Clashes in the streets of Cochabamba leave 2 dead

Clashes in the streets of Cochabamba leave 2 people dead while mayor abandons the city


The streets of Cochabamba were once again the scene of clashes between social movemenents and supporters of the unpopular mayor. Peasants, natives, cocaleros (coca leaf growers) and independent groups have been protesting since the beginning of the week demanding the renunciation of mayor Manfred Reyes Vila. After violent repression during a march on Monday, the movements remained in the central square ("September 14") for a vigil. Vigils are also being held in other squares in the central area.

On Thursday, January 11, a march of the mayor defenders penetrated the police blockade in the center of the city and struck tens of demonstrators of the social movements with baseball bats, sticks, firearms and knives in an attempt to resume control of the square, September 14, where city hall is located. The police advanced using tear gas, which provoked violent clashes. There is a growing number of injured people. So far there are approximately 115 injured and two dead: cocalero Nicomedes Gutiérrez, of the Chimore Central, killed by a gunshot and Cristian Urresty, of the group Youths for Democracy, killed by strangulation.

Manfred, the mayor, abandoned Cochabamba the same morning the clash was announced, and took refuge in a hotel in La Paz. That afternoon, during the confrontations, a meeting was carried out with the mayor's allies in the cities Benji, Tarija, Santa Cruz, La Paz and Cochabamba. They agreed they would not establish a dialogue with the federal government and they would carry out actions in solidarity with the Cochabamba mayor. At night, the federal government announced that during the clash three persons were detained with firearm, all connected to the Civic Committee of Cochabamba and that the "intolerance and lack of negotiations" on the part of Manfred resulted in the serious social conflict. The social movements called for another march for Friday, January 12, in the central square of Cochabamba.

www.indymedia.org

UPDATED: 10:30, January 12, 2007
Bolivia's former defense minister arrested on corruption charges

Bolivia's former Defense Minister Fernando Kieffer was arrested on Thursday on charges of embezzling more than 1 million U.S. dollars from public funds, according to news reports reaching here.

A spokesman for the Supreme Court told media that the Attorney General had ordered for the arrest. Kieffer will be moved to La Paz, from Sucre, where the court is headquartered.

Kieffer is charged with making a deliberate overpayment to Panagra Air, as part of an aircraft purchase during the 1997-2001 presidency of Hugo Banzer.
(snip/...)

http://english.people.com.cn/200701/12/eng20070112_340595.html



Former monster right-wing dictator Hugo Banzer, Fernando Kieffer, Banzer & Aznar

Here's a review of Banzer's illustrious career, to remind you of what kind of national leaders our right-wing Presidents have been installing and supporting in Latin America:

COLONEL HUGO BANZER
President of Bolivia

In 1970, in Bolivia, when then-President Juan Jose Torres nationalized Gulf Oil properties and tin mines owned by US interests, and tried to establish friendly relations with Cuba and the Soviet Union, he was playing with fire. The coup to overthrow Torres, led by US-trained officer and Gulf Oil beneficiary Hugo Banzer, had direct support from Washington. When Banzer's forces had a breakdown in radio communications, US Air Force radio was placed at their disposal. Once in power, Banzer began a reign of terror. Schools were shut down as hotbeds of political subversive activity. Within two years, 2,000 people were arrested and tortured without trial. As in Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil, the native Indians were ordered off their land and deprived of tribal identity. Tens-of-thousands of white South Africans were enticed to immigrate with promises of the land stolen from the Indians, with a goal of creating a white Bolivia. When Catholic clergy tried to aid the Indians, the regime, with CIA help, launched terrorist attacks against them, and this "Banzer Plan" became a model for similar anti-Catholic actions throughout Latin America.
(snip/)

http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/US_ThirdWorld/dictators.html