A group of citizens, some of them armed, watch an explosion near the airport of Cobija in Pando.Bolivia Declares Martial Law In Protest-Hit Region
-- Yahoo News/Reuters
-- Yahoo News/Reuters
LA PAZ/SANTA CRUZ, Bolivia (Reuters) - Bolivia's leftist government declared martial law on Friday in a remote Amazon region where at least 15 people were killed in a wave of political violence sweeping the impoverished country.
The government banned protests and meetings in the far northern Pando region and said anyone carrying weapons would be arrested. Officials said six more bodies had been found following a clash in the area on Thursday.
"In Pando, it's been a real massacre," government minister Alfredo Rada told reporters, referring to violence between supporters of President Evo Morales and those of rightist provincial governors, who oppose his socialist reforms.
Sacha Llorenti, deputy minister for coordination of social movements said almost all of the dead were pro-government peasant farmers, ambushed by gunmen armed with machine guns.
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Bolivia imposes martial law on northern province -- L.A. Times
Morales slaps state of emergency on Bolivian region -- AFP
Revolt of the Rich -- Newsweek
Full support for Bolivia’s Morales from regional leaders -- Merco Press
Bolivia rivals eye compromise after talks -- International Herald Tribune
Bolivia, opposition eye compromise to end violence -- Yahoo News/Reuters
Bolivia appeals for end to unrest -- BBC News
Expulsions stoke US-LatAm dispute -- BBC News
My Comment: A few months ago I wrote about this situation, predicting that Morales's unwillingness to talk to the Provinces that voted overwhelmingly for autonomy would result in chaos and insurrection. This week .... as predicted, chaos and armed rebellion occurred. If there ever was a conflict that was easy to predict, this was the easiest one. Morales, Chavez, Mugabe .... they are all the same, and they are all predictable.
The problems and divisions of Bolivia are many. Racial, economic, class, political, and cultural. The time to have resolved all of these issues was last year, but Morales desire to address the extreme poverty of 2/3's of Bolivia's population (and his power base) resulted in the alienation of that part of the country that has (and is) generating the wealth for the nation and the government.
Price controls on food has resulted in shortages and a thriving black market. The prohibition of exporting beef has devastated the cattle industry. The attempt to seize farms and to redistribute them to Morales supporters (not to peasants as they like to advertise .... and a Robert Mugabe economic policy if there ever was one ).... will end up devastating an industry that presently employs thousands.
No sur
Read more ....
More News On Bolivia
Bolivia imposes martial law on northern province -- L.A. Times
Morales slaps state of emergency on Bolivian region -- AFP
Revolt of the Rich -- Newsweek
Full support for Bolivia’s Morales from regional leaders -- Merco Press
Bolivia rivals eye compromise after talks -- International Herald Tribune
Bolivia, opposition eye compromise to end violence -- Yahoo News/Reuters
Bolivia appeals for end to unrest -- BBC News
Expulsions stoke US-LatAm dispute -- BBC News
My Comment: A few months ago I wrote about this situation, predicting that Morales's unwillingness to talk to the Provinces that voted overwhelmingly for autonomy would result in chaos and insurrection. This week .... as predicted, chaos and armed rebellion occurred. If there ever was a conflict that was easy to predict, this was the easiest one. Morales, Chavez, Mugabe .... they are all the same, and they are all predictable.
The problems and divisions of Bolivia are many. Racial, economic, class, political, and cultural. The time to have resolved all of these issues was last year, but Morales desire to address the extreme poverty of 2/3's of Bolivia's population (and his power base) resulted in the alienation of that part of the country that has (and is) generating the wealth for the nation and the government.
Price controls on food has resulted in shortages and a thriving black market. The prohibition of exporting beef has devastated the cattle industry. The attempt to seize farms and to redistribute them to Morales supporters (not to peasants as they like to advertise .... and a Robert Mugabe economic policy if there ever was one ).... will end up devastating an industry that presently employs thousands.
No sur
Bolivia, opposition eye compromise to end violence -- Yahoo News/Reuters
Bolivia appeals for end to unrest -- BBC News
Expulsions stoke US-LatAm dispute -- BBC News
My Comment: A few months ago I wrote about this situation, predicting that Morales's unwillingness to talk to the Provinces that voted overwhelmingly for autonomy would result in chaos and insurrection. This week .... as predicted, chaos and armed rebellion occurred. If there ever was a conflict that was easy to predict, this was the easiest one. Morales, Chavez, Mugabe .... they are all the same, and they are all predictable.
The problems and divisions of Bolivia are many. Racial, economic, class, political, and cultural. The time to have resolved all of these issues was last year, but Morales desire to address the extreme poverty of 2/3's of Bolivia's population (and his power base) resulted in the alienation of that part of the country that has (and is) generating the wealth for the nation and the government.
Price controls on food has resulted in shortages and a thriving black market. The prohibition of exporting beef has devastated the cattle industry. The attempt to seize farms and to redistribute them to Morales supporters (not to peasants as they like to advertise .... and a Robert Mugabe economic policy if there ever was one ).... will end up devastating an industry that presently employs thousands.
No surprise .... farmers, agri-companies, and their employees are now rebelling against these draconian measures. Marshal law and the suspension of freedom of the press will only be a temporary fix .... with Morales and his supporters now trying to use the power of the state to impose their will. But confiscation and expropriation will only bring suffering and hardships .... it always has.
The sad part of this crisis is that it could have all been avoided through accommodation and compromise. But Latin America has always had a history of strongmen who believe they have the support of the people, and thereby the writ to do what they want. Bolivia under Morales is now one of them.
Bolivia appeals for end to unrest -- BBC News
Expulsions stoke US-LatAm dispute -- BBC News
My Comment: A few months ago I wrote about this situation, predicting that Morales's unwillingness to talk to the Provinces that voted overwhelmingly for autonomy would result in chaos and insurrection. This week .... as predicted, chaos and armed rebellion occurred. If there ever was a conflict that was easy to predict, this was the easiest one. Morales, Chavez, Mugabe .... they are all the same, and they are all predictable.
The problems and divisions of Bolivia are many. Racial, economic, class, political, and cultural. The time to have resolved all of these issues was last year, but Morales desire to address the extreme poverty of 2/3's of Bolivia's population (and his power base) resulted in the alienation of that part of the country that has (and is) generating the wealth for the nation and the government.
Price controls on food has resulted in shortages and a thriving black market. The prohibition of exporting beef has devastated the cattle industry. The attempt to seize farms and to redistribute them to Morales supporters (not to peasants as they like to advertise .... and a Robert Mugabe economic policy if there ever was one ).... will end up devastating an industry that presently employs thousands.
No surprise .... farmers, agri-companies, and their employees are now rebelling against these draconian measures. Marshal law and the suspension of freedom of the press will only be a temporary fix .... with Morales and his supporters now trying to use the power of the state to impose their will. But confiscation and expropriation will only bring suffering and hardships .... it always has.
The sad part of this crisis is that it could have all been avoided through accommodation and compromise. But Latin America has always had a history of strongmen who believe they have the support of the people, and thereby the writ to do what they want. Bolivia under Morales is now one of them.