Cocaine plants to be legalised by the first home-grown President

Cocaine plants to be legalised by the first home-grown President
From Tom Hennigan in La Paz




FIVE centuries of white rule in Bolivia have ended with the election of the country’s first indigenous head of state.

Evo Morales, of the Movement towards Socialism (MAS), won more than 50 per cent of the vote in Sunday’s election, far outstripping all predictions. In his unprecedented first-round victory he left his nearest rival for the presidency, the pro-US Jorge “Tuto” Quiroga, more than 20 percentage points behind. Addressing Bolivia’s main indigenous groups during his acceptance speech, Señor Morales, who is an Aymaran Indian, said: “I want to say to the Aymaras, Quechuas, Guaraníes and Chiriguanos that for the first time we are going to be President.” Thousands took to the streets to celebrate. Su pporters crammed into trucks and drove around La Paz chanting “Evo to the palace, Tuto to Washington”.

Señor Quiroga, a former IBM executive, conceded defeat once it became clear that the margin of Señor Morales’s victory was such that the traditional parties would be unable to overturn it by a vote in Congress. In Bolivia, if no candidate passes 50 per cent plus one vote in the initial round the decision passes to Congress.

Señor Morales built his campaign on a promise to break the power of the European elite that has run Bolivia since independence from Spain in 1825 and which is seen by many as having ransacked the country’s vast mineral wealth and left its people impoverished.

Señor Morales has pledged to nationalise the country’s huge gas reserves and call a constituent assembly to write a new constitution that will reflect the indigenous majority. Ethnic Aymara and Quechua people make up a majority of the 9.3 million population.


http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-1943771,00.html

Democracy at work in Bolivia

Coca is not cocaine. The leaves of the coca plant have been used in the Andean culture for thousands of years. Cocaine is the purified extract of that plant. Coca leaves are medicinal and help with altitude sickness. No more buzz than a half cup of coffe or less. Also good for stomach problems and will quell hunger pains and provide energy when food is in short supply. About as addictive as tea or weak coffee.

Saying that Quiroga is legalizing cocaine plants is absurd.

One must really torture a coca leaf to get it to "cocaine."

South America is moving left because, after decades, the U.S. has proven its rightist policies are toxic to indigenouse peoples and the citizenry of South American nations in general.

Send the Yankees and the Euros packing! I hope Morales has a really good body guard, because the murderous, fascist US kills people for this kind of thing...

it must be exciting to have a significant change for the better in their government. I wish I knew what it was like!

part of the article:

'The most significant source of confrontation in a country that has seen virtually no dialogue between the poor majority and the small but powerful elite could be the flight of capital. Fewer than 4,000 people control 80 per cent of all deposits. Gilberto Hurtado, an economist, said: “The financial system doesn’t share Evo’s vision and you cannot be President without a financial system .”'

4,000 people hope to have a veto on Morales so they can keep their wealth - they will create an economic crisis if it is 'threatened'.

to relieve the effect of high altitude for centuries.

And cocaine is PROCESSED -- something that was introduced by the European invaders.

Jerk headline writer -- he should be water boarded. (Just kidding -- I don't like torture or violence of any kind.)

Bolivia must be like the Willy Wonka factory of drugs!