Cochabamba in Mourning – Bolivian Bloggers React · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Paz (Peace)Photo used with permission by Flickr user Miskifotitos.
“Pueblo vs. Pueblo” (People vs. People) is how the blogger at Voz Boliviana [ES] described the clash between citizens in Cochabamba, Bolivia’s fourth-largest city and left many lamenting and angry at the course of events, which left 2 dead and close to 200 injured.  It started with a protest in the city’s main plaza, 14 de septiembre, demanding for the resignation of the department’s prefect or governor, Manfred Reyes Villa, who stands in opposition to the national government.  The prefect wished to call for a department-wide referendum on autonomy, as he argued that the departmental governments should have more economic and political autonomy.  In mid-2006, the department had voted “No” on the nationwide referendum on this very subject, which passed in 4 of the 9 departments.  Many in the government’s social-movement base, including members of the coca-growers federation saw this call as an act of provocation.
The coca-growers originate from the rural part of the department called the Chapare, and they descended to the departmental capital, Cochabamba, whose central precincts incidentally voted “Yes” for autonomy.  In the plaza, the group clashed with police, as there are arguments as to who provoked who, and as a result the governmental building was burned.  In addition, blockades began to materialize at various strategic points across the city that did not allow for free transit or goods to enter the city.  There were reports that some of these social movements ordered the shut down of water flow to the city.  As these actions continued to pile up, a group calling themselves “Juventud por la Democracia” (Youth for Democracy) announced a peaceful march, but it soon became one of confrontation.  They resolved that if the groups occupying the city’s main plaza did not leave, that they would be removed by force.  Late afternoon on Thursday, the two groups met along various points in the city main promenade El Prado, where two Bolivians were found dead, one killed by a bullet wound and the other macheted and strangled.
This course of event set off a multitude of reactions by the Bolivian blogosphere.  Many had their own versions and interpretation of the course of events.  Questions arose over who provoked who and who was at fault.  Alvaro Ruiz Navajas returned to blogging at Off-Topic with his own version of Frequently Asked Questions.
As the blogger continues on in Voz Boliviana he/she firmly states that the conflict was a clash between the middle/upper class and the poor.
Lo de ayer en Cochabamaba ya no es cuestión de tendencias políticas o ideologicas. La gente que se enfrento ayer fue la clase media – alta y los pobres. Para estos ultimos jugarse la vida en bloqueos, paros y marchas no tienen nada de nuevo… sus vidas miserables por la precaria situación económica, los lleva a que arriesguen todo y sin temor a perder nada.
Para la clase media – alta la situación es similar. Sienten que se estan jugando el todo por el todo, desde que el gobierno ha asumido el poder. Decir que la clase media – alta es derechista solo por el hecho de apoyar a la oposición es un analisis flojo. La clase media – alta critica en la misma medida que lo hacen los izquierdistas a este sistema, pero se apega a aquellos que le prometen cierta seguridad y estabilidad, y lamentablemente eso lo ha hecho inteligentemente la derecha.
What happened yesterday in Cochabamba is no longer a question of political leanings or ideologies.  The people that clashes yesterday were the middle to upper class and the poor.  For the latter, participating in blockades, strikes and marches is nothing new..their sad lives due to the economic situation leads them to risk everything with nothing to lose.
For the middle to upper class, their situation is similar.  They feel like they are gambling it all ever since this government took power.  To say that the middle to upper class is right-wing only because they support the opposition is a lazy analysis.  The middle to upper class mimicks what the left does to this system, but they stick to those that promise certain amount of security and stability and unfortunately, that is what the right smartly has done.
Overwhelmingly, the Bolivian bloggers hoped that the situation would settle down and many lived the day firsthand.  Gabriel Iriarte summarized a phone call he received that day that demonstrates the levels of high emotions that ran that afternoon.
Hoy a las de las 16:45 ¡ una llamada a mi celular, tengo el número registrado es el 70741740. Un chico me dio su nombre, apellidaba Coronel. Y me dijo “Gabo, vamos a la marcha por la democracia a pegar campesinos”. No sé cómo este sujeto tenía mi celular, ni cómo sabía mi nombre. Yo en mi asombro no supe qué responder y sólo le dije que no conocía a nadie con su nombre, luego cortó. Supongo que se equivocó de Gabo, pero ese no es el punto. Automóviles recorrían la zona norte de la ciudad con altavoces convocando a la gente a sumarse a esta marcha. Y ahí comenzó la debacle que dejó cerca de 100 heridos y 2 muertos. El prefecto es un sinvergüenza manipulador a quien no le importa enviar a la población civil y decirle que expulsen a campesinos de la ciudad (ellos son habitantes del departamento y tienen derecho de protestar en la capital)
Today at 16:45, I received a call on my cell phone, I still have the number registered – 70741740.  A male told me his name, last name Coronel.  He said, “Gabo, let’s go the march for democracy and let’s go hit campesinos.”  I don’t know how this guy had my cell phone number or how he knew my  name.  During the surprise, I didn’t know how to respond and I said that I didn’t know anyone by his name, then I hung up.  I suppose he confused with another Gabo, but that’s not the point.  Cars drove up and down the North part of the city with speakers calling people to join the march.  That’s where the entire debacle started that left close to 100 injured and 2 dead.  The prefect is a shameless manipulator that does not care about sending civilians to expulse the famers from the city (they are residents of the department and have the right to protest in the capital).
Flickr User Jorge aka miskifotos was on the ground in Cochabamba taking pictures and providing descriptions.  This photo is of the group called Youth for Democracy marching down the Liberator Bolivar avenue.  Youtube user Araoza also filmed short clips from the battle scene.
This aggression towards each other did leave one from each side dead: Nicomedes Gutiérrez (34) y Christian Urresti Ferrel (17). Andres Pucci published an  letter, which was from an unconfirmed source from a former classmate of the killed youth. The anonymous blogger Morir Antes Esclavos Vivir writes a tribute to young Christian.
Many bloggers drew the connection between the fact that many on the pro-government side were coca-growers, whose maximum leader is President Evo Morales.  The current Bolivian president rose through the political ranks as leader of these groups, and was reelected even after obtaining the country’s highest office.  Hugo Miranda aka Angel Caido [ES] faults the president for the conflict, as he could have easily ordered his base to retreat and things would not have had occurred the way that it did.
The blame placed on the President continues, but also some hoped that he could be one of the few that could actually cease the violence.  Upon his return from Nicaragua where he attended the inauguration of Daniel Ortega, he participated in a press conference.  Many hoped that he would say just the right things. Sebastian Molina of Plan B [ES] summarized what Morales did say and what he did not say.  Molina believed that the speech seemed to leave out a lot of mention of the deaths, injured, attacks on journalists or that peace should return. Others found it ironic that on dates that violence would erupt in Bolivia, that Morales would be nominated for the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize.  Willy Andres didn’t think the Morales has done enough to “promote peace.”
Some bloggers are trying to do their small part in standing in solidarity with peace.  Estido of Cronicas Urbandinas [ES]  created a solidarity logo for others to place on their blogs. Sergio Asturizaga of Así como me ves me tienes [ES] admits that the President is losing some support, “The government thinks that it still has 54% of the votes, but it forgets that it was not just the rural population that voted for them.  There were others that voted for a political change for a change in the people.”
Photo used with permission by Flickr user Miskifotitos.
Some bloggers found themselves supporting Reyes Villa without regard whether one supports him, but because he was elected democratically.  Isabella Fuente of Ergoth [ES] said:
Manfred Reyes es elegido democráticamente. Más allá de que me guste o no me guste, él es el Prefecto. Como diría Jose Gramunt “Y no es que aquí se pidan simpatías por el Prefecto, pero nadie le podrá discutir que fue elegido en comicios limpios”. No está bien desconocerlo, ni intentar sacarlo por cualquier medio porque no piensa igual, menos quemar la Prefectura, destrozar las calles y destruir la ciudad porque no me gusta su bigote.
Manfred Reyes is elected democratically, regardless if I like or dislike him, he is the Prefect.  As Jose Gramunt said, “It is not like we ask for sympathy for the Prefect, but no one can argue that he was elected in fair elections.”  It is not okay to not recognize his legitimacy, nor try to get rid of thim by whatever means necessary because he doesn’t think the same, less to burn the Prefecture building, destroy the streets and destroy the city because I don’t like his moustache.”
However, the blogger Ciudadano K [ES] calls for Reyes Villa to resign, which elicited many comments that disagreed with this point of view.
Regardless of who was to blame, there was one that placed a lot of the blame on himself.
Carlos Hugo Molina, the former Prefect of Santa Cruz, write in his blog Ágora [ES] that he feels responsible for this mess.  He writes this, not as a former Prefect, but as a Christian.
Por no haber sido más firme en hacer valer mi calidad de ciudadano amante de la Paz.
Por haber sido condescendiente con la estupidez vestida de razones oficiales.
Por no haber pedido que guarde silencio quien sostenía que la salida violenta es la única alternativa politica.
Por no haber reaccionado cuando escuché que había llegado la hora del “desempate catastrófico”
Por no haberme dado cuenta que el discurso y las actitudes intolerantes de las cúpulas indigenistas, están generando odio racial.  Igual al que sembramos los que nos creíamos blancos.
Por no haber hecho lo suficiente para que la derecha irresponsable siga con un discurso y una actitud soberbía y prepotente
Por no haber desterrado de mis palabras y actitudes las frases “indio de mierda”, “colla maldito”, “camba hijo de puta.”
Por no haberle pedido más firmemente a los ligeros de palabra que dejen de sembrar el odio y la confrontación.
Porque si hubiera hecho algo más de todo esto,  Nicomedes Gutiérrez (34) y Christian Urresti Ferrel (17), seguramente hoy estarían con nosotros.
Pido perdón.
For not standing more firm as a citizen who loves peace.
For being condescending with stupidity disguised by official reasons
For not telling to be quiet those that said that violence was the only political alternative
For not reacting when I heard that we have come to the “tiebreaking catastrophe”
For not realizing that the rhetoric and intolerance by some indigenist groups were creating racial hatred, the same goes for those that think of ourselves as white.
For not doing enough so that the irresponsible right does not continue with proud and arrogant rhetoric
For not banishing my words and attitudes of the phrases “Indian full of shit”, “damn colla”, “camba son of a bitch”
For not asking more firmly those who use words lightly that they should stop encouraging hate and confrontation.
If I did a little more than this, Nicomedes Gutiérrez (34) y Christian Urresti Ferrel (17), surely would be here with us today.
I ask for forgiveness.