Bolivia

Talks begin to try to calm crisis

Article published on the 2008-09-18 Latest update 2008-09-18 17:12 TU

Morales supporters in Cuatro Canadas.
(Photo: Reuters)

Bolivian President Evo Morales and a group of autonomy-seeking rebel governors sat down for talks Thursday to try to defuse a political standoff that turned deadly last week.

The UN and the Organisation of American States are participating as observers in the talks held under stringent security in Cochabamba. The Roman Catholic Church, the European Union and the Union of South American States are also sitting-in.

The standoff between Morales, Bolivia’s first indigenous president who has been implementing socialist reforms, and the rebel governors, who are seeking to hold on to their gas profits, turned violent last week, leaving at least 18 people dead.

The deal struck Tuesday to start negotiations stipulated that anti-Morales protesters leave the government buildings they’ve been occupying, and return control of gas pipeline installations to the authorities. The agreement also calls for an independent inquiry into the Pando massacre – where groups of people targeted indigenous farmers and students, killing at least eight on 11 September and pushing Morales to call a state of emergency in the state.

Both sides are toning down their rhetoric in the interests of ending the violence, with a tacit agreement to abandon any talk of Morales’ proposed constitutional reforms or land redistribution schemes.