Fight Over Natural Gas Has Bolivia on Brink of Collapse
Having gained confidence after handily winning a recall election with 67% of the vote last month, Bolvia’s President Evo Morales has proposed some controversial changes to Bolivia’s Constitution. He wants to redistribute wealth obtained from the sale of Bolivia’s abundant natural gas resources in a more equitable way to help the poor. He also wants to change the constitution so that he can run for a second term. These proposals have lead to violent protests in the country’s eastern provinces, that contain the bulk of Bolivia’s natural gas reserves. These regions are now threatening to break away. Tension is high and a civil war might soon emerge.
Some of Morales’ opponents claim that he is trying to obtain dictatorial powers. They subsequently have blockaded roads, and temporarily shut down natural gas pipeline flow to Brazil (which gets 50% of its gas from Bolivia). Martial law has been declared in one province and the details of one particularly violent incident are still sketchy. It is unclear if Bolivia’s military is entirely behind Morales. At least 30 people have died so far during the conflict, and countless others have been injured.
Last week Morales also accused the United States of helping to fan the flames of the conflict, framing it as a coup d’etat to remove him as president. He expelled the American ambassador to Bolivia to send out his message of disapproval. The U.S.’s ambassador has denied the claims made against him.
The whole situation sounds pretty crazy, right?
Today many of South America’s presidents attended a summit to discuss the Bolivian crisis.
The breaking news tonight is that after Morales made his case to his fellow presidents, they have come out in his support. Negotiations also appear to be commencing between Morales’ government and his opponents. Hopefully this conflict will conclude without further violence and a solution that is tolerable to all Bolivians.
Sources: International Herald Tribune, AFP, CNN, Associated Press, The Seattle Times
Image Credit: Photo of Evo Morales by Joel Alvarez via Wikimedia under a Creative Commons license
“Evo Morales has proposed some controversial changes to Bolivia’s Constitution. He wants to redistribute wealth obtained from the sale of Bolivia’s abundant natural gas resources in a more equitable way to help the poor.”
That’s really controversial, isn’t it?
Evo Morales wants to be Hugo Chavez. It seems the Bolivian people won’t let him though, so Morales wants to kill all the people that dare oppose him, just like Chay-vez has done and will continue to do.
Morales, like Chay-vez, doesn’t care about “the poor” he only cares about getting more kickbacks for himself and his cronies.
It looks like Evo wants to copy his big bother Chavez in taking over Bolivia’s cash cow so he can pilfer it for his own benefit under the pretext that its for Bolivia’s poor. If that is not enough, he wants to change Bolivia’s Constitution so he can remain in power longer or permanently. It’s going to be interesting what the Bolivian people are going to do because if they allow him to nationalize their gas reserves, production facilities and change the constitution they will suffer the consequences of having a dictator that will enslave them.
Sounds like the entire world has gone mad!
Jiff
http://www.anonymize.us.tc
^ LOL. Cause you know, Chavez kills all those that dare oppose him. haha.
It’s true. Evo Morales wants to be like Chavez and do anything he can to get elected and obtain absolute power. A comment about him wanting to help the poor is just ridiculous and ignorant. Unfortunately, not everyone knows that Evo’s greed and self-interest matter more than the poor he will never even see or care about. The U.S. now has a choice between an oil hungry president and someone who can make a difference. They must make the right decision.
Hugo Chavez isn’t killing people.
The poor rise to power. The poor want to change the constitution (in a constitutional way, not by force). The rich rebel, but of course. And suddently Morales is the bad guy?
Let the process continue and if he wants to change the constitution and they do it legally, then so be it. Constitutions aren’t made to be static. They’re meant to change. That’s why there’s a process for it. That’s why the U.S. Constitution has 22 ammendments.
The south wanted to secede when the north wanted to outlaw slavery. Would you say Abraham Lincoln did not care about the slaves and only cared aobut getting more kickbacks for himself and his cronies?
Check your facts, then react. Not the other way around.
@Rafael, You obviously do not know the entire story so you should refrain from commenting until you are conversant with such matters.
For starters you should see this… http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=yTbdnNgqfs8
The people both rich and poor of this country are been used by external parties for their own benefit.
Evo morales is onyl trying to put balance into the system, have you actually been to Bolivia and seen the native people been treated and how society is structured to make them feel worthless…?
Do those indigenous people not understand that if it were not for Europeans that this buried treasure would never have been found or be of any use? Come on then admit that this great bounty should be spent on imported cars and shopping trips to Miami instead of boring infrastructure and education!
Well 67% is a lot of people behind him. They seem to agree with him. Of course it’s the poorest people in the country, so it’s easy for the richest group to call him a murderer. When they’re the ones with the guns.
More equitable distribution of wealth? That’s easy. Tax the rich and don’t tax the poor. Why can’t this be done legally, via legisation and budgets. Look at most northern countries like Norway or Canada, they pay 40-50% tax and enjoy a great standard of living. War, either in the streets or in the legislature, is inevitable in a society with extremes of wealth and poverty.
Gabriel, check your facts. The war between the US states had NOTHING to with slavery at all, and Lincoln WAS all about funding his Whig/Republican parties through economic repression of not only the Southern states, but all of the states. The South seceded from the Union because of the Northern bankers and industrialists. You really should take the time and understand something before you write about it.
Looks like a coupe is in order
all of this political unrest needs to stop. I dont know why this idiot was elected president. What is happening to my country? My mother is currently there and due to the problems she isnt allowed to leave since american airlines has cancelled all flights comin and going from bolivia. evo morales es un pendejo. Thanks american airlines, and thanks george bush for helpinn out all those u.s. citiznes there.
Seriously, Morales wants to be Chavez but the Bolivian people won t let him.
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