A letter was published in Pagina Siete on August 4, 2011, regarding unfortunate statements issued by current president on August 1, 2011. He was in the coca growing area of the Chapare; he made reference to the opposition that yuracare-trinitarias women made to the TIPNIS road construction. While the letter commends some of the support this government made to women presence in public office, they questioned his statement:

“If I would have time, I would go sweet-talk the fellow yuracares and convince them not to oppose; so, youngsters, you have instructions from the president to be keen on the yuracare-trinitarias fellow woman so they do not oppose to the construction of the road”. “Approved?”

Letter goes on reminding him that women have participated always with coherent, own thought and opinion about different issues, so they regard those remarks as offensive, “…as a worrying macho-type vision that promotes the conquest of our ideas and bodies”.

They also remind that the indigenous rights are recognized by the Political Constitution of the State, like previous consultation; freedom of consent, previous and informed; and the free determination, to autonomy and territory control.

Finally, they demand a public apology for those remarks that, they reiterate, “… are an unacceptable lack of respect to the yuracare-trinitarias women in particular and to the Bolivian women in general.

Letter is signed by the following organizations: Coordinadora de la Mujer, Casa de la Mujer, Centro de Apoyo a la Mujer y la Niñez, CCIMCA, CCIMCAT, CECASEM, CEDETI, Centro Juana Azurduy, CIAC, COOMUJER, ECAM, Fundación La Paz, Centro Gregoria Apaza, IFFI, IPTK, Mujeres en Acción, OMAK, Progenero, Tahipama, Cepromin, Ciase, Cedefoa, Setam, CIES, Pro Mujer, AIPE, CIPCA, Procosi.

http://www.paginasiete.bo/2011-08-04/Opinion/Destacados/17Opi00104-08-11-P720110804JUE.aspx