Pubdate: Wed, 15 Jan 2003 Source: Associated Press (Wire) Copyright: 2003 The Associated Press Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/area/Bolivia (Bolivia) SWEDES EXPELLED FROM BOLIVIA FOR SUPPORTING COCA FARMERS LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP)--The government has ordered four Swedish women expelled from Bolivia, accusing them of illegal political activism by supporting protests by coca growers. The four women, who have been detained since Monday, were given until Saturday to leave Bolivia. According to the government, Malin Fredenstedt, Malena Wahlin, Ylva Westander and Emma Johansson helped in planning and financing protests that began Monday with a series of blockades on the nation's main highway. The protests have left four people dead in clashes with police and soldiers. The coca growers are protesting the eradication of their plants by the government. Coca leaf is processed to make cocaine . Deputy Interior Minister Jose Luis Harb said the Swedish women gave $2,000 to Evo Morales, the leftist leader of the coca peasants in the Chapare region, to help finance the protests. Harb said the four women were detained because they joined several marches against the government, a political activity prohibited to foreigners. "It has been fully confirmed that these four people were actively participating in political agitation," the official said. He said the four women, believed to be college students, will be banned from Bolivia in the future. The four are expected to fly to Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Saturday. Police said that the four arrived in Bolivia a month ago, and have since been in touch with Morales and held several meetings to plan the protests. In addition, according to police, their visas had expired. But a Swedish consular official in La Paz, Maria Bertha Arduz, explained that the problem with the visas was a mistake by the Immigration service. She said Swedish citizens are entitled to a 90-day stay when entering Bolivia, but the four women were given only 30 days. Arduz said the four women deny participating in marches against the government. She said the four were part of a group of 24 Swedish tourists. Others in the group have had no problems in Bolivia. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake