Mobile UPI  |   About UPI  |   UPI en Español  |   UPI Arabic  |   UPIU  |   My Account
Search:
Go

Ex-leader blames Bolivian woes on Colombia

|
|
 
  
Published: June 13, 2005 at 5:07 PM

LA PAZ, Bolivia, June 13 (UPI) -- Former Bolivian President Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada said that the presence of Colombian narcotraffickers in Bolivia was contributing to the nation's troubles.

In an exclusive interview with the BBC's Spanish-language service, de Lozada said Colombian cocaine traffickers were exploiting Bolivia's economic and ethnic divides by promoting coca cultivation.

"There is a great division in Bolivia between the regions, between the ethnic groups and between the classes and this has been sustained and financed by dug trafficking," said de Lozada.

The former Bolivian leader, who fled the country amid widespread violent protests in October 2003, worked closely with the United States to eradicate coca in Bolivia. Local coca growers were among the tens of thousands who marched on Bolivian cities. Some 80 people were killed in those protests.

De Lozada is wanted in Bolivia on genocide charges in connection with the protests.

He told BBC Mundo however that he would like to return to Bolivia.

Last week protesters forced the resignation of President Carlos Mesa, de Lozada's vice president in 2003. Mesa was replaced by Supreme Court President Eduardo Rodriguez.

Topics: Carlos Mesa, Eduardo Rodriguez, Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada
© 2005 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

Order reprints
  
Join the conversation
Most Popular Collections
Notable deaths of 2012 Scripps National Spelling Bee AmfAR Cinema Against AIDS gala
Indianapolis 500 Presidential Medal of Freedom Memorial Day around the nation
Additional Top News Stories
1 of 20
Singer Janelle Monae arrives at the 2012 MTV Movie Awards in Universal City, California
View Caption
Singer Janelle Monae arrives for the MTV Movie Awards at the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City, California. UPI/Jim Ruymen
fark
The bar for spelling has never been lowre
Turns out men cheat way more than women after all
Famous last words: "The notion that it's too late to do anything is comical. It's hilarious. We're...
Five secrets to getting the best healthcare. #6: Don't get sick
Traveling to the U.S.? If invited to a dinner party, bring a gift of wine, but not cash or toiletries...
Man turns dead pet cat into remote-controlled helicopter, calls it art (w/WTF pics)