oiga compai ... se mueve, se mueve

[Tom Kruse]

Today [Friday 4 Dec.] the Cochabamba Fedartion of Factory Wrokers (FTFC)
called for a rally to put a brake on government and Chamber of Commerce
plans to force through regressive labor legislation.  It was a resounding
success, I'd say.  Thousands participated: pensioners, market women,
municipal workers, factory workers, and even -- my favorite -- the
autonomus punks from the univeristy (about 20), who did a great job making
posters, etc.  Most moving for me persoanlly is wathcing the retired miners
march by with their minging helmets on, an incredible dignity about them.
They marched in two straight, single file lines, and allowed noone to cross
or cut in front of them -- they controlled their space.

The leadership of the factory workers union went bare chested at the front
to suggest "losing their shirts", with "death to neo-liberalism" and other
slogans painted on their bodies.  Many carried sticks and machetes;
firecrackers and chants puncutated tha march; a major presence was felt as
they shut down downtown after 4:00pm.  Chants included "Pinochet and
Banzer; the same cancer", etc.

Arriving at the plaza a bonfire was lit in the street.  The unions burned
flags of all the major political parties, as well as drafts of the labor
legislation.  As they did this, a traditional brass band played funeral
dirges -- I love a sense of humor at a rally.  People there did too, and
things got happy. Next the band played a cueca, and about 20 of the retired
mine workers started dancing.  Next was supposed to be the speeches, but
for a bit there the leadership couldn't get the miners to quit dancing.

Afterwards I chatted with leaders, protesters, others.  The feeling was
jubilant; many mentioned that they hadn't been at a rally like that in
years.  Similar rallys were held simultaneously in Santa Cruz and La Paz.
One leader noted that it's been 13 years of neo-liberalism, and now,
perhaps, things are starting to move a bit. We'll see.  Anyway, a great
Friday afternoon.

Tom

Tom Kruse
Casilla 5812 / Cochabamba, Bolivia
Tel/Fax: (591-4) 248242
Email: tkruse at albatros.cnb.net