We are used to hear that no matter how much you fight, it is always pointless. In this article the Bolivian people demonstrate that in fact, it is the opposite case.-SC Â
By Laclase.info/news agencies
Popular protests put a stop to neoliberal measures
Bolivian President annulled the decree that increased gasoline by 82 percent
On the last day of 2010, Bolivian Evo Morales annulled a decree that raised the price of fuels up to 82 percent. Morales repealed the decree [known as the Gasolinazo] after the Andean country faced a wave of popular protests in December and more protests were announced.
In a televised message shortly before midnight, Morales said that he has decided to rescind the legislation after meeting with trade unions and indigenous organizations that told him that fuel increase was “inappropriate.” However, it is clear that popular and working class mobilization can defeat capitalist readjustments like the one put forward by Morales.
“This means that all measures [such as the government decree] are no longer valid. At this moment, there is no justification to either raise transport fares or to increase the price of food; neither is speculation justified. From now on, everything goes back to the way things were before, “he stated.
Morales gave this speech after meeting for several hours today with his social base in the Chapare region and his cabinet ministers in the government palace. During the speech, he was flanked by Vice President Ãlvaro GarcÃa Linera and Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca.
This week, Morales was criticized by unions and social movements who accused him of implementing “neoliberal” measures and even went as far as to demand his resignation during the protests.
Protests turned violent. Some of the most violent protests took place on Thursday, especially in the militant city of El Alto, neighboring La Paz [capital of the country] — a town with deep revolutionary traditions.
In case Morales did not repeal the decree before 2010, more protests were planned for Monday[ January 3], including a march of thousands of miners from the altiplano to La Paz, a strike, and a road blockade by peasants.
This article was originally published on 01/01/2011 in Laclase.info
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