“Bolivia vs. Bolivia “ Bolivia’s cracking political fault line.

Two important dates have been scheduled in Bolivia that could have major consequences for the shape of the country, not just political but also regional. The Dec 4th presidential elections, and the July 6th autonomy states referendum. These dates highlight a continued growing rift amongst Bolivia’s socio-economic classes.

The upcoming Dec 4th elections are a direct consequence of growing popular uprising amongst mainly indigenous workers and poor peoples. In June of 2005, then president Carlos Mesa became the second president in just over two years to be forced out of office by mass protests. Upset with Mesa’s, decision to sell off gas reserves at very low prices to the U.S via Chile, massive protests shut down La Paz through organized mobilizations by several groups that included miners, coca-farmers, and peasant collectives. Protesters demand total nationalization of gas and hydrocarbons existing in Bolivia; they see it as a way out the abject poverty they face.

Carlos Mesa came in to power after the first ‘gas war’ ousted then president Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada in October 2003. For almost identical reasons Lozada’s attempt to export natural gas cheaply to the U.S via Chile, protesters mobilized and forced his resignation. Promptly after his resignation Lozada fled to the U.S and is now in exile.

Bolivia is South America’s poorest nation with over 60% of it’s population being indigenous. Many earning less than 1$ dollar per day. Growing cohesion amongst poor populations have galvanized into potent protest instruments for massive change. Fearing these developments the wealthy influential elite of Santa Cruz (crucenos) have called for a referendum that would cut off the state from the rest of Bolivia.

Under the U.S drug war coca production has been substantially eradicated. Coca has been grown in the region for thousands of years and has been a staple in the economy of indigenous populations. Known as cocaleros these farmers have a very strong following amongst poor Bolivians. The current leader of the left is one such cocalero, Evo Morales who has become increasingly popular amongst Bolivians who feel that the neo-liberal policies enriched the already wealthy and have done nothing for the poor to alleviate their oppression.

Bio

Dustin Leader is a photographer living and working in Winnipeg. In 2006 he was awarded First Place in the News Photographers Association of Canada Picture Story category. In the same year he won a Country Music Award for his photographs in the Doc Walker album.

He was also nominated for the Joop Swart Masterclass in 2005, which he didn’t apply for but that’s another story