Bolivian Methodists join push for justice June 27, 2005 A UMNS Report By Linda Bloom* After
a period of political tumult in early June, the situation in Bolivia
has stabilized, according to a United Methodist missionary based in La
Paz. Dakin
Cook, who serves as the area financial executive for the Board of
Global Ministries, said that while many issues still must be resolved,
he believes the country can work through the problems. Cook also
coordinates Volunteer in Mission teams and promotes projects of the
Evangelical Methodist Church in Bolivia. The
push for change in Bolivia has come from its indigenous majority, which
first obtained full citizenship rights—such as the rights to vote and
attend school—after a revolution in 1952. “It
has taken these 50 years since the revolution to get representation in
Congress and begin to participate in the democracy,” Cook told United
Methodist News Service. Through
roadblocks, citywide strikes and other public demonstrations, the
movement of indigenous people has forced two of Bolivia’s
presidents—Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada in October 2003 and Carlos Mesa, on
June 7, to step down. Major issues include a call for a new
constitution and concerns over the handling of Bolivia’s natural gas
reserves, the second largest in Latin America.
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A UMNS Web-only image Maximo Campo makes less than $50 a month working in the mines of Potosi, Bolivia.
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Maximo Campo makes less than $50 a month working in the mines of Potosi, Bolivia. After
a period of political tumult in early June, the situation in Bolivia
has stabilized, according to a United Methodist missionary based in La
Paz. A UMNS Web-only image. Accompanies UMNS story #366. 6/27/05
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The Evangelical
Methodist Church in Bolivia has been involved in the call for political
reform through the writing of pastoral letters, by providing food and
water and “being in solidarity with those who are marching,” and by
working to avoid the escalation of violence. In
one pastoral letter, Methodist Bishop Carlos Poma and other church
officers reaffirmed “our commitment with the country,” and asked God to
lead the way to new agreements and political decisions that “will renew
hope and the living conditions” in Bolivia. “We
are asking all members of the Evangelical Methodist Church in Bolivia
to not give up as we face these times of adversity, to hear God’s
word with renewed faith and hope, to be vigilant and in constant prayer
on behalf of our country, for our communities and for our church, to
intercede and accompany our Methodist brothers who participate in
mobilizations and marches from the rural area, in a spirit and acts of
solidarity, from our pastoral and prophetic mission perspective,” the
letter said. In
a June 22 statement, the Rev. Randy Day, chief executive of the United
Methodist Board of Global Ministries, said he and Bishop Joel Martinez,
board president, applauded the Bolivian church’s efforts to achieve
peace and justice. “I
add my voice to that of Methodist leaders in Latin America calling for
fair treatment of the poor of Bolivia,” Day said. “The situation in
Bolivia is in part a clash between the international oil and gas
industries and the aspirations of indigenous and poor people, the early
June unrest finding outlet in protests against the government.” Day
noted the United Methodist Church has had a long partnership with
Bolivian Methodists in church development and social outreach work,
including programs with the indigenous people in the highlands and
ministries for women and children. The board has nine missionaries in
Bolivia—five in the vicinity of La Paz and four in outlying areas.
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A UMNS Web-only image Methodist Bishop Carlos Poma vows to help Bolivian people like this child by "our commitment with the country."
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This
Bolivian child is one of the people Methodist Bishop Carlos Poma and
other church officers vow to help by "our commitment with the country."
After political unrest in June, Poma asked God to lead the way to new
agreements and political decisions that "will renew hope and the living
conditions" in Bolivia. A UMNS Web-only image. Accompanies UMNS story
#366. 6/27/05 |
The Council of
Evangelical Methodist Churches in Latin America sent a letter to the
Evangelical Methodist Church in Bolivia during the crisis expressing its
solidarity and offering prayers. “We
understand very well the hopes of your people to claim what always has
been denied to them, as basic as their rights,” the letter stated.
“Centuries of exploitation have passed and now people are tired of the
same kind of leaders who maintain great economic and social power in and
outside the country.” The
new interim president, Eduardo Rodriguez, who was president of
Bolivia’s Supreme Court, is obligated to call new elections within six
months. “The general feeling in Bolivia at the moment is that, in
addition to presidential elections, the whole Congress needs to go and
new members be elected,” Cook said. “How to do this constitutionally is
the current big question that is being negotiated.” Despite
government-ordered violence in the October 2003 protests that led to de
Lozada’s ouster, the protests by the indigenous social movements and
various labor unions have been peaceful, according to Cook.
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A UMNS Web-only image This woman lives near the mines in Potosi, Bolivia.
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This
woman lives near the mines in Potosi, Bolivia. Bolivia is one of the
poorest countries in South America. Miners typically make less than 50
dollars a month. After a period of political tumult in early June, the
situation in Bolivia has stabilized, according to a United Methodist
missionary based in La Paz. A UMNS Web-only image. Accompanies UMNS
story #366. 6/27/05 |
“They are
frustrated at not being able to fully participate in the democracy yet
and are forcing it their own way,” he explained. “It is part of the
democratic process but carried out at times in the street and at other
times in the halls of Congress.” Aware
of the exploitation of Bolivia’s natural resources by outsiders, the
social and indigenous movements do not want to lose what is left, such
as the natural gas reserves. “They are now demanding nationalization and
industrialization of these resources in order to create wealth and jobs
for Bolivians instead of exporting it as a raw material and seeing no
benefit whatsoever,” Cook added. The Evangelical Methodist Church in Bolivia will observe its 100th anniversary in 2006. Membership, as of 2002, stood at 8,380. *Bloom is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in New York. News media contact: Linda Bloom, New York, (646) 369-3759 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
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