Voices in defense of Bolivia

The democratically elected government of Bolivia's first indigenous president Evo Morales Ayma, which is heading a process of democratic change, is Washington's immediate target in Latin America today. Bolivia is in Washington's sight, not only because it is viewed as the weakest link of the growing axis of hope in the region, but because of its role as a catalyst for inspiring the struggles of indigenous peoples, regionally and internationally, for real social justice.

The US government, in collaboration with the gas transnationals, large agribusiness and the old political class of Bolivia, organized through the so-called "civic" committees of the wealthy departments of the Bolivian east have already begun to set in motion their plan aimed at destabilizing this government, potentially through a civil war as a pretext for foreign military intervention. This plan includes: the distribution of racist material inciting people to "bring down this Indian shit", provoking violent confrontations, US government funding of opposition political parties and organisations, mobilisation of fascist youth groups, and the smuggling in arms to the country, amongst others.

The majority of Bolivians have vested their hopes for democratic change in the Constituent Assembly; convoked on August 6, 2006, with the task of enshrining in a new constitution the vision of a new Bolivia that has emerged out of years of struggle against neoliberalism.

The majority of Bolivians have made clear what form they want this new Bolivia to take: a plurinational, democratic and communitarian state which recuperates control over natural resources and recognizes autonomy, within the framework of national unity, at the departmental, municipality and regional levels as well as for the 36 indigenous nations which make up Bolivia.

The old ruling elites, whose positions of economic and political power were based on centuries of racist, apartheid-like oppression of the indigenous peoples are unwilling to accept even the tiniest reforms for the benefit of the indigenous majority, to accept the continuation, in any form, of this peaceful and democratic revolution even if it means drowning the country in blood.

It is crucial for the governments and peoples of the world to speak out against any attempts to trigger off a civil war, and any ensuing US/UN military occupation or military government, and reject the imposition of any illegitimate government in Bolivia.

Now is the time for all intellectuals, union militants, solidarity activists, political parties and progressive minded individuals who believe in real justice and equality to raise their voices in defense of the Bolivian government and its people.No to US interference in Bolivia!

Signed
Australia -Federico Fuentes, Kiraz Janicke, John Percy, Rohan Pearce, Adrian Fuentes
Peru - Hugo Blanco
Chile - Marta Harnecker, Maria Eliana Astaburuaga
Mexico - John Ross
Bolivia - Georg Ann Potter
Canada - Michael Lebowitz, Derrick O'Keefe, Sid Shniad, John Riddell, Roger Annis Susan Spronk, Nelson Rubio, Canadian Dimension editorial collective, Vancouver Bolivia committee, Vancouver Socialist Forum, Judy Rebick
US - Gregory Wilpert, Michael Albert, Benjamin Dangl, Martin Hart-Landsberg, Michael Parenti, Walter Lippmann, George Ciccariello-Maher, Al Campbell, Kirkpatrick Sale, Chesa Boudin, Greg Grandin, Thomas Mertes, Ronald Christ, Chellis Glendinning
Cuba - Camila Piñeiro Harnecker
Nicaragua - Felipe Stuart Cournoyer
UK - Pablo Navarrete, Alfredo Saad Filho, Andrew J Silvera, Janet Duckworth
France - Susan George
Sweden - Left Party of Sweden
Norway - Marta Sánchez
New Zealand - Grant Morgan, Vaughan Gunson, Mike Treen
South Africa - Ighsaan Schroeder

[To add your name to the list please do so directly into the comments section on the blog]

Voces en defensa de Bolivia

El gobierno democráticamente electo del primer presidente indígena de Bolivia, Evo Morales Ayma, quien dirige un proceso de transformación democrática, hoy es el objeto enemigo principal de Washington en América Latina. Washington tiene a Bolivia en la mira, no solamente porque la considera el eslabón más débil en el creciente eje de esperanza en la región pero también por su rol como catalizador que inspira las luchas de los pueblos indígenas en función de la verdadera justicia social tanto a nivel regional como internacional.

El gobierno de los EE.UU., en colaboración con la transnacionales de gas, gran agro negocio y la antigua clase política de Bolivia, organizado a través de los llamados comités de las provincias adineradas del este de Bolivia ya han desplegado su plan cuyo objetivo es desestabilizar este gobierno, utilizando tal vez una guerra civil como pretexto para la intervención extranjera militar. Este plan incluye, entre otras: la distribución de material racista que incita a la gente “a derrumbar este indio de mierda”; provocar enfrentamientos violentos; financiamiento por parte del gobierno de los EE.UU. a los partidos y organizaciones de la oposición; movilizar grupos fascistas de jóvenes y contrabandear armas en el país.

La mayoría de los bolivianos han depositado sus esperanzas para un cambio democrático en la asamblea constituyente que fue convocada el día 6 de agosto de 2006 y encomendado la tarea de encarnar en una constitución nueva la visión de una nueva Bolivia que ha surgido de los anos de lucha contra el neoliberalismo.

La mayoría de los bolivianos están claro sobre que forma quieren que tome esta nueva Bolivia: un estado plurinacional, democrático y comunitario que retome el control de los recursos naturales y reconoce, dentro del marco de la unidad nacional, autonomías a nivel departamental, municipal, regional y para los 36 naciones indígenas que componen Bolivia.

La antiguas elites dominantes, cuyas posiciones de poder económicas y políticas se basaron en siglos de opresión racista, al estilo apartheid, de los pueblos indígenas no están dispuesto a aceptar ni siquiera las mas mínimas reformas en beneficio de la mayoría indígena, ni la continuación en cualquier forma, de esta revolución pacifica y democrática, aunque esto implique bañar el país en sangre.

Es imprescindible que los gobiernos y los pueblos del mundo denuncian cualquier intento de fomentar una guerra civil, y la consiguiente ocupación por parte de la ONU o de los EE.UU. o un golpe militar, y rechazar la imposición de cualquier gobierno ilegitimo en Bolivia.

Es la hora que todos los intelectuales, militantes sindicales, activistas de solidaridad, partidos políticos y todas las personas progresistas que creen en la verdadera justicia e igualdad alcen sus voces en defensa el gobierno de Bolivia y el pueblo boliviano.

¡No a la injerencia de los EE.UU. en Bolivia!

Firmado:
Australia -Federico Fuentes, Kiraz Janicke, John Percy, Adrian Fuentes
Peru - Hugo Blanco
Chile - Marta Harnecker, Maria Eliana Astaburuaga
Mexico - John Ross
Bolivia - Georg Ann Potter
Canada - Michael Lebowitz, Derrick O'Keefe, Sid Shniad, John Riddell, Roger Annis Susan Spronk, Nelson Rubio, Canadian Dimension editorial collective, Vancouver Bolivia committee, Vancouver Socialist Forum, Judy Rebick
US - Gregory Wilpert, Michael Albert, Benjamin Dangl, Martin Hart-Landsberg, Michael Parenti, Walter Lippmann, George Ciccariello-Maher, Al Campbell, Kirkpatrick Sale, Chesa Boudin, Greg Grandin, Thomas Mertes, Ronald Christ, Chellis Glendinning
Cuba - Camila Piñeiro Harnecker
Nicaragua - Felipe Stuart Cournoyer
UK - Pablo Navarrete, Alfredo Saad Filho, Andrew J Silvera, Janet Duckworth
France - Susan George
Sweden - Partido de Izquierda de Suecia
Norway - Marta Sánchez
New Zealand - Grant Morgan, Vaughan Gunson, Mike Treen
South Africa - Ighsaan Schroeder

[Podes agregar tu nombre abajo en el seccion para comentarios]

32 comments:

Unknown said...

I completely agree.
Italia, Alessandro Cassuto

Anonymous said...

please add me to the list

Darlene Juschka
Women's Studies
University of Regina
Regina, SK
S4S 0A2
Darlene.Juschka@ureigna.ca

Anonymous said...

Please add my name

Ken Collier
Red Deer Alberta Canada

Anonymous said...

Yanks, leave your monroe doctrine on the shelf!
Solidarity!

Andrew Phillips
New Westminster
Canada

Anonymous said...

I'll add my name.

Shua Garfield

David Barkin said...

Pueden agregar mi nombre

David Barkin
Mexico

Anonymous said...

I'm subscribing for the defense of Bolivia - Christian Heinrici - Germany

Unknown said...

in solidarity with the people of Bolivia and against U.S. imperialism,
Clifton Ross
USA

Anonymous said...

Please add my name.

William K. Carroll
Victoria, Canada

Anonymous said...

I agree.
Mike Fox
Annandale, Va.
USA

Anonymous said...

The Louis Riel Bolivarian Circle of Toronto. Canada, unites in solidarity with Bolivia, President Evo Morales and the indigenous peoples of Bolivia in rejecting all violence against his democratically elected government. NO VOLVERAN!!!!

Anonymous said...

Add my name to the list.

Yonni Chapman

Anonymous said...

En solidaridad,
Karen Bennett
USA

Anonymous said...

Yes!

by Nèdeem Al-Mahjoub نديم المحجوب said...

Please add my name:
Nadim Mahjoub
London, UK

Bolivia Rising said...

More sign ons via email

David Abram. Ph.D.
Director, Alliance for Wild Ethics
UK - Maya & Agustin Bazzini
E.Vaughn Guloyan
Rick Kearns, US
Beth Burrows (US)
Claus Biegert, founder and director of the World Uranium Hearing, Germany.
Tony Snelling Berg, Member of Socialist Worker - New Zealand.
Activist of Climaction.

Anonymous said...

De acuerdo, pero tambien ¡No a la injerencia de Venezuela y su dinero sucio en Bolivia!

Por una Bolivia digna libre de cualquier tipo de imperialismo o colonialismo.

Carlos Rivera
Bolivia

Anonymous said...

Please add my name to the "voices in Defense of Bolivia"

Robert Johnson, Canada

Unknown said...

Add my name.

Conor Meikleham, Belfast, Ireland.

Anonymous said...

Please add my name.

Hamish Chitts
Brisbane, Australia

Bolivia Rising said...

more via email
Marina Sitrin - New College of California (USA) editor "Horizontalism: Voices of Popular Power in Argentina"
Brett Clark, USA
Gabriel de Pablo, Mexico
Carlos F. Arce, Suecia

Anonymous said...

Please add me as well:

Sabina C. Becker
Cobourg, Ontario, Canada

Anonymous said...

Support the democratically elected government in Bolivia and mr Evo Morales!

Soporta el gobierno democratico en Bolivia y Sn Evo Morales.

Stöd den demokratiska regeringen i Bolivia och hr Evo Morales!

L Mikaelsson
Presidenta del Associacion Same en Estocholmo, Suecia
Chairperon Saami Assoc. in Stockholm ,Sweden

Anonymous said...

I support Evo Morales and Democracy and justice in Bolivia.

Gary Witherspoon
Eatonville, WA, USA

Anonymous said...

YOU ARE WRONG. We all voted for Evo thinking he would do a good job. That is right. We don't want Yanks eather, but Venezuelans and Cubans, NO way eather. You should also call Venezuela's attention, as they also interfear in our politics.If Venezuela wants Hugo Chavez that is there bussiness, but Venezuela HAS NO RIGHT TO BE IN bOLIVIAN AFFAIRS. Venezuelan President threatens Bolivia. Que se vaya a la mierda entonces, el Chavez. Our Indian President is so stupid that he takes orders and money from Chavez. The only shit we see now is not only Evo, but Venezuelas Chavez in our affairs. What a let down. We got the Americans out and all the abuses they did to our country, now we have other so called masters. When is this going to end???? Other Indians probably could do a better job. Hope we could find a man or woman to lead Bolivia wisely, be it Indian or white or what ever. All we have now is division... east against west, rich against poor, low lands agaist highlands, etc. etc. and you think that Evo is a good President? Si... so did we all, untill he started saying and doing foolish things. Bolivia will not be another Cuba. VIVA BOLIVIA:

PS: I do not belong to the old ruling elite or to the eastern area of Bolivia, but am a concern man for his country. So much is trumped up, for the woes of present Bolivia. Always TWO sides to the story.
Marcos Romero Zambrana
La Paz, Bolivia.

Bolivia Rising said...

Shannyn Sollitt - Santa Fe, New Mexico USA
Consuelo Luz Arostegui
(en Estados Unidos)
Donna House - Navajo Nation, USA
Richard L. Grossman, West Hurley, New York

Anonymous said...

Eirik Stavenes, Oslo, Norway

marty said...

The oligarchy in the East, backed by the US, will do anything to prevent the land and hydrocarbon redistribution that MAS is fighting for.

Terry Townsend said...

Terry Townsend,
Editor Links online
http://www.dsp.org.au/links

L. O. K. Ejnermark said...

I believe in real justice and equality! Sign me up:

Sweden - Kristoffer Ejnermark

Anonymous said...

Add mi nombre

Andrea Oyarzun, Canada

Diana said...

add my name please

Diana Moreno
New Mexico USA

Bolivia Rising