VIO Venezuela
News and Action
CIVIL COUP UNFOLDS IN BOLIVIA, DEMOCRACY IN DANGER BY VIOLENT/RACIST
OPPOSITION
With little more than a month past since Bolivian President Evo
Morales won a recall referendum with 67% of the vote, Bolivia's
secessionist opposition has taken to the streets beginning in Santa Cruz, one
of the wealthiest regions of the country. Three days of mayhem and violence
have wracked the city of Santa Cruz resulting in at least 8 deaths so far,
spurred on by calls broadcast over the national media to join in "civil
disobedience" against the government. Journalists considered sympathetic
to the government have also been harassed and injured. Opposition mobs
ransacked the recently nationalized telephone office, and took control of the
internal revenue and agrarian reform offices.
OAS Secretary General José Miguel Insulza quickly called for the violent
actions of opposition groups to end. Calls to dialogue with the government were
issued and the destruction and illegal seizures of government buildings, a
human rights NGO, and a gas pipeline were condemned. The violence was not
merely symbolic, but also carried economic consequences; damage to the pipeline
slowed exports to Brazil, and repairs to the pipeline could cost an estimated
$100 million.
This Wednesday, September 10th President Morales declared US
Ambassador to Bolivia, Phillip Goldberg, persona non grata and asked him to
leave the country. The Bolivian government stated that he was involved with the
opposition and interference would not be tolerated. He had met with opposition
leaders just last week. Goldberg, known as "the Ambassador of Ethnic
Cleansing" for his previous role as Special Assistant to Ambassador
Richard Holbrooke, is one of the architects of the breakup of Yugoslavia. He
also promoted the separation of Serbia and Montenegro, and helped foment
conflict between Serbian and Albanian forces in Kosovo. It would seem that
Goldberg has a particular knack for promoting racial and ethnic divisions, and
that doing so has been central to his political career. Among Goldberg's
closest friends are Croatian businessmen in Santa Cruz, who happen to be
leaders of the opposition's "Nación Camba" movement and the
local "Civic Committee," one of the main proponents of
destabilization in Bolivia. Last night, the Bush administration answered back
and declared Bolivia's Ambassador to the US, Gustavo Guzman, persona non
grata.
In response to the turmoil, President Evo Morales has called for
non-violence and ordered the police and military not to use force against the
opposition. Instead, the government hopes to uphold the rule of law and wait
for opposition actors to abide by calls from the international community to put
down their weapons and talk with the government. So far, this has not happened.
Opposition congress members have threatened more violence if Morales continues
moving forward with the new constitution. For the most up to date news on the
situation
CLICK HERE.
VENEZUELA STANDS WITH BOLIVIA, US AMBASSADOR TO VENEZUELA SENT
HOME
After hearing the news that Bolivia's Ambassador to the US would
be expelled for his very likely role in the destabilization of that country,
Venezuela made the decision to show its solidarity with Bolivia by expelling
Patrick Duddy, the US Ambassador to Venezuela. President Chavez also recalled
his Ambassador in the US, Bernardo Alvarez, to Venezuela for consultation.
Read the full story here.
Considering the failed coup attempt lived by Venezuelans in April
2002, it is not surprising that Venezuela would take this posture. Many of the
same actors seem to be at play in Bolivia today. Venezuela is said to be the
first country to have suffered a media coup, one that also encouraged violent
attacks on pro-government supporters and the poor. It has also been well
documented that the US government was openly supportive of coup plotters and
met with them prior to their illegal attempts to take power.
This all comes as today, Venezuela uncovered a plot by retired
generals to assassinate him.
Read more about this story here.
TAKE ACTION
If you would like to make sure that democracy is respected and that
the rule of law is restored in Bolivia call your members of Congress and ask
them to condemn the violent actions of the opposition and support the
democratically elected President in his calls for dialogue. Unfortunately,
Chair of the Western Subcommittee in the House of Representatives, Eliot Engel,
has condemned the actions of Morales rather than the
opposition.
Let your members know that he got it wrong!
Call (202)224-3121 and ask for your senators' and/or representative's
office!
