MEDIA REACTION ON BOLIVIAN PRESIDENT-ELECT, JANUARY

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 000048

SIPDIS

DEPT. FOR WHA/PD; IIP/G/WHA DIPASQUALE; AND IIP/T/ES
DEPT. FOR WHA/AND, WHA/CEN, EB, AND INL/LP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KPAO PREL PGOV SNAR ECON HO
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON BOLIVIAN PRESIDENT-ELECT, JANUARY
09, 2005



1. On 01/09 the Tegucigalpa-based moderate daily "El
Heraldo" carried an op-ed by Ruben Dario Paz, Social
Sciences Professor, titled "Evo Morales, the Andean." "If
there is a country that has suffered greatly, it is Bolivia,
a wealthy country with abundant resources, but with extreme
poverty."

"In the middle of the coca dilemma a movement was born from
which Evo Morales arose."

"Perhaps Evo Morales' greatest advantage will be in an
international alliance, because some neighboring countries
have tried to improve their economic programs by setting
themselves directly and defiantly apart from the North.

"Cuba, Venezuela, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and possibly
Chile comprise a wide leftist alliance in Latin America,
under which Evo Morales will surely obtain important results
for his country."

"Let's hope that Evo responds to the many needs of his
people."


2. "Heraldo" carried an op-ed by Julio Escoto entitled
"Pendulum's Swing." "The U.S. government and powerful
groups in the world must be concerned, if not terrorized: in
Latin America the pendulum is swinging back, for the voters
prefer governmental proposals oriented to reviving
patriotism and developments of social character, instead of
markets. Obviously, this is a consequence of neo-liberal
failures, privatization doctrines and the rigid U.S.
alliance structure."

"Evo Morales' triumph in Bolivia startled the U.S.
According to international analysts there are only two
possible scenarios following the rise of leftist governments
that will govern Latin America in the first decade of this
century."

"The first is confrontation, the model in which North and
South are opposed. Second is a redesign of strategies by
both parties, where there is respect and cooperation. But
with the current U.S. administration there is not much
likelihood of that. We will have to wait, probably, for a
change of leadership in the U.S."

"Even though they are called `leftists' that remains
relative because what is happening is more than a popular
name given by the rightist party to evoke fear."

"Latin America knows that it cannot survive without the U.S.
but it is not good for them to live under the U.S. They
aspire to live `with' the U.S., but as a partner not with
the U.S. as a master."

"Latin America hopes a hope for ethical equal treatment,
fraternity and collaboration between nations. And even
though the U.S. doesn't want it like that, that is the way
it should be, times change, the pendulum swings back."

Ford