A Letter from Bolivia's Democracy Reborn

A Letter from Bolivia's Democracy Reborn, by Luis Gómez July 8, 2002

La Paz, Bolivia
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Dear Colleagues:

A little more than a week ago there were general elections in Bolivia, with results that have already shaken the foundations of the US-imposed "war on drugs."

At Narco News, we have followed the entire electoral process very closely during the four month campaign, and also the vote-counting that began on June 30th, because in this election indigenous leaders like Evo Morales of the Movement Toward Socialism party (MAS) and Felipe Quispe, “El Mallku,” of the Pachakuti Indigenous Movement party (MIP) – both interviewed last Winter by Narco News - have participated.

Well, you already know about our short-term technical problems in updating the Narco News website, with our key laptop down. This has meant that a lot of new information is still on its way to you. But our publisher, Al Giordano, just back in the newsroom from Venezuela (his detailed reports of that immediate history coming soon) is working around the clock to fix everything.

It is my pleasure to report to you: Within a few days Narco News will be back, anew and stronger than ever.

The vote-counting of the official election results in Bolivia still has not been completed. Partly, because of snowy weather in the South of the country, and partly out of fear: the electoral authorities have not released their own totals. And that is because the MAS (Movement Toward Socialism) party, with Evo Morales as presidential candidate, could well become the second most powerful political force in the country! And this fact, according to the Constitution and other laws, could even result in his rise to the presidency on August 6th!

Can you imagine a popular leader (and coca grower) in power?

As you will be able to observe, the situation in Bolivia is very interesting... and very complex: In this knot of history various traditional parties, two ex-presidents, the U.S. Ambassador and Viceroy Manuel Rocha and, of course, the people of Bolivia... but the most important priority, that which will unleash everything, is to know the official results of the elections. That’s why we have decided to wait a little longer to report the detailed history that, however it ends up, will forever change the political face of the country named for Simón Bolívar.

We ask for you patience, kind readers. We have read your complaints and your compliments – and we thank the many of you who have contributed to the reconstruction of our infrastructure in these days so that Narco News will soon publish again and will never again be delayed by technological interference. If you haven’t yet sent a check, please do.

Checks can be made payable to:

"LiveArt1st"
...and by noting on the check:
"to support the work of Al Giordano"

address for contributions:

LiveArt1st
51 MacDougal Street, Suite 257
New York, NY 10012

LiveArt1st is a 501c3 artists' support organization that is registered in New York State.

From the Andes, where the people have awakened to change the structure of the State,

Luis A. Gómez
Andean Bureau Chief
The Narco News Bulletin
http://www.narconews.com/
narconewsandes@yahoo.com

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