Bolivia accuses U.S. of funding Morales opponents
By Eduardo Garcia
LA PAZ, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Bolivia's leftist government accused the Bush administration on Wednesday of funneling U.S. aid to groups linked to opponents of President Evo Morales, a charge Washington denied.
Government Minister Juan Ramon Quintana claimed the United States was "meddling" in Bolivian politics by channeling millions of dollars in aid to conservative opposition leaders and think-tanks critical of Morales, a fierce U.S. critic.
It was the latest accusation against Washington by Bolivian officials in recent days.
"If aid from the United States does not comply with Bolivian policies, the door is open for it (to end). We are not going to allow this sort of aid ... to conspire against our country's right to freedom," Quintana told reporters.
In Washington, State Department spokesman Tom Casey strongly rejected the charges.
"There is absolutely no truth to any allegation that the U.S. is using its aid funds to try and influence the political process, or in any way undermine the government there," Casey said.
Since taking office in January 2006, Morales, the country's first Indian leader, has aligned himself with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Cuban leader Fidel Castro, two vocal critics of Washington.
Bolivian officials have accused the rightist opposition of orchestrating a campaign of protests to derail some of Morales' key reforms, including an assembly to rewrite the constitution to empower the Andean country's Indian majority.
Quintana said the government had discovered internal documents from the United States Agency for International Development, known as USAID, that referred to the need to fund programs to "reestablish a democratic government in the country."
American aid to Bolivia last year totaled $134 million, Quintana said. But more than 70 percent went to projects that are not administered by the Bolivian government, he said.
On Monday, Morales, in a veiled threat against the U.S. ambassador in La Paz, said his government will not hesitate at taking "radical actions" against ambassadors who interfere in the South American country's affairs.
Morales spoke days after U.S. Ambassador Philip Goldberg publicly criticized Bolivia's drug-fighting efforts.
"I regret that some ambassadors are getting involved in politics and criticizing the country," Morales said without directly naming the ambassador.
(Additional reporting by Sue Pleming in Washington)
LA PAZ, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Bolivia's leftist government accused the Bush administration on Wednesday of funneling U.S. aid to groups linked to opponents of President Evo Morales, a charge Washington denied.
Government Minister Juan Ramon Quintana claimed the United States was "meddling" in Bolivian politics by channeling millions of dollars in aid to conservative opposition leaders and think-tanks critical of Morales, a fierce U.S. critic.
It was the latest accusation against Washington by Bolivian officials in recent days.
"If aid from the United States does not comply with Bolivian policies, the door is open for it (to end). We are not going to allow this sort of aid ... to conspire against our country's right to freedom," Quintana told reporters.
In Washington, State Department spokesman Tom Casey strongly rejected the charges.
"There is absolutely no truth to any allegation that the U.S. is using its aid funds to try and influence the political process, or in any way undermine the government there," Casey said.
Since taking office in January 2006, Morales, the country's first Indian leader, has aligned himself with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Cuban leader Fidel Castro, two vocal critics of Washington.
Bolivian officials have accused the rightist opposition of orchestrating a campaign of protests to derail some of Morales' key reforms, including an assembly to rewrite the constitution to empower the Andean country's Indian majority.
Quintana said the government had discovered internal documents from the United States Agency for International Development, known as USAID, that referred to the need to fund programs to "reestablish a democratic government in the country."
American aid to Bolivia last year totaled $134 million, Quintana said. But more than 70 percent went to projects that are not administered by the Bolivian government, he said.
On Monday, Morales, in a veiled threat against the U.S. ambassador in La Paz, said his government will not hesitate at taking "radical actions" against ambassadors who interfere in the South American country's affairs.
Morales spoke days after U.S. Ambassador Philip Goldberg publicly criticized Bolivia's drug-fighting efforts.
"I regret that some ambassadors are getting involved in politics and criticizing the country," Morales said without directly naming the ambassador.
(Additional reporting by Sue Pleming in Washington)
posted by Alice at
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
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