Manifestaciones

Hola,

I just wanted to let all of you who have been following the civil unrest situation down here know that I am o.k. The protests are all centered in Santa Cruz, which is a different department pretty far away from where I am. The protests are being incited, as best I know, by the rich upper class land owners who control most of the economy in the area. Since the price of tin crashed and the mines in the southern altiplano became relatively obsolete, Santa Cruz has been bringing in most of Bolivia´s GNP and as a result, they are now looking for political and economic autonomy from the altiplano region. The other motive for the increase in riots and protests in recent days has been a motion by Morales´government to pass a new constitution, one that would not only allow Morales to be re-elected (he cant get re elected as it is), but also re-distribute land to the indigenous peoples, many of whom live in the north-eastern region of Santa Cruz and would severely damage the land holdings of the rich aristocracy here. As a result, blocades have been set up by the residents of Santa Cruz on the roads leading into the city and international flights have been cancelled. The US ambassador was expelled by Morales mainly because he is indirectly related to some of the riots which have been started in recent days. As of now, who knows whether the violence will escalate or not, but all is quiet in Cochabamba.