There was a peaceful march earlier today by indigenous people today demanding a fair share of the country's oil and gas wealth. I know know if this has anything to do with it.
Bolivia Congress authorizes trial for ex-president
14 Oct 2004 18:17:31 GMT
Source: Reuters
By Rene Villegas
LA PAZ, Bolivia, Oct 14 (Reuters) - Bolivia's Congress gave the Supreme Court the green light on Thursday to investigate and possibly sentence ex-President Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada over deaths during clashes between the army and protesters last year.
Sanchez de Lozada, a center-right leader now living in the United States, was forced out of office a year ago by the massive protests against his policies of opening up the economy of Bolivia, one of Latin America's poorest countries.
An estimated 67 people died and 200 were injured in protests by farmers, unemployed miners, and coca growers. The demonstrators also opposed a government natural gas export plan they said would benefit Bolivia's estranged neighbor Chile.
Demonstrators gathered on Thursday to celebrate outside Congress after both houses of Congress voted jointly to approve the trial. Of 130 deputies and 27 senators, 126 lawmakers voted in favor. Fifteen members of Sanchez de Lozada's cabinet will also go before the high court.
Thousands of other marchers were heading to La Paz to join demonstrations planned for Friday.
Sanchez de Lozada, a wealthy businessman, was president from 1993 to 1997, and was elected to a second term beginning in 2002.
He resigned a year ago after four weeks of violent protests that included miners throwing dynamite and soldiers shooting at demonstrators.
The charges against the ex-president, brought last year by Bolivia's former attorney general, are based on six complaints in Congress, one filed by a leftist lawmaker and indigenous leader who accused Sanchez de Lozada of genocide and economic damage to the state.
The matter now goes to an investigative phase in the criminal branch of the Supreme Court, where the judges will examine the evidence and decide whether to proceed with an indictment. If they do, the trial enters a penalty phase, and eight of 12 supreme court justices would have to agree with a sentence.
The only time Bolivia's Supreme Court has tried a former president was when former dictator Luis Garcia Mesa was sentenced to 30 years in jail for crimes including genocide. He is still in prison.
AlertNet news is provided by
Printable view | Email this article | Send comments
Bolivia has no noteable oil and gas wealth.