Morales Says that the USCommends Colombia BecauseIt Accepts Its Military Bases

Bolivian President Evo Morales maintained today that the United States government commends the war against narcotics in Colombia because, according to him, the country accepted American military bases.

In late July, during an event in the central region of Cochabamba with coca leaf products (the base for cocaine production), Morales criticized the report presented by the U.S. “anti-drug czar,” Gil Kerlikowske, who asserted that Peru and Bolivia had surpassed Colombia in the production of that drug.

“They minimize Colombia as a country that has problems with drug trafficking because there are United States military bases there. Over there, North Americans are commanding the Colombian Armed Forces, and so the United States wants to praise the country that accepts that there might be American military bases,” said Morales.

In his opinion, “capitalism” uses the subject of drug trafficking “for economic profit,” and also “politically, for wearing down anti-imperialist and anti-capitalist leaders and authorities.”

“Subcommander Marcos, of the National Liberation Army of Colombia, has been accused of drug trafficking. Of course it is the anti-imperialist and anti-capitalist that has been publicly accused of drug trafficking,” added the president in what appeared to be a lapse.

According to the United States, Peru leads in the world production of cocaine with 324 tons produced annually, followed by Bolivia, which produces 265 tons and finally Colombia with 195 tons.

The government administration already rejected that report because it asserts that Bolivia contains 31,000 hectares of global coca leaf plantations, less than half of that of Peru or Colombia, and it is impossible that the Bolivian territory produces that much cocaine.

Since Morales, leader of coca producers in the Chapare region, came to power in 2006, coca crops have increased from 25,400 to 31,000 hectares. The government argues that a part of this is for legal, cultural use, and that it is eradicating that which is destined for drug trafficking.

Morales stressed today that the United Nations and other countries recognize the anti-drug actions of his government and insisted that Washington accuses those countries that do not accept “North American military bases” as drug traffickers.

On the other hand, the government complained that “some opponents” are still accusing coca farmers of drug trafficking, and that it has reclaimed union leadership “because they do not take legal action” against those policies.