Bolivia:
The Imminent Coup
By Antonio Peredo
Leigue
12 September, 2007
Bolivia
Rising
Together
with their conspiracy to “kill the Indian shit”, there are
rumours of a coup, already prepared, and requiring only one or two pretexts
to justify its execution. The insistence on an uncontrolled inflation
could not be missing; the transnationals make use of this to declare,
with a lot of sincerity, that they will invest when the signals of economic
insecurity disappear in the country
If we look at reality, none
of this is consistent. There are not the conditions for either of these
things to occur; in reality, for all of these things to occur, because
they want these events to occur one after the other. It is the domino
theory, so liked by CIA “intelligence”: it’s enough
to knock down one piece for the rest of them to come tumbling down.
But in their plans, there
is one fact that we can [1] not ignore: they are attempting to repeat
a lie, until it becomes true. It’s just that, after hearing a
rumour enough times, we end up not giving any importance to it, which
allows the rumour to continue spreading without it being denied. We
get tired of denouncing it as false and it is allowed to continue propagating.
Because there are groups, those that have economic power, who believe
these rumours; even worse, they contribute to making them reality
Assassination plan
That a leaflet is circulating
call on people to kill President Evo Morales, is something we registered
more than a year ago. This could be a simple repeat, no more important
that the previous ones. It has all the same elements found in the other
ones: brazen proposal, inciting hate, shameless lies. But something
different attracts our attention: simultaneously, thousands of printed
copies have been circulated, they have reached a number of other emails
and they were sent to the police and military commands. This seems to
indicate that this time, the stakes are higher.
If their aim was to assassinate
the president, they would not be spreading it so widely. What they are
aiming at is for security measures to be increased; with this they are
attempting to provoke strong reactions and, if possible, that there
be a victim.
In these circumstances, the
rest of the plot could begin to unravel. The consequences? It does not
matter what they are. The most important thing for them is to recuperate
their privileges.
Preparations for the coup
A coup, as Bolivian history
has demonstrated, would only be just one more statistic. No one would
be frightened of it happening in this country, with its history of so
many bloody events.
At least that’s what
the plotters believe, or at least try to believe. They don’t want
to take into account the international reaction which would condemn
them. Or, perhaps we are overly optimistic? Really, are we sure that
there would be an indisputable repudiation by the whole world? At least
in Latin America? Would some governments from neighbouring countries
be content with a declaration?
Even if we maintain our conviction
that there would be a reaction by all the countries, we do not rule
out the possibility of a coup. If this occurs - eliminating undesirable
elements - the coup plotters could show their repentance and ask for
forgiveness, convoking immediate elections. That way everything remains
in peace, democracy is “reinstalled”, the “Indian
shit” disappears and the mega banzerista [1] returns to government
No one should rest on their
laurels!
Inflation as cost
But the plan does not finish
there. Given that the elites did not rob the national treasury during
all this time, they could do it now, hand over fist. The justification
is already being sung: the government of Evo Morales is responsible;
they left the fiscal chests empty.
We would then see the elimination
of the measures of change implemented up until now, one after another.
The social organisations would be left decapitated. The simple formula
of “terrorism by decree” would serve to condemn those who
oppose this.
Should we continue? The story
could be long, but those that are interested can go and read history.
Awake and vigilant
It is not a waste of time
to do this recount. Nor is it due to fear or resignation. Its purpose
is to alert those, such as the majority of the people, who are committed
to this process of change.
The question of autonomy
and the shifting of the seat of government are banners to agitate, but
not with the aim of satisfying demands, reclaims or yearnings. They
are trying to maintain a tense climate in order to create a cauldron
in with they can continue to cook up their dark plan.
We can not allow them to
carry this out. We should not fall into their trap. It is important
to maintain calm. A vigilant calm.
Antonio Peredo Leigue is
a senator for the Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) in the Bolivian congress.
He was the MAS vice presidential candidate in 2002, when Evo Morales
can a close second in the elections.
Translated from MAS website
Notes
[1] the spanish version spells
we can in capitals, a play on the word podemos, a Spanish word which
translates as “We Can”, and which also the acronym of the
main opposition party, PODEMOS, Poder Democratico Social or Social Democratic
Power in english
[2] Refers to General Hugo
Banzer Suárez who lead a violent coup on August 22, 1971 against
the progressive military government of J.J. Torres. Banzer was in power
until 1978, and was subsequently elected president of Bolivia in 1997.
His vice president was Jorge “Tuto” Quiroga, current opposition
leader of PODEMOS.
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