The other revolution

Bolivia has good reason to distrust the US:

President Evo Morales drew a sharp denial from the U.S. Embassy when he claimed in a speech that the United States is sending soldiers disguised as students and tourists to Bolivia.

Morales said in a speech Tuesday that U.S. Ambassador David Greenlee had sought a meeting with him.

“But I also have the right to complain because U.S. soldiers disguised as students and tourists are entering the country,” said Morales, a leftist who has pledged revolutionary changes for the poor, including his recent move to nationalize Bolivia”˜s natural gas industry.

The U.S. Embassy called Morales”˜ charge “unfounded,” saying in a statement: “We reiterate once more that we are supporting Bolivian democracy in a consistent way.”… 

Meanwhile, Chilean people-power takes to the streets:

It was every adolescent revolutionary’s dream: schools throughout the country were occupied and the gates were barricaded.

Tens of thousands of uniformed pupils on the streets defied police brutality, support came in from across adult society and, to top it all, the education minister prevaricated hopelessly in the face of coherent, well articulated demands.

“Chile’s secondary school pupils have scored the highest marks in history,” wrote the University of Chile historian, Sofia Correa, in a recent newspaper column. “Their organization, media management, awareness of civic duty and timing, have all been outstanding.”

But this was about more than student proficiency. What started in April, as a gripe against school bus fares and university entrance exam fees, rapidly grew into a nationwide movement demanding quality education for all Chileans, irrespective of class, ability or spending power. Since Pinochet stood down sixteen years ago, no other mass movement has so successfully challenged the legitimacy of the neo-liberal state the General left behind him.

Text and images ©2024 Antony Loewenstein. All rights reserved.

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