Max Radwin reports for InSight Crime: Officials from Bolivia’s interim government have stepped up drug trafficking operations over the last six months, but a focus on coca-producing communities in Cochabamba is creating tension with law enforcement that threatens to intensify. On April 23, thirteen members of a drug trafficking ring in the city of Entre Ríos,…
Year: 2020
Three evils that plague us – Tres males que nos asolan
The three major illnesses that Bolivia has: Narcotrafficking: not only has territory under its rule (Chapare) but has become a key player in our politics. Corruption: Across the board, public bids, tax evasion, you name it, has worsened over the last 14 years. Covid-19: With over 60% of our labor force in the informal sector,…
The lithium race – La carrera del litio
Humberto Vacaflor writes in El Diario: The lithium race The government of the coca grower Morales took ten years in the Uyuni lithium exploitation project and allocated 800 million dollars to carry it out, but Bolivia has not even entered the competition, where Chile and Argentina are first. The country with the largest salt flat…
Bolivia Investigates Health Officials Over Ventilator Deal After Public Outcry
Reuters reports for The New York Times: LA PAZ — Bolivian authorities on Wednesday fired the health minister and opened an investigation of potential corruption over allegations that officials bought ventilators at inflated prices, underscoring the global challenge to prevent graft in the coronavirus pandemic. Press reports on the steep premium paid for the ventilators,…
Urban/rural vote must be worth the same – Voto urbano/rural debe valer lo mismo
ANF reports for Los Tiempos: Conade demand to the TCP to nullify law 421 and that 1 urban vote be equal to 1 rural vote The National Committee for the Defense of Democracy (Conade) demanded the Plurinational Constitutional Court to nullify Law 421, which reduces the powers of the Supreme Electoral Court (TSE) and which…
Political Blockades against Health – Bloqueos políticos contra Salud
El Diario reports: Minister Oscar Mercado Blockades for political purposes seek health catastrophe In the last hours, the demands of the protesters changed from requests for the relaxation of the quarantine to be able to work, to demands for resignation of authorities and advancement of the general elections The blockades caused by those related to…
Bolivian Thoughts | Pensamientos Bolivianos (Bilingual/Bilingüe) 