Bolivia - US Prepares a Civil War

[QuitTheirClogs]

Bolivia: Is Evo in Danger after the August 10 referendum ? The US prepares a civil war

by Michel Collon; Global Research, August 10, 2008
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=9785

All the ingredients are ready to blow Bolivia apart... The dollars of the CIA, plus the experts in provoking civil wars, plus the fascists recycled as businesspeople. A civil war that would serve the interests of the multinationals, but that international public opinion must absolutely prevent. The Bolivians have the right to decide their fate themselves. Without the CIA.

Behind the rightwing, the United States prepares a civil war

It is the new tactic of the United States. Finding themselves unable to win a war of occupation, Washington is resorting to indirect war, war by proxies. Currently, strategy of Washington is to try to foment a civil war in Bolivia. For that, the provinces controlled by the rightwing and which contain the greater part of the oil and gas reserves along with the large agricultural properties tied to the transnationals, these provincial regimes are multiplying their provocations to prepare to secede.

Having personally studied the secret actions of the great powers to break up Yugoslavia (1), I made a point of drawing the attention of the Bolivians, during some interviews: today, Washington will try to transform their country into a new Yugoslavia.

Here are the ingredients needed for this deed: 1. Massive CIA investments. 2. An ambassador specialized in destabilization. 3. Experienced fascists. With these ingredients, you can prepare a coup d'etat or a civil war. Or both.

First ingredient. As in Venezuela, the CIA is investing a lot in Bolivia. Through its usual covers: USAID, National Endowment for Democracy, Republican International Institute, etc. The right-wing separatist organizations are abundantly subsidized. USAID, for example, financed Juan Carlos Orenda, adviser of the extreme right Civic Committee of Santa Cruz and author of a plan envisaging the secession of this province.

But they also support the more discreet organizations charged to sow confusion and to prepare an anti-Evo propaganda. At the University of San Simon of Cochabamba, the Thousand-year Foundation received $155,000 to criticize the nationalization of gas and defend neoliberalism. Thirteen young Bolivian right-wing leaders were invited for training in Washington: $110,000. In the popular districts of El Alto, USAID launched programs "to reduce the tensions in the zones prone to social conflicts." Read: to discredit the left.

In all, millions of dollars have been handed out to all kinds of organizations, student groups, journalists, politicians, judges, intellectuals, businesspeople. The Spanish Popular Party, around Jose Maria Aznar, takes part in these operations.

Second ingredient. Where does Philip Goldberg, the current ambassador of the United States to Bolivia, come from? From Yugoslavia. Where he accumulated a rich personal experience in how to split a country apart. From 1994 to 1996, he worked in Bosnia for Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, one of the strategists of disintegration. Then, he stirred up conflict in Kosovo and fomented the split between Serbia and Montenegro. An expert, you could say.

And not inactive. As the Argentinian journalist Roberto Bardini tells it: "On June 28, 2007, a 20-year-old U.S. citizen, Donna Thi of Miami, was held at the airport of La Paz for trying to bring into the country 500 45-caliber bullets that she had declared to customs were 'cheese.' Waiting for her at the terminal was the wife of Colonel James Campbell, the chief of the military mission of the U.S. Embassy in Bolivia. U.S. Ambassador Philip Goldberg immediately intervened to obtain her release, saying that it was only an 'innocent error.' The ammunition, he declared, was to be used only for sport and show. In March 2006, another U.S. citizen, Triston Jay Amero, alias Lestat Claudius, a 25-year-old Californian, carrying 15 different identity documents, set off 660 pounds of dynamite in two La Paz hotels." (2)

Why did the U.S. export Goldberg from the Balkans to Bolivia? To transform, I am sure, this country into a new Yugoslavia. Washington favors the method of promoting separatism to retake control of natural resources or strategic areas when governments act too independent, too resistant to the transnationals.

Third ingredient. Experienced fascists. In Bolivia, Goldberg openly supported and collaborated with Croatian-origin businesspeople in the leadership of the secessionist movement. Particularly with Branko Marinkovic, member of Federation of Free Entrepreneurs of Santa Cruz (the secessionist province). A very big landowner, Marinkovic also pulls the strings of the Transporte de Hidrocarbures Transredes (which works for Shell). He manages the 3,750 miles of oil and gas pipelines that feed out to Chile, Brazil and Argentina.

[QuitTheirClogs]

Bolivia cements Iran ties amid US dismay

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 20:43:09 GMT
http://www.presstv.com/detail.aspx?id=68188&sectionid=351020101

Bolivia's President Evo Morales says his official visit to Iran aims at raising Tehran-La Paz political relations to a much higher level.

In a meeting with Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Bolivia's visiting president pointed to the two countries' opposing stance against imperialism and said that his visit is 'a symbol of unity and solidarity among Iranian and Bolivian nations.'

"In addition to promoting political relations, this visit aims at enhancing bilateral ties in the fields of commerce, industry, agriculture, gas and oil," the Bolivian president added.

Iran-Bolivia overtures come as the United States has expressed grave concerns over the warming of relations between Iran and Latin American countries.

Tehran's gaining influnce in Latin America is meant to counter Washington's traditional influence in the region, Thomas Shannon the US assistant secretary of state for the Western Hemisphere told Reuters in May.

"The two revolutionary nations and the governments of Iran and Bolivia are natural allies and will remain supportive of one another under any circumstance," President Ahmadinejad said in his meeting with president Morales.

The United States accuses Iran of making effort to develop nuclear arms. This is while the UN nuclear watchdog has conceded the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program.

La Paz and Tehran established relations in September 2007 when signed trade and energy agreements along with a joint statement recognizing 'the rights of developing nations to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.'

Iran enjoys strong relationship with Latin American countries including Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua and Bolivia as Washington has been trying to isolate Tehran in the international arena.

Latin America has been historically in the United States' "sphere of influence".

[QuitTheirClogs]

Evo Morales orders US ambassador -- Philip Goldberg -- to leave Bolivia

[QuitTheirClogs]

The Threat of a Military Coup in Bolivia?

Paramilitary forces occupy government buildings

By Jorge Martin -- Global Research, September 13, 2008
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=10185

The situation in Bolivia remains one of confrontation between the oligarchy, backed by U.S. imperialism on the one side, and the masses who support the Evo Morales government on the other. Tuesday, September 9th, marked a high point in the reactionary offensive of the oligarchy in Santa Cruz and the other departments in the East of the country, where they control the regional prefects.

On Thursday, September 11, 9 people were killed and 50 were injured in clashes in the department of Pando.

Meanwhile, in Santa Cruz, armed gangs of the fascist Union Juvenil Cruceñista (UJC) attempted for the second night to take over the main public squares in the 300,000-strong working class neighbourhood of Plan 3000. Throughout the night there were running battles, but the UJC was repelled by the people of Plan 3000. Comrades present report that although the people in the neighbourhood heavily outnumber the UJC thugs, the problem is that the UJC are heavily armed with tear gas grenades, bullet proof vests, assault rifles, machine guns, pistols, etc.

The government's inaction and the threat of a military coup: Vice-president Alvaro García Linera correctly characterised what is happening in the country as a "civic bosses' coup" and called on Bolivians to remain vigilant to "defend democracy and national unity". The problem is that he did not explain how the Bolivian masses are supposed to "defend democracy". As we have seen in the massacre in Pando and the clashes in Plan 3000, the unarmed masses can do little against the heavily armed gangs of fascists.

Amongst the military officers, many of whom are opposed to the government anyway, there is already talk of the need for a coup to restore law and order.

In the present situation, a clear plan of struggle is needed. The COB should organise for an indefinite general strike, the holding of cabildos abiertos (mass meetings) in all cities and towns, the setting up of Popular Assemblies (committees of action), the creation of self-defence organisations based on these assemblies, call for and implement the immediate arrest of all those involved in the violent and illegal activities of the last few days, and mobilize to expropriate of the property of the oligarchy.

The onslaught of the oligarchy can only be stopped by the action of the masses in the streets, but they must be armed.

The situation is very dangerous. This is no time for words or negotiations. This is the time for action, to put an end once and for all to the power of the oligarchy. There is no time to waste.

[Disco_Destroyer]

Assassination Plans in Venezuela Obey to the Empire's Command

Date: Thu, 11 Sep 2008 12:55:04 -0430

Aristóbulo Istúriz: Assassination Plans in Venezuela Obey to the
Empire's Command

The assassination plans against the President of the Bolivarian
Republic of Venezuela, Hugo Chávez, obey to the command of the United
States empire, stated this Thursday the leader of the United Socialist
Party of Venezuela (PSUV), Aristóbulo Istúriz.

At a press conference from the PSUV head office, in Caracas, Isturiz
said that the empire's campaign is not only against Venezuela, but
also against all the countries that fight against capitalism.

He also stated that the opposition sector plan riots and destabilizing
actions against the initial stage of the academic year, against
hospitals, all of that in order to prepare the path for the coup
d'état and for the elections.

"For that reason they organized a movement for this. The 2-D movement
(December 2nd 2007, movement against the constitutional reform) is
involved on it, or do you think that those soldiers are alone?,"
IsturIz wondered.

The host of the television show "La Hojilla", Mario Silva, broadcasted
by the Venezuelan state-owned channel Venezolana de Televisión, showed
this Wednesday night a video where is disclosed a coup d'état and
assassination plot planned by former and active military men against
President Hugo Chávez.

The video presents telephonic conversations between the General of
Division of the Army Wilfredo Barroso Herrera, the Vice-admiral Millán
Millán and the General of Brigade of the Air Force Eduardo Baez
Torrealba.

They talk about taking over Miraflores Presidential Palace and they
point, as their main goal, to aim all the efforts where "the mister"
is, referring to President Hugo Chávez. "If he is at Miraflores, then
our efforts go there," one of the coup organizers says.

They also say "We are going to take over Miraflores Palace, we are
going to take over television plants. The objective must be the
same... that effort of unity has to be towards Miraflores Palace
because it is the unity of the combat."

The plans of these military men include taking control of the Army
Command Office, according to the conversations held by organizers
showed in the video. The operation is divided into three zones of the
country: Venezuela's west, east, and center.

They propose to carry out a "possible operation", while the President
is still on the air. One of the actions could be to "blow him up or
capturing him with planes while on the air... we have to plan it
well," they said.

During the conversations they say that they count with commanders,
colonels, pilots, one of them with more than 1,000 hours of flight in
F-16s, and instructors, who are willing to follow their orders.

"The pilots are the most important. There is one with more than one
thousand hours of flight in F-16 and the other one is an instructor.

They are going to take off the planes. That commander, who is
instructor, has some youngsters under his control, some captains and
majors who are also willing to follow him just if the security man of
the Libertador Base is with us," said during the conversation.

"He told me: I give you the pilots and put them inside a plane. He is
a commander. Nobody will check him. He is the commander of the police
there... " it can also be heard in the record.

Mario Silva stated that these kind of actions are the result of the
fear of some opposition sectors, in which he accused Raúl Isaías
Baduel (former Minister of Defence during Chávez's Administration) and
Alberto Federico Ravell (President of Venezuelan private TV station
Globovision), because they could lose governors and mayors election,
which will be carried out on November 23rd.

Silva said that the video was already handed to the General Attorney's
Office for further investigations.

Click on http://groups.google.com/group/vsc-international/web/assassination-pla ns-in-venezuela?hl=en
- or copy & paste it into your browser's address bar if that doesn't
work.

From: Venezuela Solidarity Campaign


Dear Colleagues,

I am writing to urgently draw your attention to a report broadcast by
the Venezuelan state-owned channel Venezolana de Televisión, on its
programme 'La Hojilla' , exposing a coup d'état and assassination plot
against Venezuela's democratically elected President Hugo Chávez.
(Please see the articles below).

I have spoken to the UK Embassy and they have confirmed that this was
a serious plot and that the Venezuelan authorities are seeking to
apprehend the perpetrators.

Please circulate this information as widely as possible and consider
how your organisations, bodies, sectors, etc can best respond in
condemnation of this attack on democracy.

We will keep you updated on developments. In the meantime please do
not hesitate to contact me should you require further information.

Best Wishes,

Gordon Hutchison

Secretary, Venezuela Information Centre

02072722654

07710956332

[outsider]

US Ambassador: 'We must interfer in Bolivian affairs,,,

http://boliviarising.blogspot.com/2008/09/us-we-must-interfere-in-boli vian.html

[Disco_Destroyer]

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez (L) greets new US ambassador to Venezuela, Patrick Duddy, at the Miraflores Palace in Caracas in this Oct. 29, 2007 file photo. Chavez on Friday gave the US ambassador 72 hours to leave the oil-rich South American country, saying the measure was a show of support for Bolivia.


Venezuela insults United States, expels ambassador
Reuters via Today's Zaman | September 13, 2008
http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=153011

Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez has thrust the OPEC nation into its worst diplomatic crisis for years by expelling the US ambassador in a growing feud between Washington and Latin America's leftist leaders.

Chavez, who calls ex-Cuban leader Fidel Castro his mentor, also on Thursday repeated a threat he has made often to cut off Venezuela's oil supply to the United States.

"Go to hell, s… Yankees, we are a dignified people, go to hell a hundred times," Chavez shouted at a political rally to thousands of roaring supporters dressed in red.

Chavez is the most radical of a growing number of leftist governments in Latin America that to a greater or lesser degree oppose Washington's traditional dominance in Latin America.

Venezuela has some of the largest oil reserves outside the Middle East and despite Chavez's clashes with the Bush administration, is a major supplier to the United States, which is its biggest customer.

Chavez said Thursday's move was made in support of his close ally President Evo Morales of Bolivia, where violent anti-government protests have killed eight people.

"The Yankee ambassador in Caracas has got 72 hours to get out of Venezuela, in solidarity with Bolivia," Chavez said.

Morales, a leftist Aymara Indian, this week expelled the US ambassador in the poor Andean nation after accusing him of instigating the protests. Chavez said Washington was behind an alleged plot by retired military officers to kill him and said it had plans to bomb him from planes marked as Venezuelan.

"If there was an aggression against Venezuela there would be no oil for the people or for the government of the United States," the former paratrooper said.

The United States has rejected the allegations by Chavez and Morales. It retaliated against Bolivia on Thursday by ordering its ambassador to Washington to leave. Chavez told his own ambassador to the United States to come home before he was thrown out.

The US State Department said it had not been officially notified of the expulsion.

Chavez was briefly ousted in a 2002 coup that was initially welcomed by Washington. Even after the coup Chavez did not go so far as to expel the US ambassador.

In a busy week even for the outspoken socialist, Chavez allowed two Russian long-range bombers to land in Venezuela and played audio tapes live on television that appeared to show military officers conspiring against him. He also cut US flights to Venezuela and warned he would support armed movements to back Morales in the event of a coup against him.

Chavez frequently calls the United States an aggressive empire and has aligned himself with Russia. Moscow is also sending warships for naval exercises later this year in its first such move since the Cold War.


---------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------

Eight killed in Bolivia clashes, US tensions rise
At least eight people were killed as violent anti-government protests flared in Bolivia on Thursday, creating havoc in the natural gas industry and raising tensions with the United States.

Opposition activists shot dead seven peasant farmers in the remote Amazon region of Pando, a government official said, describing the incident as a massacre. An employee of the opposition-led regional government was also killed.

"We're talking about a real massacre and the person responsible is the Pando governor," said Deputy Minister of Social Movements Sacha Llorenti.

President Evo Morales' leftist government blames the unrest on rightist governors who control four of the poor country's nine regions.

The opposition demands greater autonomy and energy revenue and opposes plans by Morales, a former coca farmer and Bolivia's first indigenous president, to rewrite the constitution and distribute land to the poor.

Washington ordered out the Bolivian ambassador on Thursday a day after Morales, a close ally of Venezuela's fiery leftist leader Hugo Chavez, expelled US Ambassador Philip Goldberg. Morales accused Goldberg of fanning the protests.

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said in a statement that Washington "officially informed the government of Bolivia of our decision to declare Ambassador Gustavo Guzman persona non grata." Santa Cruz Reuters
http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=138076 26&blogID=432667737&Mytoken=182C60B5-DAFE-4F97-B5E51A9B735EF4921607776 39

[outsider]

That Reuters report makes no mention of the recent assassination plot against Hugo Chavez by military officers, which was discovered and foiled.
Chavez, correctly I'm sure, blames the US for the plot.

http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/news/3792

[Disco_Destroyer]

Russian strategic bombers to fly over Caribbean Sea
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-09/15/content_10011251.htm

www.chinaview.cn 2008-09-15 17:32:21 Print

MOSCOW, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Two Russian strategic bombers will patrol over the neutral water of the Caribbean Sea amid increasing tension between Moscow and Washington, Itar-Tass news agency reported on Monday, citing a senior Air Force officer.

The two Tupolev Tu-160 are temporarily staying at the Libertador airbase in Venezuela for a joint military drill.

"The Long-Range Aviation planes will take off from the Libertador airbase and will fly for about six hours," said Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Vladimir Drik.

On Tuesday, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez who said earlier that he wanted to fly a Tu-160 strategic bomber, will meet the Russian crews at the Libertador airbase, he said.

"During the flight the crews will engage in research issues linked with the peculiarities of exploitation of aircraft equipment in the tropical climate," said the spokesman.

Moscow also said earlier this month that it would send a naval task force from the Northern Fleet to Venezuela in November for a joint naval drill.

Russia and the United States are in rows over arrays of issues, typically the Russia-Georgia conflict in August in which Georgia got supports from Washington.


Editor: Bi Mingxin

[Disco_Destroyer]

Cuba expresses support for crisis-mired Bolivian gov't
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-09/14/content_10002296.htm

www.chinaview.cn 2008-09-14 23:44:25 Print

HAVANA, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Cuba firmly supports the Bolivian government led by President Evo Morales and the brotherly Bolivian people, the Cuban government said Sunday in a statement.

The Cuban government has been paying close attention to the situations in Bolivia and maintained that the ongoing political crisis in Bolivia should be solved by Bolivians themselves, according to the statement signed by Cuban leader Raul Castro.

The statement accused the United States of meddling in the Bolivian crisis, saying other countries should respect Bolivia's sovereignty, national independence and the right to self-determination.

The Cuban statement also urged Latin American countries to unite and prevent possible damage to regional security.

Earlier in the day, Bolivia's government said the number of people killed in the eastern province of Pando rose to 28.

The toll was the latest update since violent clashes broke out between government supporters and anti-government protesters, who blocked roads, occupied public buildings and destroyed public properties to vent their discontent with Morales' social and economic policies.

On Wednesday, Morales ordered the expulsion of U.S. ambassador Philip Goldberg, saying that Washington was fanning the unrest with the aim of overthrowing his government.


Editor: Mu Xuequan

[QuitTheirClogs]

Bolivia arrests US-backed rebel governor

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 17:38:28 GMT
http://www.presstv.com/detail.aspx?id=69608&sectionid=351020706

Bolivian soldiers have arrested rebel governor and opposition leader Leopoldo Fernandez, who is accused of being behind Pando massacre.

The Amazonian Pando province near the Brazilian border was the site of clashes between the separatist anti-government faction and pro-government peasants.

Gov. Leopoldo Fernandez of Pando province is being charged with genocide in what President Evo Morales calls an ambush of his supporters last week that left at least 15 dead and 37 injured.

The Pando clashes last week caused army intervention and the order of martial law.

Soldiers for several days had been trying to arrest Fernandez for refusing to comply with the martial law order.

Fernandez is a major player in a long-running conflict between President Evo Morales and rebel governors.

His arrest was announced by Morales at a news conference on Tuesday, according to AP.

The rebel governors of the natural gas-rich lowland provinces are against Morales and his reformist plans that demand an equal share of the country's natural wealth among the nation.

Most of the country's vast natural gas deposits are in the lowland regions governed by the opposition who are mostly of European descent and don't want to share the natural wealth with the poor indigenous people of the highlands.

The separatists want more autonomy and a higher share of gas export revenues.

Morales has expelled the US ambassador to Bolivia Philip Goldberg, over his 'blatant interference' in the country's internal affairs.

Goldberg had earlier said Bolivia's state of political instability justifies Washington institutions' interference there.

Following his expulsion, Goldberg warned that the measure would lead to serious consequences for the Latin American country.

Several people have been killed and at least 100 wounded last week during clashes between the pro-Morales groups and the autonomy-seekers across Bolivia.

[outsider]

Latest post from 'Bolivia Rising':

http://boliviarising.blogspot.com/

Media reporting totally out of step with reality, as usual. Small gangs going around from site to site, to be interviewed by media (a different member each time, so as not to give the game away).

[TonyGosling]

US denied permission to fly over Bolivia
Fri, 03 Oct 2008 18:49:50 GMT

Bolivia has denied US anti-drug flights permission to use the country's airspace as relations between the two countries further sour.

http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=71222&sectionid=351020706

According to a report from the Bolivian Information Agency on Thursday, President Evo Morales has ordered his government to reject a request filed by the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to conduct surveillance flights over Bolivia.

"Two days ago I received a letter from the US DEA asking a government institution for permission to fly over national territory," the agency quoted Morales as saying, AP reported.

"I want to say publicly to our authorities: They are not authorized to give permission so that the DEA can fly over Bolivian territory."

Bolivia expelled US Ambassador to the Andean Country in September accusing him of fomenting separatism in the country and supporting separatist governors who seek autonomy.

The relations between the US and Bolivia have been deteriorating since the Bush Administration blacklisted the nation, along with Venezuela, for not doing enough in fight against narcotics and war on drugs.

However, many regarded the US move as politically-motivated.

[QuitTheirClogs]

Police 'stop attempt on Morales'

BBC -- Thursday, 16 April 2009
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8003117.stm

Bolivia's President Evo Morales says three foreigners have been killed after he ordered police to thwart a planned assassination attempt against him.

Security forces killed three alleged international mercenaries in the city of Santa Cruz, Mr Morales said.

"Yesterday, I gave instruction to the vice president to move to arrest these mercenaries and this morning I was informed of a half-hour shootout at a hotel in the city of Santa Cruz," said Mr Morales.

"Three foreigners are dead and two arrested."

He added that the alleged plot had been to kill him, the vice president and a cabinet minister.

Bolivian Police Chief Hugo Escobar said two Hungarians and one Bolivian were killed in the shoot-out.

Earlier reports suggested unknown assailants had attacked the home of the Roman Catholic Cardinal Julio Terrazas of Santa Cruz with dynamite.

Interior vice minister Marcos Farfan said Wednesday's blast, which caused structural damage but no injuries, a "terrorist" act.

[outsider]

[outsider]

And the 'Mothers' didn't forget to put a 'False Flag' diversionary attack against the 'Catholic Church'.

The old saw, 'Is the Pope a Catholic?' Pretty obvious, what? Perro, if the question was put in a slightly different way (No, not 'Is the Pope an ex(?) Nazi?'), but 'Is the Pope a Christian?', then I think the answer is pretty clear. I rest my case (for the moment!).

[outsider]

More on above:

http://boliviarising.blogspot.com/2009/04/plot-to-kill-bolivias-presid ent-foiled.html

[TonyGosling]

Mysterious International Mercenary Cell Uncovered in Bolivia
April 21, 2009 - by Dr. Joseph Fitsanakis



..........General Escobar also claimed that the group had in its possession several reporters’ vests and “PRESS” identity cards, of the kind typically displayed by accredited journalists. Security officials are examining the possibility that the group may have been planning to use journalistic disguise to gain proximity to senior government officials for purposes of assassination. Furthermore, the country’s vice president, Alvaro Garcia Linera, claimed [6] last week that a laptop recovered at the suspects’ hotel room shows they were planning to assassinate president Morales and other cabinet members. One cabinet member, minister of interior Marcos Farfán, alleged [7] that Bolivian security forces had already managed to foil an attempt by the covert group to attack a vessel on Lake Titicaca, located on the Peruvian border, where the Bolivian government cabinet was meeting................

......Last month, the Bolivian government expelled [1] a senior “diplomat” from the US embassy in La Paz, whom it accused of covertly supporting efforts [2] to depose the country’s leftist president, Evo Morales. This past week, Bolivian authorities announced they had foiled operations by a major international anti-government mercenary group operating out of the city of Santa Cruz, a hotbed of anti-government activity in the country’s wealthy eastern provinces. Three of the unit’s members, a Bolivian of Croatian descent, an Irishman and a Romanian, were killed by Bolivian security forces; two others, a Hungarian and another Bolivian of Croatian descent, were captured and are now in custody................

http://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/2009/04/21/mysterious-internationa l-mercenary-cell-uncovered-in-bolivia/

[outsider]

Letter-bomb injures wife of ally of Morales:

'Surco’s relatives and lawmakers from Morales’s socialist MAS party condemned what happened to the grassroots leader’s wife and said it was a politically motivated attack.

The attack was staged by “a new terrorism network” linked to Bolivian-born Croatian citizen Eduardo Rosza Flores, who was killed in an April 16 police operation, Sen. Felix Rojas said.

Morales said Thursday that the Bolivian right recently started hiring Peruvian mercenaries to stage attacks to destabilize his government.

The president spoke in a press conference at which he condemned Wednesday’s bombings, though he did not blame those attacks on the alleged mercenaries.

“It goes well beyond that. Obviously, it is under investigation, but I want you to know that the opposition is hiring some Peruvians to attack life, that is the most serious thing,” Morales said, adding that he could not provide more information for the time being. EFE
Posted by Bolivia Rising on Sunday, August 16, 2009'

http://boliviarising.blogspot.com/2009/08/morales-allys-wife-wounded-i n-bolivia.html

[Andrew.]

This is worth a look by Fintan Dunne. Some of his political analysis is ok, but i know some of us are a bit put off by some issues.

"Bolivia Assassination Plot Link to Shell Oil (&CIA?)"

http://www.breakfornews.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5079&highlight=boliv ian

[outsider]

[Andrew.]

[festival of snickers]

i should read this

im so behind in the news

[scienceplease 2]

Just thought you might be interested... no parallels here at all...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7707847.stm