Morales: Indigenous Prez Unacceptable to Bolivia's Oligarchy

[magbana]

GRANMA
May 10, 2008

Indigenous President Unacceptable to Bolivia's Oligarchy

LA PAZ, May 9.-- President Evo Morales said Friday that the rightwing and the
oligarchy want to overthrow him because they "can't accept that an
indigenous person governs Bolivia."

Speaking at a rally in Oruro, Morales said: "At the beginning they said,
'Poor little Indian, let him have fun for four months and then we'll get rid
of him,' now they say, 'This Indian is going to be around for a long time'
and they are plotting how to topple me," reported AFP.

The rightwing opposes the changes in Bolivian political and economic life
promoted by Morales, who will face a recall vote within the coming three
months to validate his mandate and that of the vice president and the nine
departmental governors, six of which are from opposition parties.

"The problem here is not about autonomies (decentralized governments); it's
not a problem of the IDH (distribution of the oil tax to the departments);
the problem is Evo Morales. These groups don't accept that a farmer, an
Indian, is the president of the republic," he said.

Morales is from the Aymara ethnic group, the first indigenous person to
govern Bolivia in its 182 years of independence. He is trying to weather the
crisis brought on by the governors of four departments, strongholds of the
rightwing opposition, which seek an autonomy that violates the national
constitution.

La oligarquía no acepta que un indio gobierne Bolivia, afirma Evo

LA PAZ, 9 de mayo.-- El presidente Evo Morales afirmó este viernes que la
derecha y la oligarquía boliviana quieren derrocarlo, porque no aceptan que
un indio gobierne Bolivia.

"Al principio dijeron (los sectores de derecha): 'Pobre indiecito, que se
divierta cuatro meses, después vamos a sacarlo' (1/4 ), ahora dicen: 'Este
indio se va a quedar por mucho tiempo' y están planificando cómo tumbarme",
deploró Morales en un acto en la ciudad andina de Oruro (sur), según el
reporte de AFP.

La derecha se opone a la política de cambios promovida por el líder andino,
quien irá a un referendo en los próximos tres meses, junto a su
vicepresidente y nueve prefectos, seis de ellos de oposición, para validar
su mandato.

"Aquí no es un problema de autonomías (gobiernos descentralizados), no es un
problema del IDH (distribución del impuesto petrolero a los departamentos),
el problema es Evo Morales. Esos grupos no aceptan que un campesino, un
indio, un indígena sea presidente de la República", sentenció.

El mandatario de origen aymara (el primero de ese origen que gobierna
Bolivia en sus 182 años de historia republicana) intenta capear un duro
choque con los prefectos de cuatro departamentos, feudos de la oposición de
derecha, que intentan dotarse de gobiernos autónomos, sin apego a la
Constitución.
LA PAZ, May 9.-- President Evo Morales said Friday that the rightwing and the
oligarchy want to overthrow him because they "can't accept that an
indigenous person governs Bolivia."

Speaking at a rally in Oruro, Morales said: "At the beginning they said,
'Poor little Indian, let him have fun for four months and then we'll get rid
of him,' now they say, 'This Indian is going to be around for a long time'
and they are plotting how to topple me," reported AFP.

The rightwing opposes the changes in Bolivian political and economic life
promoted by Morales, who will face a recall vote within the coming three
months to validate his mandate and that of the vice president and the nine
departmental governors, six of which are from opposition parties.

"The problem here is not about autonomies (decentralized governments); it's
not a problem of the IDH (distribution of the oil tax to the departments);
the problem is Evo Morales. These groups don't accept that a farmer, an
Indian, is the president of the republic," he said.

Morales is from the Aymara ethnic group, the first indigenous person to
govern Bolivia in its 182 years of independence. He is trying to weather the
crisis brought on by the governors of four departments, strongholds of the
rightwing opposition, which seek an autonomy that violates the national
constitution.

http://www.granma.cu/espanol/2008/mayo/sabado10/evo.html