“The US uses the fight against drug trafficking with purely geopolitical interests”

Luis Hernandez Navarro

Newspaper La Jornada
Sunday, September 18, 2022, p. eleven

Evo Morales Ayma agrees excellent mood. He warmly greets the journalists and photographers of the day and joke. Her brief stay in Mexico was intense and full of recognition. He received, without cap and gown, the doctorate honorary cause of the Autonomous University of Zacatecas (UAZ), pending more difficult moments. He was cheered by a crowd in the capital’s Zócalo during the Cry of Independence ceremony. The singing Mexico Beautiful and beloved at La Ópera, alongside José Mujica and Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard.

As if it were a compensation for not missing the height of La Paz, the 25th floor of the hotel where he is staying in front of the Alameda seems to scratch the clouds. Gone are those bitter days of the coup against him, in November 2019, in which he found refuge and solidarity in our country. He is excited about the shelter he received and it shows.

But beyond the backwater of his last stay in Mexico, the former president of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, who now heads the ruling Movement for Socialism-Political Instrument for the Sovereignty of the Peoples (MAS), is experiencing an incessant political storm. Neither the United States, nor the multilateral organizations, nor the right wing of his country give him a truce. About that he spoke with this newspaper.

–President Biden has just said that Bolivia has not fulfilled its duties in the fight against drug trafficking. What do you think of those statements?

–The United States uses the fight against drug trafficking with purely geopolitical interests. For that nation, governments that are on the left never comply. Now that Colombia has a new government, it will say that it has not complied. But when the right was there, it gave him recognition.

When that US doctrine (of the fight against drug trafficking) falls apart, they begin to accuse leftist governments of being terrorists. And who are terrorists for them? The social movements. How many social leaders are we or have we been presidents in Latin America? Lula, Maduro, Petro, Pedro Castillo from Peru.

The United States continues to threaten. Two or three weeks ago, Laura Richardson, the commander of the United States Southern Command, said that she was concerned about lithium, and that Latin America is the neighborhood of the United States. In our experience, when the empire is in decline, it resorts to violence. I don’t want to think that what happened to Cristina is part of that. When the empire loses hegemony, it uses weapons and military bases.

The empire is desperate because its policies are permanently falling apart. There is a democratic revolt, with the triumph of Petro and in Chile. Soon we will be celebrating with Lula. That is why the threats from the president of the United States.

-The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has just given recipes to Bolivia of how its economy should be.

-Fortunately, our Economy Minister rejected them. We do not accept any interference. What recommendations come from the IMF? First, the privatizations. And we are nationalizers. Nationalizing is how we show that Bolivia has a future.

Second, what comes from the United States? The so-called minimal state. A dwarf State, which only regulates and does not invest. That does not solve the problems of the national market.

In addition, they defend fiscal discipline to take care of the deficit. But that can be a way to punish the poor. They say that you have to take care of inflation, with economic contraction, but that does not help solve the economy of families.

We do not share the recipes of the IMF. Whatever the organization says, the people realize that, in order to continue guaranteeing political and social-cultural liberation, they must be accompanied by economic and financial liberation.

-Do you see a place for the United States in the process of Latin American unity?

-I was surprised by the participation of young Americans in the streets during the last Summit of the Americas. They questioned their government and sought a people-to-people alliance. In addition, the Summit expressed the rebellion of the peoples of Latin America. The President of Mexico, Bolivia and several others did not go, in solidarity with Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua

We remember in a conversation with the Mexican foreign minister, that 20 of the 22 country interventions told the United States government at home Why are Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua not there? Why the coup in Bolivia? That was not there before. Before, it was scary to be expelled from the OAS. Now it is worthy of pride to withdraw from the OAS. This is going to grow. I’m not making it up. I am only making a small assessment of what is happening in Latin America.

A movement for all Bolivia

-A minister in your country recently criticized you, is there a situation of division in the MAS?

–The MAS-IPSP is the largest political movement in Bolivian history. It is something unique in the world. It is not a party. Party is a part of the people. The MAS is a political movement for all of Bolivia in order to guarantee political, economic, social, and cultural liberation. I myself was not convinced at first. But, in a short time, we have shown that another Bolivia is possible.

However, some members of the new generations lack information. What political movement or what party has no problems? What we have is not an ideological difference. Some have to project. It is your right. It is not the first time it happens. In 1997 it was the first time that we presented ourselves to the elections with Alejo Véliz Lazo. He was a respected peasant leader. I learned quite a bit from him. He was our candidate for president. They proclaimed me and I rejected. If brother Alejo had behaved well, he would have been president. But he left with a right-wing party. His was betrayal, not division. There is no shortage of some who are in the MAS out of ambition, not out of conviction.

– Now he’s a doctor honorary cause by UAZ How was that?

Doctor, just in case. I thank the UAZ, its University Council, teachers and students. It is a recognition of the social movements of Bolivia, but fundamentally of the indigenous movement. This recognition is for my indigenous brothers and sisters.

In the Colony we lived threatened with extermination; in the Republic we were the most hated, despised, discriminated against, vilified, economically exploited. This social sector, I am a witness, I am part of it, created a political movement and refounded Bolivia.

I am very happy and grateful to the university for this recognition of my people. With my people, we have done a lot for life and for humanity.

-In the Shout ceremony in the Zócalo thousands of throats chanted his name. What did she feel?

“I wanted to cry at that moment. It has surprised me. When the President retired it was interesting to go to the party and listen to the people yelling Evo, Evo! I said hello and I don’t know how many of thousands of people said Evo, Evo!

I thank the Mexican people. Andrés Manuel López Obrador is immortal in Bolivia. He saved our lives along with other presidents. He helped us recover democracy. And now, Andrés invites us to take care of ourselves. We anti-imperialists were in the permanent sights of the United States. The fight does not end, it continues. But this visit, Andrés’s message, his invitation, is like toasting Evo. Many thanks to President Andrés and his people.

Thanks to him, to Mexico, now I am here alive. Also, thanks to Argentina, Venezuela, Cuba, former President Samper, Rodríguez Zapatero. If it hadn’t been for them I don’t know where I would have been.

-He was at the Opera yesterday. Did they show you where they say Pancho Villa shot?

-The brother chancellor invited us to have lunch with Pepe Mujica. Talking and eating, he told me: In Mexico City, in 1914, Pancho Villa met with Emiliano Zapata. Here, some people insulted. At that moment, Villa took out his revolver and fired.. There was a small hole there. One always learns from Pepe.

– Did you sing?

–First the group approached and was surprised. They were singing at other tables and it came to ours. He told us: Hello Evo! Hello Pepe! What do you want to sing? I asked beautiful and dear Mexico and I began to sing it and accompany it very happily. I’m going to look for a CD to learn it well.