BOLIVIA: Thousands protest for nationalisation

Time for another round of violence in Bolivia?

Mass protests are shaking Bolivia, forcing interim President Carlos Mesa to back down from his threat
not to authorise any new bills until his hydrocarbon law was passed, unamended and without
discussion.

Mesa had claimed that the "yes" vote in a July 18 referendum on the future of the gas industry gave him a
clear mandate for his bill, despite voters not being offered the option of nationalising the industry (which
81% of Bolivians support).

The nationalisation of the gas industry, and the boost to public spending that it would enable, has been so
passionately fought for by Bolivia's poor that in November it toppled President Gonzalo 'Goni' Sanchez de
Lozada, in what is called the "gas wars". The referendum, pitched as improving the wealth-sharing from
gas, was Mesa's attempt to placate both big business and the populace.

Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) leader Evo Morales, a prominent leader of the Cocalera movement
of impoverished cocoa growers, has accused Mesa of moving towards a centre-right alliance with the
neoliberal Movimiento Nacionalista Revolucionaria (MNR), and Movimiento de la Lzquerda
Revolucionaria (MIR). These two parties were the ruling coalition under De Lozada.

Green Left Weekly

another true freedom fighter like hugo chavez, truly risking his own life for the poor.

we even did it in Iraq.

it to be done.