Maravi

Morales will be victorious – Fidel

Morales will be victorious – Fidel
Written by Larry Moonze in Havana, Cuba
Sunday, April 12, 2009 3:49:54 AM

FORMER Cuban president Fidel Castro believes Bolivian leftist leader Evo Morales will be victorious with his hunger strike over the electoral law impasse. By midnight on Thursday, the right-wing Bolivian congressmen who are in majority left parliament short of passing the new provisional electoral law needed to stage parliamentary elections in December as decreed in the new constitution.
As the rightwing held their ground against the new law,

President Morales went on an indefinite hunger strike at the Government Palace asking the opposition legislators to make history together with him.

He said there must be no room for egoism and sectarianism in Bolivia.

“We, the comrades from the country’s various social organisations, faced with the negligence of a group of neo-liberal lawmakers, are being forced to defend the peoples’ mandate,” President Morales said.

“The members of parliament knew they had 60 days to pass the Provisional Electoral Law. Nevertheless, they do not want the passage of a law that will allow for the implementation of the Constitution to be ensured.”

President Morales had to cancel his visit to Cuba planned for Thursday, April 9 due to the impasse in La Paz.

At stake is the electoral model and the number of indigenous seats in the future parliament. President Morales wants 14 seats for indigenous people but the opposition is only ready to accept three.

But Castro observed that President Morales’ prestige in Bolivia and in the world was growing.

“He is constantly receiving more support from the people in spite of the fact that the oligarchy controls most of the media resources,” he said. “An exemplary literacy campaign (supported by Cuba) has wiped out illiteracy in record time. Today the media services reach the entire population. Important historical necessities of the people are being looked after by native and new methods. The economy and currency reserves are on the upswing. This infuriates the oligarchy which is blocking the parliamentary elections announced for the end of this year. The manoeuvre has forced Evo, the party in power and the masses to adopt battle measures characterised by the moral strength they imply.”

Castro, who made several telephone calls with Cuban Ambassador to Bolivia Rafael Dausa on the situation and status of President Morales, said he also followed the debates until the House adjourned.

He said the House of Representatives supported President Morales overwhelmingly.

Castro said the problem lies in the Senate where the oligarchy (rightwing opposition) has the majority.

Passage of the Provisional Electoral Law would require two thirds in each House.

However, President Morales has a legal avenue (Constitutional powers) in which he could issue a Supreme Decree in order to pass the law under discussion. In that case, President Morales could also dissolve Congress and call for parliamentary elections.

But Castro said President Morales was against the idea of using the decree in his desire to preserve the country’s unity.

He explained that it was for that reason President Morales was constantly inviting the opposition to share in the effort to develop the nation for the benefit of all sectors.

Castro said it was incredible to hear the debates of the opposition in Congress.

“It is incredible to hear the oligarchy leaders’ hatred and insolence,” said Castro. “They are trained in the art of insults and personal affronts. They are outraged by Evo, the first indigenous person in the history of our America to govern a country that also has ancestral indigenous origins and customs. I haven’t the slightest doubt that Evo will come out victorious.”

President Morales, the National Coordination for Change (CNC) and the Bolivian Workersí Union (COB) declared a massive hunger strike from the Government Palace demanding respect for the Constitution and the Provisional Electoral Law which has been postponed for months to sabotage the elections.

In his address to the nation, President Morales said asking for new electoral registers as demanded by the opposition meant there would be no national elections at the end of the year including nor those governors or municipals.

He said the hunger strike was in defence of the sacred vote by the people of Bolivia.

“The anti-democratic elements of yesterday are now portraying themselves as the great defenders of democracy,” said President Morales. “Here we have comrades who have given their lives and their time on behalf of true democracy. Therefore, in order to undertake real democracy, we are passing regulations in the National Congress.

In the Congress, members of parliament have one of the best opportunities to ensure democracy and profound structural transformations as well. I am asking the opposition members of parliament that we make history together, all of us. We must think of equality and the social solutions that the people want. Here, there is no room for egoism or sectarianism. First are the people, first is the homeland and then the interests of the sectors or the regions.”

Labels: EVO MORALES

posted by MrK @ 2:51 AM