Two airlines suspend flights to Bolivian capital

[Roland99]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N08524714.htm

SANTIAGO, Chile, June 8 (Reuters) - Chile's LAN Airlines and U.S. carrier American Airlines, two top regional carriers, said on Wednesday they had suspended flights to La Paz, Bolivia, after weeks of violent protests there.

LAN Airlines <LAN.SN> <LFL.N>, one of Latin America's leading passenger and cargo airline groups, said it suspended flights between Arica, in northern Chile, and La Paz for Wednesday and Thursday. The Arica-La Paz route, which LAN flies five times a week, is the airline's only Bolivia flight.

American Airlines said it had suspended flights to La Paz, Bolivia's administrative capital, but continued service to Santa Cruz, which is the country's wealthiest city and home of the business elite.

Protests that began in Bolivia last month intensified this week as tens of thousands of miners and peasants armed with sticks of dynamite and rocks swept into La Paz to demand nationalization of the country's energy resources.

[aneerkoinos]

1. Noriega's game plan in Bolivia exposed

Reposting my comments to an earlier eye-opening thread, this one:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=1532063&mesg_id=1533813
Because this needs all the attention.

"Seems that Noriega's plan is that Vaca Díez, next in line after resigning Mesa, takes power, declares Marshal law and starts massacring the demonstrators. This would no doubt lead to civil war (Aymara warriors and other social movements would sure as hell not back down and the army and police would split down). Vaca Diez would then call military help from outside "to protect the constitutional order and democracy", guess who?

Gladly, it does not seem that this plan is going forward, Generals of Bolivian army are not game and would rather choose Chavez as their role-model. Hence Noriega's frustrated outburst at Chavez, accusing him of what is going on in Bolivia.

This speculation is based on especially this piece from Al Giordano of Narconews:
http://narcosphere.narconews.com/story/2005/6/8/91629/48549"

"The real US plan seems to be to take control of only the Bolivian oil and gas fields located in the eastern province of La Paz, not the whole country which would be too costly. This must be the logic behind demand for "autonomy" from the rich La Paz oligarchy (with orchestration and support from CIA, NED etc. etc.), seceding from the poorer part of the country and becoming US vassal.

In other news, Bolivian social movements occupy peasefully the hydrocarbon fields and installations.
http://narcosphere.narconews.com/story/2005/6/8/145449/0216

This is it guys, global oil war round two. Lets hope Bolivian Generals stay united and loyal to the people, and keep telling Noriega to go fuck himself."

[Roland99]

2. Isn't it amazing how everything from the Reagan years is ....

coming full-circle?

We have many of the same criminals back in power and the shitstorm is starting up again.

[aneerkoinos]

3. Same shit

perhaps. But there are big differences in the overall context and balance of power between the global popular opinion and the resources of the Empire.

We are not beaten, there is no use for defeatism, the people will win!

[wildcat78]

5. And why do they hate us so Mommy?

Now the story of the US Navy parked off the Venezuela makes more sense.

We're at war with the entire world!

[reprobate]

4. Seems like the whole of Latin America is turning on the poor...

.... little misunderstood United States. The people of many countries in the region are standing up and telling us to go pound sand, and not their oil sand either.

It warms my heart to see real freedon breaking out there, not the militarily imposed 'freedom' that Mad George is exporting.