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By Jorge Martin
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Wednesday, 03 September 2008 |
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After Evo Morales' massive victory in the recall referendum
in August, the pressure has been building up from below to move against the oligarchy.
Now Morales has called a referendum on a new Constitution and for elections of
the regional governors of Cochabamba and La Paz, steps in the right direction,
but in and of themselves not enough to break the deadlock between the classes.
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By Jorge Martin
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Friday, 22 August 2008 |
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After
having won a two-thirds majority in the recall referendum, Bolivian president Evo Morales made an appeal to the oligarchy
to negotiate and for national unity. As was to be expected, the
oligarchy responded by launching a renewed offensive against the
democratically elected government using all means at its disposal. But now we
are seeing an organised reaction against the oligarchy. Building on the
movement that started on May 4th, the mass movement of workers and
peasants is being in the streets once again.
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By Jorge Martin
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Thursday, 14 August 2008 |
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In the August 10 recall referendum, President Evo Morales and vice-president García Linera were ratified with an increased number of votes and the two MAS prefects (governors) of Oruro and Potosí were also ratified. But at the same time, four of the six opposition prefects were also ratified with sizable majorities. So, who won? Who lost?
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By In Defence of Marxism
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Sunday, 03 August 2008 |
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We interviewed comrade Pepe Pereira, a leading
member of El Militante-Bolivia, the
Bolivian supporters of the International Marxist Tendency. Our first question
was about the recall referendum that will be held in Bolivia next week, on August 10th.
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By In Defence of Marxism
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Sunday, 03 August 2008 |
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This statement was
unanimously passed at the World Congress of the International Marxist Tendency.
All efforts must be made to stop the oligarchy's plans to remove Morales, which
they see as a step in the direction of re-establishing their control over the
situation.
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By our correspondent in Santa Cruz, Bolivia
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Thursday, 08 May 2008 |
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The mass media in the west
continue to pump out lies about what is happening in Bolivia. They claim the oligarchy
in Santa Cruz
has won support from the people for "autonomy". We provide the facts that show
the opposite is the case. Reaction is spurring on the masses to step up their
revolutionary offensive.
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By Corriente Marxista Internacional - El Militante Bolivia
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Tuesday, 06 May 2008 |
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The attempt
of the Bolivian oligarchy to use the referendum on autonomy as a lever to push
forward their reactionary agenda has failed. They failed to get the votes they
required, and at the same time they have enraged the masses of workers and
peasants, who have risen once more in huge mobilisations.
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By Jorge Martin
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Monday, 28 April 2008 |
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The oligarchy in Bolivia has launched a major
challenge to the Evo Morales government in the form of a referendum on an
"Autonomous Statute" in the Eastern Department of Santa Cruz. They are using
this question to mobilise the forces of counter-revolution. Morales must stop
dithering and take firm action.
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By Tomas Alaca Rojas - El Militante - Bolivia
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Wednesday, 05 March 2008 |
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A very successful first public meeting of El Militante Bolivia was held on
February 28 in Potosí with 35 people taking part, some of whom expressed an
interest in joining El Militante. All this while the city was erupting in mass
rioting in protest against economic sabotage being carried out by the
oligarchy.
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By In Defence of Marxism
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Wednesday, 05 March 2008 |
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We are proud to
announce the setting up of a new website in Bolivia,
El Militante Bolivia, linked to
the International Marxist Tendency. A journal will also follow soon. It will
provide a Marxist analysis of events in Bolivia
and Latin America based on the ideas of the
IMT.
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By Darrall Cozens in La Paz, Bolivia
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Monday, 17 December 2007 |
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The Bolivian oligarchy and imperialism are not
prepared to accept democracy if the democratic will of the majority is to take
away their power and privileges. Unfortunately, what is lacking in Bolivia is a
programme to challenge the interests of the landlords and capitalists and a
leadership that will fight for this programme.
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By Darrall Cozens in La Paz, Bolivia
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Thursday, 13 December 2007 |
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Reaction is
raising its ugly head in Bolivia. The strategy of the Morales government
seems to be based on making more concessions. Taking advantage of the temporising and vacillation of the
Morales government the oligarchy is gaining even more confidence. What
is needed is a serious campaign among the masses to explain what is at stake
and take firm revolutionary socialist measures.
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By Ramón Sarmiento (El Militante - Argentina)
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Tuesday, 11 December 2007 |
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In 2005 the
revolutionary movemenet of the Bolivian masses produced the Morales government.
Since then vacillation on the part of Morales has given the oligarchy room to
manoeuvre and now it is stepping up its activities as it prepares to exploit
the weaknesses of the government. Urgent revolutionary measures are required.
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By Mineworkers Trade Union Federation of Bolivia (FSTMB)
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Monday, 25 June 2007 |
June 24,
1967, entered the memory of the Bolivian people and of the entire world as one
of the cruelest episodes in history. The Mineworkers Trade Union Federation of
Bolivia (FSTMB) sent us a message commemorating these events. See also in Spanish.
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By Caron Walker
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Monday, 28 May 2007 |
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In
the advanced capitalist countries people take water almost for granted, or at
least they did until recently. Now more and more of us have to pay huge bills
for our water. In the underdeveloped countries, however it is much worse, with
over one billion having no access to safe water. Water will become a source of
class conflict, as the experience of Bolivia has confirmed.
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By the Bolivian Mineworkers’ Federation
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Friday, 19 January 2007 |
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A statement
of the Bolivian Mineworkers’
Federation condemning fascist provocation in the tense situation that has built
up in the country.
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By the Bolivian mineworkers’ federation
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Friday, 19 January 2007 |
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Statement of the Bolivian mineworkers’ federation on
the attempts to break up Bolivia
with the aim of making it easier for the oligarchy to control the resources of
the country.
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By In Defence of Marxism
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Friday, 19 January 2007 |
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Roberto Chavez, the general secretary of the
FSTMB (Bolivian Miners’ Union), spoke to Alan Woods about the conditions of the
miners and their role in the class struggle in Bolivia. Their view is that the
Morales government is not going far enough. They want serious, radical change.
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By Jorge Martin
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Thursday, 18 January 2007 |
 One year after the swearing in of the Morales government in Bolivia it is
possible to make a sober balance sheet of the situation. Morales has attempted
to carry out some reforms while trying to appease the oligarchy. The masses are
drawing conclusions: that compromise is not possible. The struggle must go all
the way.
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By Jorge Martin
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Wednesday, 11 October 2006 |
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On Thursday
October 5, violent confrontations broke out in the mining city of Huanuni,
Oruro, in Bolivia, which left 16 dead and scores of others injured. Clashes
started as 4,000 "cooperativistas" tried to take over the main Huanuni mine,
and the 1,100 miners who work there, organised in the powerful Bolivian Union
Federation of Mine Workers, FSTMB, defended the mine.
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By Peppe Letizia and Leonor Pereira
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Wednesday, 11 October 2006 |
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The Bolivian revolution is at the crossroads. The government has moderated
its policies and retreated on many fronts. The reaction manoeuvres against the
government and any of the reforms its attempts to implement. There exists a mood
of confusion and anger amongst the masses, which at any moment could explode
into a fresh insurrectionary movement.
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By Jorge Martin - www.marxist.com
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Friday, 05 May 2006 |
 The recent announcement by the Evo
Morales government in Bolivia of the “nationalisation” of the
country’s hydrocarbon resources has shaken the multinationals. This
move, although in reality not complete nationalisation, is a
reflection of the overall revolutionary wave sweeping across Latin
America.
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By Jorge Martin
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Tuesday, 10 January 2006 |
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The massive victory of the MAS in the elections was the distorted by-product of the revolutionary movement that Bolivia has witnessed for the last two years. This is why the imperialists are worried. The choice faced by the Morales government is clear: either with the workers and peasants or with the multinationals. If he attempts to please both he will please none. |
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By Jorge Martin
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Tuesday, 20 December 2005 |
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Evo Morales has won a handsome majority in the presidential elections getting more than 50%. This massive victory can only be explained on the basis of the revolutionary movements that have shaken Bolivia in the recent period. Now Morales faces a choice: carry out the demands of the workers and peasants or bend under the pressure of the oligarchy and imperialism. The masses are waiting to see which way he goes. |
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By Jorge Martin
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Friday, 16 December 2005 |
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Bolivia goes to the elections on Sunday. In the past period the masses could have taken power but at the crucial moment the workers’ leaders talked about taking power but never did. This has thrown the ball back into the court of the ruling class. The masses will be concentrating their attention on the elections. Their only option is Evo Morales and his party, the MAS, the same man who used his position to derail the movement in the past. What should the attitude of the Marxists be? |
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By John Kelly
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Tuesday, 14 June 2005 |
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The unfolding revolutionary events in Bolivia have inspired a Tyneside
supporter, active in the local unemployed workers’ movement, to send us
this letter. |
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By In Defence of Marxism
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Tuesday, 14 June 2005 |
Here we publish some messages of support to the Bolivian people which
we received in the last few days. Please raise the question of the
Bolivian Revolution in your trade union branch, party branch, local
associations, etc., get resolutions of support passed and send them on
to us at  ! |
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By Jorge Martin
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Monday, 13 June 2005 |
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After three weeks of a struggle that had acquired revolutionary
dimensions, Bolivia now has a new president and the workers and
peasants are discussing how to continue the struggle. With the help of
the MAS the ruling class has managed to delay the process once more,
but for how long? The masses are learning from each turn of events, and
with each betrayal wider layers are being radicalised. |
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By Alan Woods
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Thursday, 09 June 2005 |
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The Bolivian revolution is an inspiration to the workers and youth of
the whole world. In the last few days it has reached a decisive stage.
The masses have risen. Power has passed to the streets. However, the
time for making revolutionary speeches is over. It is necessary to pass
from words to deeds. |
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By In Defence of Marxism
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Thursday, 09 June 2005 |
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We wish to express to our Bolivian brothers and sisters that their
courageous stand is a source of great inspiration to the workers,
peasants, students and youth of the world. Therefore we are appealing
to all our readers to send a clear message of support to the Bolivian
people. Raise the question of the Bolivian Revolution in your trade
union branch, party branch, local associations, etc., get resolutions
of support passed and send them on to us at .
We will publish them on our website and forward them to Bolivia. The
workers and peasants of Bolivia must be made aware of the fact that the
workers of the world support them. |
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By the National Originaria Peoples’ Assembly of Bolivia
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Thursday, 09 June 2005 |
 We
publish here a translation of the resolution launching the People’s
Assembly passed yesterday in El Alto (Bolivia) at a meeting of about
150 people representing 60 different organisations. The meaning of this
cannot be underestimated. It is a first step towards the creation of an
organisation of workers’ power. |
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By the editorial board of Socialist Appeal
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Wednesday, 08 June 2005 |
A message of support to the Bolivian people from the editorial board of Socialist Appeal.
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By Jorge Martin
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Wednesday, 08 June 2005 |
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The revolutionary crisis that has gripped Bolivia for the last three
weeks has reached new heights. Last week ended with the parliament
unable to start its sessions, torn apart by the class war that divides
the country. The revolutionary movement of workers and peasants has
increased in strength, its national spread has broadened and it has
radicalised its political positions, now clearly challenging bourgeois
democracy. |
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By Jorge Martin
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Wednesday, 01 June 2005 |
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On Tuesday, May 31 a series of marches and demonstrations with people
numbering in the tens of thousands surrounded the Bolivian Parliament.
On the third week of protests, demonstrations and roadblocks, as many
as 100,000 workers, miners, peasants, the people of El Alto, and
teachers, etc. vented their anger in central La Paz. |
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By Jorge Martin
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Wednesday, 25 May 2005 |
 On
Monday, May 16th a new wave of mobilisations of Bolivian workers and
peasants broke out, which is increasingly raising the question of power
once again. The Bolivian masses are revealing an unprecedented level of
revolutionary determination to see the struggle through to the end. |
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By Aníbal Montoya
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Friday, 11 March 2005 |
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The situation in Bolivia has undergone a sharp change in the last few
days. Faced with a new upsurge of the mass struggle against the
policies of the Mesa government, a movement in favour of the expulsion
of Aguas de Illimani (the water company controlled by French
multinational Suez), and for the nationalisation of hydrocarbons, the
forces of reaction decided to go on the offensive by using bourgeois
institutions, their mass media and the reactionary mobilisation of
sections of the petty bourgeoisie. |
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By Alan Woods
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Sunday, 17 October 2004 |
Bolivia is living through a revolutionary situation. There is a popular
insurrection, led by the working class, which has formed a workers'
militia and is clashing with the army. The government has responded by
unleashing a white terror.
The supporters of Marxist.com in Latin America and all over the world
will do all in their power to aid the Bolivian revolution.
But we need your help!
We have produced a
model solidarity message. We invite
you to use this as the basis for messages of solidarity to the Bolivian working
people, and protests to the Bolivian authorities. |
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By Ramon Sanchez
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Monday, 13 September 2004 |
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After the manoeuvre of the so-called referendum on the privatisation of
gas, in August transport workers and community organisations organised protests
against the rise in the price of gas. They were joined by the Landless Peasant
Movement (MST). But the most striking development is what has become known as
the "University Revolution" at Oruro. |
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By Ramon Sanchez
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Thursday, 29 July 2004 |
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The fraudulent nature of the recent gas referendum in Bolivia has become even
clearer to the Bolivian masses. Within just a few days Mesa was selling off even
more of Bolivia's natural gas resources to the multinationals. The response of
the masses has been to mobilise once more. |
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By Ramon Sanchez
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Monday, 19 July 2004 |
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The recent referendum was called by the Mesa government as a legal cover for
what it has laready gone ahead with - the privatisation of Bolivian gas. The
questions were not simply posed as yes or no to privatisation. The masses sensed
this and in many parts of the country took part in a boycott. This is the priced
the movement is having to pay for the compromise reached back in October. |
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By Jorge Martin
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Monday, 26 April 2004 |
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The National Enlarged Meeting of the Bolivian Workers' Union (COB) on April
8, convened in the mining stronghold of Huanuni, decided to call a general
strike and national road blockades starting from May 2nd. The call has the support of the
peasant unions organised in the CSUTCB under the leadership of Mallku Felipe
Quispe, and could precipitate the fall of Mesa's weak government. |
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By Jorge Martin
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Monday, 22 March 2004 |
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There is widespread opposition to the Mesa government, however the general
strike that was supposed to take place in Februaray this did not take place.
Jorge Martin looks at the factors that explain this. The situation remains an
explosive one. |
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By Alan Woods
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Thursday, 19 February 2004 |
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How to solve the Malvinas question – and how not to solve it. Alan
Woods concludes his analysis on the Malvinas posing the question from a class
point of view. And in response to the scandalous accusation that we are somehow
apologists for British imperialism, he also explains the position of the British
Marxists on Ireland, explaining that we were the only ones who opposed the
sending in of the troops back in 1969, and have always maintained a consistent
class position throughout. This is the last part. |
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By Alan Woods
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Wednesday, 18 February 2004 |
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How did Lenin and Trotsky pose the question of war? What emphasis did
they put on the right of self-determination? In replying to Oviedo, Alan Woods
puts the record straight. He also explains how countries like Argentina, Turkey,
Pakistan, etc., are weak imperialist powers, subject to the domination of the
major imperialist powers while at the same time having their own imperialist
ambitions locally. To be continued. |
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By Alan Woods
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Tuesday, 17 February 2004 |
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We continue this reply by taking up the question of the 1982
Malvinas/Falklands war, explaining what the real position of the British
Marxists was at the time. In answer to Oviedo's blatant distortions Alan Woods
explains that they opposed the war as an imperialist war on both sides, and
adopted a genuine internationalist position. To be continued. |
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By Alan Woods
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Monday, 16 February 2004 |
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Alan Woods continues his reply laying emphasis on the position of the
Communist International on the mass organisations and stressing the need to
unite the piqueteros movement in Argentina. To be continued. |
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By Alan Woods
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Friday, 13 February 2004 |
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In the three
articles that Luis Oviedo has written in answer to my article
published on January 7 (Marxism
versus Sectarianism - Reply to Luis Oviedo) a number of very important issues are raised. These
questions deserve the most careful consideration by Marxists in Britain,
Argentina and internationally. However, in order to clarify the issues raised
and to educate the cadres (which ought to be the aim of every polemic) it is
necessary to avoid heated language, distortions and personal attacks that only
serve to divert attention away from the political questions. Such an approach
will only confuse matters instead of clarifying them. |
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By Jorge Martin
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Thursday, 29 January 2004 |
The national enlarged meeting of the Bolivian Workers’ Union (COB)
gathered in Cochabamba on January 22, and decided to call for an indefinite
general strike with road blockades in twenty days time if Mesa’s
government does not concede the demands of the October insurrection and
continues with its announced austerity measures. The COB meeting “ended
with the decision to take power, by closing down Parliament." This
decision marks the end of the truce given by the worker and peasant leaders
to Carlos Mesa’s government.
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By Alan Woods
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Wednesday, 17 December 2003 |
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My attention was recently drawn to an article signed by Luis Oviedo, entitled The Counterrevolutionary Position of Socialist
Appeal. Having read the article, I could not decide whether it was the
product of bad faith or simple ignorance. Certainly, the method used is contrary
to every basic principle of Marxism and above all Trotskyism, which comrade
Oviedo and the Partido Obrero claim to defend. |
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By Michel Wattignies*
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Monday, 15 December 2003 |
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This is an article written for Pierre Broué's magazine Cahier Leon
Trotsky under the name of Michel Wattignies in answer to Luis Oviedo's
article.
See the original in French:
Début de la deuxième
révolution bolivienne
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By Miguel Campos
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Tuesday, 18 November 2003 |
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"This government is not at all different from the government of Sanchez de
Lozada. Carlos Mesa has not listened to the message of the El Alto Indian
rebellion against the sale of gas" These are the words of one of the leaders of the Bolivian October
insurrection, Roberto de la Cruz. They
sum up very clearly the real meaning of the bourgeois government of Carlos Mesa
and the conclusions sections of the masses and most of the revolutionary
vanguard are already drawing. |
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By Alan Woods and Jorge Martín
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Wednesday, 22 October 2003 |
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A revolution is a situation where the masses take their destiny into
their own hands. That is precisely what we are witnessing before our very
eyes in Bolivia. On Friday 17, Sánchez de Lozada was driven from power. The
demonstrators blockaded La Paz and other cities. Soviets were formed in El Alto.
Bolivia, South America's poorest and most unstable country, had been paralysed
since mid-September by anti-government protests. |
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