New Bolivian government seeks to calm landowners' fears

[Say_What]

<clips>

La Paz, Oct 30, 2003 (EFE via COMTEX) -- Bolivia's new government sought Thursday to reassure larger-scale farmers made anxious by the occupation of several haciendas by landless peasants who formed part of the movement that toppled the previous administration.

The government said it would guarantee the security of these farmers while, at the same time, meeting demands for land reform from those who have nowhere to plant their crops, Sustainable Development Minister Jorge Cortes said Thursday.

Speaking at a rally of peasant farmers Wednesday in the eastern province of Santa Cruz, the new president, Carlos Mesa, said he would not tolerate the occupation of legally owned land.

Cortes, meanwhile, said the administration was paying special attention to the farmers "to ensure that they can work in peace."

<http://investor.stockpoint.com/leftnav/newspaper.asp?SectionID=90&SubSectionID=&LastLevel=false&SearchCriteria=bolivia&SearchCriteriaType=2&Fixed=0&SearchSection=90&PckgID=8&SearchString=bolivia&UPSearchCriteriaType=255>