over the presence of a Canadian mining company have finally been at least temporarily resolved by an agreement by the Morales government to rescind South American Silver’s mining concession. After multiple violent clashes between community members, various demonstrations, a march to La Paz, three different hostage situations, and the shooting death of one community member during police intervention, the situation was finally resolved on July 10th with the signing of an agreement between community members and the government. Among other things, the agreement reversed the Canadian company’s mining concession, promised compensation for injured community members, and guaranteed that the government would not take legal action against protesters, including those involved in the hostage situations. An in-depth analysis of the events will follow this update. <http://ain-bolivia.org/wp-content/uploads/Mallku-Khota-Map21.jpg> *Timeline of Incidents in Mallku Khota* April - April 1st: A group of community members opposed to the Canadian mining company, South American Silver (SAS), briefly took a community relations representative from the company hostage, but the incident did not receive much attention nationally.[1] May - May 5th: Community members took a police officer hostage. - Police entered the community with arrest warrants for some community authorities. The charges were initiated by SAS and presumably related to the kidnapping in April but the press did not specify.[2] - Community leader Cancio Rojas explained that the community was opposed to SAS because the community was not consulted before the concession was given and it feared that SAS would contaminate water sources in the area once exploitation of the minerals began.[3] - May 7th: Community members took a second police officer hostage. - May 9th: Protesters release police hostages after Potosí governor made vague promises of a community consultation. [4] - May 18th: A community meeting to discuss the fate of SAS turned into a violent confrontation that left dozens wounded. Some 200 community members who are hostile to SAS arrived to the meeting unexpectedly, wielding dynamite and shouting accusations at meeting attendees.[5] - May 28th: Thousands of people Mallku Khota residents marched from their communities in northern Potosí to La Paz to demand the eviction of SAS. - May 31st: The Bolivian government reaffirmed that it would respect the Canadian company´s mining concession.[6] June - June 7th: Protesters demanding the reversal of SAS’s mining concession arrive in La Paz. - June 8th: Police tear-gassed protesters, including children, in the Plaza Murillo.[7] Protesters wounded some police officers.[8] - June 10th: Representatives from five Mallku Khota ayllus asked the government to send security forces to the area to avoid conflicts between local communities. These ayllus claimed marchers represent Mallku Khota. [9] - June 12th: A group of approximately 700 anti-SAS community members attacked three pro-SAS communities.[10] According to reports, the attackers included cooperative miners who supposedly illegally exploit gold in the area. - June 12th: Some 6,000 community members opposed to SAS took over a mining camp in the area. Using dynamite and trenches they had dug, they impeded access to the entrance.[11] - June 13th: The government dispatched 230 police officers to the area. - June 28th: The government released Cancio Rojas from prison and put him under house arrest in Potosí. The community authority was accused of damaging the SAS’s equipment and kidnapping police officers in May. - June 28th: Community members took two engineers from SAS hostage, accusing them of spying.[12] The engineers admitted to dressing up in traditional clothes from the area, considered a serious offense for an outsider, and taking pictures during a community meeting.[13] July - July 2nd: Anit-SAS community members took three more SAS employees hostage, presumably when they raided and burned a mining site in Sacani. [14][15] - July 3rd: The Cochabamba police commander sent 150 officers to the area.[16] - July 5th: Three SAS hostages escaped.[17] By this date, there were 380 police officers stationed in the area. - July 5th: Four community members sustained gunshot wounds, and one died during a conflict with police.[18] Protesters took one police hostage. - The Morales administration staunchly denied that any confrontation with police, and insisted that the fatally wounded protester, José Mamani Mamani, died because he drunkenly mishandled dynamite.[19] - Medical examiners, however, confirmed he died from a bullet entering the nape of his neck.[20] - A joint inspection by local authorities found 24 used tear gas cans, 30 bullet casings, four loaded bullets shells, 13 rounds of used 9 millimeter casings, and other police paraphernalia at the site of Mamani Mamani’s death.[21] - July 7th: State entered dialogue with community members.[22] - June 8th: Community members and government reached a preliminary agreement and liberated remaining hostages.[23] - July 10th: Community members and the government signed an official agreement.[24] The agreement included: [25] - - Reversion of mining concession - Compensation for the family of José Mamani Mamani - A job for a relative of Mamani Mamani - That the government pays for all the medical expenses for the four community members who were shot by police - A guarantee that no legal action will be taken by the government against any of the community members - An investigation looking into the police officers and corresponding legal action if merited - Compliance with community justice sentence for engineers - In a local trial, community authorities mandated that the engineers must build 1,000 adobe houses in 30 days after they recover for injuries sustained in their captivity.[26] - Legal support for community authority Cancio Rojas, who has been charged with several crimes related to the conflict. ------------------------------ [1] http://www.la-razon.com/economia/Mallku-Khota-SA-denuncia-rehenes_0_1641435885.html [2] http://www.lostiempos.com/diario/actualidad/nacional/20120510/liberan-a-los-dos-policias-rehenes-en-mallku-khota_170951_359311.html [3] http://www.lostiempos.com/diario/actualidad/nacional/20120510/liberan-a-los-dos-policias-rehenes-en-mallku-khota_170951_359311.html [4] http://www.lostiempos.com/diario/actualidad/nacional/20120510/liberan-a-los-dos-policias-rehenes-en-mallku-khota_170951_359311.html [5] http://www.la-razon.com/ciudades/Pelea-Mallku-Khota-heridos-desaparecidos_0_1616838339.html http://www.lostiempos.com/diario/actualidad/politica/20120519/violencia-entre-ayllus-del-norte-de-potosi_171996_361733.html [6] http://www.paginasiete.bo/2012-06-01/Nacional/Destacados/29Cul00101-06-12-P720120601VIE.aspx [7] http://www.opinion.com.bo/opinion/articulos/2012/0608/noticias.php?id=59375 [8] http://www.opinion.com.bo/opinion/articulos/2012/0608/noticias.php?id=59364 [9] http://www.eldiario.net/noticias/2012/2012_06/nt120611/politica.php?n=33&-pobladores-de-mallku-khota-exigen-seguridad-ante-los-avasallamientos [10] http://www.lostiempos.com/diario/actualidad/economia/20120613/cooperativistas-atacan-tres-comunidades-en-mallku_174878_368477.html [11] http://www.la-razon.com/economia/comunarios-Mallku-Khota-presencia-autoridades_0_1631836901.html [12] http://www.la-razon.com/economia/Comunarios-condicionan-libertad-ingenieros-Presidente_0_1641435905.html [13] http://www.opinion.com.bo/opinion/articulos/2012/0710/noticias.php?id=63236 [14] http://www.la-razon.com/economia/Comunarios-secuestran-tecnicos-Mallku-Khota_0_1643835662.html [15] http://www.eldiario.net/noticias/2012/2012_07/nt120703/sociedad.php?n=71&-campamento-de-empresa-minera-es-saqueada-y-quemada-por-comunarios [16] http://www.lostiempos.com/diario/actualidad/economia/20120704/secuestran-a-otras-3-personas-en-mina_177274_374204.html [17] http://www.la-razon.com/economia/Evo-concesion-compania-Mallku-Khota_0_1648635155.html [18] http://www.lostiempos.com/diario/actualidad/economia/20120706/mallku-khota-cuatro-heridos-de-bala-son-atendidos-en_177578_374958.html [19] http://www.lostiempos.com/diario/actualidad/economia/20120706/gobierno-muerte-en-mallku-khota-no-fue-por_177567_374938.html [20] http://erbol.com.bo/noticia.php?identificador=2147483960926 [21] http://erbol.com.bo/noticia.php?identificador=2147483960978 [22] http://www.la-razon.com/economia/comunarios-Mallku-Khota-liberan-rehenes_0_1647435266.html [23] http://www.lostiempos.com/diario/actualidad/economia/20120709/gobierno-logra-acuerdo-y-liberan-a-tres-rehenes_177841_375577.html [24] http://www.la-razon.com/economia/Evo-concesion-compania-Mallku-Khota_0_1648635155.html [25] http://www.la-razon.com/economia/comunarios-Mallku-Khota-liberan-rehenes_0_1647435266.html [26] http://www.eldiario.net/noticias/2012/2012_07/nt120709/sociedad.php?n=39&-tres-ultimos-rehenes-son-liberados-tras-diez-dias --------------- Nationalization without WORKERS CONTROL...or socialism! Bidding awards made by YPFB will be investigated for evidence of corruption Posted by Bolivian Thoughts <http://bolivianthoughts.com/author/xxxyyy34/> ⋅July 13, 2012 ⋅ Leave a Comment<http://bolivianthoughts.com/2012/07/13/bidding-awards-made-by-ypfb-will-be-investigated-for-evidence-of-corruption/#respond> *Filed Under* hydrocarbons <http://bolivianthoughts.com/tag/hydrocarbons/>, natural gas <http://bolivianthoughts.com/tag/natural-gas/>, YPFB<http://bolivianthoughts.com/tag/ypfb/> Another sign of corruption or at least bad management or lack thereof, this time in the top state-owned hydrocarbon company: YPFB (the pride of current government’s nationalization policy). El Diario reports: <http://bolivianthoughts.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/2012-07-11-04-28-27-pm.jpg>It is in doubt the transparency of the procurement process to build the separator plants of liquids of Rio Grande and Gran Chaco, after it was discovered that two senior executives of Yacimientos Petrolíferos Fiscales Bolivianos (YPFB), now in prison, are charged with abuse of public goods, illicit enrichment and laundering of illicit profits and other crimes. According to Santa Cruz newspaper El Día, the public prosecutor will review allocations for more than $770 million dollars. Taking into account that the Gran Chaco plant has a cost of $608 million and the Rio Grande plant $163 million dollars. It’s about Gerson Rojas Teran, former national liquids separation plant manager, who according to his own testimony had the confidence of the President of the Company [YPFB], Carlos Villegas; and Agustín Ugarte Méndez, Member of the qualifying [bidding] Commission. The first is in Palmasola and the second in a cell of the special forces of fight against crime (Felcc). According to ANF, with data from the El Deber newspaper, the anti-corruption Commission of prosecutors included about twenty people who are members of the separation of liquids plants projects qualifying Commission. In the vehicle and in offices of Gerson Rojas, former National Manager of liquids separation plant, prosecutors and the police found documents that reveal him as the holder of the Banco Mercantil Santa Cruz safety deposit boxes, which were shared with Agustín Javier Ugarte Méndez, Gran Chaco project director. In one of them found $90,000, the other was empty, but the Prosecutor’s Office found manuscripts by amounts approximately to $400,000. This Committee formed by Carlos Candia and Anuncio Pierola, under the direction and supervision of the national anti-corruption Coordinator, Norma Olmos Gonzales, also extended investigations to representatives of the companies that participated in the bidding, including Pentechs, EASA and a German company. The citations for the investigated persons to declare were already prepared for delivery. Candia said that Gerson Richard Rojas Teran, former National Manager of separation plant liquids, and Agustín Javier Ugarte Méndez, great Chaco project director and senior member of the rating Committee, already with warrant of arrest at the Palmasola prison. The first due to improper use of property of the State and the other for illicit enrichment, abuse of benefits by reason of the position and other influences. Prosecutors expressed that both YPFB executives maintained a close relationship of friendship and according to findings, they have increased the amounts on the bidding points in order to favor themselves with thousands of dollars. “Nothing else means that they have safe deposit boxes in banks where every day, it was growing at an alarming rate, their heritage with money from the State,” said Candia. RELATIONSHIP WITH VILLEGAS The deposed Manager of plants of separation of liquids of Yacimientos Petroliferos Fiscales Bolivianos (YPFB), Gerson Rojas, syndicated by misuse of property of the State and illicit enrichment, said in his informative statement that day that he hit a State car, he was in official function because he managed the purchase of land, task coordinated with the President of the State oil company, Carlos Villegas. El Deber had access to the Act of disclosure statement of Rojas, stating verbatim in two parts: “that day (June 17) was at a Commission in Bulo Bulo [chapare town], on the purchase of the land to put tubes for ammonia and urea plant”. “My person coordinates all purchase of land directly with Lic. Villegas and himself with the President of the Nation. “The previous Saturday, i.e. before June 17, 2012, in a similar Commission was an act of commitment with a villager on the purchase of 90 hectares to a Federation of coca growers unions, along these lines was this task”. Later, Rojas emphasizes that since he started his functions, had direct dealings with Villegas, even above the National Vice President of operations, Mario Salazar. The statement is signed by Gerson Richard Rojas Teran, lawyer Lider Guzman Cabrera, Sergeant Gustavo Osinaga and Attorney Jaime David Canedo Encinas. President Evo Morales complained, June 14 from Chimore, by the rise in the price of a hectare of land in the tropics of Cochabamba of $2,500 to $4,500 dollars, which would be damaging the installation of industries, such as the case of the ammonia plant and urea that plans to build in the town of Bulo Bulo, and which would generate 2,000 sources of employment in the future. THE ORIGIN The research has its origins on June 17, when Gerson Richard Rojas starred in a triple road accident at kilometer 94 of the road near Yapacani. The Prosecutor’s Office on the basis of reports established that Rojas was drunk in command of the station wagon model Toyota 2012, plate 2841-KKL valued at us $80,000, which was shattered [official vehicle]. After the accident, the man fleeds the scene and left abandoned the motorized, but this fact gives rise to a thorough investigation. In the vehicle and his office, prosecutors and police found documents that give away him as a holder of the Banco Mercantil Santa Cruz safety deposit boxes. BANK BOXES Richard Rojas bank’s boxes were shared with Ugarte. In one of them found $90,000, the other was empty but the Bank data provided to the Prosecutor’s Office say that money they withdrew before the raid. In the case the Prosecutor’s Office found manuscripts amounts approximately to $400,000. http://www.eldiario.net/noticias/2012/2012_07/nt120711/economia.php?n=15&-adjudicaciones-hechas-por-ypfb-seran-investigadas-por-indicios-de-cor <http://bolivianthoughts.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/ypfb-el-diario-11-jul-12.jpg>This cartoon is also from El Diario, July 11, 2012: You can see the head of YPFB and next door, the people in charge of the bidding processesses… Early in this government, one Santos Ramirez, who was at the top, maybe only second to current President, is now purging time on a similar fraud… I just hope Bolivia gets rid of corruption and we start recuperating our exporting potential capacity, some seven years ago, we were ranked second in the gas export business in South America, and now we even have to buy diesel and gasoline… [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- LAAMN: Los Angeles Alternative Media Network --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe: <mailto:[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe: <mailto:[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Digest: <mailto:[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Help: <mailto:[email protected]?subject=laamn> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post: <mailto:[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive1: <http://www.egroups.com/messages/laamn> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive2: <http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yahoo! 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