From: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu (Rich Winkel)
Subject: BOLIVIA: PARLIAMENTARIANS DEMAND WITHDRAWAL OF US TROOPS
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: PACH
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 1992 00:49:45 GMT

/** reg.samerica: 136.0 **/
** Topic: IPS: Bolivia - US Troops.... **
** Written  9:59 am  Jul 24, 1992 by hrcoord in cdp:reg.samerica **
From: Human Rights Coordinator <hrcoord>
Subject: IPS: Bolivia - US Troops....

/* Written 12:22 am  Jul 24, 1992 by newsdesk in cdp:ips.englibrary */
Copyright Inter Press Service 1992, all rights reserved.  Permission to re-
print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Title: BOLIVIA: PARLIAMENTARIANS DEMAND WITHDRAWAL OF US TROOPS

an inter press service feature

by juan carlos rocha

la paz, jul 21 (ips) -- members of parliament from bolivia's
ruling and opposition parties have demanded the withdrawal of
united states troops from santa ana, in the northern amazon
province of beni, charging that their presence is illegal,
unnecessary and an affront to national sovereignty.

the demand follows earlier protests by popular organisations
and trade unions, calling for the withdrawal of 122 us troops who
arrived in bolivia at the beginning of july, together with a
large consignment of unidentified equipment.

the mysterious military cargo has provoked widespread
speculation and suspicion about the real nature of the us
presence in santa ana, considered bolivia's drug capital until
two years ago.

although it enjoyed a brief period of prosperity at the height
of the drug boom, santa ana is now a fairly poor town with few
amenities.

according to the bolivian government and the us embassy in la
paz, the 122 engineers of the us 37th airborne brigade based in
north carolina, are in bolivia to carry out ''civil actions'',
including the building of six classrooms, letrines, and sports
facilities.

however, mp gregorio lanza, an expert on anti-drug strategies,
says most of the us soldiers in santa ana are specialists in the
construction of airstrips.

he added that these troops are sometimes deployed as transport
parachutists in rapid response operations, and many participated
in the us invasion of panama in 1989 and the gulf war in 1991.

lanza, who spent one week in santa ana investigating the us
activities, said the military presence is part of washington's
low-intensity warfare strategy.

he suggested that the real purpose of the mission was training
and reconnaissance, and to build runways in the bolivian amazon
in preparation for a possible future deployment of us combat
troops in the region.

however, the bolivian government insists that the us military
presence is solely linked to bilateral agreements on cooperation.

according to the us military, the current mission to bolivia
cost approximately two million dollars, though the cost of the
''civic actions'' is calculted at only 100,000 dollars.

parliamentarians who are critical of the us presence point out
that the bolivian congress did not authorise the arrival of
foreign troops on national territory, as required by national
law. (more/ips)
----


bolivia: parliamentarians (2)

but the president of the chamber of deputies, gaston encinas,
of the ruling left-wing revolutionary movement (mir), said on
previous occasions congress had authorised the presence of us
troops in the context of international agreements to fight
drug-trafficking.

this was denied by former foreign minister guillermo bedregal,
of the opposition nationalist revolutionary movement, who said no
such authorisation had ever been granted and stressed that the
constitution requires specific congressional authorisation for
foreign troops on bolivian territory.

in this context, representatives of various political parties
in congress have demanded the withdrawal of the us troops, and
some have even suggested that they be expelled.

according to ruling party mp walter gutierrez, the presence of
us troops and officers of the us drug enforcement agency (dea)
has provoked conflict in bolivia's amazon region. he said us
troops should leave, now that the worst phase of the drugs war is
over.

for his part, former foreign minister bedregal said the us
military presence is ''illegal'' called on the government to
request the troops ''to abandon national territory.''

alfonso alem, of the opposition free bolivian movement, said
it ''has been proven that they (us troops) are here to engage in
military and strategic exercises... in areas of possible future
low or medium intensity conflict.''

deputy lanza claimed that one day before his investigative
commission - accompanied by bolivian military and government
officials and journalists - visited santa ana, on july 15, us
troops organised eight flights to remove military equipment from
the area.

according to lanza's investigations, between june 19 and 27, a
total of 68 flights by us hercules transport planes brought
816,000 kilos of unspecified cargo into the area.
(ends/ips/trd/jcr/sfi/cg)
----


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