19.12.05

The person of the week (3)

Evo Morales. Its not easy anymore to find people with real heroic stories. But here we have one. Borned in October 26 1959 inside a family which belongs to the Aymará ethnia, Evo Morales has apparently become Bolivia´s first indigenous president along with his political party MAS (Movement towards socialism). Because of protests led by him, 2 former presidents have been forced to step down. Diverse factors have made Bolivia the poorest country in South America were its inmense indigenous comunity has been segregated and mistreated since colonial times. He considers himself as a marxists and has said many times that he is convinced that socialism is the only way to bring Bolivia out of its extreme poverty. He is feared by the opposition because of what he wants to do once he gets into power. Apparently he wants to nationalize the enormous natural gas reserves that Bolivia holds, and to legalize the production of coca leaves which are consider an important part of the indigenous culture.

Morales has extreme good relations with Fidel and Chavez. He dislikes the american government and will surely become one more piece in this new left-social-focused South America. Another headache for Bush?

I said it before and i say it again: Colombia should watch out. Maybe also reconsider.