[R-G] Canadian Workers in Support of Bolivia and Morales

[Richard Menec]

(please distribute or post)

http://www.socialistproject.ca:80/bullet/bullet078.html

The   B u l l e t Socialist Project . E-Bulletin No. 78
January 1, 2008

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Canadian Workers in Support of Bolivia and Morales

In recent months, the process of democratic renewal and indigenous 
liberation in Bolivia, headed by president Evo Morales, has come under 
violent assault from rightist forces aligned with the U.S. government. 
Physical disruption of Bolivia's Constituent Assembly prevented it from 
meeting for several months. Now that the Assembly has presented its proposed 
new constitution for referendum, the rightists are threatening a breakaway 
by Bolivia's eastern provinces.

In response to these threats, the Canadian Labour Congress has expressed 
"its solidarity with the democratically elected government and its support 
for the constitutional reforms demanded by the majority of Bolivians." We 
reproduce this important letter, signed by CLC President Ken Georgetti, 
below.

As the proposed constitution proceeds toward a vote, support is urgently 
needed for Bolivia's independence, integrity, and democratic institutions. 
Solidarity activity is being coordinated through the Bolivia Action 
Solidarity Network (email: bolivia at grupoapoyo.org ). We print below their 
founding statement.


http://www.socialistproject.ca/bullet/bullet078.html

December 19, 2007

The Right Honourable Stephen Harper Prime Minister of Canada
House of Commons
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa, ON
K1A OA2

By fax: 613-941-6900

Dear Prime Minister:

On behalf of the 3.2 million working Canadian men and women affiliated to 
the Canadian Labour Congress, I am writing to encourage you to extend 
Canada's support for the people and government of Bolivia, in the face of 
conflict surrounding the new Bolivian constitution. This action would be in 
line with the governments of nine Latin American countries (Argentina, 
Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Honduras, Paraguay, Uruguay and 
Venezuela). It would be in line with a statement from the Organization of 
American States (OAS) and would also be in keeping with Canada's expressed 
interest in renewing and strengthening relations with our "neighbourhood" of 
the Americas.

President Evo Morales was elected in December 2005, with a clear mandate, as 
the first Indigenous president of Bolivia representing a large Indigenous 
majority. President Morales fulfilled his promise to convene a Constituent 
Assembly, with the mandate to fully integrate the indigenous majorities in 
the political sphere and improve their situation after centuries of social 
injustice. The Constituent Assembly was to submit the constitutional text 
for approval by means of a referendum.

The opposition governors of five of the nine Bolivian departments 
(Cochabamba, Santa Cruz, Tarija, Beni and Pando) said Monday that they would 
not recognize the new constitution which is supported by President Evo 
Morales and had been approved on Sunday. They confirmed that four of them 
will apply their regional autonomy regardless of the constitution. This is 
clearly an attempt to destabilize the democratic process in Bolivia and 
should be rejected.

While the minority opposition has every right to have its voice heard in the 
constitutional process, their systematic interruption of the Constituent 
Assembly's sittings, as well as recent violent protests, calls for civil 
disobedience and ugly racist declarations are impeding the exercise of a 
democratic process.

The Canadian Labour Congress expresses its solidarity with the 
democratically elected government and its support for the constitutional 
reforms demanded by the majority of Bolivians.

We condemn the calls to violence and secession, these which are 
anti-democratic attempts to destabilize the country and deny the oppressed 
majority their right to reshape Bolivia on a more equitable basis and in 
recognition of its First Nations.

We have confidence that President Evo Morales will manage the current 
situation, with respect for democratic principles, and will ensure that 
Bolivian political forces maintain a climate of dialogue and understanding, 
rejecting all attempts that endanger the stability of the country's 
institutions and the democratically elected government.

Sincerely,
Kenneth V. Georgetti, President

cc.
CLC Officers and Executive Assistants
CLC Executive Committee
The Honourable Maxime Bernier, Minister of Foreign Affairs;
The Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of Labour;
The Honourable Jack Layton, New Democratic Party of Canada;
The Honourable Stephane Dion, Liberal Party of Canada;
Mr. Gilles Duceppe, Bloc Quebecois;
Ms. Elizabeth May, Green Party of Canada;
Embassy of Bolivia in Ottawa

============================

Bolivia Solidarity Action Network
Founding Statement
December 2007

The violent campaign of Bolivian right-wingers, incited and supported by 
foreign interests arouses our deep concern and shows the need for creative 
and militant solidarity.

As members of different organizations acting in solidarity with the Bolivian 
people and as residents of several major cities in Canada and Quebec 
(Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, Gatineau, and Ottawa), we have therefore 
decided to coordinate our efforts, unite in our mission of solidarity, and 
create a new framework that will assist and reflect the advances of 
Bolivia's heroic people. These actions will be organized and coordinated 
with different unions, coalitions, solidarity committees, and social 
organizations of Canada, Quebec and Bolivia.

We utilize this time of year-end celebration to announce the creation of the 
Bolivia Solidarity Action Network (Canada and Quebec). Let us work for a 
Christmas of peace, love, justice, and solidarity and a new year of new and 
decisive steps to dismantle the colonial system, defeat neoliberal 
injustice, and deepen social revolution in Bolivia and Abya-Yala.

For the Bolivia Solidarity Action Network 
(BSAN)http://www.grupoapoyo.org/basn/: Frida Alzugaray, Ángel Espinoza, 
Roberto López, René Navarro, Carole Ouellette, Rosalia Paive, Adriana Paz, 
John Riddell, Gustavo Saavedra, Iana Saavedra Ouellette, Marcelo 
Saavedra-Vargas, Vicente Urquizu, Suzanne Weiss, Gilberto Valencia

We appeal to all friends of Latin America to support this effort:

Write the Network at bolivia at grupoapoyo.org  and get on its mailing list.
Become an active member of the Network.
Organize discussions on the crisis in Bolivia in union bodies, solidarity 
committees, and other popular committees. The Network will provide 
background information and speakers upon request.
Pass resolutions defending Bolivia's sovereignty and integrity. See for 
comparison the statement of Canadian Labour Congress Ken Georgetti this 
month, which is reproduced at bolivia.grupoapoyo.org.