Bolivia: Evo said that he did his duty successfully and now he looks for the change with justice

Picture: "Field of Contrasts" by: NEB / Bolivia Now

Originally published by: ABI

La Paz, Bolivia --

After two years of Government, President Evo Morales said on Tuesday to the Bolivian people that he did carry out successfully the 10 pillars proposed by his administration. Mr. Morales looks forward to consolidate the structural process of change in Bolivia; with tolerance, without racism; with justice, without exclusion; in democracy, without dictatorship; with reason, without whim; in peace, and without violence.

When Morales was giving details of his administration, he asserted that until now his Government has fulfilled between the 80 and 90 percent out of total the ten topics that are part of his administration plans, which were presented to the public before coming to power on 22 January 2006.

Even though he admitted a failure for a second time on the housing plans, as well as in the maintenance of roads nationally; he compromised to revert that situation in 2008.

"All of us want the equality; because, only together we can live in peace. Equality guarantees coexistence and it is a tie to defeat the nightmare of exclusion", Morales assured during his report about his administration, that was presented to the National Congress.

"It is the time for change as well as the time for a peaceful, democratic and cultural revolution, a people’s revolution. In this revolution we live together, because only together we can reach a deep transformation that the Bolivian people need", he manifested.

Morales in six hours of his presentation re-vindicated the process of change, the national unity, social justice, economic development and also urged the Bolivian people to work together to unify the country without divisions, discrimination, nor confrontation.

He explained the strengths and weaknesses of the 16 ministries based on the ten pillars of his administration program, he also presented his objectives for this year and the future ones.

The session took place at 16.50 p.m. where the head of State were present his report to the parliament.

Congress’s President Álvaro García Linera, in his opening remarks stated that "Government’s revolutionary democratic process is seeking the transformation, the change and that those people who were excluded, now are looking for their inclusion."

To the event attended congressmen from of the opposition and governing parties, as well as the former President Carlos Mesa; Constituent Assembly President Silvia Lazarte, the president of the National Electoral Court (CNE) José Luis Exeni, as well as the High Military and Police Command, also the diplomatic staff, social sectors delegates, among other personalities.

After the first hours of report, the opponent legislators of Podemos were the first people in leaving the parliament.

While Morales was giving his speech, outside the Congress, on Murillo Square, different social sectors were listening and clapping their hands when musicians were playing original music instruments in order to celebrate the two-year-government anniversary of the Bolivian first indigenous President.

In more than 25 years of uninterrupted democracy, Bolivia had nine constitutional presidents and only one reached that post with the majority vote of 53.7%, Evo Morales Ayma, without being necessary political arrangements at National Congress or constitutional successions.

TEN PILLARS, FULFILLED DUTY

Head of State reminded that two year ago, it was suggested the transformation of Bolivia, the Governmental program was based in ten points; so during his speech he emphasized to each task: "fulfilled duty".

For the Head of State, the Constituent Assembly was carried out successfully despite the conflicts; what is more, the new Carta Magna was approved with important transformations in benefit of the excluded majorities.
A second vital point was the nationalization of the natural sources, which brings to the country more incomes that are devoted to the development.

Also, it was given attention to the Law Andrés Ibañez for the departmental autonomies.

"I want to tell you my Santa Cruz fellows and to the other departments where the referendum of autonomies won (Beni, Pando and Tarija), that the autonomies are guaranteed", he assured.

Other pillar is the Productive Development Plan that started and requires a lot of time and sources for changing the productive matrix for the country.

He also assured that they fulfilled with the Law Marcelo Quiroga Santa Cruz, which fights against corruption and the impunity of the Executive Power. "I have to thank to the deputies because they approved it and we hope that this year they could continue with that will in order to fight against corruption in our society."

Morales highlighted the state austerity that contributed to the fiscal surplus for a second consecutive time.
He mentioned that the Land Law was carried out thanks to the historical march that the indigenous people held.

He make a reference to Citizen Security as an issue that is in process of implementation and he talked about the implementation of the Law Elizardo Pérez-Avelino Siñani for a transformation on the education.

President Morales ratified his compromise with continuing with the big social objectives in the creation of jobs, as well as to give priority to education and important attention to health area.

"I want to tell Bolivian people that from the ten points that were settled as targets in our campaign, at least between 80 to 90 percent has fulfilled during my management", he asserted.

REPEAL REFERENDUM

Head of State assured to opponents to his management that he does not want to perpetuate in the power, but he does not want either that his poorness could be repeated in millions of Bolivian citizens. He challenged Prefects to submit to the repeal referendum; so that people will be the ones who will decide whether they remain in their posts or not.

"I do not have any interest in remaining here, in Government; either to perpetuate in it, those who think we want to remain here, let me tell you that you are wrong", Head of State assured at the end of his speech that lasted six hours at National Congress.

Morales urged departmental authorities, mainly to opponent ones, to face the challenge and to submit to the will of the only entity that rules the State: the people.

He also highlighted that his actual management is trying to erase the colonial past that submitted to the slavishness to millions of people, in especial peasants, who suffered in hundreds of years from poverty.

"I do not want to see my past to be repeated in millions of poor people, in marginalized indigenous people. I want to defeat that colonial past with the weapon of justice and equality", Morales Ayma sustained.

NEOLIBERALISM - HEALTH

In his report Morales explained that with his work team, they have fought against whole conservative hinders and have begun to bring down the colonialist-neoliberal State and society, and instead of it they start to build a plurinational, social and communitarian State, which constitutes a promoter and protagonist of the development.

Head of State highlighted Cuban free medical help in Bolivia and assured that the President of the isle Fidel Castro is the "best doctor around the world" due his constant worry on health of those who need most in the poorest South American countries.

"For me, Fidel (Castro) is the best doctor around the world", he assured and high lighted that until the date more than 200 thousand people of low incomes have been cured from the sight thanks to the surgery called "Operación Milagro".

He highlighted that despite the fact that Cuba is a country blocked by United States, is the most solidarity nation and its representatives in the country are always worry about the welfare of Bolivian people.

SECURITY

With respect to the State policy security, he ratified his compromise with Armed Forces to respect the institution and he summoned them to work for the people, especially in the payment of the annuity for Dignity.

President said "Evo Morales as a soldier in reserve, and now General Captain of the Armed Forces, will always respect the institution, as we did until now."

In that sense, he urged FFAA to work immediately for the payment of the annuity for Dignity to those elderly people.

Head of State also highlighted the tasks that were done by the Unique Transitory Command (CUT) that gave its help for the natural disasters caused by the climate phenomena called El Niño, between November 2006 and April 2007.

ATPDEA

With respect to the renovation of the Laws of Andean Tariff Preferences and Drug Erradication (ATPDEA), according to Morales, Bolivia is prepared before the possibility that United States could not approve an extension next 28 February.

"We are going to make the respective proceedings with respect to the ATPDEA extension, but we were also prepared if we have to face any problem", Head of State said.

The ATPDEA law will allow Bolivian producers to export their products to U.S.A., mainly the wood, manufacture and jewelries, free of taxes. According to IBCE, at least 40 thousand jobs depend on that agreement.

Head of State pointed out that despite Bolivia is a poor country it has dignity, which is not going to be bended for United States attitude that only wants to ratify Peru and Colombia except Bolivia, fact that was considered by Bolivian Ambassador as discrimination.

"Let’s be honest, not for extending the ATPDEA Evo Morales will be on his knees, we are a poor country but with dignity", he assured.

STRENGTH AND WEAKNESSES

Head of State admitted that for a second consecutive time his weakness was the housing planning and the maintenance of road, but he assured that in 2008 they will pay especial attention to it in benefit of population.

"Beforehand I want to recognize the failure for a second time on the issue of housing, I accept any critic on the matter", he said.

According to the data given by President between 2006 and 2007, it was approved 9.461 projects of housing with guaranteed finance and there were given 1.114 repaired houses.

LANDS

In two years of management, he said that they gave land titles of 10 million hectares; in contrast to the 9.2 million of hectares that neoliberal governments gave in 10 years of government, during 1996 and January 2006.

Head of State said that measure was carried out successfully thanks to the implementation of an agrarian policy, completely different to the agrarian reform of 1952.

Government will work within the framework of the agrarian revolution with four components, as they are the land distribution, agrarian mechanization, ecological production and commerce.

He also pointed that between 1996 and January 2006 were given 36.814 hectares in fiscal lands; meanwhile, in two years (2006-2007) were identified 1.2 million hectares of fiscal land and were distributed 697.882 hectares that benefited to 3.015 families.

SLAVISHNESS

He also warned that the lands of the Chaco, where there are indigenous slaves, are going to be reverted or expropriated.

For that reason, the Head of State made a call to whole landowner families that still have servants in their lands, to work with them in order to free them and asked them to give a property to indigenous people.

He assured before the congressists "We have an obligation with people’s rights; so in order to protect them we are going to expropriate and revert the lands, thus putting and end the slavishness."

JOBS

President assured that labor firings were taken in 50 percent and it was improved the labor stability during 2007.

"We have decreased in 50 percent the firings, because you know that with the free hiring there were no guarantees for a job", Head of State said.

He informed that the salary during the years 2003, 2004 and 2005 the minimum salary did not suffer any increment; by contrast, he remarked that in the management 2006 and 2007 a growing in salary have seen.

In that sense, he highlighted that in the country there is 80 percent of companies that fulfill with the annual increment of salary and that situation is repeating to the private sector.

EDUCATION - JUANCITO PINTO

He announced that in 2008 it will be held also the bonus Juancito Pinto with a sum of 200 bolivianos paid to children who are studying in public schools until the eight grade.

"I want to tell you that this year the bonus Juancito Pinot will be extended to the eight grade in public schools, it is a real fact", he assured.

He also said that he felt capable of assuming that measure, not only thanks to hydrocarbons resources, but also thanks to the incomes that mining is generating.

He assured that if Bolivian education does not improve, it would not be possible to build up a developed country.

"We are in the third millennium and the education must improve in order to build up a developed country. According to the census 2001, Bolivia had 1.200.000 illiterate people and it is hard to believe that former authorities did not feel deeply that problem in their hearts", Morales regretted.

MINING

Government reached for a second time to make true the dream of the Mutum (iron land located in the province Puerto Suárez-Santa Cruz) after more than 40 years of fight.

Head of State highlighted the fact and said that the signing of the contract with the Company Jindal for exploiting Mutun that will invest 2.100 million dollars, it was reached an increment on the incomes for the country, but most important the environment was protected and the development of the region grown.

He added that with the actual conditions, the country will perceive an average of 200 million dollars per year, and it will get into the industrialization scenario of the raw material.

He assured that no one else could impose his/her will over citizens, "because there is a conviction of canceling the historical economical sacking, as well as the political cheating. And now it is time for the change, but there is also an opportunity for thrusting, for believing, for growing and for living with dignity."

At the end of his six-hour-report, he left the Parliament and talked to the representatives of the different social sectors that were outside on Murillo Square in ore to thank their support. Despite the heavy rain, it did not hinder the celebration that was holding in the afternoon and night.