Hi Hilmar,

Have things settled down now that the leader resigned? I get the impression from the news here that things are now calm.

AlexF said that it was his impression that it was really a group of "rabble rousers" who instigated all the violence and so this provides one chance to 'test' my theory a little bit.

Is it your impression that it IS a small group of rabble-rousers that has caused all of the violence or is it something different from that, like possible many many many people simply being fed-up with the status-quo and wanting to do something about it?

I HOPE it is calmer now
Jim


>>>According to CNN, the violence in Bolivia has caused 55 dead, in 1 month of conflict.
>>>
>>>There are simultaneous, or almost simultaneous, protests all over the countries, from different population sectors, and making different requests. As to the causes of all this, well, there are lots of different interpretations, and it sometimes gets confusing to find out what is really going on.
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>>Hilmar,
>>
>>I have not been following the situation closely, but for what I know, the thing seems ridiculous to me. It is of course all political. The masses are being "pushed" by a group of rabble-trousers, and the masses get the short end and some die.
>>
>>It seems ridiculous that after over 140+ years of losing a war, they still fight over access to the sea. I don't get it. If they want to sell natural gas, and why wouldn't they as it is probably the main export (after coca leave of course < g >), and they do not want to get an agreement with Chile, why not do it with Peru?
>>
>>My understanding is that the sales of gas are currently to Argentina, and Argentina is reselling it to Brazil. Why not then sell to Brazil directly? Seems to me that it could all be resolved amicably and avoid the stupid conflict, deaths, the international bad image, and the resulting loss of tourists, trade, etc.
>
>
>It certainly is a large waste. I hope it gets resolved soon.