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
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.
[...] Fight Over Natural Gas Has Bolivia on Brink of Collapse [...]
All what Venezuela s Chavez wants is to take awy bolivias gas markets in Argentina and Brasil see http://www.nuestroperronegro.blogspot.com/