Bolivia: The Water Wars
- By Poetry X
- 8 April, 2015
- No Comments
1999 – Bolivia: “THE WATER WARS”. The IMF ordered to sell the water provider in Cochabamba to Bechtel.
As part of a new Structural Adjustment Loan, the International Monetary Fund ordered Bolivia to privatize the national water provider. A Bechtel subsidiary would have total control of the water, including rain water.
Under the guidance of the IMF, Bolivia at the time had already privatized oil reserves, the telephone service, trains, airlines and electrical power.
A coalition of many social organizations called the Coordinadora made their own referendum. The result, out of 50,000 votes, 96% demanded the contract with Bechtel to be cancelled.
In January 2000, the citizens boycotted the water company during 4 days.
Sharpshooters were sent to the streets dressed as civilians. Then they just shot to the crowd causing multiple wounded, maimed and paralyzed protesters.
17 year old Victor Hugo Daza died as a result of the shootings.
Bolivian president Banzer imposed martial law to try to stop the protests.
Captain Robinson Iriarte de la Fuente, a graduate of the US School of the Americas was captured on video shooting to the crowd. He was put on trial on relation to the dead of Victro Hugo Daza.
On March 1, 2002, a military tribunal acquitted Captain Iriarte of all responsibility associated with the shooting death of Víctor Hugo Daza and eventually was ascended to higher ranks.
In April Bechtel abandoned its operations in Bolivia.
Evo Morales denounced the Free Trade “agreement” was imposed to legalize the US re-colonization of Latin America. In response, in the US, companies labeled Morales as a “terrorist”.
On 2002, Morales was ousted from congress on charges of terrorism.
The Quechua & Aymara people managed to put Morales back in congress accusing the CIA of provoking the crisis.
Evo Morales decided to run for president, and the US ambassador Manuel Rocha warned Bolivia of electing him as leader.
Later, during the presidency of Sanchez de Lozada, Bolivia adopted more IMF & World Bank policies which infuriated the population. Later on, Sanchez was ousted but managed to escape from trial. Ever since, Bolivia requests his extradition but US refuses the request.
Film The Corporation by Michael Moore
Copyright © 2024
Leave a Reply