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bloody bolivia
by Preston Peet (ptpeet@cs.com) - October 18, 2000

Martial law has been declared after armed rebellion erupted in the streets of Cochabamba, a Bolivian city of half a million. After nearly a week of massive protests that shut down that city, and spread across the country, President Hugo Banzer declared martial law on Saturday, April 8th, 2000. Police and military troops moved in. All this began over the price of water.

"The conflicts reflect the poverty under which farmers are living and the fact that the government is not listening to them," Bishop Jesus Juaraz said from Achacachi, quoted by the 'International Herald Tribune' (April 11, 2000).

The protests began when people in Cochabamba discovered that the public water works had been sold to Aquas del Tunari, a private company which is backed financially by Bechtel, a corporation based in San Francisco, California. Aquas del Tunari raised the price of water for the residents between 20 to 50 percent. This can equal as much as a week and a half of earnings for some poor families, or more. After 'La Coordinadora', an alliance of citizens, called for 'La Ultima Batalla' ('the final battle'), and set the deadline for action on Tuesday, April 4th, the government ignored them. The enraged citizens came out in force into the streets that day, demanding that the government break the contract with the company, and demanded that Bechtel get out of Bolivia.

By Wednesday, April 5th, thousands of Bolivians from as far as seventy miles away were streaming into the city, fighting simultaneously against a plan to take control of rural water systems away from public control too. Thursday, during negotiations between 'La Coordinadora' and the government, the government arrested fifteen leaders of the group, holding them until Friday morning. "It was a trap by the government to have us all together, negotiating, so that we could be arrested," said Oscar Olivera, quoted by Jim Schultz, reporting for the 'Democracy Program'.

Late afternoon on Friday, April 6th, while protesters were waiting for government representatives to show up for more talks, it was announced the government had capitulated. But rumors that the government would go back on its word were everywhere, and proved right at 10 AM Saturday morning when Banzer declared a ninety day "state of siege."

Jim Schultz reported on Friday's surprise agreement, quoting Olivera, who said "We're questioning that others, the World Bank, international business, should be deciding these things for us. For us, that is democracy." Late last year Cochabamba's public water system was sold in a one-bidder deal, which had been pushed by the World Bank. The money paid up front was only US$20 000, for "a water system worth millions," writes Schultz. When the government ignored them, the people's anger exploded.

On Saturday, April 6th, the troops moved in and began arresting protest leaders again, arresting journalists and shutting down radio stations. As of Wednesday April 12, 2000, at least eight people have been killed and dozens injured. The protests in Cochabamba sparked action across Bolivia, including a police protest in the capital La Paz. President Benzar has appointed two new Governors of the 'State of Cochabamba' in the span of three days. The 'Cochabamba Permanent Assembly of Human Rights' reported Monday, April 8th, that "an unknown number" of those arrested over the weekend are unaccounted for, and are not in any prison or jail in Bolivia. Others have been flown to prisons deep within the jungle.

While Bechtel and Aquias del Tunari agreed on Monday, April 10th, 2000, to pull out of Bolivia, martial law continues. President Banzer is trying to blame the protests on coca growers upset over the eradication of their crops. This is sheer, unadulterated disinformation:

It is about control.

Covert Operation Policy In The Drug War
This article mentions how Oliver North contracted with a Bolivian drug cartel to ship 500 tons of cocaine to the Eastern coast of the US for distribution to help finance war in Central America, in one of many operations. Only a select few make any real money from any war, and the Drug War is no different!

Bolivian Quakers: Caught In The Cocaine Crossfire
This is a unique look at missionaries who seem to be doing what they feel is God's work for unselfish reasons, who get caught in the middle of the local conflicts. This writer notes that most missionaries end up promoting and supporting the more right-wing, repressive leaders.

US State Department Background Notes: 1998
This is the US State Department's take on Bolivia and what the 'drug-war' situation resembled circa 1998.

Leopards
This is a long illustrated chapter of Dan Russell's fantastic book 'Drug War, Covert Money, Power, and Policy', which exposes the repressive Inquisitional roots of Drug Prohibition. In this chapter he outlines how Bolivia was taken over during the infamous 'Cocaine Coup' of 1980, using the excuse of "communists," now known as "narco-terrorists," which lasted openly only until 1982, when a 'democratic' election was held, and power was passed back into the shadows. He also points out how the Native Americans' sacramental herb, coca has been criminalized. Sounds very familiar. A must visit site!

Propaganda Due
In this chapter of Dan Russell's 'Drug War, Covert Money, Power, and Policy', he describes how Klaus Barbie fled to Bolivia and assisted in training terror squads there, under dictator Banzer, who is now President Banzer. It is a sham for Banzer to accuse coca growers for his ills. It is his greed and criminality, along with many of his privileged partners, with the help of the CIA and international corporations, that has brought his country to the state it is in. This is a must visit site!

Bolivia Protests
Here you can read Jim Schultz's articles on the Bolivian protests and martial law that has been declared. This guy has been doing some great reporting on the situation, from the scene. If you want to read a different perspective than most of the mainstream press reports, this is a good place to start.

Bolivia
Great background of the drug running that goes on in and through Bolivia and who is responsible, at least through the mid-1990s.

Bolivia: Under The US Boot
The authors of the article stress that in this expose they are focusing on the killers of Che Guevara in Bolivia, both the ones in the Bolivian military and particularly those in the CIA and other US agencies, those experts in death and drug trafficking who "consider Bolivia and the rest of Central America as their backyard."

A Fundamentally Flawed Strategy: The US War On Drugs In Bolivia
More great background on the situation in Bolivia, and US involvement in helping to create that mess.

Statement Of Explanation For Vital National Interest Certification For Paraguay
This official US Government statement (March, 2000) explains that Paraguay needs its 'special certification' to assist it in its fight to stop the transiting of Bolivian cocaine across its borders.

The Double Role Of Drug Trafficking In State Terrorism And Militarized Democracy
More analysis on how drugs drive the repression and terror, by the State using these issues as justification for their brutal putting down of any real, genuine, frightening-to-the-corporations democracy movements.

Bolivia: Radio Under The Gun
This 1994 article describes how when the author asked an assistant director of the Bolivian radio station he was touring, "why the fortifications," the assistant director replied, "We need to keep the station on the air while we defend ourselves from the army. We held out for 3 days in 1980."

US Drug War At Center Stage In Renewed Bolivian Violence
Jim Schultz reports in this article (October 1st, 2000) once again from the thick of Bolivia's violent conflict and repression. Key regional issues include the US War Against Some Drugs, the building of three new US military bases in Bolivia, a complete lack of living wages among teachers, and the right to drink their own water without having to pay Bechtel, a ruthless US corporation, for that right. The geopolitical situation is deteriorating rapidly.

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