Bolivia to defend coca leaf at UN

Last Updated: Monday, 10 March 2008, 12:58 GMT

Bolivia to defend coca leaf at UN

Bolivian officials at a conference on illegal drugs in Vienna are planning to ask the UN to remove the coca plant from its list of dangerous drugs.
The UN's International Narcotics Control Board has called on Bolivia to ban coca chewing, and the use of the plant in products such as tea.

Bolivia says such a ban would be an attack on its culture.

Analysts say much of Bolivia's coca harvest goes into cocaine, making it the world's third-largest producer.

Bolivian outrage

Bolivians call coca "the sacred leaf".

They say it has been used by indigenous peoples for centuries to alleviate hunger and tiredness, for medicinal purposes and in religious rituals.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7287439.stm

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Too late now! Condoleeza Rice already accepted a charango from Evo Morales,
with coca leaves decorating its front, and not only did she accept it, but
she STRUMMED the damned thing! Caught her dead to rights!