[Excerpt: However, several leaders of the poor indigenous majority, furious over what they see as the looting of Bolivia's natural wealth, came together to say that Mesa's actions would only fuel more protests that have paralyzed parts of the country.]
http://64.94.180.107/newsArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=JO3ATP2ZJRYRWCRBAELCFEY?type=worldNews&storyID=7854423 Bolivia Indian Groups Vow to 'Battle' President Wed Mar 9, 2005 12:32 PM ET By Brian Winter LA PAZ, Bolivia (Reuters) - Bolivian Indians blocked roads with boulders on Wednesday and vowed a "face-to-face battle" against President Carlos Mesa, whose quickly withdrawn resignation offer failed to ease turmoil. Mesa had gambled that the offer, which Congress rebuffed in a dramatic late-night session on Tuesday, would generate a show of support and calm widespread street protests against his policies to encourage foreign investment in energy. However, several leaders of the poor indigenous majority, furious over what they see as the looting of Bolivia's natural wealth, came together to say that Mesa's actions would only fuel more protests that have paralyzed parts of the country. "We're going now to a face-to-face battle against Mesa's government," said Evo Morales, head of Movement Toward Socialism, or MAS. Television images showed highways strewn with boulders to stop traffic as Indian women in purple shawls and bowler hats sat in the road. Radio reported calm in the protest hotbed of El Alto, a mostly indigenous outgrowth of the capital. Morales said the protesters intended to remain nonviolent, but keep pressure on Mesa. "The president has lied to the Bolivian people. The problem isn't the blockades. It's the energy law that Mesa wants to force on us in favor of the multinationals, and that's why he blackmailed us with his resignation," Morales said. Labor unions joined Morales and other Indian protest leaders from coca-growing regions to sign a deal backing further protests, which have become a platform for a long list of grievances in South America's poorest country. Most opposition leaders do not want Mesa to quit, but demand that he give them more say over the economy. The popular president, however, said he would push ahead with his energy-sector plans and did not fear more protests. "You can't be afraid when you know that 99 percent of Bolivians are against these blockades," Mesa told reporters on Wednesday, looking a bit tired after celebrations of his decision to stay in office stretched on past midnight. Morales is pushing for the government to raise royalties charged to foreign companies such as Brazil's Petrobras and BP, so more funds can be raised for the poor if investment rises in Bolivia's natural gas reserves, some of the world's largest. � Reuters 2005. All Rights Reserved. enditem ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> DonorsChoose. A simple way to provide underprivileged children resources often lacking in public schools. Fund a student project in NYC/NC today! http://us.click.yahoo.com/EHLuJD/.WnJAA/cUmLAA/TySplB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? Head on over to our discussion list, [EMAIL PROTECTED] -------------------------- Brooks Isoldi, editor [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.intellnet.org Post message: [email protected] Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *** FAIR USE NOTICE. This message contains copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. OSINT, as a part of The Intelligence Network, is making it available without profit to OSINT YahooGroups members who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information in their efforts to advance the understanding of intelligence and law enforcement organizations, their activities, methods, techniques, human rights, civil liberties, social justice and other intelligence related issues, for non-profit research and educational purposes only. We believe that this constitutes a 'fair use' of the copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use,' you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
