By John Riddell
About one hundred Torontonians crowded into a Ryerson University lecture hall Thursday, August 14 to discuss the results of the recall referendum held in Bolivia four days earlier. The meeting was sponsored by Toronto Bolivia Solidarity (torontoboliviasolidarity@gmail.com).
They had lots to celebrate. President Evo Morales was confirmed in office by an overwhelming majority of more than two-thirds of those voting. Even in the eastern provinces, ravaged by right-wing racist intimidation and illegality, his vote was not far short of a majority. Two of the right-wing departmental prefects, whose posts were also at stake in the referendum, were ousted from office, including the notorious Manfred Reyes in Cochabamba.
However, the racist right-wing prefects in the eastern regions (the "Media Luna"), who have launched their departments on a course of de-facto separation from Bolivia, received majority votes.
When the initial results were announced, Morales pledged to press ahead with the program of the Bolivian democratic process, while challenging the right wing to engage in a dialog to overcome the present political crisis.
The right wing refused the President's invitation, proclaiming their defiance of the 68% majority decision. Their United States backers echoed their abuse. A New York Times editorial yesterday absurdly called the vote unfair, and denounced Morales's "confrontational approach" and his "grab for power."
It singled out for criticism the fact that the government was "tightening its grip" on the natural gas industry, using its increased hydrocarbon revenues to fund a new and universal old age pension. (See www.nytimes.com/2008/08/15/opinion/15fri2.html?ref=opinion)
But as the weight of Morales's victory sank in, the rightists took note. They have now joined with the other prefects in meeting with Morales as the president had requested.
This latest victory was conveyed to the Thursday evening meeting by Cynthia Cisneros, a Bolivian social activist, in a video sent from the country. Cynthia had hoped to attend the meeting but was barred by the Canadian government, which refused her a visa. At the last moment, Canada granted the visa but refused it to her young son. Cynthia did not have time to make emergency arrangements for the care of the child during her absence. Ottawa's conduct violated the Canadian people's freedom of discussion while infringing outrageously on the right of a mother and young son not to be forcibly separated.
Cynthia's comments to the meeting can be viewed (in Spanish) at
| http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63gnMjYNVfg |
The meeting was chaired by Luis Tapia and also addressed by Judy Rebick, Rosalia Paiva, and Juan Valencia. It viewed a video on the Bolivian president called, "Dancing with Evo," which is available (in English) at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-JA7IgatqE
$200 was raised for the National Campaign against Racism and Discrimination, an alliance of social movements in Bolivia. The campaign is supported by the Bolivia Action Solidarity Network (BASN) in Canada, with which Toronto Bolivia Solidarity is affiliated. To contribute to this campaign see: http://grupoapoyo.org/basn/node/437
Sue Berlove displayed fair-trade indigenous crafts from Bolivia and donated a wall hanging to raise funds for the committee. (See www.craftsfromBolivia.com )
The three public meetings of Toronto Bolivia Solidarity so far have all attracted a range of participants, both Latino and non-Latino, beyond the usual circle of solidarity activists.
The next planning meeting of Toronto Bolivia Solidarity will consider how best to continue and expand the momentum of Bolivia solidarity work in Toronto. It will also discuss Bolivia's controversial new constitution, which is now up for ratification (facilitator: Raúl Burbano).
You are cordially invited: Come to the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), 252 Bloor St. W., Room 2289, Wednesday September 3, 7 p.m.
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