[Marxism] Bolivians not accepting "distractions"

[Dbachmozart@xxxxxxx]

Bolivian Offers Reform Plan to Protesters Seeking  Autonomy
 
By _JUAN FORERO_ (http://query.nytimes.com/search/query?ppds=bylL&v1=JUAN 
FORERO&fdq=19960101&td=sysdate&sort=newest&ac=JUAN FORERO&inline=nyt-per)  

Published: June 4, 2005
 
BOGOTÁ, Colombia, June 3 - Hoping to end mounting nationwide protests,  
President Carlos Mesa of Bolivia announced plans late Thursday for the election 
 of 
a citizen assembly to write a new constitution and for a national referendum  
on greater regional autonomy. 
With Congress deadlocked over the two popular demands, and with swarms of  
protesters paralyzing the country, Mr. Mesa told Bolivians in a nationally  
televised address that the election and referendum would take place Oct. 16.  
Political analysts say Congress must ratify the plan, but Mr. Mesa said he had  
to 
act fast. 
"The country is living in a time of extreme urgency," he said, explaining  
that he could not wait until Congress met again on Tuesday. "I hope this  
decision helps the country and puts an end to the uncertainty." 
The decree did not appear to pacify demonstrators.  
Indian groups, labor federations and antiglobalization organizations  
demanding state control of the energy industry and a new constitution continued 
 
blocking Bolivia's highways on Friday. La Paz, the commercial capital, remained 
 
isolated.  
"This decree has no head or feet," Julio Pabón, a leader of Fejuve, a leading 
 antiglobalization group, said by telephone from El Alto, an indigenous city 
just  southwest of La Paz. "It just tries to distract the marches we have 
going on all  over Bolivia. We will continue. We have a full blockade on." 
In affluent Santa Cruz State, pro-capitalist forces led by the region's elite 
 rejected Mr. Mesa's offer of an autonomy vote, even though they had been 
pushing  for autonomy. The Santa Cruz leadership, which wants to counter  
antiglobalization forces in the west, is vehemently opposed to a constituent  
assembly, which could give Bolivia's Indians more say over economic  policies. 
"We're in the midst of a fight for power," said Álvaro García, a political  
analyst who has advised indigenous groups. "These are going to be very intense  
days." 
The protests have picked up momentum since May 17, when Congress sharply  
raised taxes on the foreign energy companies that flocked to Bolivia to develop 
 
its large natural gas reserves. Aimed at placating a restive population,  
Congress's action instead prompted demonstrators to mount ever larger protests  
demanding expropriation of the gas industry. 
Much of the anger has been directed at Congress, which is seen as corrupt and 
 beholden to Bolivia's elite and multinational corporations. Waves of 
protesters  have repeatedly tried to take control of Congress in recent days.  
On Thursday, shortly before Mr. Mesa issued his decree, Congress enraged  
protesters by failing to reach a decision on a constituent assembly and the  
referendum. Saying they would not meet again until Tuesday, members of Congress 
 
were then escorted out under heavy police guard, while protesters scoffed. 
The anger against the elite has been palpable in Bolivia. Indian  
demonstrators have gone so far as to throw rocks at shops in affluent districts 
 and rip 
ties off of businessmen they accuse of being part of the white  elite.

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