OAS backs Bolivia's territorial integrity ahead of vote

[Judi Lynn]

Source: AFP

OAS backs Bolivia's territorial integrity ahead of vote
51 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (AFP) — The Organization of American States late Friday expressed support for Bolivia's territorial integrity ahead of an autonomy referendum in the country's biggest province.

In a resolution, the OAS Permanent Council rejected "any attempts to disrupt" Bolivia's constitutional order and its territorial integrity.

It also urged all those involved in the political process "to avoid any action to could undermine peace, constitutional order and peaceful coexistence among Bolivians."

Bolivia is bracing for a weekend vote on autonomy in the province of Santa Cruz that many fear could send the Latin American nation into violent turmoil.



Read more: http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hheiVMOOhWWM224pdYp7iPAqCU1w

[David__77]

1. The vote is illegal.

The good news is that the whole oligarchy can be sent packing after this. I feel bad for Miami, but Bolivia will be better off for it for sure!

[Judi Lynn]

2. Eurolat opposes autonomy referendum in Bolivia

Eurolat opposes autonomy referendum in Bolivia
www.chinaview.cn 2008-05-03 10:02:21

LIMA, May 2 (Xinhua) -- The Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly (Eurolat) on Friday voiced its opposition to a referendum for autonomy in the Bolivian state Santa Cruz, calling it "unconstitutional."

"We notice that Santa Cruz's consultation for an autonomous statute is a social confrontation and destabilization factor against Bolivia's Constitution," the legislators said in a statement during its second plenary Assembly in Lima.

The move "has not taken into account the native and indigenous people," said the legislators.

The lawmakers expressed their support for Bolivian President Evo Morales who was trying to establish a dialog mechanism to help find a democratic and constitutional solution with the opposition.

More:
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-05/03/content_8094755.htm

[Judi Lynn]

3. -Very helpful 3 minute analysis of the situation for people who've not read about it, yet:

http://www.therealnews.com/web/index.php?thisdataswitch=0&thisid=1439&thisview=item&renewx=2008-05-03+02%3A33%3A55

[Caradoc]

4. One day...

...I hope there can be some sort of process in international law where foreign meddling can be exposed and curtailed. This particular situation has smelled of foreign meddling since day one, much like the coup attempt against Chavez.
Excellent research JL...great background. I'll be at a meeting this afternoon with Canada's deputy leader of the opposition...maybe it'll come up in the post-meeting 'coffee talk'.

[Judi Lynn]

5. You bet there's been meddling. Hope we are able to learn the extent at some point. It won't be good.

As a reminder, here's the dirty backstabbing stunt pulled off by Donald Rumsfeld once it was understood the leftist candidate was clearly due to win Bolivia's Presidential election:

US Denies Removal of Bolivian Missiles Was Secret by David Gollust
Article Posted: 12/23/2005

US Denies Removal of Bolivian Missiles Was Secret

The United States denied Thursday that it removed anti-aircraft missiles from Bolivia without the knowledge of top officials in La Paz. The State Department says the operation was at the request of Bolivian authorities and in line with an Organization of American States resolution.

Officials here acknowledge that the United States removed a small number of MANPADS, man-portable air defense system, from Bolivia earlier this year as part of a broader effort to keep the shoulder launch missiles out of the hands of terrorists.

But they are denying charges from Bolivia, which figured in that country's presidential election campaign, that the operation was conducted without the knowledge of senior Bolivian officials.

Bolivian President-elect Evo Morales, the victor in last Sunday's election, has alleged that the 28 Chinese-made missiles were spirited out of the country in June in an operation he described as international intervention.

http://www.amazines.com/article_detail.cfm/74308?articleid=74308

~~~~~~~~~~~ He used his influence with cooperative officers, yet BEHIND THE BACK of the sitting Bolivian President, to spirit the missiles OUT of Bolivia to New Mexico BEFORE Evo Morales could be inaugurated and have a choice over using them for whatever reason.

_Bush and Rumsfeld REMOVED that choice from Evo Morales' options. Dirty business, loathesome conduct for any kind of official from any country. The worst.

~~~~~~~~~~~
If you hear anything regarding substantial support for the Bolivian people during your day, hope you'll pass it along. There are a LOT of DU'ers watching for news on this event.

Thanks.

[Judi Lynn]

6. Adding follow-up information on the underhanded theft of Bolivian missiles by Bush administration:

Bolivia’s Morales announces treason trial for army general
Wednesday, January 18, 2006


President-elect Evo Morales.President-elect Evo Morales, who will assume office on Sunday January 22, announced on Wednesday that General Marcelo Antezana will face trial for treason after sending 28 aging Chinese-made missiles to the U.S. for destruction at the request from the U.S.

General Antezana, who was dismissed from his position this Wednesday 18, told Bolivian media that Washington had requested the missiles amid fears that Evo Morales would win the presidency. Days later, he retracted his comments. The Defence Minister, Gonzalo Mendez, resigned over the scandal.

Morales' political party, Movement for Socialism, has petitioned the Public Ministry to bring the transitional president Eduardo Rodriguez to trial on charges stemming from their investigation.

Rodriguez, interim president appointed after Carlos Mesa resigned in June, said that he had authorized the destruction, but not the transfer of the weapons, which were the only ones of its kind in Bolivia. The missile handover was an unapproved arrangement between local soldiers and the U.S. military, according to Rodriquez. He made a formal protest to the U.S. embassy on Tuesday, he said.

Rodriguez said his decision to get rid of the weapons was based on recommendations from United Nations and the Organization of American States. The army also reported they were a safety hazard. The obsolete surface-to-air missiles were destroyed in the U.S last October.

A U.S. State Department spokesman said that a campaign to eliminate portable arms in Latin America has been on-going in an effort to keep them from falling into the hands of terrorists.

More:
http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Bolivia%E2%80%99s_Morales_announces_treason_trial_for_army_general

Adding another article:

Furore as US destroys Bolivia-bound missiles

BOLIVIA: A scandal in Bolivia over surface-to-air missiles prompted the
defence minister's resignation and the army chief's dismissal on
Tuesday, plunging the military into crisis days before leftist
president-elect Evo Morales is to be sworn into office.

Outgoing interim president Eduardo Rodriguez said he had accepted
defence minister Gonzalo Mendez's resignation and dismissed Gen Marcelo
Antezana over apparent irregularities in the destruction in the United
States of a batch of Chinese-made missiles in October.

At the height of campaigning for last month's elections, Mr Morales - a
former coca farmer who has described his movement as a "nightmare for
the US" - denounced the destruction of the missiles, the only arms of
their kind in Bolivia.

Gen Antezana said Washington initiated the drive to destroy the missiles
because it feared Mr Morales would win the presidency of the South
American country. He later retracted his remarks.

http://209.85.173.104/search?q=cache:aF-m3VauOWoJ:blythe-systems.com/pipermail/nytr/Week-of-Mon-20060116/030596.html+Furore+as+US+destroys+Bolivia-bound+missiles&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Last Updated: Wednesday, 18 January 2006, 10:59 GMT
Bolivia president sacks army head

Bolivia's outgoing President Eduardo Rodriguez has sacked the army chief and ordered a probe into the destruction in the US of some 30 missiles in October.
Mr Rodriguez said he had been told the ageing Chinese missiles posed a safety risk and had authorised American help with their decommissioning.

But, he said, the army should not have sent them out of the country.
(snip)

Mr Morales' party had threatened to impeach President Rodriguez over the deactivation of the surface-to-air missiles, but correspondents says it has backed away from the threat recently.

President Rodriguez said on Tuesday he would seek clarification from Washington about the episode.

Defence Minister Gonzalo Mendez has resigned so his role can be investigated.

Army chief General Marcelo Antezana will face disciplinary proceedings after he published a letter in several newspapers, demanding that the government release the documents pertaining to the decommissioning.

In October, he had issued a declaration saying he was the sole person responsible for the decision.

But last week, he appeared to reject any responsibility and hinted that there had been American pressure for the missiles to be taken to a US base.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4623424.stm

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sorry to add so many articles: had to keep going until it appeared enough of the story was apparent for people to recognize the degree to which _Bush butted into a situation which was ABSOLUTELY NONE OF HIS BUSINESS.

This buggerer appears to imagine he has been chosen to rule the entire world, with his depraved Neo-Cons. He can't leave nearly soon enough.

[Caradoc]

7. Sad...

...so sad that 'the Great Game' is still going on. Neo-colonial behaviour in that the 'empire' always knows best? Change is the arch enemy of all conservatives. 'We want you to have democracy, but only certain types of democracy, and only if they fit our vision of what is, or isn't, acceptable democracy...and we don't trust you to handle your own affairs'. Talk about rigged, and in the long run, a recipe for one's own ruin.

[Zorro]

8. Alliance With Chavez Turning Against Morales at Home

Apparently Chavez' reported meddling has contributed to the problem.

<snip>

When Bolivia's Evo Morales was elected the Western Hemisphere's first indigenous president of a country with an indigenous majority, Venezuelan strongman Hugo Chavez wasted no time proclaiming himself an ally.

Now, as four of Bolivia's richest provinces prepare to vote in referendums to declare their autonomy from the central government in La Paz, Morales might be wondering if his cozy relationship with Chavez has become his millstone.

Bolivians have long complained about foreigners meddling in their affairs. Yet Chavez has taken meddling to a new level. Since Day One of Morales' presidency, Chavez has wrapped Morales in his arms -- literally and figuratively -- with little care for the consequences in Bolivia...

<snip>

More at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/01/AR2008050101455.html?hpid=news-col-blog