Reply #17: More about Evo Morales from the Leftist press of Latin America [View All]

Morales Aware of US Interference

Rio de Janeiro, Dec 18 (Prensa Latina) Evo Morales, the leading presidential candidate, said if he wins Sunday´s elections in Bolivia, he will seek balanced relations with the US, without submission, although he recognized the risk of Washington´s direct intervention.

The Movement towards Socialism leader told the Brazilian O Globo daily that any US interference would lead to more conflict, reaffirming his willingness to open a dialogue with Washington. He also called for balanced economic and commercial relations, but not submissive, with the US.

Morales thanked Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva´s support to his candidacy and highlighted his good relations with presidents Hugo Chavez (Venezuela), Fidel Castro (Cuba), Nestor Kirchner (Argentina) and Tabare Vázquez (Uruguay). He praised, too, his links with China, Spain, France and several African states such South Africa.

The leading candidate on Sunday´s elections pointed out that the people are more aware of their needs and power, therefore the time has come for social, indigenous and worker movements, as well as progressive intellectuals, professionals and business organizations to have a shot at the presidency.

Prensa Latina

An Indigenous to Bolivian Presidency

La Paz, Dec 18 (Prensa Latina) Evo Morales Aima, an Aymara Indian who did not go to university, is on the brink of becoming the first indigenous president of Bolivia, if Sunday´s elections ratify the polls.

Reality has thus gone beyond the dreams of this llama shepherd born in 1959, whose greatest dream as a child was to be able to travel in one of the buses that agitated the herd he and his father led on the frozen Andean altiplano (high plateau).

Neither his house nor his town had electric power or drinking water and, he recalled, he did his homework on a pile of adobe, by candlelight, seated on a piece of sheepskin.

Later he lived in Oruro, capital of the region bearing the same name, where he alternated jobs as brick maker, baker and trumpet player. His passion has always been soccer.

His priority then was to survive. He owes his subsequent training to what he describes as the university of life, including military service when he was 17.

He was mistreated as a conscript, and he was shocked by abuses committed by the dictatorship of Hugo Banzer, whose political heir, Jorge Quiroga, is his main rival in the elections on Sunday.

Prensa Latina