South America. Travel. Investments. Real Estate. News.
index-January-2007-1.html English News Blog for  Bolivia News Blog January Archive 

Morales submits recall bill

By Shannon at 01/25/07 00:57

The bill presented to congress allows for democratic mechanisms to end the term of elected authority accused of serious crimes. Morales said the objective was to avoid any more situations like Cochabamba, where two people died and hundreds were wounded.

Original source: Prensa Latina. Bolivia Submits Recall Bill

RIght's attempts to destabilize Morales may deteriorate into Civ

Rising tension and clashes have brought millions into the streets in protest of the right wing's efforst to destabilize Morales' govt. His hope is give the indigenous Bolivians more power while the opposition pushes to consolidate their power base.

Original source: GreenLeft. Right wing in Bolivia moves to destabilise indigenous power

More divided than ever before

Evo Morales, the first Bolivian president to describe himself as "indigenous" is pushing a democratic revolution. But he is alienating the upper and middle classes while his popularity with those of the working class. He has been replacing people in key posts with Indians previously shut out of power.

Original source: Topix. [404 Check: was link to http:/ / www. topix. net/ content/ kri/ 2229683222352887995826263629402437463658, anchor: Morales marks first year with leftist talk ]

ETA seeks sanctuary, Morales denies ties

Feliciano Vegamonte acknowledged meeting with Basque politicians reported to be members of ETA. Morales and other members of his party have visited the Basque country. But Morales says, "I've got no relation." He also says "attempts to discredit him are nothing new.

Original source: CNN. [404 Check: was link to http:/ / www. cnn. com/ 2007/ WORLD/ americas/ 01/ 23/ morales. eta. ap/ index. html?section=cnn_ latest, anchor: Bolivia's Morales denies ties to ETA]

Morales sacks 7 cabinet members

A day after celebrating his first year in office Presidenr morales removed 7 of the 16 cabinet members. Many of those removed had been proponents of radical or unpopular proposals. Morales said change is needed to respond to Bolivia's problems.

Original source: BBC News. Morales reshapes Bolivia cabinet

40,000 victims to receive aid

The Government has declared a state of emergency as floods and landslides, worse this year due to El Nino, victimizes some 40,000 people. Many major rivers have already flooded and the rain has caused landslides. The bad weather is expected to last until February. The United Nations is organizing aid for the victims while officials evacuate others.

Original source: Voice of America. UN Rushing Help to Flood-Ravaged Bolivia

President Morales delivers Four and a half hour speech

In his speech to Congress marking his forst year in office, which ran four and a half hours, President Evo Morales praised his governments achievement in his first year including a significant increase in gas revenue, increased aid, and that they had detsroyed 20 square miles of coca. He failed to mention that he plans to increase production in his home region of Chapare. During the speech opposition lawmakers got up and filed out of the room.

Original source: Magic Valley News. [404 Check: was link to http:/ / www. magicvalley. com/ articles/ 2007/ 01/ 22/ ap/ international/ d8mqme3o0. txt, anchor: Opposition Walk Out of Morales' Speech]

Protest results in miners death

Negotiations between miners and the govt have been suspended following an incident between miners and Bolivian troops that resulted in one miner being shot in the head. Miners are asking for investment by the state to re-energize the mining industry. Members of the mining co-ops felt that they had been very patient and that the govt misinterpreted that as weakness. So in protest they began setting up roadblocks on many of the main highways and may also have taken control of railway system in the south. The union feels that this is now the only option they have left to get the govt to pay attention to them.

Original source: BBC News. Bolivian miners clash with troops

Energy deal announced - Bolivia retaking control of it's resourc

Last May President Evo Morales nationalized the oil and gas indusrty in preparation for regaining control of Bolivias resources and gain more control and a better percentage of profits for the state.

Negotitaitions had been described as rocky, as Bolivias energy company Yacimientos Petroliferos Fiscales Bolivianos (YPFB)missed a restructuring deadline and in the interim Andres Soliz Rada resigned as energy minister.

Contracts with ten major foreign companies were finally reached, some of them announced just before the deadline when they would either have had to have an egreement in place or leave the country. The president of YFPB says the contracts will bring Bolivia an estimated 120 million in annual revenue.

Original source: BBC News. Bolivia agrees new energy deals

New law would allow for the recall of elected officials

Bolivian President President Evo Morales proposed a new law which would allow voters to recall elected officials.

Original source: . Bolivian president proposes recall bill