Chile’s Neighbors Step Up Relief Efforts

March 3, 2010

Bolivia, Peru, Argentina, and Ecuador are showing a display of solidarity with Chile in the aftermath of the February 27 earthquake.  On Tuesday, Bolivian President Evo Morales said he would donate half of his salary to aid Chile, and called for a five-day campaign in Bolivia to raise funds for earthquake relief in Haiti as well as in Chile.

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Evo Morales and His Coca Vision

January 12, 2010

The Coca-Cola Company must not be happy about this: a new soft drink is hoping to someday make its way into the American market, and what's worse, it basically has the same name, except for an extra “l.” Bolivian President Evo Morales has been talking about the drink for years, and this month, his vision was finally materialized under the name "Coca Colla" printed on a red label.

The choice for the name is no accident. Coca leaves are the main ingredient, and colla (or kolla, in both the Quechua and Aymara languages) are the people of the Andean highlands where coca has been chewed for centuries. Once upon a time, Coca-Cola's recipe called for five ounces of coca leaves per gallon of syrup. But these days, coca is more often identified with being the main ingredient of the drug, cocaine.

As a former coca grower and union leader, Morales has repeatedly tried to put an end to coca's negative association. “We're for the coca leaf, but against cocaine,” said Morales at a UN summit on drugs last year. “The coca leaf should no longer be vilified and criminalized.” Coca has been consumed in raw form in the Andes for as long as people have inhabited the region. It is considered a sacred plant that is believed to cure altitude sickness, hunger and dizziness, and its use and importance in Bolivian traditions goes beyond what most outsiders see. Coca is legal only within Bolivian territory.

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Weekly Roundup from Across the Americas

January 6, 2010

From the Americas Society/Council of the Americas. AS/COA Online's news brief examines the major—as well as some of the overlooked—events and stories occurring across the Americas. Check back every Wednesday for the weekly roundup.

Sign up to receive the Weekly Roundup via email.

Fernández Pushes for New Central Bank Head

Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner has sought to replace Central Bank Governor Martín Redrado after he turned down a presidential order to use $6.6 billion in reserves to pay off debt. Former Central Bank head Mario Blejer was named as a potential replacement. However, Redrado rejected the notion that he will resign and said that, according to the Bank’s charter, the decision to dismiss him lies with the Argentine Congress.

Buenos Aires Mayor Announces Presidential Bid

Mayor of Buenos Aires Mauricio Macri announced intentions of a 2011 presidential bid this week. A member of the conservative Propuesta Republicana (PRO) party, Macri hopes to face Néstor Kirchner in a second round and insists the former president “could never win” a one-on-one election.

Looking Back on Washington’s 2009 LatAm Policy

Writing for the State Department’s Dipnote blog, Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Arturo Valenzuela reflects on U.S. engagement in the Americas during the first year of the Obama administration. After recounting Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s visit to Mexico in March and the launch of the Inter-American Social Protection Network, Valenzuela concludes “2009 has been an exciting year in terms of our relationships—both bilaterally and multilaterally.”

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Evo Morales Re-elected In Bolivia, MAS Party Wins Senate Majority

December 7, 2009

Bolivian President Evo Morales was elected for another five-year term on Sunday, winning 62.5 percent of the national vote and 78.5 percent in La Paz. With the previous constitution prohibiting consecutive re-election, it is the first time in 45 years that a Bolivian president will serve two consecutive terms. The runner-up, Manfred Reyes Villa of the Plan Progreso Bolivia-Convergencia Nacional party (PPB-CN), won 27.6 percent of votes nationally and 9.4 percent in La Paz.

The governing party, Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS) also obtained a majority of seats in the senate. Having won 24 seats, MAS now controls two-thirds of the chamber and has senators in regions that have traditionally opposed the president. The government has announced that its new senate majority will allow it to accelerate reforms. The first legislation that will be introduced on December 12 is a Federal Autonomy law (Ley Marco de Autonomía) that will shape the legal framework for the autonomy status of the nine departments, the region of Gran Chaco and 11 autonomous indigenous municipalities.

Morales announced today that under the terms of the 2009 constitution, which permits re-election to one additional term, this constitutes his first election: "If we talk of the new constitution... this is the first election of Evo Morales," he argued. Voters will return to the polls on April 4 for municipal and departmental elections.

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U.S.-Bolivian Relations Move Closer Toward Normalization

November 4, 2009

At a press conference yesterday, Bolivian Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca spoke of diplomatic relations between the United States and Bolivia, announcing that the two countries have negotiated “a new framework of mutual respect,” which is expected to be signed in La Paz, Bolivia, at the end of the month. Choquehuanca did not indicate any plans to reinstate their ambassadors, but said they are working on “issues related to political dialogue, trade, the fight against drug trafficking, and cooperation.”

Diplomatic relations between the two countries have been strained since Bolivian President Evo Morales expelled U.S. Ambassador Philip Goldberg last September on charges of conspiracy. The United States responded by ousting Bolivian Ambassador Gustavo Guzmán the next day.

Under the auspices of the U.S.-Bolivia Dialogue, the two countries met in La Paz in May and in Washington DC last week. The Bolivian delegation is led by Foreign Minister Choquehuanca and Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs Maria Otero heads the U.S. talks with Bolivia. A few days after last week’s Washington meeting, President Morales commented that he hopes the two countries can come to an agreement, but the new relations will happen “if there is cooperation from State to State, and if embassies complete their work diplomatically and not politically.”  

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Paraguay Expresses Alarm over Recent Bolivian Arms Purchases

August 31, 2009

The Paraguayan government requested a bilateral meeting with Bolivian authorities on Saturday to discuss Bolivia’s recent announcement that it will purchase up to $100 million in military equipment with credit from Russia. The deal, which is reportedly for helicopters, airplanes and other military equipment, was announced on August 12 by Bolivian defense minister Walker San Miguel.

Bolivian officials have repeatedly contended that the arms purchases pose no threat to its neighbors, yet its decision to expand its military capacity has even caught the attention of the U.S. which last year tried to block a Bolivian arms purchase from the Czech Republic.  In response, the Morales administration responded to U.S. actions by expressing his intention to instead purchase similar equipment from Chinese or Brazilian suppliers.

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Peruvian President Suspects Secret Maritime Accord between Bolivia and Chile

August 25, 2009

President Alan García of Peru announced on Monday his belief that Bolivian President Evo Morales has successfully negotiated an “under-the-table” maritime deal with Chile that will grant sea access to the landlocked republic. The announcement provoked swift denials from both governments and is the latest development in the acrimonious diplomatic relationship between Bolivia and Peru. Chilean foreign minister Mariano Fernández called Mr. García’s allegations a “provocation” against Chile, but also expressed a commitment to settling the dispute peacefully.

According to a treaty dating back to 1929, Peru is permitted to approve any future bilateral agreement between Bolivia and Chile that pertains to ocean access that would require the use of territory that Peru lost to Chile in the War of the Pacific in 1884. Bolivia’s efforts to secure sea access have intensified in recent years as it has sought new markets for its expanding natural gas exports.

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Letter Bomb Attacks Leave Seven Seriously Injured in Bolivia

August 13, 2009

Two separate explosions on Wednesday afternoon left seven people injured in La Paz, including Armonia Colque, wife of opposition leader Fidel Surco and two police officers. Although no one has officially claimed responsibility for the attacks, President Evo Morales has voiced his belief that the bombings were carried out by the “neo-liberal right” as part of a strategy to disrupt Bolivia’s December elections. Although both attacks were undertaken using letter bombs, authorities have not yet established a connection between the incidents.

Ms. Colque’s husband, Fidel Surco, who is a leader of the Consejo Nacional del Cambio (Conalcam) political party, denied President Morales’ comments and claimed that the attacks were in fact the start of a “dirty war” intended to terrorize social movements and opposition figures at the beginning of the general elections campaign. This sentiment was echoed by presidential candidates Manfred Reyes Villa and Samuel Doria Medina, who also denied opposition involvement in the attacks.

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Bolivia: De Cara A Las Elecciones Presidenciales

August 13, 2009

Después de las relativamente tranquilas celebraciones del Día de la Patria en Bolivia, la atmósfera empieza a cargarse de nuevo ante la proximidad de las elecciones presidenciales previstas para diciembre. Las encuestas mencionan a candidatos como el ex vicepresidente aymará Víctor Hugo Cárdenas, el alcalde de Potosí René Joaquino, los ya conocidos políticos Samuel Doria Media, Jorge “Tuto” Quiroga y Manfred Reyes Villa, y el empresario cruceño Oscar Ortiz. También se baraja el nombre de la politóloga Jimena Costa, una de las críticas más lúcidas del gobierno actual.

Sin embargo, todo parece indicar que Evo Morales tendrá la victoria asegurada. Pese a los esfuerzos de la oposición, las encuestas señalan que Evo todavía convoca el apoyo abrumador de la región andina del país, donde la mayoría de la población es indígena—81 por ciento de los votos en El Alto, 66 por ciento en La Paz, 52 por ciento en Potosí y 50 por ciento en Oruro, según el sondeo de julio realizado por Ipsos. A eso se le suma el hecho de que en algunos departamentos de la opositora “media luna” Evo llega al 30 por ciento en intención de voto, hecho de por sí notable. 

La oposición no ha conseguido organizar un frente unido; por el contrario, se ha dispersado entre varios candidatos con poco peso político. Samuel Doria Medina, empresario cementero, es el único que pasa del 10 por ciento. Esto parece la historia de Blancanieves y los siete enanitos (Evo, claro está, sería Blancanieves). Según las encuestas, si la oposición presentara un candidato único, podría llegar a una votación del 48 por ciento, lo cual muestra por un lado la polarización del país y por otro, la urgencia que tienen los partidos que se enfrentan a Evo de encontrar un candidato de consenso.

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Drop Seen in Brazil's Demand for Bolivian Natural Gas Imports

July 28, 2009

Brazilian imports of natural gas from Bolivia have fallen steadily from a high of 31.5 million cubic meters per day at the end of 2008, to 25 million earlier this month and now to only 21 million cubic meters daily. Hydrocarbon sales, which have dropped almost 20 percent, are widely considered Bolivia’s “engine of growth.” But even amid lowered natural gas exports, Bolivia’s National Statistics Institute reported last week that the economy grew at a rate of 2.1 percent in the first half of 2009.

Among the reasons cited for the decrease in demand are increased domestic gas production in Brazil, the recovery of water levels for hydroelectric dams in southern Brazil and the completion of two liquefied natural gas (LNG) re-gasification plants capable of receiving LNG from global exporters. Historically, when Brazil’s gas purchases have fallen, Bolivia has tended to sell more gas to Argentina. This time, sales to Argentina appear to be holding steady. Brazil is contractually obligated through 2019 to purchase a minimum of 20 million cubic meters daily.

Also notable is an increase in recent months of Bolivian imports of liquefied natural gas despite abundant domestic gas reserves. Analysts indicate that this is likely a consequence of inadequate investment in downstream infrastructure—a result of the hydrocarbon nationalization process began by the administration of President Evo Morales in 2006.

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Plan Advanced to Grant Bolivia Sea Access Through Uruguayan Ports

July 15, 2009

On Monday, Bolivian President Evo Morales met with Uruguayan President Tabaré Vázquez in Montevideo to negotiate an agreement that would provide Bolivia with access to the Atlantic Ocean in exchange for the use of Bolivia’s natural gas resources. The deal will give free port privileges to Bolivia in Nueva Palmira—a key port on the Paraná River— and Montevideo.

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Bolivia Seeks to Re-Establish Relations with Peru

June 18, 2009

On a visit to Colombia yesterday, Bolivian Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca said that Bolivia would seek to re-establish formal diplomatic ties with Peru as soon as possible.  In a statement, Mr. Choquehuanca attributed the change of stance to popular demand saying, “Our peoples want harmonious relations...government officials must obey our peoples’ wishes.” A deterioriation in relations led to Peru recalling its ambassador to Bolivia on Tuesday.

This was in response to comments earlier this week by Bolivian President Evo Morales, describing the Peruvian government’s response to recent unrest in the Amazon as a “genocide” caused by free trade.  Prior to recalling its ambassador, Peruvian Foreign Minister José Garcia Belaunde labeled Mr. Morales “an enemy of Peru.”  Other Peruvian officials have suggested that Bolivia was interfering in Peru’s domestic affairs by actively inciting protests by indigenous groups that have so far left at least 34 people dead.

A warming of the rhetoric between the two Andean neighbors could be a first step toward improving the bilateral relationship which some experts believe “has never been so bad.”

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Weekly News Roundup from Across the Americas

May 27, 2009

From the Americas Society/Council of the Americas. AS/COA Online's news brief examines the major—as well as some of the overlooked—events and stories occurring across the Americas. Check back every Wednesday for the weekly roundup.

Sign up to receive the Weekly Roundup via email.

White House Chooses First Hispanic for SCOTUS

On Tuesday, President Barack Obama announced his choice for a Supreme Court justice to replace David Souter, picking the first Hispanic judge in history to be selected for the highest court in the United States. Sotomayor, whose credentials include three decades in the field of law and 16 years as a federal appeals judge, is from the South Bronx and of Puerto Rican descent. Pundits suggest that her ethnic background could serve as an obstacle for Republicans fighting her confirmation. Read AS/COA analysis about the nomination.

The Houston Chronicle’s Immigration Chronicles blog points out that several media outlets made the mistake of saying Sotomayor was born to immigrant parents. Puerto Ricans have been U.S. citizens since 1917.

AS/COA’s Christopher Sabatini joined PBS’ Worldfocus to talk about the historic nature of Sotomayor’s appointment, as well as how Latin America is receiving her nomination.

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Daily Focus: U.S. and Bolivia Attempt to Improve Relations

May 21, 2009

Thomas Shannon, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs arrived in Bolivia yesterday to meet with President Evo Morales and his foreign minister, David Choquehuanca.  This visit follows an agreement made at the Summit of the Americas between U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Mr. Choquehuanca to reduce tensions and increase dialogue between the two nations. 

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