The following articles’ links are from today’s newspapers. They are in Spanish, a short paragraph summarizes content. Sorry for not being able to translate them all.
1. Susana Seleme Antelo (El Deber, Santa Cruz) writes about the way the “terrorism” allegations have been handled judicially. There is mention that the judicial and executive powers are overlapped. Brazil’s lawyers association was denied to attend the trial.
http://www.eldeber.com.bo/2011/2011-04-17/vernotacolumnistas.php?id=110416234024
2. Gonzalo Chavez A. (Pagina Siete, La Paz) gives an economic analysis of the blockades in Bolivian history for the last 40 years. He mentions that this government is facing blockades as a result of unmet expectations; government claimed that their macroeconomics was successful, with a surplus record of billions of dollars in reserves. Well, now unions and other social groups are demanding those resources to be used on them, as salary increases. http://www.paginasiete.bo/2011-04-17/Opinion/Destacados/17Opi00117-04-11-P720110417DOM.aspx
3. Humberto Vacaflor Ganam (Los Tiempos, Cochabamba) compares Melgarejo with Morales, as the former fled from Bolivia via Yunguyo, the latter had to do that while in Pocitos Tarija this week. Both presidents faced problems because of their government peformance. He then mentions how five past presidents who were insulted in the past by this president, now were asked to meet to discuss the unresolved sea claim with Chile. http://www.lostiempos.com/diario/opiniones/columnistas/20110417/salidas-previsibles_121926_243750.html
4. Waldo Peña Cazas (Los Tiempos, Cochabamba) writes about whether congress should be the place to resolve issues or rioting in the streets. Analyses how the three powers should remain independent from each other. http://www.lostiempos.com/diario/opiniones/columnistas/20110417/debate-parlamentario-o-lucha-callejera-_121923_243747.html
5. Jimena Costa Benavides (La Prensa, La Paz) analyzes strategies that this government will consider in lieu of current conflicts. How narcotrafficking, the sea cost issue with Chile can be used to divert the attention. She suggests that this government will not work towards recovering support but to prevent support on to their opposition.
http://www.laprensa.com.bo/noticias/17-4-2011/noticias/17-04-2011_14883.php
6. Fernando Valdivia Delgado (El Diario, La Paz) analyzes how (not-so-long-ago) former allies and supporters of current government are now the source of current social unrest in Bolivia. December steep increase in oil prices triggered consumer products’ inflation. (This link opens broadly, you would need to look under “Opinon” on the top menu, and look for the author’s name). http://www.eldiario.net/
7. Lupe Cajias (El Deber, Santa Cruz) writes about travel sites in Bolivia, how different ecoregions, and traditions were available for Bolivian and foreign tourism. She wonders how that is being affected with current blockades. Social unrest is the strongest detriment for tourism. http://www.eldeber.com.bo/2011/2011-04-17/vernotacolumnistas.php?id=110416234204
8. El Dia, Santa Cruz editorial and comment regarding current social unrest.
9. The cartoon of the day goes to La Razon newspaper from La Paz, it is related with article one, above. The prosecutor is presenting proofs of his accusation on “terrorism”
Bolivian Thoughts | Pensamientos Bolivianos (Bilingual/Bilingüe) 