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http://informasi-beasiswa.blogspot.com **Bolivia prepares to break with the past
By CESAR CHELALA
Special to The Japan Times
NEW YORK -- Evo Morales' assumption of the Bolivian presidency promises a
major revamping of the country's political and economic system. He is a popular
leader with a significant following within the indigenous Bolivian population,
and comes to power with an ambitious program for developing the country.
Bolivia's relationship with the United States, and with international companies
that possess a stake in the country's resources, will be crucial during his
term in office. How successful he is will depend in great measure on his
political wisdom in dealing with powerful forces inside and outside the
country.
Morales, one of the founders of the Movement to Socialism party, first achieved
national prominence in April 2000 when a large international corporation was
due to take over newly privatized waterworks in the city of Cochabamba,
Bolivia's second-largest city. The resulting price increases would have put
water out of reach for the majority of the population. Following mass
demonstrations led by Morales, the proposed privatization scheme was defeated
and the country got a taste of Morales' charisma and leadership.
Morales has led the cocalero movement, a group of coca leaf-growing campesinos
resistant to U.S. efforts to eradicate coca in the country. Chewing coca leaves
is a Bolivian tradition dating back more than 1,000 years. It has energizing
effects, dampens hunger and is an effective antidote against soroche or
high-altitude sickness. Any hotel in the capital city of La Paz, some 4,000
meters above sea level, offers newcomers coca-tea as a customary way of dealing
with the effects of high altitude.
The cultivation of coca leaves is the main livelihood for the indigenous Aymara
and Quechua peoples. According to Morales, the elimination of coca-leaf
production is tantamount to eliminating the Aymaras, Quechuas and other
indigenous peoples.
Morales favors the exploitation of coca leaves for religious, medicinal and
other popular uses, but insists that he opposes the conversion of coca leaves
into cocaine. He says his administration aims for "zero cocaine, zero drug
trafficking, but not zero coca."
Morales proposes solving the drug problem at the demand level, not at the
supply level, and points out that U.S. eradication efforts carried out so far
in Bolivia have not had any effect on cocaine use in the U.S. He has suggested
forming a common front with the White House against cocaine and drug
trafficking. "Cocaine and drug trafficking," he has stated, "are not part of
Bolivians' indigenous cultures."
Bolivia's new president has vowed that the country's vast natural resources
will be used for the country's own development. Part of his aim is to
renegotiate contracts with international companies that are exploiting
Bolivia's natural resources, to obtain terms more favorable to the indigenous
population. Under current conditions, private international companies have
practically complete control over the production and sale of oil and gas,
paying only 18 percent in royalties and no taxes, a situation widely considered
abusive.
Bolivia has the second-largest amount of natural gas reserves in Latin America
and is rich in silver, tin and other minerals. In spite of that, 63 percent of
the population lives below the poverty line. Bolivia has among the worst social
and health indicators in the hemisphere, a situation that Morales has promised
to change.
The new president's position regarding growth of coca leaves and his energy
policy have put him on a collision course with international companies.
British, American and Spanish oil and gas companies obtained substantial
profits from the privatization of the energy industry during the 1990s. Little
of those profits, however, have benefited Bolivia's poor, whose protests have
forced the resignation of two presidents in two years.
For Morales, the biggest challenge is to balance social demands for radical
change with international companies' fears and U.S. pressures. Shortly before
assuming power, Morales softened his populist anti-U.S. rhetoric. During a
visit to South Africa, he stated that he welcomes any dialogue with the U.S.
that would lead to peace and social justice in his country.
The U.S. would do well not to confront him in ways that would increase the
Bolivian population's animosity toward Washington's policies. Rather than the
confrontational approach it has displayed toward President Hugo Chavez of
Venezuela, the U.S. should deal with Morales as it does with Brazilian
President Lula da Silva, with whom it has created an effective working
relationship.
Washington's failure to engage Morales in a constructive dialogue will prod
Bolivia toward Cuba, Venezuela, Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay, which are
strongly critical of U.S. policies.
Morales hopes to secure people's rights by convening a constitutional assembly
next summer with the main goal of creating conditions for fair development and
exploitation of the country's resources. How the U.S. deals with another
unsympathetic government will help or hinder that process. If, amid the
formidable obstacles, Morales succeeds, he will be able to redress centuries of
abuse of Bolivia's indigenous population.
Dr. Cesar Chelala is a winner of an Overseas Press Club of America award for an
article on human rights. He writes extensively on foreign affairs and human
rights issues.
The Japan Times: Jan. 22, 2006
(C) All rights reserved
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