60% of the roads in Bolivia are currently blocked by protestors

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No, this is not a traffic report. They are demonstrating for the nationalisation of their gas industry in complete opposition to the wishes of their Government and the IMF. According to Reuters:

The main demand of the mostly indigenous protesters is for a share of Bolivia's vast natural gas reserves, the second largest in Latin America.

Many in the poor indigenous majority think an energy law approved by Congress two weeks ago falls short on state control and some want full nationalization of the sector now dominated by foreign firms.

There's a detailed account of the issues here.

Am I alone in thinking that there is a really significant battle going on here? If they win, hopefully it will serve as an example to people in other countries subject to the economic sanctions of the IMF, telling them that there is an alternative to letting their economies be pillaged.

― Gatinha (rwillmsen), Thursday, 2 June 2005 06:11 (nineteen years ago) link

Hmm. That's interesting.

― Ian Riese-Moraine's all but an ark-lark! (Eastern Mantra), Thursday, 2 June 2005 14:59 (nineteen years ago) link

Best thread ever!

― Gatinha (rwillmsen), Friday, 3 June 2005 00:29 (nineteen years ago) link

What the bloody hell? The IMF doesn't impose sanctions. Governments can request that it does a study of their economy, and once it does that it comes back with points of improvement. When economies are failing entirely (because of previous governing incompetence), quite often new loans to a country are contingent upon a government adopting many of the points highlighted in the IMF's report. It's not sanctions, it's smart due diligence. You don't want to throw good money after bad, but you do want to be able to help these countries get back onto their feet.

These peasants are basically ruining Bolivia. It's biggest natural resource is oil, but it lacks the infrastructure to exploit the oil. Thus it needs to attract foreign capital and foreign expertise. Without this they won't be able to take advantage of their oil and use the revenues for things like more schools, better roads, etc. The threat of nationalisation means that no one will invest in Bolivia, and so the protesters won't get anything at all.

What they really need to do is have a more transparent government. One that can work in partnership with foreign oil firms and use the windfalls to a just and equitable purpose.

― you better believe it (you better believe it), Friday, 3 June 2005 08:24 (nineteen years ago) link

These peasants

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Friday, 3 June 2005 08:50 (nineteen years ago) link

I hope this won’t affect my cargo of Bolivian cigars?

― not-goodwin (not-goodwin), Friday, 3 June 2005 09:55 (nineteen years ago) link

A road clear of Bolivian protesters would be news. The country's biggest natural resource is not oil, it's coca. The IMF have been trying to provide incentives for the campesinos to develop non-cocaine producing end products, but have met resistance in the form of 'but there's a highly lucrative market for our product'.

A few years ago, a US senator (whose name escapes G) said, "send in the Navy." Bolivia were none too worried by this approach due to landlockyness.

Boring thread by the way.

― Mikey G (Mikey G), Friday, 3 June 2005 10:19 (nineteen years ago) link

foreign oil firms will no doubt prove to be fair, compassionate partners for bolivia.

― lauren (laurenp), Friday, 3 June 2005 10:24 (nineteen years ago) link

two weeks pass...

'unreported world' (last sat) focused on latin americans attempting to banish capitalism though most of the report involved peru, with a bit abt bolivia toward the end. here's more.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Monday, 20 June 2005 20:27 (nineteen years ago) link

I'm such a jerk, I read this thread title and thought "So, three roads are blocked?"

― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 20 June 2005 20:30 (nineteen years ago) link

ten months pass...

Bolivia's Energy plans ~~frighten parasites~~scare investors

Good. What's the point of a left-wing leader who doesn't scare the bastards?

― Dave B (daveb), Wednesday, 3 May 2006 12:00 (eighteen years ago) link

Does anyone know where I can get a Morales jumper in London?

― Mikey G (Mikey G), Thursday, 4 May 2006 08:24 (eighteen years ago) link

If you find out, be sure to let me know.

― Dave B (daveb), Thursday, 4 May 2006 08:27 (eighteen years ago) link

this tactic has proved so successful in the past, it can't fail this time.

― the Enrique who acts like some kind of good taste gestapo (Enrique), Thursday, 4 May 2006 08:32 (eighteen years ago) link

There is huge potential for tourism in Bolivia. The salt deserts, Inca ruins, Tihuanaco, jungle, Potosi and Sucre's colonial architecture, Titicaca etc.

Forcible renationalisation of indistry won't pull them in though, however noble its intentions.

― Mikey G (Mikey G), Thursday, 4 May 2006 08:43 (eighteen years ago) link

Not many other options though are there? Be raped by multinationals, and scare off the tourists.

Enrique - as a modern politcial visuionary and tactician of the left par excellence, what's your proposal? Carping from London hasn't been shown to improve the lot of the peasantry of Bolivia, or is there some sofa-revolutionary act that is being lept quiet?

― Dave B (daveb), Thursday, 4 May 2006 10:08 (eighteen years ago) link

oddly, i don't post to ilx in the hope that it will change the world. neither carping nor ballyhooing morales is going to make a shade of difference to the peasantry of bolivia.

― the Enrique who acts like some kind of good taste gestapo (Enrique), Thursday, 4 May 2006 10:12 (eighteen years ago) link

There's a geographical problem too. Bolivia has been ruled by some real eccentrics, fighting pointless wars against superior armies, exchanging land for a horse etc. During one of these escapades, it lost its seaport (to Chile, I think) and has never recovered.

Bolivian history is fascinating by the way. Unless you're Bolivian.

― Mikey G (Mikey G), Thursday, 4 May 2006 10:19 (eighteen years ago) link

could they nationalize the cocaine trade? that would make things interesting.

― the Enrique who acts like some kind of good taste gestapo (Enrique), Thursday, 4 May 2006 10:20 (eighteen years ago) link

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