Tuesday, September 13, 2005

US Encouraging Military Coup in Bolivia


La Paz, Sep 13 (Prensa Latina) Central Obrera Boliviana (COB) Executive Secretary Jaime Solares, and Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) Legislator Antonio Peredo, have called on the people to be ready to deal with a military coup engineered by the US to frustrate the December 4 presidential elections.

Solares said the US Embassy backs neoliberal ex President Jorge Quiroga and wealthy businessman Samuel Doria Medina and will go as far as necessary to prevent any other candidate´s victory.

The latest opinion poll conducted by Apoyo Opinion y Mercado late August showed leftwing congressman Evo Morales improving to 21 points, barely one point behind Quiroga, and with the potential to continue winning supporters.

The MAS leader´s opportunity to obtain a majority victory (more than 50 per cent) would catapult him straight to the presidency without the need for a second round, added Peredo.

He reminded that were calls in June for a military coup during the social crisis that toppled President Carlos Mesa.

What really worries the MAS, said its leader Evo Morales, is that a coup is just one of many right wing variations to foster chaos and postpone the elections until there is a more convenient atmosphere for the right-wing leaders.

Prominent politicians from various parts of the political spectrum and lawyers have similarly warned that postponing the elections would have a destabilizing effect, a possibility that the temporary government of Eduardo Rodriguez also views with extreme concern.