Bolivian tribes in long march against road

[naaman fletcher]

Excellent video and story.


http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2011/08/20118160745913725.html

Bolivian indigenous activists have started a long march from the Amazon plains to the capital in protest against a government plan to build a 300 km highway through the forest.

"This march will end in La Paz, so that the government understands and thinks about changing its attitude and changing the route of the highway project," said Fernando Vargas, one of the leaders of the protest, as he and at least 500 others started the 600 km walk from Beni to the capital on Monday.

The $420 million road, largely financed by Brazil, would link the plains of Beni to Chapare, a sparsely populated region where Bolivian President Evo Morales began his political career as leader of the coca farmers.

To coincide with the march, strikes and road blockades were called in two other areas of the country in what Morales said was a coordinated effort to undermine him politically.

[Bacchus39]

1. Morales knows what is best for them

In June, Morales angered Indian activists by saying the road would be built through the Isiboro Secure indigenous territory and national park "whether they like it or not."

[barackguy8245]

2. delete