MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Killings and havoc further disrupt the Bolivian situation

Morales pull out the army in spite of continue rioting

At least nine people were killed as violent anti-government protests mounted in Bolivia on Thursday, creating havoc in its natural gas industry and increasing tensions with the United States.

Armed clashes broke out between rival protesters in the region of Pando while opponents of President Evo Morales occupied government buildings in the opposition stronghold of Santa Cruz for a third day. Government officials blamed the deepening unrest on "rightists and separatists" who control five of the country's nine regions and are demanding a greater share of energy resources and more autonomy from the central government. "What started out as a violent attack against the State is becoming a violent internal conflict fomented by the regional governors ... of several regions" claimed Deputy Interior Minister Ruben Gamarra said. He said two of the dead were pro-Morales peasant farmers who were "attacked with firearms" by officials from the opposition-led local government, one of whom was also killed. The chaotic situation forced Bolivia to cut exports of natural gas to Argentina when protesters took over a control station along a pipeline, Bolivia's state oil and gas firm YPFB said. "The pipeline was closed by YPFB technicians for security reasons after protesters took over the pumping station in the city of Yacuiba" said a spokesperson at YPFB. The closure affected at least one million cubic meters a day that Bolivia sends to its southern neighbor. Damages to a pipeline to Brazil, which the government blamed on protesters, also cut natural gas shipments to Brazil on Wednesday. Morales Bolivia's first elected indigenous president has blamed US Ambassador Philip Goldberg for the escalating protests and ordered him on Wednesday to leave the country. "The ambassador of the United States is conspiring against democracy and wants Bolivia to break apart" said Morales, who took office 2006. US State Department called Morales' decision to expel Goldberg a "grave error" and said relations were "seriously damaged." Goldberg was still in Bolivia on Thursday, but a spokesman in Washington said he was expected to leave soon. In the southern Tarija region, which holds over 80% of the country's natural gas reserves, several people were hurt when pro- and anti-Morales groups fought with sticks and stones. Bolivia is the poorest country in South America and its economy is heavily dependent on natural gas. Brazil is Bolivia's biggest foreign investor and half of its natural gas needs are met by Bolivian imports. Argentina is the other main customer of Bolivian natural gas. The conflict in Bolivia stems from a power struggle between Morales and the governors of regions in eastern and central provinces with vast natural gas reserves and rich farmland. Since taking office, Morales has channeled more state revenues and given more power to his Indian power base in western Bolivia, accentuating a rift with the mixed race population of the east. A referendum is scheduled for December to ratify constitutional reforms that would giver more power and wealth to the poor provinces. Meantime from Washington the Organization of American States Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza deplored the rioting in Bolivia and praised the "prudence" of President Evo Morales government. "These groups have shown a clear attitude of provocation and aggression", but the prudent actions of security forces under instructions from the government "have impeded worst incidents", said Insulza. He added the Bolivian situation was "extremely delicate" and said the resource of violence was not acceptable "even when claiming autonomies". The OAS Security Council called on all sides to return to the dialogue table and Insulza anticipated that the Group of Country Friends of Bolivia (Argentina, Brazil and Colombia) has reiterated its willingness to help reestablish dialogue.