Bolivia seizes weapons from US Embassy vehicle

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Bolivia seizes weapons from US Embassy vehicle
By Associated Press, Published: March 27

LA PAZ, Bolivia — Bolivia’s interior minister says his government has seized three shotguns, a revolver and more than 2,300 rounds of ammunition from a vehicle owned by the U.S. Embassy.

The minister claims the weapons were being transported without authorization and posed a security threat.

But the U.S. Embassy says the weapons confiscated Tuesday were being transferred under an agreement with Bolivia’s police. It said in a statement that Washington routinely contracts and arms local police in foreign countries to protect its diplomats.

Interior Minister Carlos Romero told reporters that the vehicle’s driver and a police officer accompanying him were detained pending investigation.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/bolivia-seizes-weapons-from-us-embassy-vehicle/2012/03/27/gIQArE4peS_story.html

[David__77]

1. I worry a bit about a coup there...

I actually think the danger is much worse than four years ago. The only thing that seems to prevent it is the fact that all the opposition in Bolivia is so wedded to blatantly fascist ideology, that a coup would risk real war by the oppressed.

[Cort]

2. Coup, arms and reform rather revolution

A coup is possible but even within the Left many are upset with President Morales, the COB is creating its own party for workers, the road question, education policies and reform rather than revolution is another problem.

AS Ethan Earle has written in his recent article "Bolivia and the United States: A Relationship in Transition?" President Morales has started a rapprochement with the US starting this past November but as the US aid table to Bolivia shows below the (MAS) government of Morales has also received economic aid, besides the military aid and assistance during the falling out that started in 2009 but some programs recieved none and where others decreased and along with the resumption of limited military training that started recently in the US, all this is a cause for concern .

Also according to some news sources, Bolivia's government has deployed 2,300 troops onto the streets of its four largest cities (La Paz, El Alto, Cochabamba, and Santa Cruz) , following protests in El Alto over insecurity connected to the recent murder of two journalists.The soldiers began carrying out patrols with the police under the National Safety Plan and will last at least 3 months and along with the court of inquiry against the 17 main leaders of the last march."Indigenous Peoples Denounce Legal Persecution" http://upsidedownworld.org/main/bolivia-archives-31/3533-bolivia-tipnis-conflict-indigenous-peoples-denounce-legal-persecution we all should keep on eye on events happening in Bolivia.

And as of this weekend the COB trade union is still supporting the upcoming march and more will be known by the end of next week if not sooner



U.S. Aid to Bolivia, All Programs, 2008-2013


http://justf.org/Country?country=Bolivia&year1=2008&year2=2013

[Odin2005]

3. Uh-Oh! Evo better watch his back!