March on People of Ireland

international | rights, freedoms and repression | news report

Friday January 05, 2007 22:17

by cearbhuil - The Friends of San Jose Ireland

cearebhuilf at yahoo dot ie

A day in La Plaza de Septiembre

People of Ireland get up and fight for what is right. Take inspiration from Bolivia. Be inspired and show solidarity. Empower yourselves people.

resign prefect

A year has past since the general elections and the election of the Prefects in Bolivia. Yesterday I was walking through the Main Square when I noticed in the corner a young man dressed up as Che Guevara giving a lecture on the Media Luna. The Media Luna is an area of Bolivia made up of 4 departments, Pando, Santa Cruz, Beni and Tarija. These areas hold a concentration of wealth and are claiming autonomy from the rest of Bolivia. The young man in the Square was insisting that the Media Luna will not benefit anyone in Bolivia only the wealthy. If these 4 departments claim autonomy who will benefit? The oligarchy, wealthy landowners, cattle ranchers, the usual.

The march started. The people of Cochabamba, union members, indigenous people, shop workers, campesino farmers, university students, and teachers, people from all walks of life. Thousands and thousands came out onto the street to demand that Cochabamba´s Prefect, Manfred Reyes Villa resigns from office. People were screaming, chanting and singing, ´Out Manfred, Out Traitor,’.

The people of Cochabamba say that Manfred who supports the Media Luna’s search for autonomy is hoping to claim benefits for the wealthy Cochabambinos also. The marches will continue and people will congregate in the Square until the Prefect resigns. They have gathered again today and thousands are sitting eating ice-cream and holding their banners. Manfred Reyes Villa is a former Mayor and from conversations I had with people on the street during the march yesterday, it seems that he has been corrupt throughout his office and that he does not have the entire populations best interests at heart.

The march reminded me of the famous Dublin march against the war in Iraq. I hadn’t seen such a mobilisation of people in a long time. It is very inspiring to see so many thousands of people organise themselves and fight for what is just and fair. Sometimes we complain about what is unjust, we complain about corrupt politicians, we complain about corrupt governments. A positive way to complain is to get out onto the streets and shout for justice and shout for what is right.

I think about the Shell to Sea campaign and what they are trying to achieve and I take my hat off to them. I urge all the Shell to Sea groups and other interested parties around Ireland to get out and support the campaign too. People = Power. Solidarity = Power. So empower yourselves people and fight for your rights and fight for the rights of your neighbours in Mayo who need your solidarity and support.

bolivian flag