Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Once more on the coup in Bolivia


Virtually unknown outside his country, where he had never won a democratic election, Camacho stepped into the void. He is a powerful multi-millionaire named in the Panama Papers, and an ultra-conservative Christian fundamentalist groomed by a fascist paramilitary notorious for its racist violence, with a base in Bolivia’s wealthy separatist region of Santa Cruz.
Camacho hails from a family of corporate elites who have long profited from Bolivia’s plentiful natural gas reserves. And his family lost part of its wealth when Morales nationalized the country’s resources, in order to fund his vast social programs — which cut poverty by 42 percent and extreme poverty by 60 percent.

Camacho is Luis Fernando Camacho and that's from Max Blumenthal and Ben Norton's "Bolivia coup led by Christian fascist paramilitary leader and millionaire – with foreign support" (ICH).  They are reporting on the US-backed coup (and US engineered coup) that has taken place in Bolivia.  They report:



While Camacho and his far-right forces served as the muscle behind the coup, their political allies waited to reap the benefits.
The presidential candidate Bolivia’s opposition had fielded in the October election, Carlos Mesa, is a “pro-business” privatizer with extensive ties to Washington. US government cables published by WikiLeaks reveal that he regularly corresponded with American officials in their efforts to destabilize Morales.
Mesa is currently listed as an expert at the Inter-American Dialogue, a DC-based think tank funded by the US government’s soft-power arm USAID, various oil giants, and a host of multi-national corporations active in Latin America.
Evo Morales, a former farmer who rose to prominence in social movements before becoming the leader of the powerful grassroots political party Movement Toward Socialism (MAS), was Bolivia’s first Indigenous leader. Wildly popular in the country’s substantial Native and peasant communities, he won numerous elections and democratic referenda over a 13-year period, often in landslides.
On October 20, Morales won re-election by more than 600,000 votes, giving him just above the 10 percent margin needed to defeat opposition presidential candidate Mesa in the first round.
Experts who did a statistical analysis of Bolivia’s publicly available voting data found no evidence of irregularities or fraud. But the opposition claimed otherwise, and took to the streets in weeks of protests and riots.



And here's a Tweet from Max Blumenthal:


  1. Evo just now in Mexico City: “If I’ve committed a crime, it’s being Indigenous... it’s implementing social programs for the poor and hungry. If I’ve committed a crime or a sin, our sin is being anti-imperialist.”

Here's C.I.'s "Iraq snapshot:"

 
Tuesday, November 12, 2019.  Protests continue in Iraq as the government continues to attack the protesters.



Protests continue in Iraq.  The attacks on the protesters -- attacks by the government and those close to the government -- continue as well.  Mohammed Tawfeeq (CNN) notes that, as of Sunday, the death toll had reached 319 (since the start of October) with another 15,000 injured.  Tawfeeq explains, "Following the deadly response from Iraqi security forces, demonstrators are calling for early elections and demanding that the government step down."

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) issued the following on Sunday:


Over the past weeks, demonstrations erupted in Baghdad and other governorates in Iraq. Protester demands cover a wide spectrum of issues, including economic growth and employment, reliable public services, prudent and impartial governance, an end to corruption, credible elections as well as broader reform of the political system - including amendments to the constitution.


An accumulation of frustrations about the lack of progress in the last 16 years is clearly perceptible, and with rising numbers of deaths and injured (both protesters and members of the Iraqi Security Forces) a climate of anger and fear has set in. The Iraqi people cannot afford to be held back by the past nor by partisan interests. Rising hope asks for a leap forward, including the understanding that - in today’s digital age - daily life has moved online. Meanwhile, the risk of ‘spoilers’ hijacking peaceful demonstrations is increasing and potentially derailing any attempt at genuine change. Time is therefore of the essence, as are tangible results.
To start with, and following consultations with a wide range of Iraqi parties, actors and authorities (including the three Presidencies, the Supreme Judicial Council, protesters and union representatives), the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) proposes the following principles and measures:
PRINCIPLES
The following principles apply to all parties at all times:
1. Protect the right to life above all.
2. Guarantee the right to peaceful assembly, demonstration and freedom of expression,
as granted in the constitution.
3. Practice maximum restraint in the handling of the protests, including no use of live ammunition, ban the improper use of non-lethal devices (such as tear gas canisters).
4. Deliver full accountability for perpetrators and redress for victims.
5. Act in keeping with the law, including in regard to public and private properties.

MEASURES
Immediate measures (less than a week) include:
1. Release all peaceful demonstrators detained since 1 October, in accordance with the law.
2. No peaceful demonstrators shall be targeted.
3. Initiate full investigation of cases of abduction (including by making available CCTV footage), and reveal the identity of those responsible.
4. Accelerate the identification and prosecution of those responsible for targeting demonstrators.
5. Prosecute and punish those responsible for the excessive use of force and/or other violent acts, in accordance with the law.
6. Publicly call on all regional and international parties not to interfere in Iraq’s internal affairs, respecting its sovereignty.

Short term measures (within one week to two weeks) include:
1. Electoral reform: With the technical support of the UN, a single legal framework shall be finalized. Soon after, the framework shall be submitted to the Council of Representatives (CoR). The parliamentary procedure shall be completed as soon as possible.
2. Security Sector Reform: Executive Order 237 shall be fully implemented without delay. Any weapons outside state control shall be prohibited. Any outlaw armed entity or rogue element shall be considered illegal and it is the state’s responsibility to take them on.
3. Corruption: The political elite shall lead by example, for instance by publicly declaring their assets – at home and abroad, held under their own name or another. Additionally, political parties/blocs and movements shall abolish their economic committees.

Medium term measures (within one to three months) include:
1. Constitution: With the technical support of the UN, the Constitutional Review Committee shall continue its work. Any amendment to the constitution shall be put to referendum by the people of Iraq.
2. Corruption: The Commission of Integrity shall submit corruption cases to the High Judicial Council or the Central Anti-Corruption Court. The Central Anti-Corruption Court shall handle corruption cases at all levels of the state. All corrupt officials will be held accountable and prosecuted.
3. Enactment of laws: The Government shall send the following draft laws to the CoR, and the CoR shall complete its due process as soon as possible:
a. A law addressing the principle: ‘Where did you get this from?’
b. The Federal Court Law
c. The Social Security Law
d. Law on resolving the Housing Crisis
e. The Oil and Gas (Hydrocarbon) Law
f. Amending the Law on Encouraging Investments and Public-Private Sector Partnership
g. The Council of Ministers and Ministries Law
h. The Reconstruction Council Law


The day after issuing the above, UNAMI's Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General, met with Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani.




النجف – 11 تشرين الثاني/نوفمبر 2019 – استقبل سماحة السيد علي الحسيني السيستاني اليوم الممثلة الخاصة للأمين العام للأمم المتحدة في العراق، جينين هينيس-بلاسخارت. مصدر الصورة: مكتب سماحة السيد السيستاني
 
 
Najaf, 11 November 2019 - Today, His Eminence Al-Sayyid Ali Al-Husseini Al-Sistani received the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Iraq, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert. Photo courtesy of the Office of His Eminence.
 
 



The US government followed up with this statement from the White House:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 10, 2019
Statement from the White House Press Secretary
The United States is seriously concerned by continued attacks against protestors, civic activists, and the media, as well as restrictions on Internet access, in Iraq. Iraqis won’t stand by as the Iranian regime drains their resources and uses armed groups and political allies to stop them from peacefully expressing their views. Despite being targeted with lethal violence and denied access to the Internet, the Iraqi people have made their voices heard, calling for elections and election reforms. The United States joins the UN Assistance Mission to Iraq in calling on the Iraqi government to halt the violence against protesters and fulfill President Salih’s promise to pass electoral reform and hold early elections. We also call on the rest of the international community to join us in supporting a better future for the Iraqi people.


  1.   यांनी पुन्हा ट्विट केले
This is indeed a more representative formula allowing voters to have more say than political parties in selecting members of parliament. Also, deprive parliament (pol parties) of the authority to appoint the electoral commission. Expect strong opposition unless pressure continues
 
 
  यांनी पुन्हा ट्विट केले
The draft elections law the presidency had been working on has been published: مشروع-قانون-الانتخابات3.pdf This will go through several changes before parliament approves it but will likely still face criticism
 
 





A senior security official told Reuters new tactics were being rolled out to try to confine the demonstrations to Baghdad’s Tahrir Square, a roadway junction at the foot of a bridge across the Tigris, where demonstrators have camped out for weeks.
“Security forces received new orders on Saturday that protesters must be kept in Tahrir Square,” the security official said. “They’re working quietly now to seal off the square from all directions, and an arrest campaign is expected to follow in a bid to reduce momentum of the protests.”


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Link to headline article




Horrific videos coming from today. This unarmed protestor in Baghdad, gets shot in his leg, collapses with flag, not even an ambulance to pick him up. AFP reports on Gov decision to end protests “by any means.” > 300 killed so far, > 1000 wounded:
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1:06
 
 



21st Century Weapons: blocks internet access amid ongoing protests
 
 



 
 
The new generation in is conscious and brave ,This is what should have been done in the first place, when the mullah's started to rule in , must keep on going until it gains its aim
 
 
Replying to 
The protests in Iraq suppress live bullets and poison gas
 
 
Replying to 
The protests in Iraq suppress live bullets and poison gas
 
 




casualties continue to rise according to
 
 


Iraq's prime minister has been a big part of the problem.  He's proven to be ineffectual at governance.  This should have been obvious at the end of October 2018 when he was unable to put together a cabinet despite the Constitution stipulating that he had to do so in 30 days or could not move from prime minister-designate to prime minister.

Prime Minister Adil Abdul Mahdi remains a major issue.  Mohammed Tawfeeq (CNN) notes, "Abdul Mahdi agreed to resign on October 31 after weeks of anti-government protests."  Faraj Najjar (ALJAZEERA) notes, "Abdul Mahdi has refused to step down, but according to President Salih, he said he is willing to resign if parties agree on a replacement."  Both are correct.

Per Iraq's President Barham Salih, Mahdi has said he'll resign.  But he's made no move to do so.  The closest Iraq's been to this point in recent history was in February 2011 when months of protests demanding an end to corruption resulted in a nervous Nouri al-Maliki announcing that, if the protesters would go home, he would end corruption in 100 days.  They went home.  100 days later, Nouri did nothing.  It was a lie to get them off the streets.

The government has a history of making promises that they never intend to keep.

With Mahdi refusing to make the statement that he will resign publicly -- instead hiding behind Iraq's president -- the protesters have even less reason to believe him.


Meanwhile, Mariya Petkova (ALJAZEERA) wonders why the Kurds are not more active in the protests and offers:

Since last month, hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have taken to the streets in the capital Baghdad and across southern towns and cities to protest against the government's failure to deliver basic services and economic opportunities. In recent weeks, the demonstrators' demands have broadened to include the resignation of the government and an overhaul of the political system introduced after the US-led invasion of 2003. More than 300 people have been killed since the uprising began.
In the semi-autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq, however, the streets have remained calm. Salio believes that authorities there did not grant permission for a demonstration because they were afraid of what such a protest could turn into.
In Erbil, there appears to be some solidarity with the Iraqis protesting in the south. Of about a dozen locals of different ages and economic backgrounds Al Jazeera spoke to, all of them said that they believed Iraqis have good reason to be on the streets.
Some said that in the Kurdish region, they face similar problems to those that have driven the protests in the south, including corruption and a lack of job prospects for young people. Youth unemployment is officially over 20 percent in the region and 25 percent nationwide.

However, people did not seem to be in the mood for protesting; some appeared jaded, while others said they were apprehensive of the possibility of political changes that could undermine Kurdish autonomy.


It's not that simple.  We'll try to discuss it in tomorrow's snapshot.














The following sites updated: