PNG - Boliva; think about it

Bolivia crisis: Your reaction
The head of the Supreme Court Eduardo Rodriguez has been sworn as interim president of Bolivia following the resignation of Carlos Mesa. The move breaks a deadlock which had seen huge protests and one death, as demonstrators objected to the possibility of the Senate speaker Hormando Vaca Diez becoming president. There is now a hope that early elections can be called in an effort to restore calm to the country, after a month of protests over the handling of Bolivia's gas reserves. Will the change of president bring an end to the protests? Have you witnessed the violent clashes between protestors and security forces? Send us your comments. The following comments reflect the balance of opinion we have received so far: Give the citizens what they want. Nationalize it and keep greedy big oil and gas business reigned in. Gary Frost, Smyrna, TN. US They want rights to what has traditionally been taken from them Erik Cooke, Washington, DC Bolivia is a country that has long been exploited. For most of those who are protesting, this is the first time that they have influenced their country's course. Any lasting solution will include mechanisms by which they can meaningfully participate in government - a new president won't solve the impasse. They want rights to what has traditionally been taken from them - their land and their power. Erik Cooke, Washington, DC Living in a western, post industrial nation, I often hear my fellow citizens discussing the problems found in developing nations such as Bolivia. We wonder, what can be done for the people in these nations who suffer poverty and civil unrest. The citizens of Bolivia are showing us what we can do! Let them determine their own fate, and furthermore let them control what they do with their vast energy reserves. The amount of money their nation could make from exploiting its natural gas reserves could propel them from a developing nation, to a major player in the global economy. This is obviously what the citizens of Bolivia want. It is their country. To deny them this authority in the interest of foreign profits would be a heinous injustice. Lucas Anderson, Austin, TX United States of America I'm scared for my grandparents who live in La Paz, and who knows how the current problems of Bolivia can be resolved! Education issues take years to resolve, and Bolivia needs action now. This is truly a problem which both sides are not right, and there needs to be a use of compassion by both sides in order to find a middle ground. Jason Sergio Villanueva Jacobs, Dallas, Tx. It is time for them to achieve the equality Che envisioned for them Nasreem Glover, Washington DC Those Bolivians are the epitome of a dispossessed, exploited people and it is time for them to achieve the equality Che envisioned for them so many years ago. Nasreem Glover, Washington, D.C. The ideal solution for the problem would be to call for elections and accept the winner. However, lack of education, the weakness of the political parties and large scale corruption compromise any real hope. The misinformation of the indigenous people is sad, and very dangerous. Their so-called 'leaders' have led them to believe that not selling the countries natural resources is the solution. Changes in the leadership are very necessary, both in the political parties as well as for the farmers and miners. DRM, Tarija, Bolivia What is happening in Bolivia is the result of years of racism and corruption from the rich oligarchy that inhabits the highlands of the country. Today, Mesa and his associates are trying to tell everybody that those Indian farmers and other organized groups in eastern and southern Bolivia are to blame for the current situation. Why they don't tell just the true and assume all the responsibility. Tarija, Wichita, Kansas Is calling for new presidential elections the real solution to this problem? The unrest is mainly due to people: a) asking for economic reforms, Bolivians want their country to be more like Western Europe and less like the US, and b) asking for political reform, Bolivians want what South Africans fought for and finally got with Nelson Mandela. In short, Mesa's latest move looks more like a smokescreen than a sincere gesture to resolving the crisis. A Flanigan, Champaign, IL US The situation in Bolivia has become a power struggle between the indigenous people and the people who want to grab power SN, La Paz, Bolivia The 500 years of atrocities against the indigenous people have now backfired against the land owners and politicians. Now the situation in Bolivia has become a power struggle between the indigenous people (Aymara, Quechua and Guarani) and the people who still want to grab power. A country with over 60% living in poverty cannot continue with the corrupt activities of the traditional politicians. The poor are tired of being poor. If you visit the villages, the real Bolivia can be seen - no electricity, no water supply, no education or health structure. Now is the time to think about an even distribution of power and resources among all Bolivians. Otherwise Bolivia will no longer exist on the world map. SN, La Paz, Bolivia The current Bolivian crisis is a structural one, in which none of the actors involved (nor the "leftist" movements, nor the more conservative groups of the traditional Bolivian elite) can establish their political, pre-eminence over one other. On the other hand, there have been accusations that many of the protests from social organisations and groups are infiltrated with agents from the extreme right, and that protesters receive financing and support to help create a climate of uncertainty in Bolivia, favouring the disposition of the population towards a more authoritarian, but orderly regime. The seizure of dynamite, money and firearms by the police, yesterday, from some "protesters", seem to support these claims of external financing. We have to distinguish here between the real long-term solution for the permanent political crisis in Bolivia, and a short-term solution for the present crisis peak, which might take many forms, from a more democratic one, which might encompass the call for election of new authorities, to an undemocratic solution, which is not so far off, by the way. Sergio Jauregui, La Paz, Bolivia Mesa faces the dilemma of balancing indigenous demands with the neo-liberal economic model. If he raises the tax on gas exports to 50%, he will be threatening the foreign credit inflow on which Bolivia is so dependent. But if he doesn't then the protests will most likely escalate. For this reason, Bolivia has become an almost ungovernable country. Gareth Humphreys, Portsmouth, UK The main problem in South America today is corruption accepted as a way of life at almost every level and a general lack of morality. Nationalising the oil industry will just lead to more corruption and inefficiency eventually leading to an even worse economic situation for the poor. What's needed is more free market driven reform, the USA to be engaged with the region and lots of government transparency. Unfortunately, it's going to take decades of hardship and sacrifice before society there evolves into something more stable and equitable. Alex, Caracas, Venezuela The protesters do not know what they are asking for Santiago Dammert, Lima, Peru The protesters do not know what they are asking for. They are sending Bolivia into turmoil. Nationalisation will not help under a weak government, which will most probably be corrupt. Santiago Dammert, Lima, Peru The people want to have a say in how their country is run. It's not too much to ask. The people want to vote. If you want a resolution to the problem, let the people vote. Only those interested in securing their own power would oppose such a choice. Simon, Toronto, Canada I am a mining company executive returning to the US from Bolivia. While my project was in the hinterlands and not in La Paz, our office is headquartered in La Paz and the situation there is getting steadily worse according to my associates. This whole mess started when the US asked Bolivia to quit growing Coca which they did. When Bolivia asked for help for alternative incomes for the coca growers Bush said no and here we are. This would never have happened if the US had helped develop another sustainable employment for them. Another failure of American diplomacy. Mike Shaw, Denver, CO, USA I am a journalist who was living and working in La Paz in 2003 when the 'Gas War' occurred. I honestly do not know how the current situation will be resolved - Carlos Mesa has made none of the mistakes of his predecessor yet he can do no right either. Half of the country want nationalisation of the resources, as they believe this will give them immediate financial gratification, but fail to realise it will cripple the country economically. The others want to move to economic liberalisation, but fail to realise this will just continue to polarise the country financially. Neither side is willing to consider the long term benefits of compromise, and as a result things will continue to spiral out of control until one side wins, but not before the country has been completely crippled and perhaps a civil war has happened. Kristie Robinson, London, UK The ballot could be the only option Paul John Kibu, Kigoma, Tanzania The ballot, the most democratic way of expressing ideas, could be the only option. Bolivians are tired. Let an elected government offer what is good for the majority. Resorting to teargas canisters will only aggravate the problem. Paul John Kibu, Kigoma, Tanzania I was in La Paz in October and there were protests and scuffles on a daily basis. The people there are dirt poor, and I can see why they are angry. Mark Power, Dublin, Ireland The resignation of the president will create more chaos and uncertainty. The tussle between the executive and the Congress will lead to civil war. The indigenous people must have a share of the natural resources. It is time the UN shows that it has guts to move in with courage and negotiate a settlement amongst the right, the left and the indigenous people and conduct new general elections. UN diplomats must leave their cosy hotels and meet the people who need help. This is an opportunity to prove that the world still needs a UN. Richard Kamalanathan, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia The solution is complicated, but it can begin by the Congress making a promise to nationalise all gas, oil, and mineral resources, including all foreign companies that mine them. And to immediately begin to deliver greater power to the indigenous communities, including resources to build structures for education and health for the most needy. Encke King, New York City, USA The greatest enemy of Bolivia is its history of corruption in government and in union management. The riches of the country are exported, never to return. Water, food, and shelter must be available to all. Amarya and Quechua languages must be elevated to the same level as Spanish. Public libraries should be introduced to the country. George Zimmer, Byron, Michigan, USA The protesters' demands seem pretty reasonable. Wealth is so unfairly distributed in South America that these kinds of violent protests are inevitable while the majority live in absolute poverty and the elite live in incomprehensible luxury. Jake, Leeds, UK A new and complete election is the only way to keep democracy and return order to the country Daniel Uribe, Washington DC, USA As a Bolivian living overseas, I see that a new and complete election is the only way to keep democracy and return order to the country. Mr Diez and Mr Cossio should follow the president's lead and resign. They should do this for the people and the country. Daniel Uribe, Washington DC, USA What country in the world fights to keep investors away when you have the second largest reserve of natural gas in the world? How pathetic. I am disgusted and embarrassed to be a Bolivian right now. Embarrassed Bolivian The government should look into nationalising the gas supplies and then leasing out extraction rights to the company on short term contracts. National elections should be held with UN monitoring and Mr Diez should do what is best for the country and step down. Thomas Steuart-Feilding, Bristol, UK The government has to stop giving away the country's resources to the highest bidder. The people deserve a decent wage and living conditions. They are tired of being exploited. We in the USA are getting very tired, too. Ambler, PA, USA On the one hand, the poor indigenous farmers and miners rightly think that they are not getting a fair share of opportunities, while the urban middle class in La Paz want to live a normal life without constant disruptions of their free movement. The country's poor fall into two categories: highland farmers whose lifestyle hasn't changed for many centuries, and miners whose living conditions resemble Manchester in 1850. They have been mobilised by the old style socialist parties. It is clear that they have few solutions for the social problems and that they find little support with the European middle classes. The problems are so deeply rooted that a solution appears almost impossible. The only immediate step forward, as outgoing President Mesa stresses, are elections for a new president and congress. Denis Holdenried, Spello, Italy Bolivia will not be able to develop unless it addresses its internal wrangling. Although those in the upper echelons of society may not like to admit it, Bolivia has a predominantly native South American population. To ignore the wishes of such a large contingent of any society is entirely self destructive. Change, as always, needs come from within. As it continues to be exploited by both its neighbours and overseas countries, Bolivia will continue to struggle. A start would be to give a greater recognition to the country's various indigenous groups, eg the Aymara, and a greater say in how the country is run. This may indeed lead to an initial, further drop in productivity, but it will lay the foundation for the country to develop over the next century. Bolivia cannot ignore its heritage. Jeremy Wright, Reigate, UK The fires of resentment are being fanned by radical left leaning leaders Peter Rogers, South Maitland, Canada The problem in Bolivia is but the latest in a series of increasingly violent and widening social protests at the failure of the economic integration in Latin America. The fires of resentment are being fanned by radical left leaning leaders who are in danger of engulfing the whole of the continent in chaos as is seen in neighbouring Peru, Brazil and Argentina. Now more than ever the US should stand up for democracy and social justice. I am afraid that having neglected both Africa and South America in the obsessive drive to secure oil supplies elsewhere that it is far too late to stop this cycle of violence. Peter Rogers, South Maitland, Canada I was in Bolivia four years ago now and remember an awful lot of protests there. It is a beautiful country, but very poor, and La Paz is a city of contrasts, rich businessmen striding past the old Incan women living in shanty towns on the outskirts of the city. The people were protesting strongly about water privatisation as I understood it. They were shouting at the tops of their voices and it all looked quite menacing from where I was standing. The government should have listened back then and maybe they wouldn't be where they are today. Julie, London, UK The legitimate claims of the impoverished majority would be best answered by a referendum on the nationalisation of the gas industry, while compensating, via gas exports, foreign multinationals for losses incurred in the event of nationalisation. This is the kind of grassroots people-power democracy which Bush and Co claim to embrace (mass protests, revolutions in Ukraine, Georgia etc) yet the US is no doubt planning some covert solution to counter this democratic flourish as it threatens continued cheap access to Bolivia's gas. Let's just hope the Bolivians stand firm and united - for their sake! John, Paris, France The historical injustices that Bolivia's large indigenous population has suffered cannot be undone overnight. Now that the highland majority is defending its economic interests in the political sphere, representation in La Paz must reflect the same shift. Elections should be conducted with international monitoring. Megan Morrissey, Montreal, Canada