Hugo Chavez urged Evo Morales to keep fighting and condemned the right-wing prompted coup in Bolivia, stating, “Resist, Evo ! We are with you!”
People are dying in Bolivia in what is a struggle for power over resources, and in the end, profits. Historically, the non-indigenous elite in Bolivia has controlled natural gas operations and revenues. When Evo was elected, he promised to rewrite the constitution and install policies that would feed revenues back into the country. Nationalizing various resource sectors was a cornerstone in his campaign. From my experience in Bolivia, supporters feel that Evo’s administration is far from perfect. However, Evo’s indigenous identity and socialist policies act as a glimmer of hope for the majority of citizens (many indigenous) that live in Latin America’s poorest country. I believe that Evo represents a paradigm shift currently taking place in many Latin American countries. The elite in Bolivia as well as the United States perceive this shift as a threat. In their minds, it will take control away from multinational corporations, international financial institutions, and the Bolivian citizens who make a financial killing from selling Bolivian land, labor, and the environment on the cheap. If indeed a coup in Bolivia is successful, the US will surely be one of the biggest benefactors. For the Bolivian people, on the other hand, a coup will ensure that the current cycle of poverty persists. US citizens often fail to recognize the direct connection between the two countries. By supporting US policies in Bolivia that ensure the status quo, individuals directly benefit from Bolivian citizens living without adequate food supplies, access to education, health, water and other basic services. Although Bolivia seems a world apart from our lives in what is the richest nation in the world, it is closer than we think. Our policies and subsequent profits from Bolivia’s resources directly affect the lives of Bolivian people.
