Bolivia, 2001

Bolivia, 2001        Home 

The Situation in Bolivia: 

A Campesino Protest on the Altiplano

Copyright: Jim Ciotti, 2001 

July 24, 2001

Click on Map for Enlargement

Just now a political crisis is looming in Bolivia. It has its immediate origins with the protests of Campesinos (peasants; in this case, the protesters are primarily from an indigenous ethnic group called the Aymará who live to the east of Lake Titicaca in the northern half of the Department of La Paz.) Even before we left for Bolivia, we heard rumblings that vehicles were being stopped and rocks were being thrown on highways in the region. By the time we’d arrived, the roads to Copacabana, the major resort city on Lake Titicaca, and to the region east of the lake were closed. It is difficult to know exactly what the protesters really want or will settle for, but through their leader, Felipe Quispe (a.k.a. "Mallcu," the Condor) they are demanding that Bolivia adopt an Inca flag; that all statues of Bolivar and Sucre (heroes of Bolivia independence) are replaced with those of Inca heroes. They want offensive laws be changed. They want the Catholic and Evangelical Christian churches out of their territory. …and finally, they want an independent Aymará/Quechua (the Quechua is Bolivia’s other major, indigenous ethnic group) state.

Initially, the group appeared to be well unified behind Felipe Quispe but relatively isolated and operating on its own. However, everyone in Bolivia is political and organized; there are unions and associations representing every interest imaginable, and unlike many places where they serve as vehicles muster and control party support, in Bolivia, these organizations operate autonomously and with lightening spontaneity. Roadblocks and general strikes are the two most common ways they express themselves – many feel such actions are the only way of being heard.

Furthermore, just now, there is a general malaise in the country. The population is growing and there are more mouths to feed. The economy is in bad shape. There is high unemployment, poverty, dissatisfaction, and unrest – conditions that can easily spur protest and activism. When we were here in December 1999, truck drivers blocked the roads to all the major cities to protest gasoline prices. The following fall, the Coca Growers closed the roads between Cochabamba and Santa Cruz to protest the US/Western inspired "drug" interdiction program (this requires more discussion but…Coca is an indigenous crop that has been used in the Andean highlands for thousands of years without ill effect.) This spring, a "water protest group" formed in Cochabamba and closed the city down over the mismanagement of a government water project.

Thus, last weekend, the campesino protest began to receive support and people started to pay attention. Leaders of the coca growers and water protesters publicly rallied behind Mallcu - students joined the fray. Many of the Aymará and Quechua living in El Alto voiced support the campesino cause. This is important because virtually all roads between La Paz, the nation’s capitol, and the outside world pass through the El Alto and the majority of its population have roots in the Quechua/Aymará hinterland. (El Alto is mushroom city of 700,000 that has sprung up on the lip of the Altiplano overlooking the capitol.)

The roadblocks began moving closer to La Paz – campesino groups began to mobilize – military units were moved into the region from other parts of the country - minor confrontations occurred between the Army and groups of campesinos - roads down into the city itself were blocked for short periods of time - traffic disruptions occurred between La Paz and Oruro (the Oruro road was La Paz’s last remaining land connection with the outside world) - the Coca Growers vowed to close the road between Cochabamba and Santa Cruz.

Further complicating matters, Bolivia is having a government/ruling party crisis at the vary time when it needs to be cohesive and strong. The country’s president, Hugo Banzer, is in Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, DC. He has cancer of the lung and liver. The fact that vice-president, Jorge Quiroga, is young and resented by the old guard of the ruling party (the ADN, Acción Nacional Democratica) has caused intra-party spatting and made succession an issue. While bed-ridden Banzer refuses to step down, poles suggest that most think he should resign (an admittedly unrepresentative pole taken yesterday suggests that 82% want him to resign.) Today, an association of Cochabamba business leaders called for his resignation. Editorials have accused the government of attempting to cover up the gravity of Banzer’s condition in order to avoid handing the reins of government to Quiroga. They suggest that the constitution is being flouted.

Early last week, with tensions mounting, the Catholic Church and the Bolivian Human Rights Commission stepped in trying to defuse the situation. Tentative talks were arranged, but failed to materialize when impasses occurred due incompatible demands. Seeming agreements were formulated but not signed because face-to-face arguments erupted. Finally, on Thursday, July 19, with the help of intermediaries, the government and the campesinos signed an agreement to hold talks. As a part of the agreement, there is now a ten-day truce – traffic has returned to normal. What happens on the 31^st is anyone’s guess.

Ciao,

Jim (and Anne)

Bolivia, 2001        Home