President announces “changes” in the task of recuperation of capitalised companies

Tambo Quemado, Oruro, Sept 10 – The president, Evo Morales, announced today “changes” for the next year in regards to the recuperation of the strategic companies of the state that were handed over to foreign capital under the implementation of capitalisation [privatisation].

The head of state, in a speech on the occasion of the inauguration of the system of three-phase electrification in this region of the country, recounted that the recuperation of natural resources began with the nationalisation of hydrocarbons via the Supreme Decree approved on May 1.

“We have been discussing the issue of electrification, of Entel; we really want to recuperate these privatised companies. I am sure that next year there will be many changes, from now we are preparing these.” He announced near the border with Chile.

In the first government of ex president Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada the process of capitalisation of companies in telecommunications, electricity, railway, Bolivian airline and in the area of hydrocarbons was consolidated.

Lloyd Aereo Boliviano (LAB) is one of the capitalised companies that is currently passing through one of its worst crises. At the same time, the railway company although working in the east, has practically suspended its operations in the west.

“These companies used to belong to the state, dealing with electricity, telephones, they have to return sooner of later into the hands of the Bolivian people. I feel that they have not been capitalised by rather decapitalised” he questioned in a moment of change in the country.

He also declared himself to be against privatisation in the area of mining and called on the cooperative miners to help find a solution to the problem of mining concessions. “This help needs to come out of here, from the indigenous, originarias communities, from the ayllus” he insisted.

The head of state used the opportunity to call for a dialogue between miners and cooperative miners where problems have been registered over a minefield. Both need to have the capacity to resolve their differences within the framework of dialogue and “economic equilibrium”, he affirmed.

Translated from Agencia Boliviana de Informacion