Maravi

Time for oligarchies is over, says Gironda

Time for oligarchies is over, says Gironda
By Larry Moonze in Havana, Cuba
Sunday June 17, 2007 [04:00]

TIME for oligarchies in Latin America is over, Bolivian President Evo Morales’ adviser Eusebio Gironda has said. Gironda, a sociologist, lawyer and professor, told the just ended fifth International Culture and Development conference in Havana that currently the indigenous peoples of the region had all the right to hold positions of influence.

"In Latin America there is an emerging society. It is no longer the time of the Latin America oligarchies or the middle class,” Gironda said. “History has acted. It is the time of the indigenous peoples emerging from the depths of history to take power. What has happened in Bolivia could happen in other countries of the continent where the majority are indigenous.”

He said efforts were now underway in Bolivia to promote a nation and community that fully respected diversity.

"I believe that in the National Assembly the biggest battle of all times is about to be fought in an attempt to radically transform our country. I hope that by the end of this year the Bolivian people will have a constitution that totally defends the interests of our citizens and, especially, the indigenous peoples," Gironda said.
He said President Morales was not seeking the path of violence nor aligning himself with the oligarchy.

"He has his own path, he chose political struggle and the elections with the rules established by the bourgeoisie. He played in their court and unquestionably defeated them," Gironda said. "In Bolivia an irreversible change is underway, say what they say, because we have the support of the people."
However, Gironda said to date the oligarchy owned all the communications media.

"This is our biggest problem because they use misinformation, the manipulation of reality to drum up opposition to the government of Evo and against change,” he said. “An opposition which while politically powerful, lacks support among the historically dispossessed majority.”

Gironda said as the President Morales administration faced the dominance of the major media, it was now establishing community radio stations to coordinate along with radio news networks a different kind of focus which reflected the true reality.
“Soon we are going to establish a national television system," said Gironda.

And Gironda told Granma that he was happy that the President Morales regime had succeeded in nationalising mines and ending monopolies of the hydrocarbons.
"The oil corporations left us 18 per cent of the profits and took 82 per cent with them. Now it’s the reverse, they take 18 and leave 82,” he said. “We also make the decisions on the exploration and distribution of those resources.”

Gironda said this had been one of the most important measures taken by the President Morales government.
“It has allowed us to recover billions of dollars for the national economy. Likewise, we have rescued mines and metal industries," he said.
Gironda said he was excited to participate in the International Conference on Culture and Development where important issues about identity, cultural diversity and neo-liberal globalisation were discussed. He said the trip was his second visit to Cuba.

"The first time was when I was young and escaping from the dictatorships, of which I am a survivor,” said Gironda. “I have not stopped struggling even for a day, or an hour. I will fight for my people as long as I have the strength to do so."

Labels: EVO MORALES, OLIGARCHIES

posted by MrK @ 1:59 AM