LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) -- The president of Bolivia is considering a plan to resume cultivation of the raw ingredient in cocaine in a remote jungle basin - -- a move the U.S. government fears would undermine what is viewed as its most successful anti-drug program in South America. President Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada is studying a proposal to allow cultivation of coca in the Chapare region of central Bolivia to help calm unrest among growers who have blockaded major highways and put their support behind his political rival. [continues 323 words]
COCHABAMBA, Bolivia - Bolivia's government is preparing to ease its unpopular effort to eradicate coca and allow farmers to grow the raw material from which cocaine is made. The move, which could come within a week, would be a sharp reversal of Washington's only success in curbing drug production in South America's Andean region. U.S. officials fear that any increase in legal coca production would also be an opening to greater illicit sales. The United States has given Bolivia more than $1.3 billion in counter-narcotics and development aid since 1993. [continues 541 words]
COCHABAMBA, Bolivia - Bolivia's government is preparing to ease its unpopular effort to eradicate coca and allow farmers to grow the raw material from which cocaine is made. The move, which could come within a week, would be a sharp reversal of Washington's only success in curbing drug production in South America's Andean region. U.S. officials fear that any increase in legal coca production would also be an opening to greater illicit sales. The United States has given Bolivia more than $1.3 billion in counter-narcotics and development aid since 1993. [continues 290 words]
Leader Is Pressured By His Political Rivals COCHABAMBA, Bolivia -- Bolivia's government is preparing to ease its unpopular effort to eradicate coca and allow farmers to grow the raw material from which cocaine is made. The move, which could come within a week, would be a sharp reversal of the United States' only success in curbing drug production in South America's Andean region. U.S. officials fear that any increase in legal production of coca plants would also be an opening to greater illicit sales. The United States has given Bolivia more than $1.3 billion in counter-narcotics and development aid since 1993. [continues 413 words]
COCHABAMBA, Bolivia - Bolivia's government is preparing to relax its unpopular effort to eradicate coca and allow farmers to grow the raw material from which cocaine is made. The move, which could come within a week, would be a sharp reversal of Washington's only success in curbing drug production in South America's Andean region. U.S. officials fear that any increase in legal coca production would also be an opening to greater illicit sales. The United States has given Bolivia more than $1.3 billion in counter-narcotics and development aid since 1993. [continues 535 words]
LA PAZ, Bolivia (Reuters) -- Bolivian opposition politicians on Saturday laughed off government claims of a failed coup during bloody protests this week that killed 29 people, while a human rights group also voiced skepticism. Government officials claimed late on Friday two days of bloody anti-government protests had veiled a "failed coup attempt against democracy," and said unidentified sharp-shooters fired at new President Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada's palace quarters. But the government did not say who it believed was behind the alleged coup attempt, which it claimed happened on Thursday as thousands of Bolivians marching to demand Sanchez de Lozada resign because of unpopular fiscal policies torched public buildings. [continues 283 words]
LA PAZ, Bolivia - Tanks formed an iron curtain in front of Bolivia's presidential palace Thursday as a second day of violent protests swept the Andean nation and calls grew for President Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada to resign. The death toll climbed to at least 20 on Thursday as scattered violence and looting continued across the country. A clash between police and soldiers, who have feuded for decades, sparked the clash, which was joined by citizens angry over an unpopular income tax. [continues 604 words]
LA PAZ, Bolivia - Tanks formed an iron curtain in front of Bolivia's presidential palace Thursday as a second day of violent protests swept the Andean nation and calls grew for President Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada to resign. The death toll climbed to at least 20 on Thursday as scattered violence and looting continued across the country. A clash between police and soldiers, who have feuded for decades, sparked the clash, which was joined by citizens angry over an unpopular income tax. [continues 301 words]
LA PAZ, Bolivia -- Thousands of Bolivian troops returned to their barracks, and protesters lifted road blocks Tuesday after the government and farmers agreed to talks over a U.S-backed crackdown on coca crops. Nine civilians and two members of security forces were killed in 13 days of protests in the Chapare jungle region when coca farmers and troops fought pitched battles to control the South American country's most important highway. "Blockades are suspended, but farmers should be vigilant," said Evo Morales, an Indian farmer who leads coca protests and who came in a close second as a leftist presidential candidate in last year's elections. Talks started Sunday, but Morales only began to lift the blockades Tuesday. [continues 164 words]
COCHABAMBA, Bolivia (AP) -- The Bolivian government formally opened talks with coca farmers Sunday to end protests that have killed 12 people and shut down the nation's largest highway for nearly two weeks. President Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada said the talks would continue into the coming days. But he made no mention of a cease-fire or a possible withdrawal of the thousands of soldiers patrolling the highway and keeping it clear of debris. Since Jan. 14, thousands of protesters have blocked the highway with tree trunks and boulders. in anger over the government's plan to eradicate illegal crops. [continues 150 words]
COCHABAMBA, Bolivia --The president began peace talks with coca leaders, 12 days after thousands of growers shut down the nation's largest highway over the government's plan to eradicate illegal crops. President Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada began the talks Sunday and said they would continue into the coming days even though coca leaders have not yet lifted the blockade. Since Jan. 14, protesters have blocked the highway with tree trunks and boulders. Coca is the base ingredient of cocaine , but many Bolivians chew the leaves or use them to brew tea. About 12,000 hectares (30,000 acres) of coca can be cultivated legally, but growers want the limit increased. [continues 181 words]
COCHABAMBA, Bolivia (AP)--Security forces fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse scores of protesters Friday in the fifth straight day of demonstrations against a coca eradication program. Protesters since Monday have shut down the main highway linking this key central city to Santa Cruz, 200 miles to the east, by heaping boulders and logs along the roadway. That action continued Friday as thousands turned out to oppose a U.S.-sponsored, government plan to destroy illegal coca crops - the base ingredient used to make cocaine . [continues 137 words]
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. [continues 245 words]
KAYARANI, Bolivia (AP)--Two demonstrators were killed in fighting on the nation's largest highway between government forces and thousands of poor protesting Bolivia's plan to eradicate coca crops and other government policies. Soldiers opened fire on demonstrators at a roadblock Tuesday, killing Romulo Gonzalez, 19, who was shot in the neck, the government said in a statement. The incident happened in Aguirre, a small town 260 kilometers (160 miles) to the southeast of La Paz. A second man died from asphyxiation in a clash with soldiers, the government said. Radio reports said the man was overcome by tear gas. [continues 372 words]
LA PAZ - The Bolivian government is concerned about a U.S. report indicating that coca cultivation has increased 23 percent over the past year and is twice the amount allowed by law. Presidential spokesman Mauricio Antezana called the situation alarming, adding that the executive branch was studying the report released by the U.S. Embassy in La Paz. Antezana said "the administration can do no less than express its concern" about these reports, because the previous administration had claimed significant advances in the eradication of illegal coca crops, "and now we find this was not the case." [continues 257 words]
The Coca Plant Remains a Profitable Crop, Hampering Its Eradication. ENTRE RIOS, Bolivia - The United States has spent $300 million since 2000 trying to persuade Bolivian farmers to stop growing coca, the raw material of cocaine, and to plant different crops instead. It has made considerable gains despite resistance. But many farmers in South America's poorest country are ignoring the unpopular eradication program and replanting coca bushes. Banana trees, passion-fruit vines, and small palm trees require more work and up-front investment, and do not provide as much profit as the illegal coca bush. Coca needs little attention, it has a guaranteed market, and its four annual harvests provide quarterly income. [continues 655 words]
LA PAZ, Bolivia-Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada, a wealthy businessman who grew up in the United States, has won the presidency of this crisis- wracked South American nation for a second time. Congress voted the millionaire mining executive back into office Sunday, choosing him over Evo Morales, the rebellious Indian leader of Bolivia's coca growers, by an 84-43 vote. The two men topped the voting in a June national election, but neither won an outright majority. Under Bolivian law, Congress had to decide between the two for president. [continues 525 words]
$300 Million In U.S. Funds Can't Persuade Farmers ENTRE RIOS, Bolivia - The United States has spent some $300 million since 2000 trying to persuade Bolivian farmers to stop growing coca, the raw material of cocaine, and to plant different crops instead. It hasn't worked. Many farmers in South America's poorest country are ignoring the unpopular eradication program and replanting coca bushes. Banana trees, passion fruit vines and small palm trees take much more work, require up-front investment and don't provide as much profit as the illegal coca bush. Coca needs little attention, it has a guaranteed market and its four annual harvests provide quarterly income. [continues 770 words]
LA PAZ, Bolivia, Aug. 4 - Bolivia's Congress ended a presidential tie today, picking an American-educated millionaire, Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada, to lead the country as it confronts economic malaise and growing social unrest. Mr. Sanchez de Lozada, a mining executive and a political centrist who was president from 1993 to 1997, won by a congressional vote of 84-43 over Evo Morales, a radical Indian leader of Bolivia's coca growers. The men were the top two vote-getters in a national election in June, but neither won an outright majority, forcing a vote in Congress. [continues 243 words]
Taking The Side Of The Coca Farmer A Maverick Politician Stirs A Continent And Puts Washington's Drug War At Risk To understand why Evo Morales has come within a llama's hair of being President of Bolivia - and why his formidable political power is giving U.S. officials fits - pay attention when he and his top advisers open their mouths. That is, see what they're chewing: coca leaves, treasured by Andean Indians like Morales as a sacred tonic and as their most lucrative cash crop but better known to Americans as the raw material of cocaine. [continues 707 words]
Inside Bolivia
