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 by:
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, Walter Lippmann,
George Ciccariello-Maher, Al Campbell, Kirkpatrick Sale, Chesa
Boudin, 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
Sweden – Eva Björklund,
Anki Ahlsten
Norway – Marta Sánchez
New Zealand – Grant Morgan,
Vaughan Gunson, Mike Treen
South Africa – Ighsaan Schroeder