October 29, 2024, 3:00 AM
October 29, 2024, 3:00 AM
As he had highlighted in a column published at the beginning of the year, the dispute over the candidacy and control of the acronym of the Movement towards Socialism (MAS) would move to the streets, to the extent that there are no other options or solutions. The streets, then, would become the last possibility to impose Morales’ candidacy with marches and blockades.
Underlying the political strategy of these actions is social upheaval, with deaths and bloodshed involved. In this scenario, the obsessive candidacy is intended to be imposed the hard way. Now, in light of the last dark episodes, the obscene candidacy.
Since they did not achieve that objective in the march, now they intend to convulse with blockades. It is the last option. Evism, in the blockades, is playing the last card. If these, as well as the march, do not achieve that desired social upheaval, they will be a failure. They are risking everything. Now, according to the “rite of blockages”, in the face of the seizure, there has to be “blood”. In these circumstances, the appetite for blood to regain power is voracious.
The march, which was ironically called the “march to save Bolivia,” had that objective, that of provoking social upheaval. They had described this as “the mother of battles.” The upheaval they intended to generate had to cause the resignation of the first and second leaders, so that Andrónico Rodríguez, the third, could assume the presidency, enable Morales and call elections. However, based on those objectives, it was a failure.
They calculated, apart from the obligatory presence of the coca growers of the six Federations, the participation of one million marchers. They thought that, little by little, more segments of the population would join the march. The idea was to condense, at that moment, the accumulated social discontent that exists against the government due to escalating inflation, fuel shortages and the lack of dollars.
However, the march on his way, added nothing. They arrived in La Paz with only 15,000 marchers, far from the estimated million. The planned entry by the “People’s General Staff”, which was to be carried out by the four cardinal points, was aborted due to this weak and low participation. They had to endure the total and absolute indifference of the cities of El Alto and La Paz. After the abrupt end, abandoned by their boss, they had to flee in terror.
They did not achieve the upheaval they sought, since the entry of the marchers into El Alto and La Paz occurred without resistance or violence. The threats to “enforce” the Constitution and not allow “the Chapareños” to enter El Alto had generated a climate of maximum tension. However, the entrance was, strangely, very calm and peaceful. Nobody attacked them or tried to interrupt their march. The government, when interpreting the final objective of the march, changed its strategy and did not enter the field of confrontation. In scenarios of death and violence, Morales usually reaches the “crest of the wave.” But, on the march, they did not give him the opportunity.
Having exhausted the march, in the desire to produce convulsion, they now resort to the blockades. These, however, no longer seek only authorization. Cynically, they also ask for impunity. In exchange for ending the blockades, the obscene candidate demands that all legal processes initiated against him be lifted and he be qualified as a candidate. This, demanding impunity with blockades, in the face of the serious crimes of which they are accused, is an indisputable symptom of a fatal decadence.
Well, the blockades, focusing only on the department of Cochabamba, clearly show that it lacks support at the national level. He was left alone and isolated, with his unconditional coca growers, whom he asked, very anguished, foreshadowing the end, to “not abandon him” and to remain in the blockades until the last consequences. For the most part, these blockades are being carried out by displaced coca growers, to the rejection of the local people.
Due to the strategic location of Cochabamba, these blockades, by preventing transit between east and west, are significantly affecting the country’s economy. It’s been almost 14 days of blockade and the effects are being felt dramatically. The damage and losses are enormous. And the main protagonist, without the slightest decency, says that, “… these pressure measures are part of a rebellion of the indigenous movement against the economic and institutional crisis.”
When food and other fundamental supplies begin to be lacking, in addition to the escalation of prices, in Cochabamba and the rest of the country, they ask for an end to this brutal measure. However, according to the evistas’ chilling calculation, the conflict will not end without prior social upheaval. It is there where they calculate to achieve impunity and authorization.
In that scenario, what can the government do? Of course, you can’t sit idly by. At a minimum, it has to enforce the Constitution. But neither should they enter the field of violence, where the rival wants to take them. It would be suicide.
You see, as difficult as it may seem, everything possible must be done to avoid the seizure. If we prevent this, Evo Morales’ blockades will be a failure and his “burial” will be close.
