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Reporter's Notebook: María Eugenia Flores Castro

Huelga de hambre en Bolivia en contra de Aguas del Illimani

Posted by María Eugenia Flores… - March 1, 2005 at 2:04 pm
Este es el comunicado de prensa de el primer piquete de huelga de hambre que se instalo en apoyo a los compañeros de la FEJUVE de la ciudad de El Alto, que demandan hace 8 dias la rescision del contrato con la Transnacional Aguas del Illimani y la aprobacion de una ley de  Hidrocarburos Nacionalizadora , convocatoria a una Asamblea Constituyente Popular y negando cualquier tratado de Libre Comercio, hoy se instalo el segundo piquete de huelga  de hambre con trabajadores de la Empresa de Aguas SEMAPA de Cochabamba y trabajadores petroleros, mañana se instalara otro piquete de huelga de hambre con la participacion de regantes, personas independientes, de esta manera las medidas se radicalizaran  de manera escalonada: EL PUEBLO DE PIE POR LA RECUPERACION DE NUESTROS RECURSOS NATURALES, LA ASAMBLEA CONSTITUYENTE y NO AL TRATADO DE LIBRE COMERCIO (TLC)

Nuevamente, la gente sencilla y trabajadora, nosotros que no vivimos del trabajo ajeno, que no ocupamos cargos en el aparato del Estado.
Nosostros que hemos sido excluídos e ignorados de las decisiones que se han tomado hasta ahora y que nos han vuelto mas pobres.
Nosotros que somos los depositarios y herederos de nuestras aguas, nuestros hidrocarburos, nuestro territorio y nuestra dignidad, heredada de nuestros padres y abuelos.
Nosotros que tenemos la obligación de recuperar todo aquello que fue entregado por los gobiernos anti-nacionales y vende-patrias a las transnacionales, nuevamente estamos dispuestos a mostrar como lo hicimos en abril y septiembre del 2000, en febrero y octubre del 2003 y enero del 2005, de que es posible vencer, que es posible recuperar nuestra voz y que en base a nuestra organización y movilización podemos decidir sobre lo que nos afecta.

Nosotros gente sencilla y trabajadora de la ciudad y el campo, mujeres, jóvenes, hombres, niños y ancianos, seguimos diciendo BASTA, a las maniobras de los partidos políticos, de los gobernantes, de las transnacionales petroleras, del Banco Mundial del BID del FMI y de todos aquellos que pretenden seguir teniendo el monopolio de la palabra y las decisones y que no quieren perder los privilegios que a costa del hambre del pueblo han conseguido.

Por todo esto hoy nos movilizamos y salimos a las calles y a los caminos para exigir de parte de los gobernantes y políticos que escuchen al pueblo, que tomen en cuenta nuestra opinión y nuestras propuestas, nuestras demandas y que son las siguientes:

  1. FUERA AGUAS DEL ILLIMANI, DEFENSA DE LA GESTION SOCIAL DEL AGUA.
  2. LEY DE HIDROCARBUROS QUE CONTEMPLE EL 50% DE REGALIAS COMO MINIMO.
  3. APROBACION DE LA LEY DE CONVOCATORIA A ASAMBLEA CONSTITUYENTE PROPUESTA POR LAS ORGANIZACIONES SOCIALES
  4. NO AL TLC QUE CONDENA A LA MISERIA A MILONES DE HOMBRES Y MUJERES DE NUESTRA PATRIA.
Estas demandas estan siendo acompañadas con el inicio de la insatalación de piquetes de huelga de hambre en todo el país, movilizaciones y otras medidas que culminarán, por esta semana, con una movilización para el día viernes 4 de marzo a partir de las 9 de la mañana.

Cochabamba, marzo 1 de 2005

Viva la Huelga de Hambre de la FEJUVE de El Alto-FUERA Aguas del Illimani
Viva la movilización del pueblo de CAMIRI
Por una ley de Hidrocarburos Nacionalizadora
Todo el pueblo a movlizarse, por el presente y el futuro de nuestros Hijos

Oscar Olivera Omar Fernández René Crespo

Hernán Bustamante Fidel López

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communique from Cochabamba hunger strike

Submitted March 2, 2005 - 5:53 pm by Amy Casada-Alaniz
This is the press release from the first picket of the hunger strike that was set up in support of the compañeros of FEJUVE of the city of El Alto, who for eight days now are demanding cancellation of the contract with the multinational Aguas del Illimani and the approval of a law of Nationalization of Hydrocarbons, summons to a Popular Constituent Assembly, and denying any Free Trade Agreement. Today began the second picket of hunger strike with workers from SEMAPA, Water Works of Cochabamba and petroleum workers. Tomorrow will mark the beginning of another picket of hunger strike with participation of farm workers, independent citizens, and in this manner the method will radicalize in stages:

COMMUNIQUE from the Hunger Strike in Cochabamba
Coordinadora del Agua y la Vida [Coordinator of Water & Life] (02/28/2005 5:52pm)

Here follows the communique from those compañeros who started the first picket of hunger strike:

THE PEOPLE STANDING FOR RECUPERATION OF OUR NATURAL RESOURCES, THE CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY, & NO TO THE FREE TRADE AGREEMENT (TLC)

Newly, the simple and working people, we who do not live off the work of others, who do not have jobs within the state apparatus.
We who have been excluded from and ignored regarding the decisions which have been made up to now and which have served to make us yet poorer.
We who are the trustees and heirs of our waters, our hydrocarbons, our territories, and our dignity, inherited from our parents and grandparents.
We who have the obligation to recuperate all of that which was given over by anti-national and sell-out governments to (multinational corporations), are newly prepared to demonstrate just as we did in April and September of 2000, in February and October of 2003, and in January of this year, that it is possible to overcome, that it is possible to recuperate our voice and based on our organization and mobilization we can decide over that which affects us.
 We simple working people from the city and from the country, women, young people, men, children, and old people, we continue stating ENOUGH, to the manipulations of political parties, of governors, of multinational petroleum companies, of the World Bank of the (BID of the IMF), and of all those whose pretence is to continue their monopoly of the last word and decisions and who do not wish to lose those privileges which they have acquired at the cost of the people's hunger.

For all these reasons today we mobilize and take to the streets and roads to demand that the governors and politicians listen to the people, that they take into account our opinion and our proposals, our demands which are the following:

1.    OUT WITH AGUAS DEL ILLIMANI, DEFENSE OF THE SOCIAL MANAGEMENT OF THE WATER.
2.    A LAW OF HYDROCARBONS WHICH PROVIDES FOR 50% OF ROYALTIES AT MINIMUM.
3.    APPROVAL OF THE LAW OF SUMMONS TO CONSTIUENT ASSEMBLY PROPOSED BY SOCIAL ORGANISATIONS.
4.    NO TO THE FREETRADE AGREEMENT WHICH CONDEMNS TO POVERTY MILLIONS OF MEN AND WOMEN OF OUR COUNTRY.

These demands come along with the commencement of the set up of pickets of hunger strikes all over the country, mobilizations, and other methods which will culminate, this week, with a mobilization on Friday, March 4th, at 9am.

Cochabamba, March 1, 2005

Long live the Hunger Strike of the FEJUVE de El Alto- OUT Aguas del Illimani
Long live the mobilization of the people of CAMIRI
For a law of Nationalization of Hydrocarbons
All the people mobilize your selves, for the present and future of our Children

(signed)
Oscar Olivera        Omar Fernandez        Rene Crespo
        Hernan Bustamante        Fidel Lopez

above a translation

Submitted March 2, 2005 - 5:58 pm by Amy Casada-Alaniz
rough, so it goes, of Maria Eugenia's words. Any correction of my translation welcome & wished for; thanks.

Translation of: Solidarity Campaign with El Alto

Submitted March 4, 2005 - 2:10 am by Amy Casada-Alaniz
Friends:
Below you will find a letter in solidarity with the people of El Alto, Bolivia, in their struggle to have access to drinking water: a basic human right. Key leaders of the community are in their tenth day of hunger strike. Please sign this letter along with the name of your organization, your full name & country to email: info@laredvida.org before Monday, March 7th.
We ask that you also send letters by fax or email to the authorities listed below.
For more information about the struggle in Bolivia you can visit the website: http://bolivia.indymedia.org/
www.laredvida.org
Thank you so much for your support.
…………………….

Sirs: Carlos de Mesa, President of the Republic of Bolivia
        Jose Luis Paredes, Mayor of the City of El Alto
        Juan del Granado, Mayor of the City of La Paz
        Erico Navarro, Superintendent of Basic Sanitation

We the undersigned wish to express our solidarity with the 200, 000 inhabitants of El Alto, Bolivia, who do not have access to drinking water. We condemn the acts of the multinational Aguas del Illimani (subsidiary of Suez) which has raised costs to unpayable levels, imposed high installation fees, and left a great portion of the population without access to service.

We join together and support the admirable courage of the inhabitants of El Alto, who have organized to demand cancellation of the contract with the multinational corporation Suez. But in particular we are solidarity regarding the following:

  1. We support the proposal of the citizens of El Alto who ask for the creation of a public-social company, with democracy, responsibility, and social control.
  2. We support the population of El Alto in their total rejection of the proposal to create a “new model” with the so-called Mixed Anonymous Society and where Suez maintains control over 35% of the shares.
  3. We condemn the actions of the multinational water corporation Suez because upon cancellation of this contract they have threatened to sue the government of Bolivia in the International Centre  for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), a court of the World Bank. This reflects a direct conflict of interests since the World Bank controls 8% of the shares in Aguas del Illimani.
  4. We call out to the government of Bolivia and to the mayors of El Alto and La Paz to ensure that human rights, those which Bolivian democracy grants its citizens, to assemble, to protest, and to express their objections, be respected.
  5. We ask you to take immediate action to resolve this situation. The seriousness of this case is reflected in the hunger strike begun by the leaders of FEJUVE (Federation of Neighborhood Groups), since February 21st, & which has now extended itself to other provinces. The well-being of the highest director of FEJUVE is at risk.  
We hope that you will immediately attend to the demands of the citizens of El Alto and La Paz, and we hope to receive an answer to this letter.

Cordially,

……………………

Mr. Carlos de Mesa
President of the Republic of Bolivia
despacho@presidencia.gov.bo
Fax: (591-2) 2153829

Mr. Erico Navarro
Fax: (591-2) 2310554
Superintendent of Basic Sanitation

Mr. Jose Luis Paredes
Mayor of the City of El Alto
intihuara@yahoo.es
Fax: (591-2) 2833341

Mr. Juan del Granado
Mayor of the City of La Paz
Fax: (591-2) 2202307
alcalde@ci-lapaz.gov.bo

Contre Suez - Lyonnaisse des eaux

Submitted March 4, 2005 - 10:43 am by Irene Roca Ortiz
Maria Eugenia Flores Castro (publié le mardi 1 mars 2005)

Ci-dessous, le communiqué de presse du premier groupe de grève de la faim organisé pour soutenir nos camarades de la FEJUVE (Fédération de Comités de Voisins) d’El Alto, qui demandent depuis 11 jours la rupture du contrat avec la transnationale Aguas del Tunari (Suez – Lyonnaise des Eaux)  et l’approbation d’une loi d’Hydrocarbures Nationalisatrice, ainsi que la convocation à une Assemblée Constituante et le refus de tout traité de libre commerce.

Aujourd’hui (1/3/05), un nouveau groupe de grévistes s’est constitué, avec les travailleurs de l’entreprise d’Eaux de Cochabamba (SEMAPA) et les travailleurs du secteur pétrolier. Demain (2/3/05) s’installera un nouveau groupe de grévistes constitué par les regantes (défenseurs de l’Eau de Cochabamba), et des citoyens indépendants, afin de radicaliser les mesures progressivement.

LE PEUPLE EST DEBOUT POUR LA RECUPERATION DE NOS RESSOURCES NATURELLES, L’ASSEMBLEE CONSTITUANTE ET LE REFUS AU TRAITE DE LIBRE COMMERCE (TLC)

Une fois de plus, nous, les modestes travailleurs qui ne vivons pas du travail d’autrui, nous, qui n’avons pas de poste dans l’appareil d’Etat.
Nous, qui avons été exclus et ignorés des décisions prises jusqu’à ce jour et qui nous ont rendu plus pauvres.
Nous sommes les héritiers légitimes de nos eaux, de nos hydrocarbures, de notre territoire et de notre dignité, héritée de nos parents et grands-parents.
Nous avons l’obligation de récupérer tout ce qui a été offert par les gouvernements qui nous ont vendu aux transnationales. Nous sommes prêts à montrer une fois de plus que la victoire est possible, que nous pouvons récupérer notre voix, nous organiser et nous mobiliser pour décider ce qui nous concerne, comme nous l’avons fait en avril et septembre 2000 (Guerre de l’Eau), en février (Guerre de la Coca)  et octobre 2003 (Guerre du Gaz)  et en janvier 2005 (expulsion de Suez de El Alto).

Nous, les gens modestes et travailleurs des villes et des campagnes, femmes, hommes, jeunes, enfants et anciens, nous disons toujours  BASTA (ça suffit, y en a assez) des magouilles des partis politiques, des gouvernants, des transnationales pétrolières, de la Banque Mondiale, du BID, du FMI et de tous ceux qui prétendent continuer à avoir le monopole de la parole et des décisions ; ceux qui ne veulent pas perdre leurs privilèges gagnés grâce à la faim du peuple.

Pour tout cela, aujourd’hui nous sommes mobilisés et nous sortons à la rue pour exiger aux gouvernants et politiques de nous écouter, de prendre en compte notre opinion et nos propositions, et nos demandes sont les suivantes :

1.    DEHORS AGUAS DEL ILLIMANI (SUEZ – LYONNAISE DES EAUX), DEFENDONS LA GESTION SOCIALE DE L’EAU
2.    LOI D’HYDROCARBURES QUI ENVISAGE AU MOINS 50% DE ROYALTIES POUR LES BOLIVIEN-N-E-S
3.    APPROBATION DE LA LOI DE CONVOCATION A L’ASSEMBLEE CONSTITUANTE PROPOSEE PAR LES MOUVEMENTS SOCIAUX
4.    NO AU TRAITE DE LIBRE COMMERCE QUI CONDAMNE A LA MISERE DES MILLIONS D’HOMMES ET DE FEMMES DE NOTRE PAYS

Ces demandes sont accompagnées de l’installation de groupements de grévistes de la faim dans tout le pays, des mobilisations et d’autres mesures qui culmineront, cette semaine, avec une mobilisation le vendredi 4 mars dès 9 heures du matin.

Cochabamba, 1er Mars 2005-03-04

VIVE LA GREVE DE LA FAIM DE LA FEJUVE DE EL ALTO – DEHORS AGUAS DEL ILLIMANI !
VIVE LA MOBILISATION DU PEUPLE DE CAMIRI !
POUR UNE LOI D’HYDROCARBURES NATIONALISATRICE
QUE TOUT LE MONDE SE MOBILISE, POUR LE PRESENT ET L’AVENIR DE NOS ENFANTS

Oscar Olivera
Omar Fernández
René Crespo
Hernán Bustamante
Fidel López

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