I’m Miguel Centellas, a political science professor at Mount St. Mary’s University. Because of academic interests, I post frequently on Bolivian politics. I also occasionally discuss interesting books, pop culture, and daily life in Baltimore.
I just got an email from my mom (in Santa Cruz, Bolivia) and am reading the papers. The government seized the Santa Cruz airport (w/ a nighttime air assault by elite forces). At least 10 were injured. According to my mom, Venezuelan troops were involved (though I haven’t seen this in the press reports). The Santa Cruz prefect has called on residents to resist the government’s takeover. This is going to get very ugly, very fast. Here’s more from the International Herald Tribune. There were clearly problems w/ Viru Viru (which prompted the government takeover). But I don’t think going in w/ unrestrained military force was the answer.
Carlos Hugo Molina, a Bolivian social scientist & blogger confirms the rumor of Venezuela troops at Viru Viru. Seem that while Evo denied their presence, a column of them marched past the cameras behind him.
Near the bottom of a Los Tiempos article on the subject, there’s a quote from a government spokesperson that the Venezuelan troops present at the scene were there by “coincidence.” Perhaps. Who knows. But it seems it’s no longer mere speculation that they were there.
One of the El Deber blogs (País de las Maravillas) has more here.
Miguel: You're right that this could get ugly fast. The anti-Evo, anti-government, and dare I say secessionist sentiment in Santa Cruz has never been higher. Neither side seems to think the other is dealing in good faith.
Posted by
galloglass
October 19, 2007 12:22 PM
One other thing...Crucenos are very outspoken about the number of Venezuelans and Cubans circulating in S.C. What sort of numbers do you think there really are?
Posted by
galloglass
October 19, 2007 12:24 PM
I've no idea on the numbers. Evo has been known to have some (a small number, I think) of Venezuelan "security operatives" in his entourage. At one point it became a sore point for the military, which saw this as an afront to their institutional loyalty. I've also not seen anything in (online) print journalist sources about whether Venezuelan troops are actually involved, or if so how many. But I'm going to keep my eyes on this as best I can on a busy Friday.
Thanks for the link. Yes, the public mythology of "foreign" intervention is large in Bolivia. I remember the rumors circulating in La Paz in September/October 2003 (when I was there) that "Chilean agents" (specifically, sharpshooters) had come in to defend Goni's government.
The claim of Venezuelans in Bolivia seems to fit that level of outlandishness. And yet ... there are some credible witnesses (and a track record over the past two years) behind it. So I'm willing to entertain it as a possibility.
This sounds pretty serious, but reminds me of the (much more fun) takeover of the Tarija airport in 2005. The airport's international status had just been downgraded due to insufficient firefighting equipment (and problems with the control tower too, I think). This was taken as an insult to Tarija.
The Comité Cívico juvenil took over the runway and stayed out there for at least one night. There were soldiers two hundred meters away, who moved in after the bloqueadores had negotiated a deal and retreated.
From the IHT article, it sounds like the Crucenos got the upper hand over the military.
SANTA CRUZ, Bolivia: Armed with clubs and waving provincial flags, thousands residents of Bolivia's wealthiest province seized the country's busiest airport Friday, wresting local control back from troops sent in by President Evo Morales.
The seizure of the airport was a victory for leaders of a province fighting for greater autonomy from the socialist central government, which appeared to accept that it would not try to reclaim the facility.
Soldiers and military police melted away before the protesters flooded into Santa Cruz's Viru Viru airport terminal, avoiding clashes. It was not immediately clear if they had left the airport entirely or withdrawn to a distant part of the property.
Posted by
Frank IBC
October 19, 2007 4:25 PM
What does "macaco" mean? How is that received in Bolivia?
It has been reported that Ruben Costas, the Santa Cruz prefect, called Hugo Chavez a "macaco mayor," among other things.
Posted by
John
October 20, 2007 11:12 AM
A macaco is a kind of monkey. Costas called Chávez a "big monkey."
Hmmm... that's the same word (give or take a letter) that got George Allen in trouble.
Posted by
Frank IBC
October 20, 2007 12:55 PM
Yes, it is, Frank. It's important not to romanticize either "side" in Bolivia (Evo or the opposition). I doubt the "liberal" credentials of most of them.
I think that given Hugo's behavior, he got off lightly. In Venezuela he's the "Mico Mandante" a play on words of "Mi Comandante."
Posted by
galloglass
October 20, 2007 3:29 PM
What I saw on the news and what Unitel played over and over, was one lone Venezuelan pilot (the flag was clearly present on his sleeve) walking behind some glass.
What I also heard was the explanation, was that he was a Venezuelan pilot who landed a plane in Santa Cruz to pick up students on their way to Caracas or Havana, cannot remember which, as part of their scholarship.
I heard nothing else about that matter, but naturally Unitel played the one image over and over and put in bold letters that the Venezuelans had landed.
I am sure there are Venezuelan military in the country, but am not so sure that there were that many in Viru Viru.
I'm also uncertain about their presence. And, frankly, doubtful (since I think the Bolivian military would, on principle, be opposed to such an intervention). But several Bolivian academic bloggers have confirmed the reports, suggesting that it's more serious. Additionally, the Bolivian government spokesperson also acknowledged their presence, but stating that it was a coincidence.
Now, it is widely known that Venezuelan military & security personnel have been flying into Bolivia frequently, mainly through Viru Viru. And at least two Venezuelan planes landed that day. So it's possible that a Venezuelan military group arrived on those planes, but wasn't involved in the assault.
I'm a little behind on this one, but all the same... Venezuela has loaned or donated a number of helicopters to Bolivia. You can also see a Venezuelan C-130 fly overhead from time to time. Each of these would require pilots, aircrewmen, and maintainers. If we suppose that there are four helicopters permanently stationed here and the C-130 passing through on occasion, I would easily estimate a need of 40 - 50 crewmembers and support personnel. If instead they are in the hands of Bolivian aircrew, then te 40 - 50 would have been necessary to get the program up and running, then they would have disappeared. Figure a year to train and transition.
Once transitioned to Bolivian operation, I'd expect at least a few technical experts would remain in Bolivia, as well as logistics support, figure 10 - 20.
This is just to support the air side. Any other military assistance or consultation - such as advising on the building of Bolivian military bases - would require more. All said and done, I wouldn't expect less than 50 VZ military in country at any one time. Not enough to panic about, but enough to keep rumors flying.
