CORRECTED COPY: MEDIA REACTION: WESTERN HEMISPHERE:

UNCLAS SAO PAULO 000472

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE INR/R/MR; IIP/R/MR; WHA/PD

DEPT PASS USTR

USDOC 4322/MAC/OLAC/JAFEE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR OPRC OIIP ETRD BR
SUBJECT: CORRECTED COPY: MEDIA REACTION: WESTERN HEMISPHERE:
BOLIVIA; SAO PAULO



1. "Growing Tensions In South America"

University Professor Sergio Amaral maintained in center-right O
Estado de S. Paulo (5/4): "To understand the reason for the tension
in South America it is necessary to keep in mind three facts: the
emergence of social movements in the Latin American political
scenario, the divisive factor represented by the FTAA, and the
successive disagreements among Mercosul partners. South America is
living a new momentum.... Now it is the social movements' turn.
Latin American societies respect democracy and no longer reject
liberalizing reforms, but are questioning why their region is
growing less than the average of developing economies. Some nations,
such as Brazil, have grown less than the African average.... The
lack of a convincing answer, both from the right and the left wings,
is leading to an increasing social dissatisfaction.... Those who
overthrew governments in Argentina, Ecuador and Bolivia were not
generals, but from social movements and street demonstrations. The
legitimacy of their demands and the lack of prospects for their
requests are behind the so-called left leaning of Latin America.
More than that, they are conditioning presidential elections and
influencing the foreign policy in several nations."


2. "GOB's Defeat"

Center-right O Estado de S. Paulo editorialized (5/4): "The
transformation of Bolivia into a Venezuelan satellite, which became
clear in the meeting between their presidents and dictator Fidel
Castro in Havana two days before Evo Morales signed a decree
nationalizing oil reserves, represents a major problem for the
stability of relations between South American nations. What is
worse, however, is the GOB's passiveness in view of the new and
worrisome regional scenario.... The GOB's passivity became much more
apparent in the reaction - or the lack of it - to Morales'
decision."


3. "Morales' Reasons"

Economic columnist Luis Nassif commented (5/4) in liberal Folha de

S. Paulo: "There is an obvious exaggeration in blaming the Brazilian
foreign policy for the Evo Morales episode. Brazil's foreign policy
did not elect Morales and will probably facilitate contacts with
him.... Bolivia has enormous mineral resources and but lives in
African-type poverty.... Morales is facing challenges in his
political support base. There is a group proposing insurrection to
obtain power, and another supporting constitutionalism. Morales'
recent attitudes have much more to do with the constitionalists than
with the revolutionists."
McMullen