Santa Cruz, Bolivia – Today more than 350 representatives from the 34 indigenous groups in the Bolivian lowlands will initiate an historic National Assembly to reach final agreement on their proposal to overhaul the Bolivian constitution and national policies in preparation for dialogue and direct negotiations with the national government later this week.
“Our dialogue with the government is of national interest. There is social discontent in the country, and these negotiations represent an opportunity for a new form of civil society” (Marcial Fabricano, Vice-President of the Confederation of Indigenous Peoples of Bolivia (CIDOB), 7-3-2000).
After fifteen years of democratization and economic reform, indigenous peoples of Bolivia still face devastating socio-economic inequities and environmental degradation. In this context, the central objective of negotiations with the government is to improve their own lot and engender a more just, equitable and multicultural nation.
Tomorrow, indigenous representatives will continue prioritizing their proposal and developing strategies of negotiation. On Wednesday and Thursday, the acting President of Bolivia, Tuto Quiroga and government ministers will initiate direct negotiations with the indigenous peoples. During negotiations, representatives of the major political parties, non-governmental organizations, representatives of embassies and international development agencies, churches, unions, and grassroots organizations will be present to voice their opinions and act as outside observers.
If negotiations do not produce positive results, on July 7th representatives of the 34 lowland indigenous groups will vote on whether to initiate a month long massive march from Santa Cruz to La Paz in an effort to place greater pressure on the government. Peasant and colonist organizations as well as other sectors have already expressed their willingness to participate in the mobilization, should it occur.
For more information or to obtain high resolution digital photographs of the event see CIDOB’s web site at www.cidob.f2s.com/ganpi2000/, www.cidob.f2s.com, www.paraba.f2s.com, and www.oyendu.f2s.com
