Thousands of dancing, flag-waving Bolivians filled the streets on Thursday to support President Carlos Mesa, who nearly quit this week in frustration at road blockades set up by Indians who protest his rule. But protest leaders angrily vowed the blockades, which have cut off several major cities, would continue after a marathon meeting with Mesa failed to ease their concerns about his plan to open up the energy sector to more foreign investment.
Mesa's government has been plagued by numerous protests by increasingly well-organised indigenous groups, who fear that foreign corporations will rob South America's poorest country of its natural wealth with no benefits for the poor.
A smiling Mesa appeared on the balcony of the presidential palace to sing patriotic songs along with crowds, waving a white handkerchief in his hand to symbolise peace. "No to the blockades!" Mesa yelled to loud cheers. "The majority of Bolivia is represented before me."
Mesa had called for the counter-protest, arguing that most of the country supports him in a conflict that has stirred old ethnic tensions between the poor Indian majority and the largely white, European-descended elite.
"To blockade the country is to kill our hopes!" read a crudely scrawled sign. "We want peace!" said another.
Mesa's predecessor, President Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada, was ousted from office in 2003 after security forces killed dozens of Indian demonstrators in clashes.
Mesa offered to quit on Monday, but quickly withdrew his resignation after Congress voted to reject it, fearing his exit could lead to even worse chaos.
Comments
Comments are closed.