A war of attrition

10.17.2003

Mauricio Antezana, the president's spokesperson, resigned today, citing "personal" reasons. This was a signficant blow to the president, though Antezana was one of the least-liked figures by the protesters. My cousin thinks this helps Goni, since it gives a new face to the press, and eliminates an unpopular person. While he might be right, it's also a symbolic loss to the president.

There was another march today in San Miguel. Unlike yersterday's 500 or more people, this was just over 50 people (I stood and counted them). There are more protests downtown, marching for peace and, in many cases, also asking for the president's resignation. But the hardcore protests have ended; there was (thankfully) no violence in the last 24 hours, and no reported deaths or injuries.

The government's negotiating w/ the taxi and bus drivers. They only joined the protests after gasoline became scarce in the city. For the most part, they just want to work (they need their daily salaries!); the government's promising to ensure them gasoline and safe transit through the city (some of the COB protesters threw stones at vehicles or even dragged them out of their cars and beat them). If public transportation goes back to normal on Monday, the worst may've passed. Most Bolivians, after all, just want to go to work and live their lives in peace.

So, it's a war of attrition. Who can hold out the longest? The president and the middle class? Or the protesters and their syndicates? It's a horrible race to the bottom. It might just come down to who runs out of food/money first. But I don't think it'll be the middle class.

Posted by Miguel at 12:33 PM

Comments

U mentioned Bolivians who are living below poverty level... so I don't suppose there are sufficient welfare programs for the needy?

Since the syndicates are paying the protestors, couldn't the government just hand out food and other essentials to appease the protestors(at least for the timebeing)? Beat the syndicates at their game!

Posted by: Step at October 17, 2003 01:42 PM

Miguel,

call me if you get a chance.

dan

Posted by: dan at October 17, 2003 02:54 PM

welfare programs, I am not too current on what the Bolivian government does to help the poor. But systems like what the USA has would not be affordable to the few Bolivian tax payers. Most care for the poor is left to the Churches and other organizations of that nature who come in from outside of the country.

The huge number of poor are what is the main problem. They are easily swayed to a side that promises them improved conditions. Their level of education, or complete lack thereof, means they will be taken advantage of by the first person who tries.

Unfortunately it is the "bad guys" (I use the term loosely) not the government that tries to manipulate them. So in the end they fight and rally behind the wrong cause, and end up in a worse situation. No progress is made. They remain poor, the middle class lose the least, and the rich come out untouched.

I am not arguing that protesting the government is wrong, but fighting with little or no cause is meaningless.

Crazy cycle, how do we break it?

Posted by: sam at October 17, 2003 03:12 PM

My brother, Sam, said it well enough. But you have to understand that this country's BROKE. In a serious way. It can't pay for it's own bureaucracy; much of the government's budget is covered by donations from the US, Europe, and Japan. Ironically, Goni was the first president to provide any type of welfare system for the poor w/ the BONOSOL. This was during his first presidency (1993-1997). How quickly people forget.

The problem's that syndicate leaders manipulate the people. In the end, what happens? The campesinos have lost an entire crop that's rotting rather than going to market; who'll help them make it through the next few months? The highway's are damaged or destroyed; who'll pay to rebuild them? The urban poor have lost more than a week's wages; who'll help them get through? The economic loss (now in the tens of millions) means many industries will close, or won't be able to export internationally (some of those contracts have already been lost); who'll help the more unemployed or layed off workers now? In short. Whether Goni resigns or not, the protests have added MORE problems to the already long list Bolivia has. And now, many international inverstors and donors are less likely to give us money.

Posted by: miguel at October 17, 2003 03:49 PM