Bolivia, S. America updates.

Not sure if you know of these recent developments:

Chavez says he's uncovered U.S.-backed plot to assassinate him.

12-nation* Union of South American Countries votes to support Bolivian Pres. Evo Morales' federal gov't. *Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela

15-30 Morales supporters killed by troops of US-backed Bolivian governors' opposition.

Morales expels U.S. ambassador citing U.S. support of opposition governors. U.S. reciprocates, calls Morales' move "grave error" and charges against U.S. ambassador "baseless."

U.S. arranges evacuation of U.S. citizens from Bolivia including Peace Corps.

White House places Bolivia (and Burma and Venezuela) on list of states that have "failed demonstrably to meet their counter-narcotics obligations." Asst. Sec. of State David Johnson: "This is the first year that the [U.S.] president has determined that Bolivia has failed demonstrably. This was not a hasty decision. . . . President Morales continues to support the expansion of LICIT cocoa leaf production, despite the fact that current LEGAL cultivation far exceeds the demand for current consumption."

So Bolivia is guilty of legally harvesting its cocoa.
Enter the War on Drugs, I presume.

More background here:



and at The Real News stories on Bolivia.

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