Andean Information Network

A combination of widespread drought, followed by intense flooding in some regions; accusations of commodities speculation; alleged smuggling operations sending large amounts of contraband Bolivian goods to neighboring nations; worldwide food price increases; plus Bolivian government plans to control the prices of certain staple goods has caused strikes, protests and nation-wide sugar shortages in recent [...]

The U.S. government historically exercised significant political influence through conditioned funding for Bolivia. However, the U.S. budget for Bolivia should shrink substantially in 2012, further limiting an already diminished presence. Reductions in funding and diplomatic involvement could help lay the foundation for an innovative bilateral relationship. Congress is currently reviewing the Obama administration’s FY 2011 [...]

This is a follow up to “Conflict and Consensus Part I: The Anti-Racism and Discrimination Law in Bolivia; Content and Justification of the Legislation.” On January 5, three months after the ratification of the “Law against Racism and all Forms of Discrimination,” the Morales administration approved a supreme decree to establish the implementation guidelines mandated [...]

PRESS RELEASE January 28, 2011 The U.S. Can Still Correct its Position on Bolivia’s UN Coca Chewing Amendment Civil Society Letter to Secretary of State Clinton Requests that U.S. Government Withdraw its Objection to Bolivia’s Proposal The Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA), the Andean Information Network (AIN), and more than 200 other concerned organizations [...]

On January 26, coca growers and their constituents gathered in cities across Bolivia to hold peaceful demonstrations in support of Bolivia’s proposed amendment to the 1961 United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs. The amendment seeks to decriminalize the traditional practice of coca leaf chewing. Coca growers’ federations from the Chapare region gathered in Cochabamba’s main [...]

In 2011, the newly elected House of Representatives will likely move U.S. foreign policy in Latin America toward intervention. Right-wing politicians in the U.S. maintain close ties with Latin American elite. In recent years, many of these opposition leaders have appealed to U.S. conservative interests in their region, expressing concern about their loss of power [...]

On October 11, coca growers in the North Yungas region of the La Paz department organized blockades to protest a recent Bolivian government measure to limit and control coca leaf production and sales. Nine days later on October 19, protestors signed a preliminary agreement with the government and lifted blockades until November 5, allowing for [...]

On October 8, Bolivian President Evo Morales signed the “Law against Racism and all Forms of Discrimination” (O45) into effect.  Despite protests from journalists across the country, the Bolivian Legislative Assembly passed the law without modifying contested articles 16 and 23, which outline potential penalties for members of the media who publish racist or discriminatory [...]

On October 11, Bolivia’s Mining Minister Jose Pimentel stated that Bolivia plans to start production of lithium carbonate and potassium chloride for export this month, and expects a finalized product by January or February.[i] However, it is unlikely that Bolivia’s lithium carbonate will be available on the international market in the near future. At an [...]

Marcela Sanchez’ article, “Ambition’s Costs — The Ongoing Evolution of Bolivia’s Evo Morales,” published in the Latin American Herald Tribune comments on U.S. decertification of Bolivian drug control efforts, the draft anti-racism law, and ex-president’s Jorge Quiroga’s defamation sentence.  Sanchez tries to connect these disparate issues with loose analysis and apparently little research. In less [...]