From: Gerald_A_Levy@MSN.COM
Date: Mon Jun 13 2005 - 08:13:17 EDT
> I think what's happening in Bolivia is very important and very difficult. > As I understand it, the real force behind the revolution is coming > from the people organised in local mass assemblies (cabildos) which > are meeting almost daily in El Alto and throughout the country, who have > no interest in taking power. Hi John H: I agree that what is happening is very difficult (i.e. complex) and I'm still trying to piece together what has been happening ... and so I appreciate the thoughts of others on the list. When you say that the local assemblies "have no interest in taking power", isn't this an exaggeration? That may be the perspective of Abel Mamani (in El Alto) and Jaime Solares, but surely there are different perspectives in the assemblies about whether or not they will have to "take power"? > The more moderate forces around Evo Morales are trying to > channel the uprising into state forms, focusing on the calling of new > elections and the winning of power, but certainly the tempo and tone for > the moment is being set by the radical forces with their seizure of oil > installations, their calls for nationalisation and drive towards the > immediate calling of a Constituent Assembly. I think the future of the > revolution and the prevention of military intervention depends very much > on the capacity of this assembly-based movement to continue > developing its strength. This is surely the central issue, but complex and > difficult. After forcing the resignation of Mesa _and_ Vaca Diez (the President of the National Congress who was constitutionally in line to become President), the Supreme Court Chief Justice (Eduardo Rodraguez) became President. The whole point of Rodraguez becoming President was that he could call for new elections and thereby demobilize the popular blockades and protests and channel protest into the electoral process. It is unclear to what extent that bourgeois strategy will work: i.e. it is unclear at this time (at least to me) whether "stability" will be restored and the "crisis" ended or whether the assemblies will refuse to be subverted and de-fused. We shall see. Already the US government (of course) blamed Chavez for "interfering" in Bolivia. The Chavez government denied this and said that the situation in Bolivia must be resolved by the Bolivians in accord with the Bolivian Constitution. (Yet, one of the demands of the struggle is to _change_ the Constitution). In this context (especially given the popular demands to nationalize the natural gas and oil industries and the emergence of popular assemblies outside of the control of the state) I agree with you that there is a real threat of military intervention (by the Bolivian generals, with the support of the US) and repression. So, I guess I agree with you that the key issue will be whether the popular assemblies will continue to be an independent, militant force. I don't think it's too soon for them to think about arming the people for self-defense and as a deterrent from attack by the state. It is clear that developments in Venezuela have had some impact on the situation in Bolivia (where Chavez is a popular figure with at least some segment of the Left). What is less clear to me is how developments in Bolivia have impacted the popular struggles in Venezuela and elsewhere (e.g. Argentina and Brazil). I imagine that the situation in Bolivia is being closely followed by the Zapatistas in Chiapas. Have they released any statements about Bolivia? In solidarity, Jerry
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