Bolivia to Legalize Coca Plants
The Bush Administration drug warriors are about to become apoplectic. Bolivia elected a new President Sunday, Evo Morales, an Aymaran Indian, of the Movement towards Socialism, who garnered more than 50% of the vote. For the first time in 500 years, Bolivia will revert to indigenous rule.
Among Morales' promises:
Señor Morales, who used to lead a coca-growers’ union, has promised to legalise the cultivation of coca, the primary ingredient in cocaine — to the horror of the US, which has pursued a big coca eradication effort in Bolivia in recent years. Bolivia is the world’s third largest producer of cocaine.
My view: Bolivia has been a democracy since 1982. Since Bush is so fond of bringing democracy to other countries, and insistent that once they get their government set up their people should rule, I think he wholeheartedly should endorse Mr. Morales and his policies.
As between an Executive Order that authorizes warrantless spying on citizens and one that legalizes coca plants, I'll endorse the latter.
[hat tip Raw Story.]
Update: Reuters, UK reports Morales blasted U.S. drug policy in a speech on Monday, the day after his election.
"The fight against drug trafficking is a false pretext for the United States to install military bases and we're not in agreement," he told reporters. "We support an effective fight against drugs. Neither cocaine or drug trafficking are part of the Bolivian culture," he said in his stronghold of Cochabamba as the first official results from Sunday's vote trickled in.
....The U.S. government insists much of Bolivia's coca is processed into cocaine, but farmers say they grow the plant for traditional medicinal uses, herbal teas and religious ceremonies.
How do experts advise Bush should treat President Morales?
Some analysts said the United States should move quickly to engage Morales and discuss ways to bridge their differences. "I would hope that Morales' position would lead to the U.S. taking a more realistic policy because if there's one thing we've learnt in last 20 years is we can't stop the drug trade," said Nicolas Shumway, director of the Institute of Latin American Studies at the University of Texas, Austin.
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