Bolivian government expressed their interest to meet but not within the marching group, they requested a different place and smaller group to start the dialogue; government does not want to negotiate in between an angry group shouting at them (long gone are the days when current government officials used the same type of actions…)
The indigenous group waited for the government in Totaizal and decide to walk again today. Last night at UNITEL program that discussed this issue, an indigenous woman leader said they (indigenous) meet like that, with all the people in the meeting; she said that maybe current president negotiates in smaller groups when leading the coca growers union but should understand the indigenous way.
Current Bolivian president said yesterday that TIPNIS demands grew from the road issue to a letter of 13 points and then another document with 16 points; he said the ministers should meet with the TIPNIS marching leaders and start from there. The indigenous group says they want the president to go meet the marching group and start the meetings. Fidel Surco, MAS senator accused CEJIS (NGO) for financing the march, however (and as usual in Bolivian politics) he did present proofs of that allegation.
So, indigenous want the president to start-up the negotiations, he says he’ll wait in La Paz. There are a number of other organizations that want to march as well, but in support of the road. Chances are that the turmoil will increase and no one opens up to the dialogue.
The arrival in Santa Cruz of former Brazilian President Lula, generated a lot of expectation, since it was during his government that the funding became available for the road construction that attempts to cross over the TIPNIS. El Dia reports that Lula made no comment nor reference regarding that road.
Journalist Julio César Caballero M., wrote in El Deber about the necessity and hope that Lula would bring to the TIPNIS issue.
http://www.eldeber.com.bo/2011/2011-08-30/vernotacolumnistas.php?id=110829203517
Carlos Valverde in his radio program today, made an analysis that Lula came in help of the Foreign Affairs Brazilian policy. Valverde also said that Brazil wanted to “rescue” Argentina out of the influence of Chavez’ Venezuela, and that wanted to do the same in the Bolivia case. Valverde said that this may be the last attempt of Brazil to come in the rescue of Bolivia.
In any event, and recalling El Dia report, Lula avoided the issue and that is a bad signal regarding the TIPNIS.
Bolivian Thoughts | Pensamientos Bolivianos (Bilingual/Bilingüe) 