This cartoon is from El Dia, it portrays a typical hat from the lowlands of Bolivia (indigenous), being stomped by coca.
Violent police repression generated large number of demonstrations in support of the TIPNIS people across the country.
This picture is from El Deber (9/27/11), it shows how citizens from Rurrenabaque stopped the intention of transporting over 280 TIPNIS people away from the area. [kudos to those citizens!!]
Government officials deny this violent measure was to “evacuate” the people, and not “disperse” the group. Three ministers pretend to justify the violent intervention this past Sunday: Government, Sacha Llorenti; Presidency, Carlos Romero, and Communication, Ivan Canelas,
This cartoon is from El Diario (9/27/11), two people talking: “instead of receiving assistance from ‘chavez’ and ‘castro’ the president could have received advise from the notorious former president ‘Carlos D. Mesa’!” and the reply: “I think it is a good idea…! he (Mesa) at least resigned three times!” [In clear reference to Mesa’s offers to leave office when his presidency faced turmoil. Bolivian protests in support of TIPNIS, yesterday, shouted (as in the Bolivian twitter community and other social media) current president should leave office].
Now, the intention to go after a referendum, or a national debate over the road is just an excuse to gain time, so that Bolivian society and the rest of the world forgets all the violence. Current president denies he authorized such repression, that alone, diminishes president’s authority and credibility.
TIPNIS people says they don’t oppose to the road, they only oppose that a road cuts in half a National Park which is also their territory. That is clear and therefore a debate and/or referendum is useless.
Bolivian Thoughts | Pensamientos Bolivianos (Bilingual/Bilingüe) 