[Marxism] Chavez says US backing move to topple Morales in

["Fred Feldman" <ffeldman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Chavez says U.S. backinboliviag plot against Bolivian president 

The Associated Press
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Published: October 9, 2006
        

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CARACAS, Venezuela Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez warned of a
U.S.-backed plot to topple his close ally, Bolivian leader Evo Morales. 
 
The U.S. government "is not going to give Evo a honeymoon. A
destabilizing plan is already under way to impede Evo from governing,"
Chavez said in a televised speech Monday. 
 
"First to impede him from governing so that the Bolivian people will
become disenchanted," Chavez said. "And later, to topple him." 
 
U.S. officials have in the past denied that they are planning coups
against either Chavez or Morales. 
 
Chavez's allegation comes after a report Sunday in Bolivia's El Mundo
newspaper alleged that a coup against Morales was planned for this week.

 
The report, which claimed that Chilean military officers and government
opponents from recent mining disturbances were involved, cited unnamed
sources in the Bolivian government. It was written by Heinz Dieterich, a
professor at a Mexican university and sometimes adviser to Chavez. 
 
"A military coup is like a bank robbery: It only works if it can
conserve the element of surprise," Dieterich wrote. "This time, the
Bolivian subversives have lost." 
 
The Venezuelan leader has suggested previously that Washington was
linked to moves to undermine the government of Morales, accusing it of
having a hand in hotel bombings and protests earlier this year.
Meanwhile, Morales claimed in May that the United States was plotting to
assassinate him. 
 
Bolivia faced violent clashes between rival groups of miners last week
and earlier strikes in several states across the country, and Chavez
called that recent unrest part of a conspiracy against Morales. 
 
Chavez also claimed the U.S. was behind a resolution introduced by a
Bolivian opposition party in the Senate Monday to declare Venezuelan
Ambassador to Bolivia Julio Montes "persona non grata" after the
diplomat made comments recently that Venezuelans were ready to protect
Morales' government "with lives and blood." 
 
The Podemos party characterized Montes' comments as Venezuela's
readiness to intervene in the domestic affairs of Bolivia. 
 
Chavez said the U.S. government has used the fight against cocaine
trafficking to increase its military presence on the continent and
accused it of seeking an "excuse" to overthrow Morales, who is pushing
to decriminalize the coca plant, the main ingredient in cocaine. 
 
Relations between Bolivia and Washington have been mired in mutual
suspicion, and since Morales took office in January, cooperation between
the two countries' military has all but disappeared. Previously, U.S.
troops held joint exercises with Bolivian soldiers and once created,
trained and equipped an elite Bolivian anti-terrorism unit. 
 
In contrast, Morales has quickly forged close ties with Chavez, signing
a series of military, energy and other cooperative pacts. An unknown
number of Venezuelan military personnel are already serving in Bolivia,
while Venezuelan state oil company employees are also working in the
country. 
 
 
CARACAS, Venezuela Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez warned of a
U.S.-backed plot to topple his close ally, Bolivian leader Evo Morales. 
 
The U.S. government "is not going to give Evo a honeymoon. A
destabilizing plan is already under way to impede Evo from governing,"
Chavez said in a televised speech Monday. 
 
"First to impede him from governing so that the Bolivian people will
become disenchanted," Chavez said. "And later, to topple him." 
 
U.S. officials have in the past denied that they are planning coups
against either Chavez or Morales. 
 
Chavez's allegation comes after a report Sunday in Bolivia's El Mundo
newspaper alleged that a coup against Morales was planned for this week.

 
The report, which claimed that Chilean military officers and government
opponents from recent mining disturbances were involved, cited unnamed
sources in the Bolivian government. It was written by Heinz Dieterich, a
professor at a Mexican university and sometimes adviser to Chavez. 
 
"A military coup is like a bank robbery: It only works if it can
conserve the element of surprise," Dieterich wrote. "This time, the
Bolivian subversives have lost." 
 
The Venezuelan leader has suggested previously that Washington was
linked to moves to undermine the government of Morales, accusing it of
having a hand in hotel bombings and protests earlier this year.
Meanwhile, Morales claimed in May that the United States was plotting to
assassinate him. 
 
Bolivia faced violent clashes between rival groups of miners last week
and earlier strikes in several states across the country, and Chavez
called that recent unrest part of a conspiracy against Morales. 
 
Chavez also claimed the U.S. was behind a resolution introduced by a
Bolivian opposition party in the Senate Monday to declare Venezuelan
Ambassador to Bolivia Julio Montes "persona non grata" after the
diplomat made comments recently that Venezuelans were ready to protect
Morales' government "with lives and blood." 
 
The Podemos party characterized Montes' comments as Venezuela's
readiness to intervene in the domestic affairs of Bolivia. 
 
Chavez said the U.S. government has used the fight against cocaine
trafficking to increase its military presence on the continent and
accused it of seeking an "excuse" to overthrow Morales, who is pushing
to decriminalize the coca plant, the main ingredient in cocaine. 
 
Relations between Bolivia and Washington have been mired in mutual
suspicion, and since Morales took office in January, cooperation between
the two countries' military has all but disappeared. Previously, U.S.
troops held joint exercises with Bolivian soldiers and once created,
trained and equipped an elite Bolivian anti-terrorism unit. 
 
In contrast, Morales has quickly forged close ties with Chavez, signing
a series of military, energy and other cooperative pacts. An unknown
number of Venezuelan military personnel are already serving in Bolivia,
while Venezuelan state oil company employees are also working in the
country. 
 
 

 
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