OAS warns Bolivian separatists (updated III)

Caracas, Venezuela, 26 April, 2008. The 34 member Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) warned separatist forces in Bolivia over their planned referendum on 4 May 2008 and its possible violent outcome. It also called on the separatist local government representatives of Santa Cruz to accept the dialogue offer made today by the Evo Morales government.  The OAS Secretary General, Jose Miguel Insulsa, expressed there was consesus an urgent dialogue was both possible and necessary. In an earlier report made by OAS Secretary for Political Affairs, Argentinean Dante Caputo, it was stated that the cause of the crisis were conflicting legal and illegal views on the autonomies at the regions of Santa Cruz, Cochabamba, Beni y Tarija.  The Caputo report also described challenges to the legal government of Bolivia. Regional countries -such as Argentina, Brazil and Colombia- had also intervened as mediators to prevent the crisis to no avail.

The OAS Permanent Council heard this mornings allegations made by the Bolivian Minister of Foreign Affairs, David Choquehuanca Céspedes, on the illegality of the referendum. After citing conspiracy against Bolivia, Minister Choquehuanca Cespedes explained all the negotiations and mediations used during the current crisis in Bolivia. Foreign Minister Cespedes stated his country was in favour of autonomies but within a constitutional legal scheme. Thus, Bolivia was willing to negotiate with the separatists.  Finally and after citing the Democratic Charter of the Americas, he asked OAS to keep an eye on the current crisis in his country.  During the OAS meeting, Argentinean representative Rodolfo Hugo Hill asked all parties to negotiate without conditions. Venezuelan representative, Jorge Valero, stated the separatists were stimulated by imperial interests over the oil and gas in Bolivia. Ambassador Valero also warned over disguised attempts to divide Bolivia and promote a coup against Evo Morales.

The Evo Morales confronts opposition from different quarters most notably at the Bolivian Congress and the local governements of Santa Cruz, Cochabamba, Beni y Tarija. Traditional local media is not very close to Evo Morales either. Catholic Church proved to be a partial mediator in the crisis.  The American Ambassador in Bolivia has also been fingered for backing the oppostion to Evo Morales. According to Venezuelan American lawyer Eva Gollinger, the Bush Administration has sent more than US$120 millions to the Bolivian oppostion.  

PS: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez backed the Evo Morales revolutionary government early this afternoon. This is a reaction to both the OAS meeting and previous accusations made against him by the President of the Bolivian Congress, Oscar Ortiz, speaking from Colombia.  Ortiz is a member of Pademos Party which opposes Evo Morales. In a simbolic sign of control, 47 year old President Evo Morales made a debut palying soccer with a second division team. After failing to score a goal, his team managed to grasp victory though. During his youth, Morales used to play soccer.

According to the Offical Bolivian Information Service, the US representative at OAS Hector Morales stated his country position on the referendum crisis. The US asked the separatists to accept the negotiotion offer made by the Bolivian government in order to avoid violence.  During the meeting,a letter from separatists was also rejected.

 In another related development, the OAS Commission of Human Rights (IACHR) deplored today the servitute condition endured by some Bolivians guarani families. It equated such conditions at the Bolivian Chaco with slavery as they are paid with mangoes or clothes. By such "payment arrangements" they are burden with debts and forced to work. The IACHR asked the Bolivian State to erradicate such slavery practices in its territory.  

On Sunday 27 April, 2008, the Bolivian separatists declared they accepted the OAS call to negotiate with the Evo Morales government. However, they also said the Santa Cruz referenum would go as planned on 4 May 2008.    

Sources: VTV, OAS, ABI, Unionradio, EL Universal, Telesur, CorreodelSur, Los Tiempos, El Mundo, PrInside, RNV, EL Nacional,

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