UN General Assembly head voices support for Bolivian president on hunger strike

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Xinhua

UN General Assembly head voices support for Bolivian president on hunger strike
2009-04-11 13:27:40

LA PAZ, April 10 (Xinhua) -- The President of the UN General Assembly Miguel D'Escoto Brockmann called on Friday the international community to support Bolivian President Evo Morales who has entered the second day of a hunger strike to pressure the congress to approve an electoral law.

D'Escoto said that Morales faces obstacles from the opposition to approve a new electoral law for the elections in December.

"With deep concern I have received information that the approval of the Electoral Regime Law to make possible the general elections in December 2009 has been blocked in the congress," D'Escoto said.

The new electoral Law includes issues like the electoral census, constituencies, parliamentarian seats for indigenous groups and the vote of Bolivians outside the country. Bolivian opposition lawmakers did not agree with the law because it gives 14 places in the congress to minority indigenous groups. However, those changes were included in the new Constitution, recently approved by people's referendum with more than 60 percent of the votes.

Read more: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-04/11/content_11168420.htm

[Judi Lynn]

1. Earlier article by "rabs" in Latin America forum: BBC News "Update on Morales"

rabs (210 posts) Sat Apr-11-09 03:07 AM

2. Update on Morales

Surprised this is not getting more exposure in the MSM. After all, a president on a hunger strike is not an everyday occurrence.

-- Vice President Garcia Linera ordered vehicles and planes to bring opposition senators to La Paz by noon tomorrow (Saturday) or face possible legal action.

-- Morales supporters are beginning to join in solidarity hunger strikes around the country. More than 1,000 began hunger strikes on Thursday and Friday. Thousands more are expected to join the strike on Monday if the impasse is not resolved.

BBC article below gives capsule overview of what this is all about.


Day two of Morales' hunger strike in the presidential palace.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7993274.stm

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=405x13821#13848

[Mika]

2. U.S. Used Clothing Imports to Bolivia Spur Protests

U.S. Used Clothing Imports to Bolivia Spur Protests
http://www.indypendent.org/2009/04/11/bolivia-clothing-protests/

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Gandhi used the indigenous clothing versus British textiles issue as a focal point against British imperialism. Gandhi won the support of the British textile unions when he visited them and explained the Indian revolution to them.

[L. Coyote]

3. K & REC por La Justica. Hemos esperado 500 anos .....