Trouble abrewin´
http://www.eldeber.com.bo/20050822/nacional_5.html
The coca farmers of the Yungas demand to meet with the president and cabinet.
In nearby Chulumani, the heads of the coca farmers for the Yungas have demanded that the present president Eduardo Rodríguez and his cabinet come to Chulumani to discuss the issue of coca with them. The threat is a blockade of the roads to the Yungas. The farmers can easily cut off the city from the Yungas with the blockades, which consist of piles of stones, tires, and scores of coca farmers. (the protest situation outside of Bush´s ranch right now is slightly reminiscent of these ultimatums, only with less serious consequences and results)
The proposed bloqeos would directly affect Carmen Pampa´s access to La Paz, and all goods/services form La Paz. So it could make things kind of tough here, and it puts a lot of pressure on the government to respond-hopefully peacefully, occationally violently with military intervention.
Our buddies Willi and Martín, vet students working on their theses, have marched and blockaded and have been tear-gassed and shot at with the coca farmers before and may have to go again this time. This is because both of their fathers are coca farmers, and theyre getting a little old for this. Also, Martín is from Chulumani and is there now working on the thesis- We´re thinking of going there to stay with him if the president actually comes, and maybe if he doesn´t as well. Although our gringo faces will not be welcomed at all at the blockade. Well maybe Jason´s a little more than mine. He is a pretty pretty man, afterall.
Here´s some photos from recent blockades and protests concerning coca, the first on the Yungas road, the subject of the title of our film. The second in La Paz in the central plaza called San Fransisco. The third in El Alto. All three of these locations deserve an explanation as to how and why they host coca protests- Maybe that´ll be in the film. Or at least another blog soon.
The coca farmers of the Yungas demand to meet with the president and cabinet.
In nearby Chulumani, the heads of the coca farmers for the Yungas have demanded that the present president Eduardo Rodríguez and his cabinet come to Chulumani to discuss the issue of coca with them. The threat is a blockade of the roads to the Yungas. The farmers can easily cut off the city from the Yungas with the blockades, which consist of piles of stones, tires, and scores of coca farmers. (the protest situation outside of Bush´s ranch right now is slightly reminiscent of these ultimatums, only with less serious consequences and results)
The proposed bloqeos would directly affect Carmen Pampa´s access to La Paz, and all goods/services form La Paz. So it could make things kind of tough here, and it puts a lot of pressure on the government to respond-hopefully peacefully, occationally violently with military intervention.
Our buddies Willi and Martín, vet students working on their theses, have marched and blockaded and have been tear-gassed and shot at with the coca farmers before and may have to go again this time. This is because both of their fathers are coca farmers, and theyre getting a little old for this. Also, Martín is from Chulumani and is there now working on the thesis- We´re thinking of going there to stay with him if the president actually comes, and maybe if he doesn´t as well. Although our gringo faces will not be welcomed at all at the blockade. Well maybe Jason´s a little more than mine. He is a pretty pretty man, afterall.
Here´s some photos from recent blockades and protests concerning coca, the first on the Yungas road, the subject of the title of our film. The second in La Paz in the central plaza called San Fransisco. The third in El Alto. All three of these locations deserve an explanation as to how and why they host coca protests- Maybe that´ll be in the film. Or at least another blog soon.
posted by Jason and Paul at 9:37 PM
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