Violence in Cochabamba

Yesterday saw serious outbreaks of violence here in Cochabamba, Bolivia. The ruling party “Movement toward Socialism” (MAS) sponsored marches throughout the city that turned to riots. The main city plaza was assaulted with rocks and Molotov cocktails. The Prefect’s office was burned out, and several private vehicles were destroyed. One image that sticks in my mind was one ladies’ car being burned. Later she was interviewed standing next to the burned out hulk, sobbing that it was the only possession she owned. The rioters had callously draped their flag across the hulk as a trophy of their “victory”.

The issue is communism vs. democracy. The president and his MAS party want to establish a Cuban style dictatorship, following the precedent of his mentor, Hugo Chavez of Venezuela. The Prefect of Cochabamba supports autonomy of the departmentos (states), along with 4 other departamentos – even through succession if necessary. Representing more than half of the geographic portion of Bolivia, and over 80% of the wealth (mineral resources, natural gas and oil), if these departments do form their own nation, what is left of Bolivia will have little to work with.

The pro-democracy groups are holding polite marches and protests, the communistic forces are staging riots, violence and attacking those who disagree with them. Frankly, by the time the pro-democracy groups realize they are in a real fight, the communists will probably have a stranglehold on the country. The wealthy are moving their assets to other nations, and applying for visas elsewhere.

Thomas (my son) and I were downtown, eating lunch 6 blocks away as the assault on the Prefect’s office was winding down. We then proceeded through the area on various errands. We were only inconvenienced one time, as our taxi had to detour around an overturned dumpster. On TV last night I saw that same street corner as a camera filmed a confrontation between five police and about 20 “protesters” – the protesters were throwing large softball sized rocks, the police were simply using their shields and blocking the advance.

In spite of the large fires on the main city plaza, with government offices in flames along with several vehicles, and the protesters attacking with rocks and Molotov cocktails, the police did not open fire; they only used tear gas, and not on a great scale. In spite of this, the national minister (MAS party) fired the police chief for the use of the gas. MAS wants the Prefect (mayor) of Cochabamba out of the way. The violence organized by MAS was intended to drive him out. The police are between a rock and a hard place, as they report to both the local AND national governments, and those two forces oppose each other.

Note that the police did have a riot vehicle equipped with a water cannon on the scene. They were using it to put out the fire in the government office, until rioters attempted to interfere with them, the cannon was then briefly turned on the attackers.

Thomas and I were fine, though we did get a taste of diluted tear gas – not bad, clears the sinuses! Most of the city was business as usual by 3:00 pm. In an economy where you eat on what you make that day, business goes on!

I’ve written elsewhere about my concern that the northern half of South America is going to fall into the cycle of domino revolutions that have devastated Africa for 40 years. The Southern nations, Chile and Argentina have formed a defense pact ala NATO to resist any migration of violence from the North. No one denies that the governments since 1980 have failed to allow the benefit of “trickle down economics” to reach the poor. Free Trade Markets have not been good for the nations who did not have industry and distribution networks to compete. However, moving to Communism and dictatorship will not relieve their plight.