Monday, Sept 14th, 2009
The Bolivian president has accused the United States of planning coups in Latin America after Washington reached an agreement with Colombia over military bases.
“In Latin America, where there is a US military base there are military coups,” Evo Morales told Bolivian immigrants living in Spain on Sunday.
Morales along with his allies in South America have repeatedly criticized the deal between Colombia and the US that would give the US military access to seven Colombian bases for a 10 year period.
“To the social movements of Europe and the world: Help us put an end to military bases in Latin American,” he said, citing the Bolivian constitution that bans foreign bases on its soil.
According to US officials, American troops will continue to be involved in helping Colombia in counter-drug operations and in supporting its fight against leftist rebels.
However, Latin American governments believe that the US uses the regional war on drugs as a pretext to boost its regional military presence.
Meanwhile, Morales claimed earlier that the United States was involved in a military coup in Honduras that ousted President Manuel Zelaya in June.
Later, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez presented a document from the US Air Mobility Command which according to him showed Washington’s future plans for the region.
The Venezuelan leftist leader claimed that the US wants to use Colombia as a power base, from which to dominate South America.
This article was posted: Monday, September 14, 2009 at 9:51 am