Morales accuses US of not condemning 'terrorism'

[Judi Lynn]

Morales accuses US of not condemning 'terrorism'
The Associated Press
Published: September 24, 2008

UNITED NATIONS: Bolivian President Evo Morales on Tuesday accused the United States of failing to condemn "acts of terrorism" in his country, charges that come as he claims the U.S. is encouraging unrest there.

The leftist Bolivian leader's relationship with the United States has grown increasingly strained, culminating earlier this month with the expulsion of Washington's ambassador, whom he accused of backing violent protests in which Morales effectively lost control of half his country.

Latin America "condemns these acts of terrorism, but the United States does not," he said in a speech to the U.N. General Assembly.

Earlier this month, anti-Morales protesters blocked highways, ransacked offices, closed border crossings and sabotaged natural gas pipelines in Bolivia.

Morales also praised the 12-nation Union of South American Nations, which was founded in May, telling reporters on the sidelines that the group could be "a factor of hope for all of humanity" and presenting it as an alternative to the Organization of American States, the group made up of 35 countries in the Americas and headquartered in Washington.

More:
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/09/24/news/UN-UN-Bolivia.php

[Judi Lynn]

1. Bolivian president censures United States

updated 3 hours, 28 minutes ago
Bolivian president censures United States

UNITED NATIONS (CNN) -- Bolivian President Evo Morales on Tuesday said the United States has tried to thwart his political ambitions and, more recently, failed to condemn a pro-autonomy movement that uses "terrorist" tactics.

The 48-year-old Morales, in an address to the United Nations General Assembly, described privatization as the cause of the world's financial crisis, and credited his nationalization of Bolivia's petroleum industry as a boon to the nation's economy.

"In 2005, before I was president, the state of Bolivia had only $300 million from hydrocarbons," he said. "Last year, 2007, the Bolivian state -- after the nationalization, after changing the law -- Bolivia received $1,930 million. For a small country with nearly 10 million inhabitants, this allows us to increase the national economy."

Morales, the nation's first indigenous president, cited "a permanent conspiracy" among pro-autonomy, largely white groups in four eastern petroleum-rich areas, or "departments," that oppose his efforts to redistribute some of their wealth to poorer areas of the country.

He noted that he acceded to his critics' demands that he hold a referendum on his popularity and was vindicated, winning it last month with an overwhelming 67 percent of the vote.

More:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/09/23/bolivia.morales/index.html