Ciao!

Grocery shopping

Just got back from grocery shopping. We heard that Ketal (a supermarket) on Calle 17 was open. By the time I got there, they were no longer letting anyone in; they were closed. I walked up a block to HyperMaxi, which was still open. Stood in line for over a half hour, before the military let me in. I bought as much basic food as I could for my relatives.

The entire Sona Zur seems militarized now. There are soldiers lining Calle 21 of San Miguel, including green berets. Neighbors are handing out ice cream or juice to soldiers all along the avenues. The soldiers are grateful, and smile.

The odd signs of solidarity are interesting. Last night, at the neighborhood watch meeting, we were told were to take food donations for the miners, who've taken over the university. People in San Miguel seem willing to help the people who march and threaten to loot our own neighborhoods.

In the supermarket, I heard two housewives complaining about the situation. They pointed out that so far only the campesinos and other groups have "declared themselves". They're organizing their neighborhoods to send letters to the press, in support of the president and the constitutional democratic order.

But popular rumors are also running, in a crazy fashion. While in line, waiting to enter the supermarket, I overheard two gremialistas speaking to each other. One said he'd heard that Chilean snipers had flown into the city (I've heard no such news all day on TV). From there, another casera added that this was just part of the Chilean plot to annex Tarija (never mind that Tarija shares no border w/ Chile).

Disinformation is rampant. Rabid nationalist hatred for Chile is rampant. In that context, I'm not sure what'll happen next. But the president now has almost unanimous international support. I suspect he's waited until now, to have that support, to act. The high military presence even in the Zona Sur may be a sign of things to come.

Posted by Miguel at 04:59 PM