U.S.-Conspiracy 'Dashed to Pieces' By Bolivian Military

Did George W. Bush give the green light for a conspiracy to topple the rightfully elected government of Bolivia? According to this article from the Venezuelan state news service, a coup plot with the American ambassador to Bolivia at its heart, has been foiled by the Bolivian armed forces.

Translated By Paula van de Werken

May 29, 2006

Venezuela - Original Article (Spanish)

La Paz: Already condemned by Bolivian President Evo Morales, a desperate conspiracy to undertake a coup d'etat confronted the Commander of the Army, General Freddy Bersatti, who publicly proclaimed his loyalty.

Yesterday, the military leader took this stance during Alo, Presidente, the televised program of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, which was transmitted near the border with Peru from the pre-Colombian ruins of Tiahuanaco, Prensa Latina reported.

After greeting President Chavez, Bersatti revealed that in 2005, while in command of the Army Officer's School, he had opposed an uprising against then-President Carlos Mesa, which may or may not have handed the government to the military high command, but in either case, would have shut down the Congress.

He said he rejected the plan (at the time) because he was a simple soldier, as he remains today. By making this statement, he showed his respect toward and support for President Evo Morales, as well as the unity of Latin America.

Minutes earlier, Chavez warned that Washington had begun giving an earful [inciting] to the Bolivian military, to persuade it to pit itself against Morales, and he declared the hope that Bolivia would not suffer a bloody coup attempt, as Venezuela did in 2002.

He accused the U.S. ambassador to Bolivia, David Greenlee, of being behind the plan to seize power, and he called on uniformed Bolivians to remain on alert.

The Bolivian leader pointed out that among the agreements of cooperation signed last Friday between Bolivia and Venezuela, one pertains to defense and security.

Yesterday, Morales himself confirmed a desperate conspiracy against his government, during a speech in the southern mining region of Uncia. He made the comments while inaugurating the sixth ophthalmologic center of Operation Miracle, a Cuban program that provides care for poor patients.

What my partner Chavez has said is in no way untrue, Morales said, in reference to accusations first made by the Venezuelan government on Friday.

According to Chavez, North American President George W. Bush, gave the green light to the conspiracy to overthrow Morales, by declaring that there is a supposed deterioration of democracy here.

The indigenous leader added that since the nationalization of the petroleum, transnational corporations and some people who escaped after murdering the nation [a reference to associates of former President Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada, currently residing in the United States], want to organize the overthrow of Bolivian democracy.

He then asked the crowd of Bolivian miners if they would defend the nationalization of the oil industry, which was achieved by virtue of the unity of the Bolivian people? He was answered in the affirmative with cheers.

He also stressed the importance of the election of delegates to the Constituent Assembly, which will be held on July 2, and warned that allowing the enemies of the nation to regain seats and foment unrest is not an option.

Morales underlined that he has absolutely no fear of the conspirators and that he is determined to confront them to make possible the recovery of Bolivia's natural resources, through the help of the citizenry.

Morales announced the withdrawal of troops that, as a precaution, have been guarding petroleum installations since they were nationalized on May 1, and he reiterated his gratitude to the Armed Forces for having participated in that operation.

He promised never to use the Armed Forces against the people of this land, and he said that uniformed personnel must defend national sovereignty and territory, including the country's national resources.

Spanish Version Below

Conspiración externa se estrella con lealtad militar en Bolivia

May 29, 2006

La Paz: Una conspiración golpista externa, denunciada por el presidente de Bolivia, Evo Morales, enfrenta hoy la lealtad al mandatario, públicamente proclamada por el comandante del Ejército, general Freddy Bersatti.

El jefe castrense fijó esa posición ayer, en el programa «Aló, Presidente», del mandatario venezolano, Hugo Chávez, transmitido desde las ruinas precolombinas de Tiwanaku, cercanas a la frontera con Perú, detalló Prensa Latina.

Tras saludar al presidente Chávez, Bersatti reveló haberse opuesto en 2005, cuando era comandante de la Escuela de Oficiales del Ejército, a un autogolpe de estado del entonces presidente Carlos Mesa, consistente en dar el gobierno al alto mando militar o gobernar con este, cerrando en ambos casos el Congreso.

Dijo que rechazó el proyecto por ser un militar instuticionalista y que mantiene la misma posición, por lo cual manifestó su respeto y respaldo al presidente Evo Morales, así como a la unidad latinoamericana.

Minutos antes, Chávez advirtió que Washington comienza a «calentar las orejas» (incitar) a militares bolivianos para ponerlos contra Morales y manifestó el deseo de que Bolivia no sufra un golpe sangriento como el de Venezuela de 2002.

Acusó al embajador de Estados Unidos en Bolivia, David Greenlee, de ser el jefe del plan golpista y llamó a los uniformados de este país a estar alertas.

El mandatario bolivariano destacó que entre los acuerdos de cooperación entre Bolivia y Venezuela firmados el pasado viernes uno referido a la defensa y la seguridad.

Morales confirmó, también ayer, una conspiración externa contra su gobierno, en un discurso en la sureña localidad minera de Uncía, al inaugurar el sexto centro oftalmológico de la Operación Milagro, programa cubano de atención a pacientes pobres.

«Lo que dijo el compañero Chávez no es ninguna mentira», manifestó Morales sobre la denuncia hecha por el gobernante venezolano en primera instancia el pasado viernes.

Según Chávez, el presidente norteamericano, George W. Bush, dio luz verde a la conspiración para derrocar a Morales, al declarar que hay un supuesto deterioro de la democracia aquí.

El mandatario indígena agregó que, tras la nacionalización de los hidrocarburos, las transnacionales y alguna gente que escapó después de matar al pueblo (alusión al ex presidente Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada, radicado en Estados Unidos), quieren organizarse para derrocar a la democracia boliviana.

Seguidamente preguntó a una compacta concentración de mineros si los bolivianos defenderán la nacionalización de hidrocarburos, lograda por la unidad del pueblo boliviano, lo que fue respondido con aclamaciones afirmativas.

Se refirió también a la trascendencia de la elección de delegados a la Asamblea Constituyente, que se realizará el 2 de julio próximo, y advirtió que no es posible que los enemigos del pueblo recuperen posiciones y provoquen.

Subrayó Morales que no tiene ningún miedo a los conspiradores y está decidido a enfrentarlos para dignificar a Bolivia y avanzar a la recuperación de todos los recursos naturales, a través de la Constituyente.

Anunció por otra parte el retiro de las tropas que custodian, por precaución, las instalaciones petroleras desde la nacionalización del 1 de mayo, y reiteró su reconocimiento a las Fuerzas Armadas por haber participado en esa operación.

Ratificó el compromiso de no usar jamás a las Fuerzas Armadas contra el pueblo y señaló que los uniformados deben defender el territorio y la soberanía nacionales, así como los recursos naturales del país.