Threat to democracy in Bolivia

Public Services International (PSI) is deeply concerned about the democratic rupture in Bolivia and repudiates the coup that is currently underway.

In recent years, Bolivia has grown more than all the other Latin American nations, with economic growth averaging more than 4% a year. This growth is due to a model that combines the nationalization of essential sectors for the country's economy with a better redistribution of income and the generation of decent jobs which has lifted millions of people out of poverty and, consequently, transformed Bolivia into an example of inclusion and social justice throughout the region. That model is now under attack.

It is impossible to ignore the international interests in the large reserves of lithium and gas that that country possesses. Wealth that until now has served national growth and not the petty interests of transnational corporations.

We must point out that the results of the recent presidential election in Bolivia have been questioned and that the Government and its defenders immediately suffered a strong attack by the opposition that lost. It is also striking that just when the Government agreed to call a new election as a compromise position to overcome any doubts about the previous election results, part of the country's Armed Forces have joined with the conservative opposition to remove, under threat, President Evo Morales and much of his line of succession, generating chaos and violence in the nation. We know who benefits from this chaos and violence from so many other experiences with the way that brute force is used to compromise the constitutionality of countries.

According to Rosa Pavanelli, "democratic ruptures and threats from the military have never served to build a better country where rights are respected and an inclusive economy is promoted. On the contrary, it has always brought serious consequences in terms of human and social rights.”

Similarly, PSI regrets the positioning of the Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS) and of conservative governments from near and far, all of whom are unable to accept and live with the results of democracy or respect the will of popular majorities.

We call on all popular institutions, progressive international forces, trade unions, political parties, social movements, NGOs, human rights networks, etc. to support the resistance of the millions of Bolivians who do not accept this attack on their rights, the loss of social peace and even less with this rupture of democracy in the country.

Rosa Pavanelli PSI General Secretary

Jocelio Drummond PSI Regional Secretary for Inter-America

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