Colonialism runs deep during Bolivia’s 200th anniversary

By Don Anque
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

Sucre, Bolivia – As Bolivia celebrate its 200th anniversary of independence from Spain, thousands of indigenous Bolivians have demanded President Evo Morales to end racism in the country.

At last year’s festivities in Sucre, indigenous Bolivians were targeted and beaten, some stripped and publicly humiliated. President Morales kicked off this year's festivities with indigenous farmers in an Andean town on Friday and is boycotting Sucre celebrations out of respect for the victims of violence.

According to Jesuit Priest Rafael Mora, Sucre has kept many of it Spanish colonial habits and represents an intensely conservative region of Bolivia.

“There are many myths saying Indians are dangerous,” Mora commented. “In cities like Sucre, people panic if you say ‘Indians are coming to take over.’”

The UN believes that the bicentennial is a unique opportunity to unite the efforts of all Bolivians to overcome these gaps and show its willingness to support the government and people of Bolivia in this process.

Merianela Duran, a Quechua language radio station reporter, was attacked during last year’s festivities and still recalls the humiliation inflicted by those she identifies as colonialists.

“They said to us: ‘Go back to your pigs, to the countryside and your cows,’” Duran remarked. “We must never let them humiliate us like that again. It is still in their psychology. They behaved as if they were defending their own, as it if was their right.”

While the President Morales has addressed cultural and racial inequalities in the past, his advocacy for constitutional changes, which would give indigenous people more rights, has been met with opposition. 

For more information, please see:

BBC News - Colonial scars run deep in Bolivia - 25 May 2009

La Prensa - Sucre restaña heridas en el 200 aniversario del grito libertario - 24 May 2009

El Mundo - Sucre celebra sus 200 años del grito libertario - 25 May 2009