Alliance for Responsible Trade

Condoleezza Rice

U.S. State Department

Dear Secretary Rice,

We, the undersigned, write with concern about U.S. foreign policy towards Bolivia. It is important that the United States appreciate the historical context of changes currently underway in that country and the tensions created. At such a sensitive time, the U.S. must be careful not to appear biased, and should support a peaceful and constitutional resolution in Bolivia.

We ask that USAID and the National Endowment for Democracy stop funding regional government initiatives and opposition groups in Bolivia.

While it may appear good in Washington DC to help regional initiatives, in Bolivia this appears to be partisan at a time when six of these departmental governments are the principal opposition to the national government. During these tense times, the U.S. should re-evaluate its misguided “democracy” initiatives. Recent reports and unclassified documents indicate that the United States appears to support organizations working to undermine national dialogue, the Constitutional reform and other changes. While the Office for Transitional Initiatives functioned in Bolivia, it provided “support to fledgling regional governments” with the bulk of its financial support going to departmental governments opposed to the national government. USAID and the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) have supported key opposition organizations and leaders in the eastern states of the “Media Luna”. During the year starting March 2006, USAID provided 116 grants worth $4,451,249 to “strengthen the institutional capacity of departmental governments.[1] In 2008 the Department of State budgeted $10,092,000 to Bolivia under the “Govern Justly and Democratically,” category and the budget request for 2009 is $28,492,000 for the same program area. We are concerned that this near tripling of spending will be used to support opposition groups or departmental governments, erode democracy and increase destabilization of the country.

This targeted support for opposition groups and departmental governments combined with the recent scandal of a U.S. Embassy official asking Peace Corps and Fulbright members to spy on Venezuelans and Cubans in Bolivia, have negatively impacted the image of our country and our citizens currently residing there. This policy makes the valuable work of researchers, human rights, church and development organizations more difficult. We ask you to see that the United States stop supporting opposition forces to help bring about a peaceful and constitutional resolution to tensions in the country.
Historical Background

In 2005, Evo Morales won a landslide election victory to become Bolivia’s first indigenous President. His election was a direct result of a growing movement among Bolivia’s indigenous majority that called for a redistribution of a natural resources and the recognition of indigenous self-determination and autonomy through a new constitution.

The Morales government renegotiated contracts with energy companies leading to a large increase in income for the Bolivian people, resumed a stalled agrarian reform process begun in 1953, and instituted an assembly to draft a new constitution to be voted on in a national referendum.

These reforms are bitterly opposed by the business and media elite, particularly the large landholders of Bolivia’s lowlands where natural gas reserves and millions of acres in under-productive cattle ranches are concentrated. Meanwhile, the majority of Bolivia’s indigenous poor lives in the Andean region.

The lowland elite are fanning the flames of racism and regionalism, determined to split Bolivia rather than allow a just redistribution of resources. While the proposed constitution recommends a decentralized government that recognizes both indigenous and regional autonomies, the lowland elite fight for control over gas revenues which could result in further impoverishing Bolivia’s Andean indigenous regions.

Bolivia is trying to settle very difficult internal problems. In light of a long history of intervention, it is important that the United States do everything possible to be neutral to help reach a peaceful resolution. Now is the time to stop funding regional government initiatives.

Sincerely,

Agricultural Missions, Inc.

Alliance for Global Justice

Boston Committee In Solidarity with the People of El Salvador

Campaign for Labor Rights

Center of Concern

Chicago Religious Leadership Network on Latin America

CISPES

Center of Cultures

The Community for Human Development

New York

Denver Justice & Peace Committee

Development GAP

Global Exchange

Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ

Grassroots International

Humanist Movement, U.S.

Interfaith Peace Ministry of Orange County

The Ignacio Martín-Baró Fund for Mental Health & Human Rights

Joining Hands of San Francisco Presbytery (UPUSA)

July 26 Coalition in Solidarity with Cuba

Justice and Witness Ministries - United Church of Christ

Missionary Oblates, Justice, Peace & Integrity of Creation

Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns

Maryknoll, Frank Higdon

Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate: Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Office

National Lawyers Guild

Nicaragua Network

Nicaragua Center for Community Action (NICCA)

Nicaragua-U.S. Friendship Office

Nonviolence International

Orange County Interfaith Coalition of Social Justice

Planners Network

St. Mark Presbyterian Peace and Justice Commission, Newport Beach, California

SHARE Foundation: Building a New El Salvador Today

Task Force on the Americas

The Alliance for Democracy - Portland Chapter

United for Peace and Justice

United Methodist Church, General Board of Church and Society

Venezuela Solidarity Network

Witness for Peace

Quixote Center

Individuals:

Jim Odling, Member County Council, Green Party of Los Angeles County

Jose Lanza

Elizabeth MacQueen

Kristen Zielinski Nalen, Franciscan Lay Missioner 07-09

Martha A. Nathan MD

John Rice

Cc:

Mr. Thomas A. Shannon

Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs

Mr. Howard L Berman D-CA

Chair, House Committee on Foreign Affairs
Mr. Eliot Engel, D-NY

Chair of the subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere
Mr. Joseph Biden, D-Del
Chair, Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
Mr. Richard Lugar, R-In

Minority Chair, Senate Committee on Foreign Relations