Bolivian delegation calling for extradition of Goni visits USA

PRESS ADVISORY

A delegation from Bolivia will be arriving in Washington, D.C. on September 27, 2006 to urge the U.S. government to notify Bolivia’s ex-President Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada and two of his ministers, Carlos Sanchez Berzain and Jorge Berindoague, of their obligation to return to Bolivia immediately for trial in the deaths of 67 people and more than 400 wounded during October 2003. 

The delegation, comprised of Juan Patricio Mamani Quispe and Rogelio Mayta, will meet with government officials at the U.S. State and Justice Departments, as well as key congressional leaders, to urge that U.S. officials fulfill this appeal from the Bolivian government which was officially received by the U.S. State Department on June 22, 2005.  To date, the U.S. government has failed to notify the three men, and has failed to respond to this official request.  The matter is a critical one for the Bolivian people, as the trial cannot proceed without formal notification of Sanchez de Lozada, Sanchez Berzain and Berindoague, all of whom currently reside in the U.S. since fleeing Bolivia in October 2003. 

Juan Patricio Mamani Quispe is the President of the Association of the Family Members of those Killed in the Gas War, a Bolivian organization seeking an end to the impunity for those members of the Sanchez de Lozada government who responded to social protests with an armed assault.  Juan Patricio’s brother was killed by government troops, leaving behind a 14-year old son.  Rogelio Mayta is the attorney representing the family members of those killed.

The conflict arose following a decision by the Sanchez de Lozada government to export Bolivia’s natural gas through a port in Chile.  This decision ignited a long simmering citizen revolt against a series of governments that had repeatedly sold off Bolivia’s rich natural resources at prices which favored individual and international interests, and failed to generate a just earning for the Bolivian people. Bolivian social movements had been making clear and consistent declarations that these kinds of contracts would no longer be acceptable.  When hundreds of thousands of Bolivia’s people—workers, miners, farmers—took to the streets in protest, the Sanchez de Lozada government responded with soldiers and tanks, killing 67 of the protesters, including pregnant women and young children, and leaving more than 400 wounded.  A unified call arose nationwide for Sanchez de Lozada’s resignation, and on October 17, 2003, the president escaped in a U.S.-provided helicopter.  He now resides in Chevy Chase, Maryland and Sanchez Berzain and Berindoague live in Miami, Florida and Moraga, California, respectively.

While the trial of responsibility has proceeded for the other government ministers involved in what is known as the October Massacre, the case has been unable to move forward against the ex-president and his ministers because they live in the U.S. and the U.S. government has, to date, failed to fulfill the notification request.  Until these men are formally notified of the charges against them, it is not possible to begin extradition proceedings.  The Bolivian people, and especially the family members of those killed and wounded by government troops, have been waiting almost three years to see justice done. 

“Without this trial, it is impossible for my family, and all the family members of the dead and the wounded, to heal,” said Juan Patricio.  “We have been waiting for three years now for the trial, and the ongoing impunity for these men is an assault on our dignity, on our sense of our value as human beings.  The United States needs to fulfill its promise as a nation which cares about human rights and justice.”

EVENTS

FOR ALL - Democracy Now radio, TV or internet - live interview with Oscar and Rogelio between 8 and 9am, Thursday October 5th.  Go to www.democracynow.org to see which radio stations in your area carry the program.  Those overseas can watch live by internet - well, in an ideal world you'd be able to. Good luck!
 
 
FOR THOSE IN WASHINGTON DC AREA
Thursday, October 5th - 7pm: Presentation, All Souls Church, SE corner of 16th & Harvard NW
    Presentation and discussion with Rogelio Mayta including scenes from the documentary "Fusil Metralla" about the October Massacre. Go in the side entrance on Harvard St. and ask at the desk for the room for the event.
 
Saturday, October 7th - 7pm: House Party with Oscar and Rogelio, 1830 Belmont Rd. NW
    We will show the movie "Fuera" (Out!) about the Suez corporation's abuses in El Alto, Bolivia and the people's struggle to regain control of their resources.  There will also be short presentations by Oscar and Rogelio followed by discussion.
    This will be in the Belmont house in Adams Morgan between 18th and Colombia NW -  between the Dupont Circle (red line) and Colombia Heights (green line) metro stops.
 
Tuesday, October 10th - 7pm: Presentation, Restaurant Tutto Bene, 501 N. Randolph St., Falls Church VA
    Presentation and discussion with Nila Heredia Miranda, Minister of Health in Bolivia, discussing strategies for improving health care in Bolivia and current events in the country.
    To arrive by Metro: Ballston stop (Blue/Orange), go east on Fairfax Dr. (toward Stafford St., away from Stuart St.), go about 2 blocks to Randolph St.  Turn right and go until the corner of N. Randolph and 5th Rd. N.
    To arrive by car: Take 66 East from DC, take exit to Route 50.  Exit on to Glebe Rd., turn right.  Turn right onto Randolph St., a few streets ahead.  Restaurant is immediately on right.
 
Tuesday, October 17th - 5pm: Peaceful and Symbolic March in Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada's neighborhood
    Meet at the Friendship Heights metro station, red line.  This event is part of an international day of remembrance of the day that Goni fled to the U.S. in 2003.  There will be similar activities in at least 20 cities in Latin America, Europe, Canada, Australia.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

In Washington, D.C.: 
David Kane, Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns, dkane@maryknoll.org,
(202)270-3871 (cell), and (202)832-1780 (office)

In La Paz, Bolivia:
Maggie Fogarty, Bolivian Solidarity Network, maggie@fogartyfamily.org, (591)719-17983
Monica Mendizabal, Comite Impulsor del Juicio de Responsabilidades contra Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada y sus Colaboradores, juiciogoniya@gmail.com, monicamendizabal@yahoo.com.mx, (591)715-36189