MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Bolivia’s Morales yields to Amazon Indian protests and scraps plan to build highway
President Evo Morales said Friday that he was scrapping plans to build a highway through a nature reserve in Bolivia's jungle lowlands, bowing to public pressure after a two-month protest march by Amazon Indians. Read full article
Comments
Disclaimer & comment rulesFinally Morales is listening to his people again. Hopefully, this is his pivot back towards the groups who put him in power.
Oct 22nd, 2011 - 04:26 pm - Link - Report abuse 0So, I guess Morales will be recompensing in full the Brasilians and Brasil who put the big bucks into the programme.
Oct 22nd, 2011 - 08:36 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Yes, I know - some chance!
Even the insurance package for non-completion may be found to be null and void, using the 'acts of the gods' clause.
“Time to plan the new route west, guys - and watch out for renegade indians. This Reservation ain't the big enough for the both of us”
......
It's a bugger being the biggest cock on the block.
Everybody thinks they can piss on you because you'll be real nice, being too 'developed' to piss back.
@ Geoff... Morales left the door open to the highway being relocated to avoid the indigenous reserve, so I expect to see a new location for the road.
Oct 22nd, 2011 - 09:24 pm - Link - Report abuse 0You seem to imply (“This Reservation...”) that the residents of the reservation should have no say about the road. Is that what you believe? That's a real question.
Listening to the people and having the courage to amend( amend Geoff) plans and proposal in response to objections on social and cultural grounds is not a small thing alongside insurance claims and other financial losses, it is a massive gain for humanity and democratic government.unfortunately it might frustrate some non indigenous people hopes of a bright future exploiting others.
Oct 22nd, 2011 - 11:05 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Well said, Yuleno! Thank you.
Oct 23rd, 2011 - 12:03 am - Link - Report abuse 0Hi, guys,
Oct 23rd, 2011 - 12:29 am - Link - Report abuse 0I've no 'go-to-the-limits' point of view on these matters, but I bundled up four perspectives in a bit of light-heartedness.
The issues are complex and there is a powerful human dimension where an unusual outcome makes a huge contrast with similar (though largely historical) route-creations through reservations in the USA.
It will be interesting to see how this pans-out, long-term.
Hurry up, Evo! You're losing the 3 competitors narco race!
Oct 23rd, 2011 - 12:32 am - Link - Report abuse 0Peru has just surpassed Colombia as worlds biggest cocaine provider, Bolivia is losing path as the third one (with the failed drug port you wished to have for free from Chile and now your own people denying the pass to “the other side”.
Bolivia needs to compensate Brazil as much as nato nation need to compensate Libya for droping bombs on them, will they ?? lets wait and see. it would be good if people applyed the same rules for everyone rather then having one for the natives and one for the occupyers, and relax people the cocain will always come as log as the mighty $$$$ and the weapons keeps coming.
Oct 26th, 2011 - 05:36 am - Link - Report abuse 0Bolivia - for its own reasons - has broken a contract with BNDES and private (Brasilian) companies, not with an occupying force.
Oct 26th, 2011 - 08:54 am - Link - Report abuse 0Normal compensations should be appropriate, not least because much of the money comes from the ordinary Brasilian tax-payer.
The opportunity cost is high because the potential gain was so great; peace with 'the natives' comes at a high price for Bolivia.
Well, honestly said... the ones to blame are also the brazilians, which were too naive in believing Morales government would keep promises.
Oct 26th, 2011 - 03:37 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Also a reason why Brazil tried to lobby in favour of Bolivia in regards for a solution towards a sovereign bolivian port via chilean soil.
Burnt fingers are burnt fingers.if you put them in a hot pie it must be for easy pickings.who would be the loser either whoever had the pie or the one with burnt fingers.I'm sure brazil has two hands,the Yanquis will help if there's a cut
Oct 26th, 2011 - 04:44 pm - Link - Report abuse 0It's clear from the various comments, all with interesting perspectives, that the issue of the road is very complex. I, for one, am glad that Morales didn't force this road on the local population who had very good reasons for not wanting it. It is a rare win for the rights of local communities over the desires of the financial elite, no matter which country the elite live in. Not all so called “progress” is in fact real progress for those in the aim of the bulldozers.
Oct 26th, 2011 - 06:21 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Good postings, guys.
Oct 26th, 2011 - 06:39 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I'm really enjoying a 'proper' discussion (unlike most others that get over-heated and rude).
Glad you are enjoying a discussion Geoff.I'm really pleased for you.I'm also very pleased for the indigeous population that at least one state government values it's relationship with it's citizens enough to represent them.that it gives you an engrossing discussion is great.ps indigenous in this context is equivalent to your use of the words Indian and native but with a respect for their rights in their space yes?
Oct 27th, 2011 - 02:06 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Yul,
Oct 27th, 2011 - 07:17 pm - Link - Report abuse 0you will note that I try to put all 'indian' and 'native' bits in quotes - flagging the loose use of terminology that other posters are using.
My use of the term 'renegade indians' was referring to John Wayne and the Wild West of Hollywood.
Seriously, I am acutely aware of the glaring dilemmas pulling at the president; I do not envy him!
Commenting for this story is now closed.
If you have a Facebook account, become a fan and comment on our Facebook Page!