Latin American Political Unrest Update Thread.

[TomSea]

Excerpt:

Bolivia's dueling parties converge on new vote to calm political chaos
Daniel Ramos

LA PAZ (Reuters) - Bolivia’s interim government and lawmakers from the party of unseated leftist leader Evo Morales appeared to have reach an accord late on Thursday to hold a new presidential election, potentially helping resolve country’s political crisis.

...

In a late night Senate session, the chamber’s president, a member of Morales’ Movement for Socialism (MAS) party, said there was agreement between the opposition and government to hold a new election as soon as possible.

...

(Anez) She said MAS, which has a majority in Congress, was welcome to participate in the vote and should start looking for a candidate.

More at: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-bolivia-election/bolivias-dueling-parties-converge-on-new-vote-to-calm-political-chaos-idUSKBN1XO2C8

I think, unfortunately, Morales' party, MAS per above, does have an overwhelming majority in congress. I don't know their system, at least in one chart I saw. If they are that popular in the country, they should have little trouble in these elections.  Good if some sort of treaty is called.

[TomSea]

Following the initial article is an opinion piece by a Chilean where perhaps, we are told more of what is happening:

In pictures: Clashes in Chile amid national strike


People waved the flags of Chile and the Mapuche indigenous group during the demonstration.

...


Mr Piñera made an address to the nation amid the protests.

More at: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-50399644

I saw this article too, yesterday, the "blindness" is caused according to this by rubber bullets splintering, perhaps there are other reasons too.

Dozens Blinded By Police Shots In Chile Protests
By Giovanna FLEITAS
11/14/19 AT 8:36 PM

Running away as shots rang out, Carlos Vivanco turned to see where they were coming from. Then he felt his left eye closing and his face dripping with blood.

The 18-year-old student had become one of scores of people hit in the eyes, and in some cases blinded, by police rubber bullets in Chile's recent wave of anti-government protests.

Police have fired tear gas, water cannons and rubber shot cartridges. Vivanco was hurt during the first week of the protests, when President Sebastian Pinera sent soldiers onto the streets.

https://www.ibtimes.com/dozens-blinded-police-shots-chile-protests-2866678

Piñera Surrenders, Will Accept New Chile Constitution
Last updated Nov 14, 2019
A new constitution is not only the beginning of the end for Piñera’s center-right government, but it is also the end of Chile as we know it.

By Esteban Zapata

While the socialist Evo Morales resigned as president of Bolivia, the Chilean government, through its Home Affairs Minister, announced that the process of creating a “constituent congress” had begun. In other words, politicians in the Chilean Congress have to draft a new constitution that is in line with current times and generate the “social pact” that the people supposedly ask for.

This announcement is not only the beginning of the end for Piñera’s center-right government, but it is also the end of Chile as we know it. Chile has succumbed completely. All the ideas that led to the Chile Vamos coalition being elected in 2017 have been discarded to implement the political program of an irrational mob. As the television and the press say, it is the “people who rule” and that “problems are solved in the street.” It is the government of the Molotov cocktails and looting, not a democratically elected government. It is the ochlocracy or mob rule established in Chile, courtesy of the left.

In the pseudo protests by students in 2011, university leftists shouted, “end to profits.” They called for free tuition and the end of the voucher system. While they destroyed colleges and universities and burned public transport buses, president Piñera, who was serving his first term, chose to appease the students. History is repeating itself in these weeks.

Read more at: https://panampost.com/editor/2019/11/14/pinera-surrenders-chile-constitution/

Yes, our free system in the Western hemisphere is certainly being tested now. The size of the crowds can not be questioned. I hope we can, as a people of this hemisphere, stay afloat.

[TomSea]

Pretty good news site, this "Info Bae" (Argentina?), here the headline says Morales's living quarters were fit for an Arab Sheikh (Jeque), I don't see these as being that extravagant for a head-of-state, but some photos at link:

América Latina
Las fotos de la suite de Evo Morales en La Casa del Pueblo: “Parece una habitación de un jeque árabe"
https://www.infobae.com/america/america-latina/2019/11/15/las-fotos-de-la-suite-de-evo-morales-en-la-casa-del-pueblo-parece-una-habitacion-de-un-jeque-arabe/

Of course, if you were a Latin American peasant, it might look like a palace.  Those paintings seem to have, for the most part, Leftist luminaries, Mandela, Castro, Sandino.  Then also, people like MLK and Gandhi. People can make up their own minds on that.

[TomSea]

Chile has seen 5 churches set on fire, a Supermarket set on fire where 5 people died. This unrest is unsettling.

Plus apparently, I don't know who this person is but the Chilean Singer,  Mon Laferte protested at the Grammys and went topless.

https://www.infobae.com/america/  I won't post the direct link but it is there and at the BBC too.

All disturbing.

[TomSea]

There are certainly protests scheduled in Venezuela this weekend. So, I thought, I'd just make a general thread for the happenings in Latin America. Maybe by next week, I will merge previously existing threads into this one but generally, member threads will not be merged for the time-being.

Thu Nov 14, 2019 10:59
Bolivia's Anez Recognizes Guaido as Venezuelan President

TEHRAN (FNA)- Bolivia's self-proclaimed Interim President Jeanine Anez Chavez recognized Juan Guiado as the president of Venezuela on Wednesday, saying they were expecting an ambassador from Caracas.

Chavez declared herself president of Bolivia on Tuesday without a vote or quorum after President Evo Morales, his vice president and most of his cabinet members announced their resignations, Daily Sabah reported.

Chavez shared a statement on her Twitter account on Wednesday, thanking Guaido for recognizing her government. She added, "As Constitutional President of Bolivia I invite you to appoint the new ambassador of Venezuela in Bolivia, who will be recognized immediately by our government."

More at: https://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13980823000135

[TomSea]

Bolivia crisis: 'Five dead' in pro-Morales protest

At least five people are reported to have been killed in Bolivia in clashes between supporters of former President Evo Morales and security forces.

A doctor in the central city of Sacaba said most of those killed and injured on Friday had bullet wounds, according to the Associated News agency.

Bolivia's authorities did not report any deaths in the city.

See more at: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-50441867

Count up to six:   https://www.infobae.com/america/america-latina/2019/11/16/violentos-enfrentamientos-en-bolivia-entre-cocaleros-y-la-policia-ascienden-a-seis-la-cifra-de-muertos/

Other:

Barry Malone
@malonebarry
Al Jazeera's @TeresaBo
 has been intentionally tear-gassed in the eyes by Bolivian police while on air. She was simply trying to report what was happening. And, being a total pro, she kept right on doing it.

See video clip at tweet.

https://twitter.com/malonebarry/status/1195513931881680901

I heard about this, there was an article about hostility towards journalists over there, not just from the army police but basically from everyone.  Here, it does look like the woman, an Argentine, does get hit with some pepper spray or something on air.

[mountaineer]

Cuban nationals carrying large amounts of cash arrested in Bolivia, suspected of financing socialist protestors
November 15, 2019 by Alberto de la Cruz

Once again it appears Cuba’s socialist Castro dictatorship has been caught trying to foment violent protests against a foreign democracy. Bolivia’s new constitutional government has arrested four Cuban nationals found with large amounts of cash they suspect was being used to contract violent anti-government protestors.

Via Diario de Cuba (my translation):

    Four Cubans carrying cash detained in La Paz under suspicion of inciting instability

    A group of Cubans carrying a substantial amount of cash were arrested in La Paz on Wednesday night on suspicion they were financing the internal instability that has plagued Bolivia the last few days as a result of the fraudulent election results and the exit of Evo Morales.   ...

More at BabaluBlog

[TomSea]

Jim Shultz
@jimshultz
#Bolivia These recordings are being cited as evidence of US involvement in an orchestrated plan to oust Evo from power. That’s important. Can anyone tell us who these people are and exactly what the recordings say about Rubio and the others? Thanks

https://mobile.twitter.com/jimshultz/status/1195737486456229895

Beware and be aware of this. I think these have got to be 'bogus'.

http://hilodirecto.com.mx/divulgan-16-audios-de-golpistas-bolivianos-ligados-a-eu/  <----- WHOOPS, I get a virus warning or at least, unsafe site warning on my big computer, I did go through on my cellphone without any warning and heard just a little bit.

Article is in Spanish but the tapes??

Passing this along, Menendez is wary of doing things like this, to tell the truth, I wondered a bit why Rubio wasn't more vocal this week. I am thinking these are fake.  Cruz is mentioned as well in people talking about these tapes.

I just hear a bunch of people talking.. but I do think it's something to be aware of.

[TomSea]

Cuban nationals carrying large amounts of cash arrested in Bolivia, suspected of financing socialist protestors
November 15, 2019 by Alberto de la Cruz

Once again it appears Cuba’s socialist Castro dictatorship has been caught trying to foment violent protests against a foreign democracy. Bolivia’s new constitutional government has arrested four Cuban nationals found with large amounts of cash they suspect was being used to contract violent anti-government protestors.

Via Diario de Cuba (my translation):More at BabaluBlog

Babalu Blog has apparently dropped all of their extra "cutting-up" is how I'd describe it and I think that is a good thing, they actually do have a lot of good info without all of the "clowning around".

[Fishrrman]

As I posted in another thread yesterday, Marxism/communism once again seems ascendant in South America.

Where is General Pinochet when you need him?
(I pose that as a serious question)

Not much we in el Norte can do, other than "wall ourselves off" from the throngs -- millions upon tens of millions -- who probably have it in their minds to "head north" if they can.

[TomSea]

World News
November 16, 2019 / 6:46 PM / Updated 17 minutes ago
Chile police stopped rescue workers helping dying protester: human rights watchdog
Dave Sherwood

SANTIAGO (Reuters) - Chile’s independent human rights watchdog said on Saturday it would file a formal complaint for murder against police officers who allegedly prevented paramedics from attending a heart attack victim amid a protest Friday.

Security forces firing tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannons made it impossible for rescue workers to properly treat the victim, Chile’s publicly-funded National Institute for Human Rights said.

Twenty-nine year old Abel Acuna died shortly after at a nearby Santiago hospital.

Read more at: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-chile-protests-rights-idUSKBN1XR00Q

An interesting tale, I hope they can clear up the problems there.

[TomSea]

Wall Street Journal Today, excerpts:

Morales Made Bolivia a Narco State


...

Yet how many Mexicans know that Mr. Morales is also secretary-general of the Bolivian federation of coca growers, one of the largest producers and distributors of cocaine in the Western Hemisphere? And how many know that Mr. Morales trampled the rights of the lowland indigenous people in the Amazon when they opposed the expansion of the coca business?

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador is on a mission to write the “Evo” narrative. Mexicans deserve the truth.

Mr. Morales ruled Bolivia not as a social democrat but as an authoritarian. Much like Hugo Chávez in Venezuela and Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua, in the early years of his tenure he used his popularity and a commodity boom to destroy his country’s democratic institutions.

Read more at: https://bolivianthoughts.com/2019/11/18/morales-made-bolivia-a-narco-state/

Nice little website specializing in Bolivia.

[TomSea]

Bolivia: Policeman beaten up and killed by a "mob"  (turba) using the translator:

ESTABA HERIDO DESDE LA SEMANA PASADA
Muere policía que sufrió golpiza de una turba en El Alto



https://erbol.com.bo/seguridad/muere-polic%C3%ADa-que-sufri%C3%B3-golpiza-de-una-turba-en-el-alto

Following twitter, some who are pro-freedom in Bolivia (iow the new government) say those who died at the protests in Bolivia last Friday were shot from behind and that the Bolivian Police out there are using rubber bullets, not live ammunition.

Otherwise, the situation might be calming down.

[TomSea]

Venezuelan Govt Reaches 'Preliminary' Accords With The Opposition
Published November 19th, 2019 - 12:13 GMT
Highlights
During 2 months of negotiations, important progress has been made, says opposition leader Claudio Fermin.

https://www.albawaba.com/news/venezuelan-govt-reaches-preliminary-accords-opposition-1322241

So, I read this and it sounds kind of good. No one else is reporting this so much, I check the source, Anadolou which seems to mesn Turkish state media. That does not mean the article is false but it is a bit suspicious.

Doesn't Turkey have somewhat cordial relations with Venezuela? Another difference we have with Turkey.

[TomSea]

Code Pink in Bolivia, Medea Benjamin "claims" she witnessed soldiers shooting Bolivians, 5 dead.

https://twitter.com/medeabenjamin

We sure don't want to hear stuff like this. Read it for oneself, I hope it is not true.

On the other hand, this appears to be a "conservative" Senator, then, you run into people like this and you think Evo and the MAS party (yes, that's the name of Morales' party, MAS) are very bad.

https://twitter.com/NormaPierola

One has to see both sides. Also, twitter does translate all of this for folks, once you click the tweet, there is a translate option.

Norma Pierola Valdez
@NormaPierola
La Asociación de Periodistas de Cochabamba (APC) pide al exdictador  #EvoMorales "que instruya a sus afiliados cocaleros y a sus operadores políticos a que detengan la violencia en el país".
Translated from Spanish by
The Association of Journalists of Cochabamba (APC) asks the exdictor #EvoMorales "To instruct its coca growers affiliates and their political operators to stop the violence in the country."

https://twitter.com/NormaPierola/status/1196962993462038533

[TomSea]

Bolivian military deploys armored vehicles to end blockade of key gas plant
www.reuters.com

LA PAZ (Reuters) - Bolivian police and military forces used armored vehicles and helicopters to clear access to a major gas plant in the city of El Alto on Tuesday, a show of strength after blockades at the facility had cut off fuel supply to nearby La Paz.

Helicopters flew above roads around the Senkata gas plant, operated by state-run YPFB, which were blocked with piles of burning tires, according to a Reuters witness. Protesters are demanding the return of unseated leftist leader Evo Morales.

Morales resigned on Nov. 10 amid anti-government demonstrations and rising pressure over vote-rigging allegations after an audit by the Organization of American States (OAS) found serious irregularities in an Oct. 20 election.

More: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-bolivia-election/bolivian-military-deploys-armored-vehicles-to-end-blockade-of-key-gas-plant-idUSKBN1XT228

The police or military deny causing the injuries or deaths and state they only use rubber bullets. There were reported deaths yesterday.

These protesters are pretty serious and depriving  people of food and gas.

Edit on, this is pretty significant, I really haven't followed it deeply but apparently, there are tapes, directives of Evo telling the people to cause disruption, maybe even much, much worse.... snipers?

Gobierno revela audio en que Evo Morales ordena dejar sin comida a las ciudades y llama al “combate”

Government reveals audio where Evo Morales orders "leaving without" food to the cities and called for "combat".

https://erbol.com.bo/seguridad/gobierno-revela-audio-en-que-evo-morales-ordena-dejar-sin-comida-las-ciudades-y-llama-al-

So, I'd say there seems to be clear evidence the left is "agitating" things, pretty shoddy reporting and behavior by leftists just fussing about a coup and US interference.

[TomSea]

Colombia closes borders as it braces for nationwide strike
By Jack Guy and Claudia Rebaza, CNN
Updated 10:19 AM EST, Thu November 21, 2019

(CNN) Colombia has closed its borders in preparation for a national strike supported by a broad coalition of social movements on Thursday.

President Ivan Duque, a social conservative, came to power in August 2018 and now faces widespread discontent over rising unemployment, economic reforms and a deteriorating security situation.

Labor unions, teachers, students and indigenous activists are among those set to take to the streets as protests hit yet another South American nation.

Read more at:  https://www.bing.com/amp/s/amp.cnn.com/cnn/2019/11/21/americas/colombia-national-strike-intl/index.html

Social conservative? I did not know but it would be hard to deny that  Colombia has not faced a 'deteriorating security situation', a situation to watch, see colombiareports.com for more <-----  I do think they have a leftist slant but we will see. It's something.

[TomSea]

Bolivia prosecutors probing Morales over accusations he encouraged unrest
By Daniel Ramos

LA PAZ (Reuters) - Bolivia's attorney general said on Friday that his office has opened a probe into former President Evo Morales for alleged sedition and terrorism, related to accusations from the interim government that he has been stirring unrest since resigning.

More: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/bolivias-interim-government-charges-morales-with-sedition-and-terrorism/ar-BBXbWTX#image=BBXbWTX_1|4

It reminds me of Geronimo in some pictures.

[TomSea]

First off, Morales' camp says this tape is a fake but if not. Man, is the general narrative of this in  the press, left wing and it vilifies the right, I am willing to look at all the facts, reporting out there.

Breitbart
Evo Morales Caught on Tape Planning Starvation in Bolivia

FRANCES MARTEL  20 Nov 2019
The conservative government of Bolivia published an audio file on Wednesday, allegedly of a conversation between a socialist activist and former President Evo Morales in which the latter ordered him to ensure that socialist rioters prevented food and basic goods from getting to the nation’s cities.

Morales resigned from the presidency two weeks ago, after 13 years in power, following the revelation of widespread fraud in the October elections he claimed had earned him another five-year term. He then fled to Mexico and claimed to be the victim of a “coup,” although he voluntarily resigned, and is now demanding that the government reject his resignation and reinstate him.

...

MAS supporters have reacted to Áñez’s appointment with violence, rioting and looting businesses and in some areas attempting to destroy key infrastructure sites. Six people died on Tuesday after a mob tried to blow up a plant owned by the nation’s federal oil corporation, Yacimientos Petrolíferos Fiscales Bolivianos (YPFB). The military subdued the attack but said that no soldier fired a single shot; the deaths were all self-inflicted.

More:  https://www.breitbart.com/latin-america/2019/11/20/dont-let-food-cities-evo-morales-caught-tape-planning-starvation-bolivia/amp/?fbclid=IwAR2bGl1fJKqkC9hmO4hX8D9F3jtt6E5l_sALyRxJgISzFxATWCYz9E0bhpo&__twitter_impression=true.

[Chosen Daughter]

"Coup" or not, makes no difference to me -- whenever socialists/marxists/communists are forcibly removed from governance, we of The West should rejoice.

Alright we are on a roll now @sneakypete I strongly agree!

[TomSea]

One son of El Chapo studied to become a pilot in Bolivia. This from infobae in Argentina.

https://www.infobae.com/america/america-latina/2019/11/25/un-ministro-boliviano-aseguro-que-un-hijo-de-el-chapo-guzman-estuvo-en-bolivia-y-tenia-una-credencial-de-la-asamblea-nacional/

Big negative there.

Morales' kids, millionaires.
https://www.infobae.com/america/america-latina/2019/11/23/aterrizo-en-argentina-el-avion-que-transporta-a-los-hijos-de-evo-morales/

Elections will be held in Bolivia. I think tensions have come down quite a bit.

https://www.bing.com/amp/s/abcnews.go.com/amp/International/wireStory/bolivia-oks-vote-replace-morales-date-set-67271920

[TomSea]

World News
November 26, 2019 / 2:29 PM / Updated 13 minutes ago
'Massive' human rights violations in Bolivia merit outside probe: regional commission head
Mitra Taj

COCHABAMBA, Bolivia (Reuters) - Bolivia may need outside help to probe a “massive” amount of human rights violations and post-election violence to ensure findings are seen as credible in the deeply divided South American nation, the head of the region’s human rights commission told Reuters on Tuesday.

After a three-day visit to Bolivia, Paulo Abrão, who heads the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), recommended Bolivia seek help from an international panel of experts similar to one formed to investigate the disappearance of 43 students in Mexico.

“Normally in these situations...national institutions aren’t prepared to resolve such a massive grouping of violations” of human rights, Abrão said in an interview in Cochabamba, one of the regions hit hardest by recent unrest.

More at: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-bolivia-politics-idUSKBN1Y02FS

NPR:

How Evo Morales Made Bolivia A Better Place ... Before He Was Forced To Flee
November 26, 20193:17 PM ET
Isabella Gomez Sarmiento

....

As the country's first indigenous president, Morales promised to bring power to marginalized groups. And he fulfilled that promise.

"There's no question that there was a successful impact on raising the standard of living of the poor, and in Bolivia that means the indigenous community," says Mark Schneider of the Center for Strategic and International Studies' Americas Program, which conducts research and analysis on Latin American policy and development.

Indeed, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund have recognized the social and economic leaps Bolivia made under Morales' leadership. The country's GDP grew an average of 4.8% a year from 2004 to 2017, while the percentage of the population living in extreme poverty was more than halved from approximately 36% down to 17% during that time.

Read more at: https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2019/11/26/781199250/how-evo-morales-made-bolivia-a-better-place-before-he-was-forced-to-flee

Actually, pretty good... but...  you can't just decide you should stay in power, not my view at least.

[TomSea]

Good, Morales got booed at the National Autonomous Unversity of Mexico, UNAM,

https://www.infobae.com/america/america-latina/2019/11/27/evo-morales-fue-abucheado-cuando-brindaba-una-conferencia-en-mexico-un-grupo-de-manifestantes-lo-acuso-de-fraude-electoral/  See video here,  the crowd, which the article says are largely Bolivians boo and heckle him over "voter fraud".

Bolivia's Farmers Criticize Morales, Fight Centralization
https://www.ibtimes.com/bolivias-farmers-criticize-morales-fight-centralization-2874728

[TomSea]

Venezuelan Describes 20 Years of Socialism in Venezuela: My Socialist Hell Venezuelan writer Christian K. Caruzo tells his story after living under a socialist government
By: Christian K. Caruzo |@KalebPrime on 28th November 2019

CARACAS – Venezuela, my home country, has it all: beautiful and breathtaking landscapes, abundant resources, even unique wonders of nature like the Angel Falls or the Catatumbo Lightning.

Yet if you’ve heard our name in the news recently, it’s as the subject of tragedy: toilet paper shortages, desperate people scavenging through garbage to find food for their families, bread lines, a systemic failure of our public utilities, dogs flayed in broad daylight for meat, corruption, lack of proper medicine and health access, weighing stacks of cash, and so much more.

It saddens me to say that it’s true, all of it, a product of 20 years of socialism.

Read more at: https://neonnettle.com/features/1701-venezuelan-describes-20-years-of-socialism-in-venezuela-my-socialist-hell

[TomSea]

It has to be said, when Morales stepped down a few weeks ago, there was a real perceived threat of violence from his supporters and that helped change the way the military looked at this.

Translation:

...The then commander of the Armed Forces, Williams Kaliman, thus announced that troops would come out to protect the population from threats from violent groups related to Evo Morales.

(Spanish) https://www.paginasiete.bo/seguridad/2019/12/1/fiel-evo-hasta-el-final-kaliman-saco-las-tropas-amenazado-por-su-estado-mayor-239081.html

President Evo Morales had 14 years as presidency and so exercised much influence and power on the military. Those saying "US Coup", I think it's absolute balderdash.