Miguel: I think Evo left the meeting because he had to deliver some Venezuelan checks, which is more important to him than finding a solution. In fact, I don´t think he has any interest in ceding anything. Lula is p.o.ed at him and Itamaraty now thinks that Evo´s full of b.s. about any negotiations. I´m sorry to be so pessimistic. Please google the word hudna...that´s all these are, strategic pauses or truces.
Latest from EL DEBER:
Morales: “Si no podemos vencer hay que morir”
El presidente de la republica, Evo Morales, realizó una donación de ambulancias en Cochabamba. Aprovechó la ocasión para mostrarse duro y distante al dialogo en busca de la paz nacional iniciado anoche. Convocó a los bolivianos a luchar contra un golpe fascista.

En marco de las celebraciones por los 198 años de las efemérides departamentales de Cochabamba, que se cumplen mañana, el presidente Evo Morales acudió al departamento para donar ambulancias y lanzar un duro discurso.

Morales agradeció la preocupación de los países de la región por los conflictos en Bolivia y dijo que sentirse respaldado por todos los países vecinos y muchos de otros continentes, excepto por los Estados Unidos.

Sobre los conflictos sociales que aquejan al país el presidente dijo que se tratan de un golpe fascista y racista a la cabeza de los cívicos de la medialuna. Habló de que la conspiración se inició al comienzo de su mandato y todavía no han podido derrocarlo.

Desde el palco Morales anunció a sus seguidores que “este indio se va a quedar por mucho tiempo” para luego animar a la población a que luchen por el cambio revolucionario, no por su persona y si no se puede vencer, hay que morir en el intento.

De esta manera el presidente mostró un postura radical, con la cual se aleja de la esperanza de dialogo vislumbrada la madrugada de hoy entre los prefectos del Conalde y el Gobierno.

Fernando Roig

Miguel, Fernando: Because I am a man of hope is that I recommend you to see this video:

Bolivia para todos

It is a pity to see some Bolivians acting as maids for the interest of the United States. That is the country that sent you an ambassador that is an expert in dividing nations and has showed nothing but but opposition to this great democratic renewal of Bolivia. The President Evo Morales has been democratically elected not once but twice by the Bolivian people. The secessionist attempt by the "Media Luna" governors is illegal and unconstitutional. It is an attempt at stealing the bolivian richness from his people due to the frustration of knowing of their lack of possibilities of driving the destinies of the Nation by popular vote.

Miguel, I found this blog by searching the about Cambas y kollas on the web. I hope that, since you make such an effort in explaining that not all bolivians are kollas and while you seem are afraid the people from abroad sees Bolivians.
You have also waisted some of your time mentioning about the proportional distributions on those populations and who had the loosing part of the deal in Bolivia's history.

Regards,

Eduardo

Es una gran pena que algunos bolivianos prefieran ser cipayos de los yankis, el pais que les ha mandado un embajador experto en dividir Naciones.
El presidente Evo Morales ha estado democráticamente electo no una sino dos veces por abrumadora mayoría por el pueblo boliviano. El intento secesionista de los prefectos de la región de la media luna es inconstitucional y por lo tanto ilegal. Es un intento de apropiación de las riquezas de todo el pueblo Boliviano ante frustración de saberse incapaces de dirigir los destinos de la Nación mediante el voto de la población.

Miguel he encontrado este blog mientras buscaba cambas y kollas en internet. Espero que, ya que hiciste un esfuerzo tan grande para explicar como no todos los Bolivianos son kollas; noción que parece darte un poco de miedo de que el extranjero tenga de Bolivia. Ojalá te hubieses detenido un momento para analizar como se distribuye la población entre esos grupos y quienes se han llevado siempre las de perder.

Un saludo cordial,

Eduardo

Eduardo: Primero, espero que no me creas un cipayo. Pero no se si se puede hacer la comparacion de Bolivia y Yugoslavia. Puede ser que Golberg es un "experto en dividir naciones" pero no vamos a decir que la situacion en Bolivia es igual a la de Yugoslavia en los años 90. Segundo, no creo que es justo decir que todos los autonomistas quieren secesion (algunos si, pero no todos). Tercero, no tengo miedo de que los de afuera nos crean todos kollas porque no me gustan los kollas (mis abuelitos orureños ambos hablaban aymara y quechua, mi abuelo en sus ultimos dias de vida no hablo nada mas que quechua). Pero es necesario reconocer que hay una increible (y linda!) diversidad dentro de nuestro pais. Igual notaras que reconozco que en los ultimos dias son los pobres quienes se estan matando.

Yes, the video you linked to is remarkably sad. The ethnically charged violence in Bolivia is horrible. But (and I know that "buts" are often disliked) ... but it's important to note that the MAS supporters have also engaged in some pretty brutal violence over the past years. Does that justify the autonomista violence? Absolutely not. But we can't close our eyes to the ugliness on either side. Both Evo & Costas have blood on their hands. In my opinion, the demand for regional (and indigenous) autonomy could be easily reconciled w/in the framework of a more "communitarian" constitution. Instead, Evo & Costas are pushing their supporters to greater violence. Both are guilty of destroying Bolivian unity.

Miguel I am under the impression that you want to navigate two waters at the same time, to make friends with both god and the evil. There is no comparison with the two sides you are talking about. If you lived in south america for any time you must know that the the level of oppression and injustice and lack of voice the indigenous and poor in Bolivia had to endure it is just incredible. The fact that they overcome that and enforced their right to clean elections and that once in power the sought change in pace and not revenge is something that should give you pride in your country.
I hope I just misinterpreted your messages ... two other videos worth watching, including and discussing in your blog.

Bolivian elections

Latin American and the US

Best Regards,

Eduardo

Eduardo: I guess I prefer the Mandela/Gandhi approach to overcoming oppression. Having grown up in Bolivia, I'm well aware of the problems of the poor & indigenous majorities. But I also don't support some of the violent acts of EGTK, the attacks on Chapare farmers who don't want to grow coca, etc. Violence only produces greater violence. And I'd like to think that change in Bolivia can be had w/o resorting to violent clashes between pro- and ant-Evo supporters. I'd rather these problems be solved through democratic, representative institutions.

You got me reading my message again I said "The fact that they overcome that and enforced their right to clean elections and that once in power the sought change in pace and not revenge is something that should give you pride in your country." ... I talked about DEMOCRACY not violence. Now if the same assault to the institutions as the secessionist has been carrying in Bolivia happened in USA ... can you imagine the reaction of the police over there ? Did you see the police repression over the protesters outside the republican national convention just a few days ago ? Are you familiar with the struggles of the civil right movements in USA ? The fact that a few in this movement were violent ... do not mean the cause is condemned. It means condemn the violent and focus in solutions for the oppressed ... I mean you are a PROFESSOR in Political Science. Please, I hope you can be a positive part of the change going on in Bolivia instead of trying to sail in both waters during this historic moment.

Evo Morales has shown an exemplary restrain in the use of power to defend the democratically elected institutions in Bolivia.
The same restrain that the other did not during their illegal time on power and provoked years of oppression to the Bolivian population ...

Best Regards,

Eduardo

PS I hope you watch the videos I posted.

Eduardo: Yes, I realize that Evo's use of state police/military has been restrained. But I wish he had relied on them to restore his government's authority rather than civilian MAS supporters. So while I don't condemn the call for a more democratic, representative, pluralist, equitable, and just Bolivia, I do have to condemn social movements that frequently rely on violence (and this goes for both pro- & anti-Evo groups) to achieve their ends.

I'm very familiar w/ the civil rights struggles of the 1960s in the US. Again, like Gandhi & Mandela, MLK Jr relied on non-violent methods. I think it's important to remember that. Change--especially permanent change--is more likely to come if those in power can be convinced. Coercion only leads to reaction. I'd rather Evo's government not be a repeat of Juan Jose Torres (who also had a constituent assembly that went nowhere).

I also think it's important to remember that those who are critical of MAS are not necessarily its enemies (or yours). The world is not always neatly divided into "good vs. evil" (that's the logic of of US president Bush!).

What worries me Miguel. Is that you seem to see only the violence of the oppressed. While not seeing the actual and historic violence over the oppressed. For each MLK Jr there is a Malcolm X. While Malcolm X violence is not justified his actions do not undermine the righteousness of MLK cause ...
About the Black and white view of the world ... no that is not my view, I am just saying there is a democratically elected government that has to be defended in this critical times. This is specially important for its citizens living abroad by the way ...

Best Regards,

Eduardo

PS.: this is a great Freudian slip of yours
"Tercero, no tengo miedo de que los de afuera nos crean todos kollas porque no me gustan los kollas"
IN English for English readers:

Third, I am not afraid of outsiders believing that we are all kollas because I do not like kollas

PS 2: I see a list of news media outlets in your page I hope you explain your readers of how the information is manipuled by them and I also hope you ensemble a more fair list. I'll do a bit of search to help you on that.

Eduardo: That wasn't a Freudian slip, that was you misinterpreting what I said. Let me see if I can word it more clearly: "I don't hate kollas, so that is not the reason why I would not want people to identify all Bolivians as kollas." Again, I think you've interpreted me through ideological lenses; there seems little I can say/do (short of "Viva Evo!") to convince you otherwise.

As for your assertion about Malcolm X. I wasn't aware that he ever committed violence (he was accused of encouraging violence, but never of actually engaging in violence). Also, his later years were spent encouraging racial tolerance & pluralism. I'm also not sure if I think a movement should actively combine violence (certainly MLK didn't encourage the Black Panthers). By that same logic, the UJC is a positive for more peaceful autonomistas, since it helps push the government towards compromise. Which is why I don't like that logic.

As for the list of media I link to. I have some information on my FAQ. But I think my list of Bolivian news media is fairly diverse. It includes ERBOL (a Catholic news source), El Diario (a populist La Paz paper), La Patria (an Evo friendly newspaper from Oruro). I would love to link to some others, but many don't have websites. I also link to a number of Bolivian bloggers, from the left (e.g. Bolivia Rising) & right (e.g. Bolivia Libre). Actually, when I look at my Bolivian blogroll, most of them are left-oriented. But I'd welcome more, including your own (if you have a blog). But I'd be happy to have you (or anyone) point me to more sources. But I must warn you that my limited time (work, family, work) means that I can only read so much in a given day!

Regarding your kollas phrase I have hoped that in your clarification you have said something like " you know what ? I actually do like kollas because this, this and that" instead of your " I don't hate kollas" but well ... I was just hoping.

Regarding Malcolm X I used this parallelism to draw attention that some elements of violence (that again are condemnable) in a oppressed majority do not justify condemning their cause. I was not looking into dwelling into his history (we are talking about Bolivia) but ... Here you have a few quotes from Malcolm X if you want to read them:

Malcolm X in his own words

The objective in my comments was to share my points of views to understand yours and to leave a message to other readers about what is happening in Bolivia right now and why this is important. It was interesting having this exchange with you ... and I do hope somewhere inside your heart you find your way.

You may add "Radio Patria Nueva" to your lists of radios

Radio Patria Nueva

Best Regards,

Eduardo

Eduardo: Some of my best friends (and favorite family members!) are kollas! But I wonder why you keep assuming that I am "lost" and need to "find my way". You seem to think I am very closed minded; yet I've not argued that you are wrong, suggested that you don't love your country because we disagree, or intimated that you are a bad person. Why is that? Notice that I have not made any similar assumptions about you.

Miguel -

Does "Kolla" refer to both Aymaras and Quechuas, or specifically to Aymaras?

As far as I can tell, it applies to both. The term comes from Kollasuyu (there are multiple spellings), one of the four regions of the Inca empire. I should also add that while the term is often used specifically to denote indigenous people from the Andes, it is also frequently used to denote anyone from those regions.