Bolivian Acting President and Top Ministers to Negotiate Indigenous Proposal to Reform Constitution and National Policies | Amazon Watch
Amazon Watch

Bolivian Acting President and Top Ministers to Negotiate Indigenous Proposal to Reform Constitution and National Policies

July 5, 2000 | For Immediate Release


AMAZON WATCH

For more information, contact:

presslist@amazonwatch.org or +1.510.281.9020

Santa Cruz, Bolivia – Today, the acting President of Bolivia, Tuto Quiroga, along with top government ministers will arrive in Santa Cruz to initiate direct negotiations with the indigenous peoples of Bolivia on their proposal to reform the constitution and national policies. Representatives of the major political parties, non-governmental organizations, ambassadors, international development agencies, churches, unions, and grassroots organizations will be present to voice their opinions and act as observers.

“The state has not assumed responsibility for attending to the development needs of the indigenous peoples of Bolivia. For this reason, we have pressured the President and ministers to come hear our demands.” said Marcial Fabricano, Vice-President of the Confederation of Indigenous Peoples of Bolivia (CIDOB)

More than 350 representatives from the 34 indigenous groups in the Bolivian lowlands have come to Santa Cruz, Bolivia to elaborate a unified proposal to negotiate with the government. After fifteen years of democratization and economic reform, indigenous peoples of Bolivia still face devastating socio-economic inequities and environmental degradation. In addition, the government has failed to title the vast majority of the indigenous peoples’ lands as had been promised. 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.

Negotiations will continue through Thursday. Should the negotiations stall, on Friday 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

PLEASE SHARE

Short URL

Donate

Amazon Watch is building on more than 25 years of radical and effective solidarity with Indigenous peoples across the Amazon Basin.

DONATE NOW

TAKE ACTION

Defend Amazonian Earth Defenders!

TAKE ACTION

Stay Informed

Receive the Eye on the Amazon in your Inbox! We'll never share your info with anyone else, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Subscribe