Evo Morales Accuses Right-Wing Governors of Trying to Stage Violent Coup, U.S. Tells Americans to Evacuate

Speaking in La Paz Tuesday, President Morales said he hoped to reach a pact with the opposition governors.

Meanwhile the Peace Corps has withdrawn its 2,500 volunteers from Bolivia and the State Department is organizing at least two evacuation flights for US citizens who want to leave the country. The White House has also placed Bolivia as well as Burma and Venezuela on a list of states that had “failed demonstrably” to meet their counter-narcotics obligations. Assistant Secretary of State David Johnson noted that the Drug Enforcement Administration was forced to move its operations from Chapare, one of Bolivia’s largest coca-producing areas, last week. Speaking on Tuesday he said Bolivia had failed to act aggressively against the cultivation and trafficking of illegal drugs.

Assistant Secretary of State David Johnston on placing Bolivia on a list of states that have failed to meet their counter-narcotics obligations.

Jim Shultz is the Executive Director of the Democracy Center in Cochabama, Bolivia. He writes a blog on the situation in Bolivia that can be found at DemocracyCtr.org. He joins me on the phone from Buenos Aires, Argentina.

We’re also joined here in the firehouse studio by journalist Martin Sivak. He has written four books on Bolivia and his latest is a best-selling biography of Evo Morales. Its called “Jefazo: un retrato intimo de Evo Morales” which translates to “Big Boss: An intimate portrait of Evo Morales”. Sivak has been following Evo Morales since the mid-1990s and was in Bolivia just last month for the referendum.

Martin Sivak, Argentine journalist who specializes in Bolivia and has written a biography of Evo Morales that is a best seller across South America. Its called “Jefazo: un retrato intimo de Evo Morales” (Big Boss: An intimate portrait of Evo Morales). He has been following Evo Morales since the mid-1990s and was in Bolivia just last month.

Jim Shultz, is the Executive Director of the Democracy Center in Cochabama, Bolivia. He writes a blog on the situation in Bolivia that can be found at DemocracyCtr.org.

Related Links

• DemocracyCtr.org