Created this year, the Unasur (Union of South American Nations) has just had its baptism of fire at the meeting of presidents of the member countries, including Evo Morales. It was held in Chile when the recent Bolivian crisis was in full blaze.
A very noticeable even of this meeting, clearly indicating the starring position of Brazil in the region. Even though initially it was sponsored by the country that are most favourable to Evo Morales (Venezuela and Argentina, now joined by Chile now holding temporary presidency) the meeting was not ensured until Luiz Inacio de Silva, President of Brazil, confirmed he would attend.
Of course, he did pose some conditions before accepting such as that it should be required by Evo Morales and the it should be oriented towards “conciliatory dialogue” with the ultra right of the Half Moon (hypocritically called “the political actor of the country”), in order to achieve a “negotiated and sustainable solution”, the contents of which is, basically, the agreement that Evo later signed with the opposition and which we commented on in the main article of this edition. It is no coincidence that the Spanish newspaper, El Paìs, reported, “Lula holds the reins of the Bolivian crisis”.
So as to clear any doubts regarding Lula administration having lined up by the Half Moon bourgeoisie, let us see the statements made by Marco Aurelio Garcia, special consultant of the government for foreign Relations on the situation (O Estado do Sao Paulo, 17/9/08): “In our assessment there is a negative aspect and a positive aspect (.). The negative is the order or imprisoning the Pando governor, Leopoldo Gonzales. The positive was the establishment of an agenda of negotiations between the government and the opposition hinging round three points: changes in the project of the constitution, autonomy of departments and taxes.”
In black and white, in the opinion of the Brazilian government, it is “negative” to jail a governor responsible for the murder of dozens of peasants by fascist bands and it is “positive” that the government should accept to capitulate to all the claims of the Half Moon bourgeoisie.
It is from this standpoint made by the Lula administration that we must assess the real meaning of the meeting and the statement of the Unasur. True enough, on the one hand, the Evo administration is shielded against “any attempt at a coup or division of the country”. But at the same time – and that is ultimately the target of the meeting, the final statement concentrates on guaranteeing the negotiation that will lead to a new capitulation of Evo’s to the ultra right.
The Unasur was born with the alleged intention of being an international organisation different from OLAS, more independent form the USA because American representatives have no part in it.. In the face of Bolivian situation, it could have easily assert this “independence”, for example by resolving to expel all the American ambassadors on the subcontinent the way Evo and Chávez did, breaking diplomatic relations with the USA for as long as the latter continued backing the bourgeoisie of the Half Moon. . But far from taking such basic measures of independence, today, the representatives of the Unasur, together with the OLAS and the UN and the Church are in Bolivia as supervisors to “sanctify” Evo’s capitulation.
