Approval of highway through Bolivian national park stirs resentment among indigenous groups

Record ID: 905991

  • Title: Approval of highway through Bolivian national park stirs resentment among indigenous groups
  • Date: 10th August 2017
  • Summary: LA PAZ, BOLIVIA (AUGUST 10, 2017) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF BOLIVIAN NEWSPAPER PAGINA SIETE WITH HEADLINE "I HOPE BOLIVIA NEVER TURNS INTO VENEZUELA" (STATEMENT MADE BY U.S. EMBASSY CHARGE D'AFFAIRES, PETER BRENNAN) FLAGS IN LA PAZ'S PLAZA MURILLO EXTERIOR OF BOLIVIA'S FOREIGN MINISTRY BOLIVIAN MINSTER OF THE PRESIDENCY, RENE MARTINEZ, ENTERING ROOM AND WALKING TO PODIUM (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BOLIVIAN MINISTER OF THE PRESIDENCY, RENE MARTINEZ, SAYING: "It is unfortunate that the declarations by the Chief of the Mission of the United States have been reproduced and amplified by politicians on the right in opposition to our government. That after having been defeated at the ballot box they now try to mount, try to lead a distressing campaign of discredit against our country and against our brother country, Venezuela." BOLIVIA'S 'SEA CLAIM' FLAG OUTSIDE FOREIGN MINISTRY
  • Embargoed: 24th August 2017 23:41
  • Keywords: Bolivia TIPNIS national park Evo Morales indigenous highway construction amazon
  • Location: LA PAZ, TIPNIS NATIONAL PARK AND ISINUTA, BOLIVIA
  • City: LA PAZ, TIPNIS NATIONAL PARK AND ISINUTA, BOLIVIA
  • Country: Bolivia
  • Topics: Environment
  • Reuters ID: LVA0046TKRDC3
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Indigenous groups held a news conference on Thursday (August 10) to protest the Bolivian government's approval of a law to remove protections from a national park in order to build a highway through it. The groups from the Indigenous Territory and National Park Isiboro Secure (known by its Spanish acronym of TIPNIS) also called for respect for democracy in Bolivia and respect for a constitutional referendum that prevents Bolivian President Evo Morales from running for a fourth consecutive term.
    The proposed highway has been at the heart of Bolivian President Evo Morales' drive to boost infrastructure investment in the impoverished nation. Political opposition figures and environmental groups claim the Morales government wants to use the highway to open new lands to coca cultivation and has been in discussions with Chinese construction companies that have expressed interest in projects in the region.
    On Wednesday (August 9), a group of indigenous groups and legislators from the state of Cochabamba attempted to enter an area of the TIPNIS national park to check on suspected construction work within protected areas of the park, but were blocked by groups of coca growers.
    Meanwhile, a Bolivian newspaper published an interview with the U.S. Embassy's Charge d'Affaires, Peter Brennan who noted U.S. concern for Bolivia's support for Venezuela and stated, "I hope Bolivia never turns into Venezuela." The comments by the U.S. diplomat provoked a reaction from the Bolivian Minster of the Presidency, Rene Martinez, who defended Venezuela and lambasted local media and opposition politicians for amplifying the comments.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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