Morales Nationalizes Natural Gas Industry

[Edelweiss]

LA PAZ, Bolivia - President Evo Morales nationalized Bolivia's natural gas industry and oil Monday, ordering foreign energy companies to send their supplies to a state company for sales and industrialization.

Speaking at the San Alberto gas and oil field in the south of the country, Morales warned that companies that reject the decree will have to leave Bolivia within six months.

More... (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060501/ap_on_bi_ge/bolivia_gas_3) (AP via Yahoo! News)

[VermontLeft]

Excellent news!! :)

its really great whats happening in latin america now. it probably wont lead to revolution any time soon, but its about time that they stood up to the us and its imperialism.

even social democracy and democratic socialism (which is what it looks like well end up with down there) is a hell of a lot better than the right wing fascist types theve had in the past. and now there figthing agasint neoliberal imperialism which is ...sooo good to see. :)

:cuba: :cool:

[The Grey Blur]

Sounds good to me, neo-Imperialisim is losing it's stranglehold on South America, inteersting to see what this leads to in centre-left countries like Nicaragua, Chile and Brazil

Any ultra-leftists care to critiscize? :redstar2000:

[LSD]

It's an excellent social democratic step forward.

Just another indication of the progressive direction that South and Central America are headed in. It's quite refreshing to see serious resistance to American economic hegemony and it's doubly encouraging to see it emerge in an traditionaly marginalized part of the world.

This is one-hundred percent good news. :)

I just trust, though, that everyone here realizes that this is not a "revolutionary" move. It's basic nationalist reformism; a demonstration that the bourgeoisie of this region intends to stand up on its own and is willing to make sizable concessions to the domestic proletariat if they'll help them in this ambition.

The "end game" of this and other like moves will be the emergence of modern consumer capitalism and developed social infastructures, certainly important accomplishments in their own right, but still a good few steps away from a potential for communism.

Until the third world looks like first, capitalism, in some form or another, will be the order of the day.

[TC]

There is nothing social democratic about a socialist leader using every resource at his disposal to take the country away from capitalism. Morales has to break the power of the foriegn companies before he can do anything more revolutionary, just as Castro and Chavez did.

So LSD if you have no practical alternatives and acknowlege it as progress, you really have no reason to try to detract from it.

[Nachie]

Any ultra-leftists care to critiscize?
I'm finishing up a book on the Venezuelan situation right now and will definitely post the text up here on Revleft once it has been edited.


Morales has to break the power of the foriegn companies before he can do anything more revolutionary, just as Castro and Chavez did.
:lol: Yeah Chavez sure kicked out those foreign companies!

[LSD]

There is nothing social democratic about a socialist leader using every resource at his disposal to take the country away from capitalism.

Sure there is. That's what social democracy is: "a political theory advocating the use of democratic means to achieve a gradual transition from capitalism to socialism" (Dictionary.com (http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=social%20democracy)).

Now, in practice we now that that kind of gradualism never works, and instead merely perpetuates the institutions of capitalism. But we likewise know that the development of social democratic market hampering precepts is a progressive step in an economy's development.

This is cleary a victory of the working class and, again, shows that the bourgeoisie of Latin America is still young enough to compromise.

To imagine that this will lead to "revolutionary" conditions is clearly amaterialistic, but then South America is still decades, if not centuries, away from the economic and technical development nescessary for communist society.

A good step forward does not have to be "earth-shattering" to be praise-worthy. It;s just important that we stay realistic and keep any fantastical hopes in check.

This isn't the "end of capitalism" in Bolivia, it's just a stage of it. A nescessary and progressive one, to be sure, but still only an stage nonetheless.


So LSD if you have no practical alternatives and acknowlege it as progress, you really have no reason to try to detract from it.

Which is why I didn't.

Again, "this is one-hundred percent good news".

But since complementary plattitudes are dull and Permanent Revolution asked for "critisism", I thought I'd start up the inevitable debate on the significance of third world "socialist" movements.

Certainly, it was where this thread had to go and what PR was refering to when he mentioned "Ultra-Leftists", so I really don't understand why you object to my very on-topic comments on the subject.

Just because I acknowledge something as progressive doesn't mean that I must consider it revolutionary. And since I knew that someone would claim that this was a "blow against capitalism" (as it turned out, it would be you), I figured I'd "get ahead" of the argument and make my position clear.

[encephalon]

I recently saw a blurb about unrest in Santiago, which I thought was fantastic news.. but I can't seem to find anything else about it. Anyone know something of it?

[UltraLeftGerry]

I'm an ultra lefty and I'd say that the nationalization of Bolivia's energy is the most progressive thing that can be done at the moment there. Obviously revolutionaries there need to organize and spread information. Bolivian capitalism is far from its most advanced state. If this was say a western country nationalization would either mean little or be a defensive action against growing radicalism. Here it's a sign that the Bolivian workers are becoming radicalized. Ultimately given the increasing level of political awareness of Venezuelan workers, I think that at some point in the future they will recognize Chavez's reforms as progressive but not enough and move far to the left of the state.

[DORRI]

bravo Evo!
Let's hope for Latin America to see even better days. there is not going a great revolution which we may have dreamed about, but I'm sure after stunning elections results,these news make us deeply excited, too. Atleast something is going on there, something different since we remember.

[Red Axis]

Now why can't we follow suit in the USA?

[The Grey Blur]

Because you have a two-party electoral representative beurgeois democracy in which Capitalism has developed into an almighty juggernaut of profits and exploitation

:lol:

If that helps

[BattleOfTheCowshed]

So LSD if you have no practical alternatives and acknowlege it as progress, you really have no reason to try to detract from it.

Yes he does, if he's a Communist and/or Anarchist. It's important to remind ourselves that despite the Socialist posturing, this is merely Latin America breaking free from US imperialism and setting the basis for the development of it's own native bourgeoisie/system of capitalism. We more or less all support that (I do), it doesn't mean we cant critique it from a Marxist point of view.

[RebelDog]

Originally posted by [email protected] 1 2006, 06:55 PM
LA PAZ, Bolivia - President Evo Morales nationalized Bolivia's natural gas industry and oil Monday, ordering foreign energy companies to send their supplies to a state company for sales and industrialization.

Speaking at the San Alberto gas and oil field in the south of the country, Morales warned that companies that reject the decree will have to leave Bolivia within six months.

More... (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060501/ap_on_bi_ge/bolivia_gas_3) (AP via Yahoo! News)
They will be blowing their tops in the pentagon!

[Janus]

About time, as this is what Morales had promised to do on his election platform. It seems that the foreign corporations will stay though they will simply be the operators of the gas fields and their grasp on Bolivia has been significantly reduced. The foreign corporations will definitely be angry and may even try to attempt something in Bolivia. Morales has stated "just the beginning, because tomorrow it will be the mines, the forest resources and the land". Although this is a step in the right direction, all that it is right now is simply economic nationalism as LSD said.

[Tekun]

Good news coming from Bolivia, I agree with LSD and many others that this is a nationalistic move, yet as we've seen before such actions help set the stage for socialism

Although more is needed, Morales is taking the reings of that country, and moving them farther away from the imperialists
Empowering the proletariat will take some time, but if done, this and other nationalistic moves could help out such a transition

[McLeft]

Despite being the leader of South America's poorest country, Morales has become a regional figure admired by many, coming from such humble beginnings to being the supreme sovereign of that republic. This is truly an achievement and a major step forward in Bolivia. He also plans to nationalize the mining industry and the water supplies of the country. He will be remembered in history for being a great leader.

Morales has started to deliver ladies and gentlemen, for all those who have said that he's just the "same old populist" well think again, that's all I can say ;)

[RedStarOverChina]

Such militancy! :wub:

[Comrade-Z]

Before we all start engaging in pathetic Evo Morales leader worship, need I remind everyone that Morales undertook this action hesitantly and only after a struggle with rank-and-file workers?

Surely you haven't forgotten that just a short time ago Morales was struggling against airline workers when those workers wanted to nationalize the country's main airline?

http://www.revolutionaryleft.com/index.php?showtopic=48123

At this point, Morales is nothing but a bourgeois political hack. The rank-and-file workers deserve all of the credit for nationalizing Bolivia's natural gas. Morales deserves none of it. Morales's only motivation for nationalizing natural gas was to placate the rank-and-file movement and preserve his own power and the power of the ruling class. Morales and the ruling class definitely don't want another situation like 2005.

Once again, it makes no difference whatsoever which bourgeois political hack you have in office. Bolivia could have Sam Walton (mega-capitalist owner of Wal-Mart) as president, and Sam Walton would still have to nationalize Bolivia's natural gas because of the pressure and threat of revolt from the rank-and-file working class.

Once again: the bourgeois politicians are nothing. The rank-and-file is everything. Everything progressive that is happening in Bolivia right now should be attributed to the rank-and-file movement. (Bravo Bolivian working class!) Nothing should be attributed to Morales, who is simply a tool of the ruling class, like any other political leader in the world. If he couldn't be made to be a tool of the ruling class, the ruling class would not permit him to be president.

[Comrade-Z]

Although more is needed, Morales is taking the reings of that country, and moving them farther away from the imperialists

Statements like this--this is what I mean. It is not Morales doing this. It is the rank-and-file working class that is moving Bolivia farther away from the imperialists.


He also plans to nationalize the mining industry and the water supplies of the country.

Rather, he plans to bow to rank-and-file pressure to nationalize these industries.


Empowering the proletariat will take some time

The Bolivian proletariat is empowering itself as we speak, and doing a fine job of it.


Morales has started to deliver ladies and gentlemen, for all those who have said that he's just the "same old populist" well think again, that's all I can say

Nope, he's just the "same old type of political hack" that happens to find himself in a situation where a militant rank-and-file movement has him by the balls (which is a good thing! We need to grab more of our worldwide political hacks by the balls and squeeze hard!)

[red team]

At this point, Morales is nothing but a bourgeois political hack. The rank-and-file workers deserve all of the credit for nationalizing Bolivia's natural gas. Morales deserves none of it. Morales's only motivation for nationalizing natural gas was to placate the rank-and-file movement and preserve his own power and the power of the ruling class. Morales and the ruling class definitely don't want another situation like 2005.

Once again, it makes no difference whatsoever which bourgeois political hack you have in office. Bolivia could have Sam Walton (mega-capitalist owner of Wal-Mart) as president, and Sam Walton would still have to nationalize Bolivia's natural gas because of the pressure and threat of revolt from the rank-and-file working class.

That may be true, but not all bourgeois political hacks are equal. One political hack may take the repressive Pinochet, dirty war tactic of "disappearing" all dissident workers and their leftist supporters while another one may take the Morales and Chavez tactic of granting concessions to placate the workers

[Comrade-Z]

That may be true, but not all bourgeois political hacks are equal.

No, they all are, indeed, equal, in that they all do as much as they can get away with and concede as little as they can afford to without risking revolt.

Pinochet happened to be in an economic/political climate that allowed death squads and such. He could get away with it, so he did it.

But put Pinochet in Morales's place right now, and Pinochet would also have no choice but to nationalize Bolivia's natural gas, or else risk his overthrow.

And put Morales (or you, or me) into Pinochet's position and political climate, and we would proceed to do the same things that Pinochet did, because we could get away with it and because, as members of the ruling class, we would clearly perceive it to be in our self-interest to take whatever measures necessary to protect our power and wealth.

What kind of person Morales is, what kind of person you are, what kind of person I am is irrelevant. We'd all react in roughly the same way to having Pinochet's position because "power corrupts," or as in the words of Marx, "being determines consciousness."

[VermontLeft]

Comrade-2 is absolutely right.

what's going on in latin america isnt about "good leaders", its about a transnational workers movement against american capitalist imperialism.

i mean think about it, if it were just about the politician, this wouldnt be happeneing in differentcountries, it would only be in the ones with the "good leadrers".

instead we see that everywhere the pressure is being put on. remember what happened after the venezuala coup in 02? remember what happened in bolivia last year?

this isnt about politics, its about revolutionary politics! so keep on the working class! :) :)

[Jesus Christ!]

Chávez plays oil card in Nicaragua
By Tim Rogers | Contributor to The Christian Science Monitor
MANAGUA, NICARAGUA – Venezuela's populist president Hugo Chávez has been accused of using his country's oil wealth to help elect like-minded leaders in Bolivia, Peru, Mexico, and Nicaragua. But there's been little evidence, until now.
A cooperation agreement signed last week between Nicaragua's Sandinista leader - and longtime US nemesis - Daniel Ortega and Mr. Chávez is being touted by many here as an initiative to sell oil to Nicaragua on credit, allowing the country to invest more in poverty-fighting projects. Critics call it a blatant attempt to buy the Nov. 5 presidential election for Mr. Ortega.



DEAL: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez (l.) and Nicaraguan opposition leader Daniel Ortega. The picture in the background is of Venezuelan liberator Simon Bolivar.
FRANCESCO SPOTORNO/REUTERS


In the Monitor
Friday, 05/05/06

Chávez plays oil card in Nicaragua

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"Central America is important for Chávez because the rest of his influence is concentrated in the Andean countries [of South America]," says Michael Shifter, vice president for the Washington-based Inter-American Dialogue. Mr. Shifter says Chávez is clearly on a mission to challenge US influence in the region, but that he also appears genuinely concerned with helping the poor - two traits that don't necessarily contradict one another. "This shows a larger ambition, and he is focusing his resources on Nicaragua and calculating that Ortega has a chance to win [elections in November]."

In the past few years, Chávez has made high-profile deals to sell discounted oil to Central American and Caribbean nations, and even to poor citizens in US states such as New York and Massachusetts.

But the deal struck between Chávez and Ortega comes during a grinding energy crisis, and before a pivotal election that could see another leftist leader come to power in the region. In the past year, energy shortages here have led to power-rationing blackouts and transportation strikes. Under the agreement, Venezuela will accept 60 percent of payment within 90 days of shipment, while the remaining 40 percent will be paid off over 25 years at 1 percent interest, including a two-year grace period.

The deal could be one of the most important real-world applications to date of the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA), a Latin American integration initiative started a year ago by Cuba and Venezuela to counter US efforts to promote hemispheric free-trade integration. ALBA promotes the principles of social and economic justice, but so far is known more for its symbolism than concrete action.

Yet the pact is gaining steam, with newly elected Bolivian President Evo Morales signing on to ALBA in Havana this past weekend to much fanfare. On Monday, Mr. Morales also sent shockwaves throughout the energy sector when he announced that he would nationalize Bolivia's gas reserves, the second largest in the region.

When in Venezuela last week, Ortega vowed to join ALBA if elected this November. But critics say the agreement between Chávez and Ortega, signed during Ortega's visit, effectively means Ortega has joined ALBA early, undermining the legitimacy of the current Nicaraguan government, and using Venezuelan oil money to boost his campaign bid.

"This is just a sophisticated mechanism for Ortega to launder Venezuelan money for his campaign," charged congressman Wilfredo Navarro, vice president of the incumbent Liberal Constitutional Party (PLC). "Forty percent credit is the same as 40 percent of the money that will disappear and end up in Ortega's campaign."

The Sandinistas, however, claim the pact with Venezuela is an example of how they offer solutions to problems that the pro-business government has been unable to resolve - a form of "governing from below," which Ortega promised he would do when his revolutionary government was voted out of office in 1990.

Since that time, Ortega's party has managed to consolidate enormous power in the legislative, judicial, and electoral branches of government, despite losing three presidential bids in the process. He's currently polling third among Nicaragua's presidential candidates, but is only six points behind the pro-business frontrunner and US favorite, Eduardo Montealegre.

Last month, the incumbent PLC accused Chávez of planning to finance Ortega's campaign to the tune of $50 million - an allegation that was denied by both Ortega and Venezuela's ambassador to Nicaragua.

President Enrique Bolaños, in statements to the local press, went as far as to warn Chávez that giving oil on credit to Sandinista mayors could constitute an electoral offense in Nicaragua.

Ortega maintains that the oil agreement is about helping the people of Nicaragua, rather than helping himself get elected. Yet the political implications of the pact with Chávez are obvious, and Ortega isn't afraid of playing that card.

"Where is the United States when Bolaños needs help resolving problems with oil prices?" Ortega demanded last September, following Chávez's initial promise to broker a deal with the Sandinistas. "The yanquis had hundreds of millions of dollars to invest in the war in Nicaragua; hundreds of million of dollars to kill Nicaraguans. But where is the US when Nicaragua has to start rationing energy?

"Chávez has an alternative, a proposal that's being implemented," Ortega added.

The US government, for its part, maintains that its commitment to Nicaragua's economic and social development is "longstanding, regardless of political affiliation," says US Embassy spokeswoman in Managua, Preeti Shah. "Since 1990 the United States has provided the people of Nicaragua with more than $1 billion with programs designed to improve health, education, trade and development, as well as democracy and the rule of law."

The Chavez-Ortega pact has led to the creation of a Nicaraguan-Venezuelan oil firm, Alba Petróleos de Nicaragua, which will be managed by Nicaragua's Sandinista-controlled municipal government association, known as AMUNIC.

Patricia Delgado, executive director of AMUNIC, says that the agreement is still "in the beginning stages of analysis," and that the logistics are still being worked out.

She estimates that the first shipment of oil could be made in October, but admits there are a lot of external factors at play. But once the company is up and running, she says, it could generate some serious income for the local governments.

"This will strengthen the autonomy of municipal governments and facilitate local development," Ms. Delgado says. "The municipalities can't wait for the central government, we have to keep moving forward and advancing with whomever will take our hand."

Sandinista congressman and hardliner Bayardo Arce agrees that the initiative will strengthen his party's leadership. "We are trying to offer answers on the municipal level, but when we return to govern the country, we will start to offer more integral answers," he said, after returning from Venezuela to help negotiate the oil deal.

Political analyst Carlos Fernando Chamorro says the Sandinistas should wait until the oil is distributed before they take too much credit for resolving the countries problems. "There is still a lot that is not clear about this agreement, and as long as the oil isn't coming, it remains just a campaign promise."


That's an article from the christian science moniter that pertains to this discussions and I personally find very interesting.

[Enragé]

the nationalization is a good thing, however we must be careful. The last thing we need is nationalization and the people still getting fucked.

Socialization should be the end goal, and untill then bolivians must keep their government in line.
If not
State capitalism, anyone?

[Guerrilla22]

Not complete nationalization however, companies that currently are operating in Bolivia can keep up to 20% of their assesets.

[Wanted Man]

Originally posted by Comrade-[email protected] 5 2006, 02:07 AM
Surely you haven't forgotten that just a short time ago Morales was struggling against airline workers when those workers wanted to nationalize the country's main airline?

http://www.revolutionaryleft.com/index.php?showtopic=48123
And, as shown by the posts by chebol and TragicClown in that topic, attributing that to "Morales betraying and struggling against the working class" had nothing to do with that. That's just a complete spin, why are some people still trying to spread that viewpoint on that event?