MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Repression, use of force risk worsening Bolivia crisis: UN human rights chief
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights is urging authorities in Bolivia to ensure security forces comply with international standards on the use of force following the deaths of at least five protestors on Friday. Read full article
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Disclaimer & comment rulesAnd what is the self-appointed Bolivian government doing meanwhile?
Nov 17th, 2019 - 06:41 pm - Link - Report abuse -3Taking penal responsibility out of the shoulders of the army for any consequence of its repressive action on Bolivians.
This latest coup d'etat has taken Latin America, where democratic practices were laboriously been built, back half a century to the time when the U.S. and their local associates decided which governments could stay in place and which ones had to go.
I loved the fact that the Democratic government is expelling all the Cubans...
Nov 19th, 2019 - 12:27 am - Link - Report abuse -1Chicureo, that's more proof of their bad intentions. An unelected interim government has no mandate to make changes in these policies - that were chosen by voters. If they were truly democratic or willing to put their country first, they'd concentrate on building cooperation, ending the violence and arranging free and fair elections. But fat chance of the right ever doing that in Latin America.
Nov 19th, 2019 - 10:18 am - Link - Report abuse 0DemonTree
Nov 19th, 2019 - 09:56 pm - Link - Report abuse 0There were several citizens from Cuba and Venezuela that were involved in some VERY undemocratic actions against Bolivia and were thankfully expelled.
With all due respect: You'll eventually see that your views will be on the wrong side of history.
And the Cuban doctors? They were involved in the subversive activity of treating people's health problems? Can't let people's lives and health get in the way of making an ideological point...
Nov 20th, 2019 - 07:57 am - Link - Report abuse 0As for being on the right side of history, how about we make some predictions? The economy in Bolivia grew considerably under Morales and poverty has fallen drastically. So what d'you reckon for the next few years? Stormy with a chance of IMF loan?
In other news, we got the keys to our big new house in the country yesterday. I'm not sure we can really afford this, but my partner really wanted to move out of town.
DemonTree
Nov 20th, 2019 - 03:24 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Sincere congratulations of your new country home. I hope your commute time is not that long or difficult.
I have no problems with Cuban Medical doctors providing care for the Bolivian people. However, you might like to refer to numerous reports about the true contributions they actually have made.
There is no doubt that the Morales government was nothing like the Maduro situation, but you clearly fail to understand that he had overstayed his constutional mandate.
Anyway, as a Chilean, I have a prejudiced view against Morales.
Thanks, my commute is only a few minutes longer, although the road is pretty bad. A lot of areas round here are flooded after 3 months of endless rain. I suspect it might be impassable if we get a proper snowfall. Didn't you say you were also getting a new home?
Nov 20th, 2019 - 04:10 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Supposing Jack was right and the Cubans not as qualified as regular doctors, they are still better than nothing. At least in Brazil they had some kind of plan to replace them, but in Bolivia they haven't bothered at all. And even the Torygraph says Añez is overstepping her role by cutting relations with Vz and withdrawing from regional blocs. They published an article yesterday linking the protests in Boliva and Chile.
Besides that, I wasn't talking about Morales but the likely performance of this new government. Now they are in power I doubt they will allow themselves to lose the next election, and suspect the OAS won't be quite as zealous about checking this time around...
By prejudice, do you mean you think a right-wing government won't bother pressing Chile to negotiate sea access with Bolivia?
DemonTree
Nov 21st, 2019 - 12:12 am - Link - Report abuse 0Good to hear your commute is not that challenging. I personally always prefer the countryside. I hope you enjoy your new place.
My home in Chicureo remains the same, however Madam Lafarge and I are in a serious disagreement about the new apartment in Viña del Mar. I was quite comfortable with the old apartment and its furnishings, but she who must be obeyed wants better security, a larger apartment, an unobstructed spectacular view of the Pacific and totally new modern furnishings. (Thankfully, I've been 'allowed' to move some favorite furniture to our old farmhouse in the Aconcagua Valley, but I really dislike changing apartments.)
I tried to stand my ground, but realized I far preferred domestic tranquility...
As far as Bolivia, you're correct that all of their political parties will be antogonistic towards Chile, but sincerely I feel the populace will benifit with a newly democratically elected president. The interm president is a mere bookmark and I would not be surprised if Morales illegally retakes power.
...Bolivia has such a tragic history...
I like the countryside, but I've found living in town much more convenient in being able to walk to the pub or the shops, catch trains and just get things done quickly. We did pretty well with our previous house, because it's right on the edge with fields on two sides, but only 15 minutes walk to the station and town centre. Plus it has a nice view over the valley. New house also has a view and a large garden which I wanted, but it's nearly twice as big which is maybe a bit excessive. We will need more space soon, just not that much...
Nov 21st, 2019 - 03:53 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Sounds like you can get the best of both worlds if you have 3 homes! It's a shame you couldn't agree on the apartment, but sometimes you just have to compromise. TBH I'd have preferred waiting a few more years to move but you have to keep your SO happy.
What sort of modern furnishings are we talking about? The minimalist kind that look like art but aren't comfortable?
Re Bolivia, if they could elect someone decent they probably would benefit, but judging from how the opposition have acted since they gained power they're more likely to get some idiot who wants to bring back the bad old days. And the members of Morales's party who might run have mostly resigned/fled the country/been threatened with jail, so there's not much hope from that side even if they don't boycott the whole thing. Unfortunately I think the chances of a fair election are now even lower than when Morales was still in charge. Plus the way things have gone the first priority of whoever wins will be to crush the opposition and undo any changes they made, and that is no way to create a functioning country.
DemonTree
Nov 21st, 2019 - 05:39 pm - Link - Report abuse 0You'll find the extra space well worth the move. I personally fell in love with English gardens and I'm sincerely envious of your situation. If you might remember, I have had the pleasure to stay for extended periods on assignment in your country, especially the village of Chicksands in Bedfordshire while assigned to the HMS Ferret.
The new apartment is one of those glass towers along the seaside that Madam Lafarge personally selected. The furniture is comfortable, but Architectural Digest modern. I personally dislike it, but as you say: “compromise” She plans to have it all ready for a New Years celebration.
As far as to Bolivia, I personally think it was unwise that interm President Anez did not include some indigenous representation into her ministerial cabinet. Her current situation is very uncertain...
Yeah, it'll be good to have more space, and I'm looking forward to doing something with the garden. It's mostly lawn at the moment and it's nice to have a blank slate to start from. Plus it's flat! I'm planning some vegetable beds in the corner and one of our friends is donating his old greenhouse. It's just kinda extravagant and I feel a bit guilty cause one of my sisters is still in a one-bed flat in London and they have a second baby due at Christmas. It's a nice flat for London, but they're the ones who really need more room.
Nov 21st, 2019 - 09:03 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I remember you saying you'd stayed in England and suffered atrocious weather. You were unlucky to get that in summer, but it's all flooded again now: https://www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk/news/local-news/amazing-images-floods-near-newark-3491217 . Luckily our house is on higher ground than that town. We can't afford new furniture right now, but really it's better to find something you both like, and same with the decor. I prefer slightly more traditional stuff, but we can usually agree on something. We also wanted to be ready for a combined New Year/housewarming party, but I don't think it's going to happen.
Is your new apartment as nice as the one Lula went to jail for? I can't help thinking he lived pretty modestly for someone who supposedly stole millions...
As for Bolivia's new president, she could have done a lot of things better. Kept out of foreign policy, told the police and military they would be prosecuted if they used excessive violence against protesters, ensured protection for politicians and their families, and tried to arrange a deal with MAS to ensure fair elections ASAP. Calling elections is basically her one job, and they still don't even have a date. If her situation is uncertain, a lot of that is her own fault.
DemonTree
Nov 21st, 2019 - 11:39 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Forgive me for presuming, but in my opinion you'll greatly appreciate the vegetable garden. It's better than any tranquilizer or therapist. Even the weeding is better than meditation and the rewards are especially delicious. Late Fall is an ideal period to plan and start preparation of the soil. - A hothouse gives you an enormous ability for diversity. Bonne chance!
The new apartment is architecturally spectacular and I imagine it will be certainly ideal for watching the fireworks display as it has an enormous covered terrace.
...I have no idea of Lula's infamous apartment, but I imagine it's fabulous...
Yeah, I've enjoyed gardening even though some of my attempts worked out better than others. My broccoli got eaten by caterpillars, and the carrots turned into weird mutant things. On the other hand the strawberries have to be prevented from invading the lawn and I keep finding potato plants growing in the border. I've grown some nice peppers in the conservatory, too. It's a shame avocado trees aren't hardy enough to survive a British winter.
Nov 22nd, 2019 - 01:49 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Don't think we'll have time to do anything before the new year, there's not many weekends till Christmas and we'll be busy sorting out the house. Getting the greenhouse up is a priority because I have some plants that live in the conservatory at the moment that can't go outside.
It was you saying you had a farmhouse in the countryside as well as an apartment by the sea that made me think of Lula; he had the same and went to jail for them. Though come to think, Lula never actually owned either. I saw 'his' triplex when those protesters from the MTST invaded and filmed it. Hard to get a real idea in an empty flat, but it was underwhelming. I expect Madam Lafarge has decorated yours a lot better, and I hope the fireworks are great. You've certainly got better weather for being out at midnight watching them, even if it's not as dark as in winter. (I could never get used to Christmas in summer, though.)
Finally, something my colleague pointed out today:
Express 28th Sep: “Labour’s minimum wage plan could cost you YOUR job and send unemployment soaring”
https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1183556/labour-party-general-election-policy-jeremy-corbyn-prime-minister-minimum-wage
Express 4th Nov: “Boris Johnson’s plan to raise wages across the country receives huge boost from expert”
www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1199992/boris-johnson-conservative-party-general-election-minimum-wage-raise-sajid-javid
Labour's plan was for a £10 minimum wage, and Boris's £10.50. This kind of crap is how the whole Brexit debacle happened...
DemonTree
Nov 22nd, 2019 - 09:11 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The secret to successful gardening is planning and preparation. Mother Nature however is a real bitch...
I cannot imagine New Year in Winter... Fireworks over Valparaiso harbor on a Summer night is wonderful. The place however that I love the most, is our old adobe farm house in the Aconcagua Valley. Living in Viña was originally because of my military service and Chicureo because of convenience, but the farm was always a part of my heritage. Today, Viña is a place to get away from the madness... Now it's become Madam's showcase... again, the importance of compromise...
As far as minimum wages, really it can be misleading. Compensation should be evaluated by performance and overall working conditions. I think Boris' £10.50 proposal is just political rhetoric, but a brilliant counterpunch... I certainly hope the impass can be resolved without Labour taking control, but certainly the conservatives have failed to lead.
New Year at midsummer sounds like fun, but it would be weird for me having the dates change then. What's it like celebrating Christmas in summer? In BA the shops had fake snow etc in the windows, it's such a winter-based festival it seems very awkward to hold it in hot weather.
Nov 23rd, 2019 - 11:17 am - Link - Report abuse 0Maybe you can just spend more time at the farmhouse in future, since that's your favourite place. Do you do any gardening yourself or is it just stuff you know from having a farm?
UK minimum wage is £8.21 right now, so that's quite a jump. Boris is not trustworthy though, he might raise the minimum wage but I doubt he'll keep his promise on the NHS and he's all too likely to sell us out to America. In 9 years the Tories have run the NHS (and a fair few other things) into the ground; I'm surprised people here aren't out on the streets too. But I don't want Corbyn to be PM either, damn him. He should have stayed as a backbencher, he was good at calling out government hypocrisy and acting as a conscience for the Labour party, but he's not doing a good job of leading it.
Right after the referendum, one of my friends asked if I could pay £1000 to magically change the result, would I? We both said yes... now I'd be willing to give a lot more to change it. So far it has meant years ignoring all the serious problems in the country while our parliament fights each other and makes us look incompetent. And this is just the beginning!
DemonTree
Nov 23rd, 2019 - 09:21 pm - Link - Report abuse 0My wife and I celebrated the holiday season in Ottawa when I was assigned there as a military attaché. It was remarkable to understand how all the traditions of the Northern hemisphere made sense, and why really it's impracticable to do what we do in Chile. (Madam Lafarge really loved Canada as she wildly observed they were far more polite than the Americans and payed attention to their French heritage.)
The societal problem about Chile is that almost everything revolves around Santiago. It would be nearly impossible to comprehend not having a home in the metropolitan area and that's why Chicureo is ideally located to quickly commute to the farm or to Viña. My children best described our family life as gypsies as we routinely move as a part of our normal lifestyle.
If I had to only live in one place however, it would be at the farm. There are trees there that were planted by my ancestors and the roof beams of the house are hand hewed beams from wood used as ship ballast during the California gold rush.
As far as gardening, it's a family affair we adore and nothing is more pleasurable than enjoying your harvest at the table. We do have help to maintain both family gardens at our home and at the farm, of which a lot of the produce is shared.
Regarding the political/economic/societal situation of your country, I hope they find common cause to unite and prosper without allowing the country to polarize diametrically. My hope is that they do improve the NHS and pension benefits for your country, but to also promote economic growth. I agree that Corbyn would be a disaster. I'm unimpressed how the USA could possibly improve the NHS, because they themselves have a disaster, with costs out of control and no clear defined solution.
Canada must be a nice place to celebrate Christmas since it always snows there. What do you do in Chile? I heard Australians like to have a barbecue on the beach. I wanted to have my birthday in Argentina so it wouldn't be dark, cold and miserable for once, but it was too expensive to go that week. The English Midlands is an equivalent latitude to Punta Arenas in Chile, and I bet you wouldn't want to spend winter there.
Nov 24th, 2019 - 11:03 am - Link - Report abuse 0Re Santiago, it's the same here, everything revolves around London. Difference is that housing in London and within commuting distance is insanely expensive as a result, and our governments' short-sighted policies have made it even worse. Having half the housing bought up by shady holding companies and Russian oligarchs, forcing families to cram into tiny spaces and ordinary people to spend hours commuting to work is not actually good for the country or economy. How does the cost-of-living in Chile compare? Those minimum wages I saw quoted seem awfully low, I don't know how anyone could live on that.
Trees planted by your ancestors and ancient beams sounds really cool. It's a different world for sure. Did you have a maid to help in your home when you were growing up, too?
As for the UK, I'm pretty resigned to a bad outcome. Of course the US is only interested in profiting from the NHS, as their companies already do from their own sick people. That's to be expected in a trade deal, and why we should not put ourselves in a vulnerable position. It's a shame people are so easily manipulated to believe they can have anything they want without consequence. The only thing I can hope for is that it doesn't affect us personally too much.
DemonTree
Nov 24th, 2019 - 03:38 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Canada was nice for a change, but we prefer the warm evening celebrating at midnight on the 24th with a family dinner. We don't normally barbecue like the Australians for Christmas, but definitely do for New Years.
We shuttle back and forth to the Aconcagua Valley during that week as we have social obligations there, plus we are in the height of the farming activities. That's why our family has always enjoyed snow skiing, because it's season is when nothing important is going on.
Housing is definitely far cheaper in Chile. The wealthy areas of Santiago starter homes begin at a half a million dollars, but a decent middle class apartment in an upscale neighborhood can be obtained at about 200k. Food costs are lower, but utilities and transportation are just slightly below yours. In a poor neighborhood, a government subsidized apartment can be purchased for about 30k, but there is a very long waiting list.
For a social welfare standpoint, the decision by our former President to embrace/encourage the tremendous influx of non-Latin American immigrants has certainly hurt the job opportunities of the less advantaged unskilled worker class. This has resulted in high unemployment (or underemployment) with depressed wages.
It's been an advantage for farmers using a seasonal workforce, because there is no competition nor incentive to pay above the minimum wage. In building construction, you see the same for workers as there is an oversupply of day-laborers depressing their compensation. It's bad for my countrymen, but it's a sad reality.
I should note that, the influx of Venezuelans has been a boon for Chile as many are well educated and skilled. They have generally been very successful and well received.
Regarding maids: Chile is going through a gradual transition. I grew up with nannys, maids and gardeners. Even the lower middle class had one. Today, upper middle class families still have part-time maids and gardeners, but far less.
I hadn't even thought that Xmas would be in the busy season for southern hemisphere farmers. It's not an accident that it was chosen to hold it in winter in Europe.
Nov 24th, 2019 - 11:36 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Chile does not sound particularly cheap, it's not surprising people are unhappy, especially with lesser government services like health. As for maids, I've thought for a while that it's not the existence of rich people that allows for servants, but of very poor ones. Either in the same country like in Brazil and Chile in the past, or in nearby ones, like Hong Kong where they have special visas for foreign domestic helpers. When a country gets richer the poorest people can get better jobs and the nannies, maids and gardeners disappear. It happened a lot longer ago in the UK, even well off people will just have a cleaner coming in once a week and maybe pay someone to mow the lawn. I don't know anyone really rich IRL, though. What counts as upper class in Chile? I read an article that said members of Piñera's cabinet mostly went to the same 6 schools and came from a few famous families.
As for immigrants, I understand the Venezuelans, but why did Bachelet encourage Haitians? Isn't it usually 'business friendly' presidents who want to maintain a cheap workforce?
DemonTree
Nov 25th, 2019 - 01:31 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Yes, it's very inconvenient that the holiday season coincides with the harvest. That's also why my entire family are avid snow skiers.
For the lower middle class, the income inequality has been particularly hard upon them, but if you carefully study the poverty statistics you'll see that the percentage of those living in poverty has steadily declined over the past four decades.
You're correct about Piñera's cabinet being educated at 6 schools. Typically a student attends the same school K thru 12 and it determines his future success in society as well as business. THINK has a clear understanding of how the system works, including something very similar in Argentina.
You may remember, my family was nearly financially ruined in 1973 and is why I enthusiastically accepted a scholarship to the Naval Academy. Chile was seriously threatened by Argentina and graduates from the Chilean British school (The Grange) had a gold ticket as Chile needed to closely align with the UK.
The reason why Bachelet allowed an enormous influx of Haitians into Chile is because she has always used the UN as her alternative career. Taking an unwanted, unskilled and uneducated large number of immigrants greatly improved her status at the UN, but was a dagger to the backs of the underprivileged Chilean workers.
In Chile's case, the socialists that have always been promoted as being the champions of the worker class, have actually been the enemy by not only increasing unemployment, but also depressing opportunities/wages/labor union bargaining.
As far as domestic help, it's still very common for the upper middle class, but nothing like it was 30 years ago. A full time maid makes far more than the minimum wage as they are many times considered a part of the family.
From a business standpoint, we avoid taking advantage of paying low wages due to the current oversupply of labor because it causes deep resentment with our traditional workforce. Socialists are hypocrites.
Things aren't so different here; 2/3 of Boris's cabinet went to private schools, and that's higher than May's or Cameron's. Social mobility has only got worse over the last 30 years, and it's notable how many people in top professions went to private schools - where fees are unaffordable for ordinary people. It's not just that they get a better education but also the contacts, help with applying to Uni, etc. Even Corbyn went to a private school. I reckon your own story shows how useful it is: it didn't stop your life being turned upside down by events outside your control, but it was a big help with rebuilding it. Would you have gone to university if Allende wasn't elected? And is your school one of the six? The article didn't name them. As for Think, he's part of that system too, boasting about how he went to the same school as ministers and pretending insider knowledge of everything.
Nov 25th, 2019 - 05:35 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Re Bachelet, if that was her plan then it obviously worked. I guess this was after the earthquake in Haiti, which Chile might well have sympathy for. And the Economist wrote an article saying she was right about the need for reforms, as the ongoing protests show. Perhaps if she had been able to push through more of them all this unrest could have been avoided? It's ironic that now Piñera's government is the one making the most radical changes in a generation.
Full time maids still sound like something out of an Agatha Christie book to me. In some ways Latin America is like looking back into Europe's past, with the social and religious attitudes too, but things are changing slowly. I just hope the opposite isn't true...
DemonTree
Nov 25th, 2019 - 09:18 pm - Link - Report abuse 0One thing about Piñera is that he's a self made billionaire, sincerely lives without scandal and really wants a prosperous opportunities for all Chileans.
If Allende had not been elected and Pinochet had led a military coup d'état, it's really hard to imagine what had happened... but certainly my destiny would have taken a very different trajectory. (Certainly not in the signals corps nor avocados...)
I would have somehow entered a university although my family would have been greatly burdened to partially support me. They would have however, because our family has always emphasized the importance of education. Tuition costs here for the best schools is outrageously expensive and difficult to gain admissions. I was fortunate that my parents sent me to one of the best schools in Latin America.
Of my professional career, only a small percentage was devoted to the navy full time, as I was a reserve officer for over half my commission. The family business has always been a primary focus and school connections have made all the difference, especially in financing. Family reputation does mark generations both positively, as well as negatively.
There is an old saying that the scar tissue is tougher than the skin it replaces and it resonates to many families I'm my country.
I agree with your conclusion that THINK definitely went to one of the elite schools also. I don't agree with his politics, but admire his intellect.
Regarding domestic help... It's a double edged sword, but it certainly allows a very comfortable style of living. (When I was stationed in England and Canada, we did without help and enjoyed the freedom, but having assistance is really a necessity when living in three places. (The garden of the home in Chicureo is a half hectare and the farmhouse is over a full hectare.) There is a constant dust problem alone, living in a Mediterranean climate, that requires cleaning.
Have a great week
Piñera must be a rare beast if he truly lives without scandal. I'm afraid he's not coming out of this situation too well, though.
Nov 26th, 2019 - 12:54 am - Link - Report abuse 0It's weird thinking of the different paths our lives could have taken, but you'd probably still have ended up in the family business, right? Or did you have different ambitions when you were young? Maybe you could have gone into politics! I'm sure your parents would have sent you to university if they could, it's a pity it's not free in Chile.
Did you meet people from different backgrounds in the Navy? My grandfather-in-law was in the army and he said the most unlikely people became friends, but they had conscription then so it was a real cross-section.
Your garden is huge, everything is so cramped here. I bet planning rules are looser in Chile, but Chicuréo is not a cheap area. If I was rich I'd buy the mansion that's for sale in a village nearby, it has a few acres and a river at bottom of the garden. And I wish we could afford a cleaner, we both hate doing housework but the privacy thing is off-putting.
Re Think, all very well having intellect, but it's not much use if you're too lazy to use it. I used to think better of him, but he turned out to be more interested in protecting his ego than being honest. It's disappointing.
Have a good week yourself.
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