Bolivia President
Bolivia (06/05)
Twelve years of tumultuous rule left the MNR divided. In 1964, a military junta overthrew President Paz Estenssoro at the outset of his third term. The 1969 death of President Rene Barrientos, a former member of the junta elected President in 1966, led to a succession of weak governments. Alarmed by public disorder, the military, the MNR, and others installed Col. (later General) Hugo Banzer Suarez as President in 1971. Banzer ruled with MNR support from 1971 to 1974. Then, impatient with schisms in the coalition, he replaced civilians with members of the armed forces and suspended political activities. The economy grew impressively during most of Banzer's presidency, but human rights violations and eventual fiscal crises undercut his support. He was forced to call elections in 1978, and Bolivia again entered a period of political turmoil. ... [Read More]
Bolivia
COUNTRY DESCRIPTION: Bolivia is a constitutional democracy, with an elected President and Congress. A developing country, with one of the lowest per capita incomes in the Western Hemisphere, Bolivia is a popular destination for adventure and eco-tourists. Tourist facilities are generally adequate, but vary greatly in quality. Read the Department of State Background Notes on Bolivia at http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/35751.htm for additional information. ... [Read More]
Program Alumni – International Visitor Leadership Program
President ... President ... President ... [Read More]
Bolivia
A constitutional, multiparty democracy with an elected president and bicameral legislature, Bolivia has separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government, with an attorney general independent of all three. President Hugo Banzer Suarez of the Nationalist Democratic Action party took office in August 1997. The government coalition controls the Senate but only has a plurality of 57 out of 130 seats in the Chamber of Deputies. However, the coalition holds the leadership positions in both chambers. The executive and legislative branches suffer from corruption and inefficiency to some extent. The judiciary, while independent, also is corrupt and inefficient. ... [Read More]
Counternarcotics and Law Enforcement Country Program: Bolivia
Bolivia eradicated over 8,000 hectares of coca in the Chapare during 2004. As of 2004, Alternative Development (AD) in the Chapare has assisted a cumulative total of 28,290 families and 144,000 hectares, previously devoted to illegal coca, now produce licit crops. The average income of families assisted by AD projects increased to $2,390 in 2004 and the number of licit jobs rose to 62,304. The record-breaking seizures of both drugs and precursor chemicals in 2003 and the GOB’s continuing strong interdiction performance in 2004 demonstrate the value of long-term investments made in developing special counternarcotics police units (FELCN). In 2004 FELCN destroyed 2,254 cocaine base labs and made 4,138 arrests in 5,836 operations. Cocaine seizures rose 11.8% over the same period in 2003 (not counting the "Luz de Luna seizure in August 2003 of 5.1 mt of cocaine); and seizures of liquid and solid precursor chemicals rose 24.3% and 210.8 % respectively. Total potential cocaine p ... [Read More]
Releases
1111--02/23/05 State Department Reaction to the Indictment of Former Bolivian President Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada (Taken Question) ... 1111--03/16/05 Bolivian President Mesa’s Call for Early Elections ... [Read More]
Docs 147-180
/2/ William V. Broe, chief of the Western Hemisphere Division of the Deputy Directorate of Plans, briefly summarized the covert action program for Bolivia in a July 15 memorandum to Helms: "With the election of Rene Barrientos as President of Bolivia on July 3, 1966 this action was brought to a successful completion." Broe continued, "in view of President-elect Barrientos’ arrival in Washington next week, it might be appropriate to remind the Committee of [less than 1 line of source text not declassified] actions undertaken with Committee approval in Bolivia." (Department of State, INR/IL Historical Files, Bolivia, 1962-1980) A separate undated briefing memorandum on [text not declassified] support for Bolivian Presidential candidate Barrientos was forwarded by the CIA to Rostow on July 14 (Johnson Library, National Security File, Intelligence Files, Guerrilla Problems in Latin America) under cover of a memorandum from Broe to Jessup. (Ibid., National Security File ... [Read More]
The Recovery of the Aymara Textiles
Forty-eight Aymara textiles from the town of Coroma, high in the Bolivian Andes, some dating to before the advent of the Incas, were returned to the president of Bolivia, Jaime Paz Zamora, by Treasury Secretary Nicholas F. Brady in a ceremony at the Bolivian Embassy in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 24. Most came from a San Francisco dealer, Steven Berger, and were taken out of Bolivia in 1985. Five came from a client of his; at least one other client has refused to return textiles, according to Michael Ratner, a lawyer at the Center for Constitutional Rights, who is representing the Aymara people. ... [Read More]
Co-Chairs of the Bolivia Support Group Call for Peaceful and Democratic Dialogue
"The presidency (United States) and co-presidency (Mexico) of the Bolivia Support Group fully support the democratic, constitutional government of Bolivia, led by President Carlos Mesa. We believe the current political issues can be resolved in a peaceful and democratic manner consistent with the Bolivian Constitution. We believe it is important for all Bolivians to support democratic processes and to seek dialogue rather than confrontation as they work to achieve a more stable and prosperous country." ... [Read More]
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