El Alto: Don't Blame Us

Although El Alto’s decision about the resignation of Carlos Mesa hangs in suspense until 7 am tomorrow morning, the people of El Alto have already made two things clear: that Mesa can leave on his own, but that it will be under his responsibility and not theirs, and that their mobilization will not stop until Aguas de Illimani, the property of the French-based multinational Suez corporation, leaves for good. The Alteños met early this morning in the Ceja neighborhood of El Alto, which borders the city of La Paz, and through which the highway leading to the capital passes.

Between 10 and 11 in the morning, the Alteños confronted a group of supposed sympathizers of President Carlos Mesa. In reality, as several colleagues from El Alto confirmed, they were city employees, surely sent by Mayor José Luis Paredes, who has been repudiated by the local people since he asked Suez to stay and continue administering water services permanently. Paredes is an ally of President Mesa.

After a few minor incidents, the massive concentration of El Alto residents on 6 de Mayo Avenue began to drive out the supposed Mesa supporters.

Meanwhile, in La Paz, Mesa finally handed in his letter of resignation for the consideration of the National Congress. It is well known that neither Senate President Hormando Vaca Diez, nor Chamber of Deputies President Mario Cossío, the next two in the line of succession according to the Constitution, would accept the post of president.

Vaca Diez, a prominent member of the MIR, has become very quite famous for conspiring with the military against Mesa, for defending multinational oil companies, and for his strong ties to Viceroy Greenlee… Cossío, for his part, aside from being a member of Sánchez de Lozada’s MNR party, is the deputy responsible for the approval of several articles in the new hydrocarbons law that have provoked protests from MAS and allied organizations.

The person who has signaled that he might be willing to accept the post is the president of the Supreme Court, but no further relevant information has come out.

The El Alto Assembly

Around noon, more than 40,000 Alteños congregated in front of the tollbooth for the highway to hold an open assembly with many organizations present.

In his initial speech, Abel Mamani, president of the Federation of Neighborhood Committees of El Alto, said that if Carlos Mesa wants to quite he must make the decision himself. “If he wants to leave, he must leave us alone. He can’t blame us,” said Mamani, rejecting the Bolivian president’s blackmail.

The people of El Alto, furious that there has still been no answer to their demand to expel Suez, responded positively. More than one voice demanded that Congress be shut down.

In general, the people of El Alto have decided to wait until the Congress votes on whether or not to accept the president’s resignation. Tomorrow at 7 am, they will have a general assembly for the presidents of all the neighborhood committees, where they will decide what position to take.

But the mobilization is not giving in. The general civic strike is being maintained in full force. They are even planning actions to radicalize their tactics: Mesa’s leaving is in no way a solution to the demands for water and basic services, to nationalize the hydrocarbons, or to try former president Sánchez de Lozada.

Abel is now holding meetings with representatives from a diverse group of organizations, such as the Aymara indigenous communities, to see in what way they can coordinate their efforts.

For now, kind readers, this will serve as a general view of the mobilization, of the tensions the people are living through… stay tuned.