Bolivian Leader and Rival Talk in Wake of Violence
By REUTERS
Published: September 13, 2008
Published: September 13, 2008
LA PAZ, Bolivia (Reuters) — President Evo Morales held talks with an opposition rival on Saturday, after a wave of political violence killed 15 people and prompted Mr. Morales to declare martial law in the remote province of Pando.
Mr. Morales called the talks with Mario Cossío, the governor of Tarija Province, which is rich with natural gas, to try to defuse a bitter power struggle with regional governors who are opposed to the president’s socialist reforms and who want a bigger share of energy resources for their regions. Mr. Cossío represented three other governors who refused to attend.
“We have fulfilled the objective of opening talks, and let’s hope that in the coming hours this turns into a sustained process of dialogue which results in a pact to resolve problems in the framework of national reconciliation,” Mr. Cossío told reporters after the meeting.
Fabián Yaksic, vice minister for decentralization, said that the talks had touched on a host of divisive issues, including the distribution of royalties from natural resources and a new pro-indigenous constitution that Mr. Morales is pushing. The governors want greater autonomy for their regions, and they blame Mr. Morales and his supporters for the recent violence and sabotage on gas pipelines.
Antigovernment protesters continued to block roads in eastern areas on Friday, causing fuel and food shortages in the opposition-led city of Santa Cruz. Officials said protesters had destroyed or set fire to about 30 public buildings.
The violent protests, which have drawn expressions of concern from neighboring countries, forced the authorities to cut exports of natural gas to Argentina and Brazil, though supplies were later resumed at a nearly normal level.
The worst violence occurred in Pando Province in the Amazon region, where the government declared martial law late Friday. Officials said at least 15 people, mostly pro-government farmers, had been killed in clashes with backers of the opposition regional governor.
There was no immediate independent confirmation of how the people had died; aid workers planned to travel to the site of the killings on Saturday, the Red Cross said.
Mr. Morales, who won a recall referendum in August with 67 percent of the vote, said that his administration was willing to talk with its opponents but that reaching a final deal would be difficult.
Mr. Morales called the talks with Mario Cossío, the governor of Tarija Province, which is rich with natural gas, to try to defuse a bitter power struggle with regional governors who are opposed to the president’s socialist reforms and who want a bigger share of energy resources for their regions. Mr. Cossío represented three other governors who refused to attend.
“We have fulfilled the objective of opening talks, and let’s hope that in the coming hours this turns into a sustained process of dialogue which results in a pact to resolve problems in the framework of national reconciliation,” Mr. Cossío told reporters after the meeting.
Fabián Yaksic, vice minister for decentralization, said that the talks had touched on a host of divisive issues, including the distribution of royalties from natural resources and a new pro-indigenous constitution that Mr. Morales is pushing. The governors want greater autonomy for their regions, and they blame Mr. Morales and his supporters for the recent violence and sabotage on gas pipelines.
Antigovernment protesters continued to block roads in eastern areas on Friday, causing fuel and food shortages in the opposition-led city of Santa Cruz. Officials said protesters had destroyed or set fire to about 30 public buildings.
The violent protests, which have drawn expressions of concern from neighboring countries, forced the authorities to cut exports of natural gas to Argentina and Brazil, though supplies were later resumed at a nearly normal level.
The worst violence occurred in Pando Province in the Amazon region, where the government declared martial law late Friday. Officials said at least 15 people, mostly pro-government farmers, had been killed in clashes with backers of the opposition regional governor.
There was no immediate independent confirmation of how the people had died; aid workers planned to travel to the site of the killings on Saturday, the Red Cross said.
Mr. Morales, who won a recall referendum in August with 67 percent of the vote, said that his administration was willing to talk with its opponents but that reaching a final deal would be difficult.
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