" The encounter between peoples, in a world without borders, where the cultural realities can express themselves in the richness and variety of knowledge and ancestral traditions, such as "The Sacred Coca Leaf".
utopia ... well worth any price!
was the month of July 1994, in the tropical forest of the Chapare, Bolivia.
about a year wore on, alone, a humanitarian micromissione called Rayos de sol, financed by a private group of European friends and supporters of my battles lost.
In collaboration with indigenous communities and the leadership of the Federación de Trabajadores Campesinos del Tropico de Cochabamba (FETCTC) - then led by trade unionist Bolivian Aymara and coca growers, Evo Morales Ayma, current President of Bolivia - the main objective was to develop full with the defense, development and promotion of the sacred plant of the Andean-Amazonian world: Coca. The anti-drug operation
Nuevo Amanecer - of international importance for the active participation of the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) of the United States - jointly with the Bolivian military and police forces, launched skyrocketing levels already palpable tension in the region.
Hundreds of campesinos, men, women and even teenagers and children, were arrested - and held for varying periods, sometimes long, the headquarters of the DEA Chimor - if only for not carrying identity cards, which, Sometimes, no rationale was sought, for example, women who washed the River.
Pregnant women gave birth in prison, where he had been held, possibly with other small children, for children under the age intervened Defensa de los Niños Internacional. The
the coca growers' leaders were targeted with particular fury, with the clear aim of breaking the unity of the campesino movement.
The manager of the Central Campesina Germán Felípez 14 de Septiembre was held in the month of July, for a few days prior to Chimor, the headquarters of the DEA and, later, in Cochabamba, for protesting the seizure of a quantity of Coca leaf, which he was within the limits of legality.
During detention he was subjected to strong pressure to declare, by signing a declaration from ready for that purpose, to be involved in narcoguerriglia.
The manager Felipe Cáceres, then Secretary de Actas of FETCTC., the current Minister of Coca, was stopped for several hours, July 21, while the foreign representatives of some international institutions active in Bolivia, was long questioned by Interpol, on their relations with the leadership of organizations farmers and cocaleras.
As for me, July 21, at the checkpoint del Castillo, Villa Tunari, the Leopardos - the Bolivian special forces antinarcotraffico - ordered him to remove me from my Toyota truck the indigenous flag, checkered rainbow, Wiphala, donatami communities in the Chapare, which collaborated with, to be more clearly identified and deployed in the struggle for self-determination Peoples
On my refusal, a lieutenant of the checkpoint Wiphala tore violently, causing my reaction, and a struggle to regain possession of the flag ... The price was the threat of arrest and detention.
On 23 and July 24 meetings were realized in the Human Rights Commission - set up by the lawyer, Member of the Opposition, Dr. Ramiro Barrenechea, Advocate of Human Rights Permanent Assembly representative, Dr. Edwin Claros, the representative the Bolivian Episcopal Conference, Victor Vacaflores and representatives of organized labor, Cimarosa CSUTCTB Victoria and Juan de la Cruz Villca the COB - in communities chapareñas of Shinaota, Chimor, Ivirgarzama, Eteramazama, ISIN, Villa 14 de Septiembre, in the presence of Evo Morales Ayma coca growers and other leaders, to whom I offered my cooperation in all possible ways, including making available to them, the lead vehicle donated by Italy Rayos de Sol ... They gathered
public complaints of the population, documenting violence, harassment and damages suffered by individuals and by the few assets of communities and farming families. My collaboration with the Human Rights Commission was taken as a further provocation by military forces, which, indeed, July 25 stopped me again and intimidation at the roadblock del Castillo. On 6 August he arrived
in the Chapare, an additional contingent of about 200 men, provided by the militarization of the Tropic of Cocahabamba. For Monday, August 8 was due a large peasant mobilization against repressive maneuvers taking place. I decided not to participate, for reasons of prudence, being conscious of being "controlled" and whenever I passed by sensing tension in the car to the checkpoints, especially when I was in the company of executives coca growers.
Two Italian friends who were with me temporarily jumped over the gate of the resort Sumuqué, leaving at dawn, not to disturb the staff. I had a room kindly received by the owners shall, as a reference point for when I left the forest.
The two young men were stopped by sentries guarding the headquarters of Leopardos, adjacent to the resort Sumuqué. The larger of the two, photojournalist, was accompanied by the military to mobilize peasants themselves, due to its documented professional qualification, while the other made my name as a reference.
At 8:15 am a military judge, with some officers and soldiers came to my door, and verified my identity, I ordered him to recognize the young man so that he could be released. At the headquarters of
Leopardos, I was asked many questions by the military judge and the representative of the Government, Victor Hugo Canelas. I answered all the questions, accompanying a copy of my CV, with photo and references to legal and logistical Rayos de sol, in the city of Cochabamba.
Sumuqué returned to the village, with the young man released, despite the tension was intense, because of the multitudinous campesino mobilization, which would have made that morning to Chimor.
I sat to write on the veranda, where, at 10.30 am, he returned to the military judge, this time accompanied by a large escort of soldiers and plainclothes agents: informed me that I had been sued for illegal activities linked to drug trafficking, disguised as actions philanthropic, so had to search my room. I reacted
in words, considering the unjust accusation and the request for search, so there was not a mandate, and also understood that the military judge had no right to jurisdiction.
not getting anything, I managed to get to the reception room and call my lawyer in Cochabamba, Dr Moises Kestenbaum, having struggled to recover my calendar, I was taken away by the military, who tried to stop me from calling, paving machine guns at me ... but I rang anyway. The lawyer told me that a search without a warrant was against the new Bolivian law, but I had no alternative other than their own and having armed him away at least 4 hours away from Villa Tunari: I, therefore, access to the request for leave to search my room!
We went back to my room, which was searched, while I was at the door and said loudly that they were committing injustice against me, as well as against campesinos and against Coke.
Despite the military was out of my room, telling the judge, in front of me, that he had not found anything [... of course ... look for drugs], they decided to bring the young volunteer at Chimor ... for an official statement! I asked to be left alone to get dressed for the journey ... ... Inside of me felt that it would be ... a journey of no return ... and maybe ... ... but I was denied ... And I had to carry out the transaction with the room door open and a soldier with machine guns who kept an eye on me ... There was one window beside the door and I just could not escape them anywhere ...! I put on jeans and black shoes, red shirt, vest and took the Andean passport ... no more! I managed to reach the phone again, to leave a message on the answering machine of my lawyer, telling him that they were taking us away ... I tried to reassure the volunteer, who gave no reason for what was happening ...
imagining that, if not we had been issued, some authority would return to a search more detail ... I could give, in secret, the keys to the white Toyota Rayos de Sol in one of the girls, employees of the village Sumuqué, who was approached to see that happen ...
The owners, Don Jaime and his wife, who were always been very kind to me, also warn against the danger he was to "take sides" so openly, in the Chapare, in favor of Coca, de coca growers and, above all, Evo Morales Ayma, that Monday morning were not being went to Santa Cruz de la Sierra.
loaded onto a white armored jeep with armed escort and followed by another similar method, he departed for Chimor after about two kilometers, the mobilization of campesinos blocked the road. The two vehicles attempted to pass through the human mass, causing the reaction of campesinos armed with poles, stones and machetes.
Two executives of Villa 14 de Septiembre - I think I remember the name Abelin - recognized me and approached the window.
Despite the pointed weapons, I ran to the window and, to their question: ¿Pasa algo? [Something happens?] Said: Yes!, Gazing intently, as if to convey a message without speaking.
course starts immediately, going to inform the coca growers' leaders - Evo Morales Ayma that day was in charge of mobilization - which was in place that share military repression that involves me, the young volunteer. ...
agents get nervous and was very quickly turn around, and headed to Cochabamba ... the headquarters of Interpol, after a brief stop at Sumuqué to take a heavy jacket, allowing the cold climate of Cochabamba and La Paz ... maybe ... .
16:45 From 8 August at 4:30 am on August 9, at the headquarters of Interpol, they proceeded to an urgent interrogation, threatening and obsessive, to declare me to be linked to Sendero Luminoso, in groups dell'EGTK (Ejercito Guerrillero Tupac Katari) ... [performed several photos in which I had gathered to recognize with these groups ... but there just was not there I !!!], to finance a guerrilla war in the Chapare coca growers, to promote maneuvers to destabilize the Bolivian government to make a bridge with Europe, to try to fund subversive activities aimed at ...
At that point I realized that there were already there was alone in the absurd charges of drug trafficking against me ... as there is no evidence of any kind and being so passionate and clear my defense of the Coca sacred.
The only woman I asked was aggressive, acidic, irritating, trying to get me to capitulate in any way and entering into my private, to obtain false statements against ... with the top management cocaleros injuries and insults, irony and deceit ... insisted on having any kind of information on managers coca growers, with whom I have never refused to cooperate in the right cultural and social demands. Of course I did not get anything that was not the truth ... The interest returned continually, in an insistent and bad, about Evo Morales Ayma ... with a voracious thirst of every detail ... a apressione I was really difficult to bear, showing always and only loyalty to the total and radical compañero de lucha coca that Evo has been for me.
That night, as expected, a military judge was sent to the village Sumuqué, where he was seized all that was in my room: archives, correspondence, documents, money that was meant for the planned expenditures for those days, to complete the Centro de Salud de Namatamojo (about $ 2000 U.S. and 5000 Bolivia) and the van ... Toyota Hilux, CEP 024, brand new, only 3 weeks old ... not even two thousand kilometers of distance, given by Italian friends ... you will not be heard from again ...
accepted a mate de Coca, at about 4 am when I finally left in peace, after a few policewomen had alternated, bully with words first and then pushing me against the wall and thrown to the ground ... to obtain false statements and complaints, which I never had ... always with a morbid interest on Evo Morales Ayma ...
At 7 am on August 9, with the volunteer - who was also interrogated and insulted, by methods of intimidation, unjustified, given that he arrived in Bolivia for a month of voluntary work, with limited knowledge of the language and the complex reality Bolivia - the head and greater dell'INTELIGENCIA INTERPOL, led us by land to La Paz, the seat of the CEIP [Police investigation policy], where we stayed from 14:30 on 9 August at 5.30 am on 11 August.
you travel, always fascinating through the valleys at altitudes up of the Sierra, there were a few stops for breakfast and lunch. I always refused food, pijchando Coca leaves [ie, sucking a bolus of leaves, according to the traditional use] who had agreed to give me. During the lunch break, a bit 'longer than the breakfast, which is already high, under a blazing sun and clear blue skies of the Andes, one of the two soldiers, a lieutenant who was with us ... very confident and exceedingly polite , took me aside and told me it would be better to come down to terms with him ... that if I accessed to reveal the secrets of the coca growers' leaders (of course, were interested in the most prominent names ...) ... contributing to the investigation, I would clean out and I would be reported immediately to the Chapare, with no mention of what happened. The last attempt to get me to "slip" was that he would be content with one of my only complaint ... just declare that Evo Morales Ayma was linked to international drug trafficking and my word was sufficient to extradite him in the U.S. and thus provide a sense of the whole operation that I was engaging ... The squalor of the required strength to me in strong defense of Ages and coca growers, whatever the cost ...
I told him gently, but firmly, that I would not have received nothing but the truth and that what I had seen with my own eyes (and volunteered to share) was that the coca-lucha is carried out in full legality, under the sunlight ... no cocalero leaders whom I knew had to do with illegal situations tied to drug trafficking ... and did well with me what they wanted, because I was afraid of nothing. I tried to explain, with little result, I was not going to Bolivia because of personal and material ... and that, for me, the cause of the peoples are serious matters, radical ... to the ultimate consequences ... and ... that I had seen him put by coca growers in their practice ..
arrival at the CEIP, I was taken to an underground chamber, where he opened one of the heavy metal doors, revealing a prison cell, large and crowded especially women and children. At the drop of a prison officers appeared to recognize a woman who had ... one of the farmers whom I met in the Chapare, which had been among the most active women in social work and defense of the Coca: only days before had been arrested for alleged links with drug trafficking. ...
He looked at me with a look totally cool and indifferent, as if to say that it depended on me declare that I do not know it or not ... I had no doubt in saying that ... and I knew that I knew as one of the busiest compañeras campesino movement.
agents escorted me they looked for a moment, perplexed, I heard them say that it was the case ... that would leave me there and drove to the party in the upper floors, where we kept sitting in a room on the top floor of a building in colonial style, very elegant.
We were allowed to approach the small hours of the balconies in the cold Andean winter sun, still under fire from some military armed, watching us. For the night we were handed two mattresses, with some blankets, lying in a corner of the lounge. To access the toilet you had to ask permission and be accompanied by armed escorts.
The hours were occupied by questioning even more detailed, specific, investigators ... technically more refined, less challenging and pressing ... but one thing to film ... We did all the photos from the penalty spot, from every perspective, completing questionnaires, consisting of dozens of pages, where the questions were really from psycho investigation: the daily habits, attitudes, sports, tastes in clothing, in food, possession of weapons, animals, cultural, artistic, geographic, educational level and family history ... ... and ... nickname ... etc etc ....
Of course I answered everything, having no limitation language and believe that it has fairly clear scenario of events. She made her way in me the very real feeling that probably would have been expelled since the flow of memories I opened in my mind, in the wake of earlier experience and what I told the captain of the escort, who was always very friendly with a young soldier who watched us in the hall.
In that place the days were eternal and the only link with the world were the many newspapers that were scattered over the immense plank of representation: many were in those days and sensational news on our events and statements of Evo Morales Ayma and leaders coca growers and opposition on the absurdity of what was happening there.
The late afternoon of August 10, the captain sat down next to me and asked me to eat a bowl of soup with him and was polite and not refused; then spoke to me and told me that he was Quechua, a lover of his country and its culture, but forced by circumstances to accept the job in the military forces deployed against drug trafficking, because it paid better, thanks to international funding of the war against Coca . He also told me that the real tragedy of my situation was that I was right, that was awesome that I had started in the Chapare ... but at that moment, if there had been, someone like me would have to invent it, because it was necessary scapegoat, as a spark among coca growers campesinos and the forces of repression.
He allowed me to call my lawyer, I left a message on the answering machine told me that the day after all would be well and I returned to the Chapare and announced the meeting with a representative of the Bolivian government and an employee of the Italian Embassy.
The representative of the Government launched into a harangue accusing, without even a breath ... I listened to it, without batting an eye ... and then I said the word, that I was given. I explained what had been my previous humanitarian way, the work that was achieved in the Chapare and the reasons for Coca green, finally putting my work against drug trafficking and drugs.
remained thoughtful for a moment, admitted that he had before all the information I gave him and promised to speak with Minister de Gobierno, overnight.
The young officer of the Italian Embassy in La Paz had come about a month, it seemed rather confused, told me that after all appeared in good condition, that the Ambassador would speak with the appropriate Minister de Gobierno and that I could introduce at the Embassy the next day when I had been released.
I wanted to believe that he knew what he was talking about, but all told me that ... fate was sealed ...
I asked in vain a direct and personal interview with Mr de Gobierno ...
Another cold night in La Paz and at 5.30 am on 11 August. was the captain to take us, to bring in Cochabamba ...
Along the way in the car, I heard that American Airlines said the driver and I had confirmation that we expelled.
I was the only failure ... I cried with rage, cursing the Minister de Gobierno [a few months after he was removed from government bonds and charged with drug trafficking] and claiming that the campesinos would continue and would lucha mobilized in my defense .
The captain reassured me, saying that Europe would have been able to communicate with what had been my people, support the cause and also do everything possible to return, said he was sure that one day we could find in the Chapare pacificado to eat with a good fish of his homeland ...
No authority, not even the Italian Embassy, \u200b\u200bappeared in the airport, the captain made the practice of boarding, I retired the bag with the coca leaf and front of the tunnel ... ... gave us access to the plane tickets and passports with ... .. . a red stamp, great all page Expulsado injerencia política de Bolivia por [Expelled from Bolivia for meddling politics] ...
"El encuentro entre los pueblos, en un mundo sin fronteras, las realidades whence puedan expresarse culturales en la riqueza and variety of knowledge and ancestral traditions, as "the sacred leaf of the Coca."
Utopia ... well worth any price!
happened in the month of July 1994, in the rainforest of the Chapare, Bolivia. For a year
approxi body, I wore, alone, a micro-humanitarian mission, called Sunlight, funded by a private group known European sostenidores my battles lost.
In collaboration with indigenous communities and leaders of the Federation of Peasant Workers of Cochabamba Tropics (FETCTC) - then led by trade unionist Bolivia and Aymara coca farmer, Evo Morales, now President of Bolivia - the main objective was to develop comprehensive protection, enhancement and promotion of the sacred plant of the Andean-Amazonian world: Coca. The operating drug
New Dawn - international cover for the active participation of the DEA (U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration) United States - together with the Bolivian police and military forces, rose to unexpected levels already present tension in the region.
Hundreds of peasants, men, women and boys and children, were seized - and held for varying periods, sometimes longer, in barracks DEA general Chimoré - for example, no carry a national ID card, called sometimes without logical reasoning, and women washing clothes in the river. "
Pregnant women gave birth in prison, where prisoners were sometimes also with other young children, the children took over the Defence for Children International.
leaders of the coca growers fell into the target of persecution, with the clear aim of breaking the unity of the peasant movement. Germain Felipez
leader of the Central Campesina September 14 was arrested that July for a few days prior to Chimoré in the head quarters DEA central and then to Cochabamba, for protesting against the seizure of a quantity of coca leaf, which he said was within legal limits.
During detention he was subjected to strong pressure to declare, also signing a statement and list, to be involved in the narco-guerrillas.
also manager Felipe Cáceres, then a Clerk of the FETCTC., Now Minister of the Coca, was detained a few hours on July 21, while q foreign representatives of some international institutions, operating in Bolivia, were interviewed for a long time by Interpol, on its relations with the leaders of peasant organizations and coca.
For me, on July 21 in Castle checkpoint in Villa Tunari, the Leopards - Bolivian anti-narcotics task force - sent me out of my Toyota pickup the Indian flag, with the checkered rainbow the Wiphala that communities in the Chapare, which collaborated with, I had been offered to more clearly identify with the radical struggle for self-determination of Peoples
My refusal provoked the reaction of lieutenant q checkpoint Wiphala started violently, against which I threw against the lieutenant, fighting to regain the flag ... The price was the threat of arrest.
23 and July 24 meetings were held Human Rights Commission - established by counsel, opposition deputy, Dr. Ramiro Barrenechea, the lawyer representing the Permanent Assembly of Human Rights, Dr. Edwin Claros, by the representative of the Bolivian Episcopal Conference, Victor Vacaflores by representatives of organizations of workers, the CSUTCTB Cimar Victoria and Juan de la Cruz Villca of the CBD - and in the Chapare communities di Shinaota, Chimoré, Ivirgarzama, Eteramazama, Isinuta , Villa 14 de Septiembre, in the presence of Evo Morales and other leaders of coca farmers, who offered my help in every way possible, including driving, to take, mobility donated from Italy to Sunlight.
public complaints were collected from the population, documenting violence, abuse and mishaps, against individuals and the few belongings of the communities and rural families. My collaboration with the Human Rights Commission was taken as a provocation by the armed forces, which, indeed, July 25, held me back and I was intimidated at the checkpoint Castillo.
August 6th was the Chapare another contingent of about 200 soldiers, being likely the militarization of the di Tropic Cocahabamba. For Monday, August 8 was intended to provide important peasant mobilization against repressive maneuvers act. Decidilo
I had not to attend, for prudential reasons, being conscious of being "controlled" and receiving growing tensions q spent in my van checkpoints, especially when he was with the coca growers.
Two Italian friends who were with me climbed the fence of the resort Sumuqué, leaving at dawn, without inconveniencing the staff. There had obtained a permanent room, thanks to the kindness of the owners, as a reference point and gave support to after leaving the jungle.
The two youths were detained by the guards headquarters of the Leopards, adjacent to the resort Sumuqué. The largest of these, fotoreporter, was accompanied by the military itself to peasant mobilization, thanks to their professional qualifications documented, while the volunteer gave my name as a reference.
at 8.15 am, a military judge, with police officers in uniform showed up at my home in the Sumuqué, found out my identity and told me to go to identify the young, so they could release it.
At the headquarters of the Leopards, was subjected to many research questions from the judge ripresentante military and government, Victor Hugo Canelas. I answered all the questions, gave a copy of my Curriculum Vitae, with some pictures and references to legal and logistical ei Sunlight, in the city of Cochabamba.
Sumuqué returned to the center, with the young, despite the tense situation, the peasant movement, which was to bring together thousands of growers, that morning in Chimoré.
was sitting, writing in the courtyard, when, at 10.30 am, the military judge again, accompanied this second visit, by a strong armed escort of soldiers and special agents told me q had been reported for illegal activities, related with drug trafficking, covert philanthropy, so they had to raid my home.
I reacted verbally considering that it was unfair that I was being charged and the order of search, for which there was no legal value and order q understand the military judge had no right of jurisdiction for that. Not accomplishing anything with my words, I tried to reach the front desk to call my lawyer, q was in Cochabamba, Dr Moses Kestenbaum, after a fight pa 'rescue my agenda, who had been kidnapped by the military, which sought to prevent call by phone, pointing their guns ... but I got the same call. The lawyer told me that a raid without a warrant was against the new Bolivian law, but that I had no other, as they had weapons and that he was about 4 hours away from Villa Tunari, then, I had only accept pave my room!
went back to my room, which was raided while I was at the door and commented aloud q were discussing injustice against my person, and also against peasants and Coke.
Although the officer out of my room, telling the judge, before me, who had not found anything [obviously ... look for drugs ...] decided to take to Angelo, the volunteer, to Chimoré for ... an official statement! Since q was with a piece of home, begged her to leave me alone dress and get ready for the trip ... ... Inside of me felt that it would be ... a real trip ... ... and maybe ... no return ... But I refused permission ... and I had to dress in my room door open and a soldier pointing his machine gun in having me ... There was only one window to the side of the door and had not been able to escape anyway by anywhere ...! I wore jeans and black shoes, red shirt, vest and grabbed my passport Andean ... nothing! Alcazar I got back the phone to leave a message on the answering machine of my attorney, warning that we were taking ... Also sought to calm the volunteer, who could not be because of what happened ...
Imagining that some authority would return for a more detailed searches, if we do not ... I could give hubiesesn inadvertently released the keys to the white Toyota pickup Sunlight one of the girls Sumuqué resort workers who had come to find out what happened ...
The owners, Don Jaime and his wife, that morning of Monday, there were, because they had gone on a trip to Santa Cruz Sierra, they had always been very kind to me and very concerned about the hazards you might face in "taking part "so radically in the Chapare, in favor of Coca, coca growers and - above all - of Evo Morales.
We broke into a military jeep white van with armed escort, followed by another similar vehicle, and we left for Chimoré: after a few kilometers, the mobilization of peasants bloqueba the road. The two vehicles attempted to move forcefully in the middle of the crowd, causing the reaction of peasants armed with sticks, stones and machetes. Two leaders of Villa
September 14 - I remember the name Abelino - I acknowledged and ventanillla approached the vehicle.
Despite pointed weapons against us, I desizar the glass and the pregunbtad the leader: "Is something wrong? I said: Yes!, fixing his eyes intensely, as if to convey a message without speaking. Naturally
leaders took immediate action, rushing to notify the other leaders coca - Evo Morales was leading the movement that day - that was taking place that I armed repression involved with the volunteer ....
The soldiers were very nervous about the interference and the play was changed due to travel to Cochabamba ... to the headquarters of Interpol after accepting my request to stop a while at the resort Sumuqué, to get some jackets ... poruqe I already expected to end up in cold weather ... maybe ... Cochabamba and La Paz.
Since 1645 the August 8 until 4:30 am on August 9 at the headquarters of Interpol, was subjected to an interrogation with a lot of pressure and intimidation to get me to declare what they wanted, as it was affiliated with Sendero Luminoso, the groups EGTK (Tupac Katari Guerrilla Army) ... [I had several photos, which they say had because I recognize myself meeting with these groups ... but I was not there in any way!] ... They wanted me out the confession to be funding a guerrilla coca in the Chapare, to promote efforts to overthrow the Bolivian government to bridge Europe and raise funds for subversive activities ...
A By now I realized that they had understood the absurdity of accusing me of drug ... There is no evidence against me and appearing as passionate and clear my defense of the Coca sacred.
The only woman I interviewed was aggressive, bitter, provocative, seeking to trip me in any way and getting into my privacy, to obtain false statements against growers of the top leaders ... with offenses and insults, irony and lies ... She kept telling me to get me any information about coca leaders with whom I have never denied having collaborated on the just demands of society and culture. It is true that I did not get anything but the truth ... Your blood pressure and repeated again ... so intolerable about Evo Morales, in an attempt to get me any details against him was not easy for me to resist the pressure, but I always and only listen to demonstrations of loyalty to the fight coca mate was Evo me.
That night, as I had sensed, a military judge came to the resort Sumuqué, where they seized all that was left in my room: my file, correspondence, documents, money for expenses already planned for these days, to complete the Namatamojo Health Center (just $ 2000 and 5000 U.S. Dollars) ... and the Toyota Hilux, CEP 024, brand new, with only 3 weeks old ... just as scarce two thousand kilometers of journey, a gift from friends sostenidores Italian ... which I never knew anything ...
I accepted a coca tea at about 4 am, when he finally left me alone, after a police women had alternated maltreat to start with words and then pushing against the wall and throwing her to the floor ... to get me out false statements and accusations, which I never would have agreed ...
At 7 am on August 9, with the volunteer - who had also been questioned and insulted, by methods of intimidation unjustified, considering that he had come to Bolivia for a month volunteering with limited knowledge of language and Bolivian complex reality - the head of Intelligence and increased INTERPOL led us by land, La Paz, seat of CEIP [political police investigation] where we held since 1430 from 9 August until 5.30am 11 August.
During the trip, always charming in the valleys to the heights of the mountains, there were a few stops for breakfast and lunch. I always refused food, Coca leaf chewing the coca leaf, which had agreed to give me. While stopped for lunch, a little longer than the breakfast stop, being already in height, great sunshine and clear skies of the Andes, one of two soldiers who were with us ... very confident and too kind to me and took me to an isolated corner and told me that for me would have been better to remember him ... that if I accede to unravel the secrets of the coca growers (naturally were interested in the top leaders ...) ... contributing to the research, I would clean and return immediately to the Chapare, with no mention of the facts ... Finally found my content with a complaint against Evo Morales, for links to international drug trafficking, saying that my words would be sufficient to extradite to the U.S. Evo and make sense of the whole operation that I was starring in ... His words came to me full of such a meanness that enabled me to defend Morales and coca growers, at any price.
I replied politely, but firmly, that I never would get nothing but the truth and that I had proven (and accepted freely share) that the fight coca he carried in full legality, under the sunlight ... no coca leader among whom I had known he was involved in illegal situations linked to drug trafficking ... and concluded that it could do with me they felt like it, I was not afraid. Explanations tried with little success, who had traveled to Bolivia for personal and material interests ... and, for me, the cause of the people are serious matters, radical ... to the end ... and ... that this commitment had been made by the growers themselves ...
When we arrived at CEIP, accompanied me to an underground area of \u200b\u200bthe building, where a heavy metal door opened, revealing a jail cell, large and crowded especially women and children. In a sign of a guard came a woman I had to admit ... one of the farmers who had met in the Chapare, who had been among the most active women in social work and in the defense of the Coca: A few days earlier had been arrested for alleged links with drug trafficking ....
look I looked all cold and indifferent, as if to say I was in my power to declare if he knew or not ... I had no hesitation in saying that he knew ... And who knew one of the most committed partners of the peasant movement.
The soldiers escorted me looked a little while in suspense, I heard saying it was inappropriate to let me down there ... the whole group led upstairs, where we remained seated in a room of that very colonial style building elegant.
allowed us to go out to the balconies in the hours of cold Andean winter sun, always under the shot of a uniformed armed, watching us. For the night we were given two mattresses, with a blanket, lying in a corner of the room. To access the toilet we had to ask permission for the armed escorts accompany us.
The hours passed in more depth queries more specific, researchers ... technically more subtle, less provocative, less pressure, though ... it seemed like the movie thing ... We took all the photos required for the research, from any angle, filled questionnaires, consisting of dozens of pages, where the questions seemed a real psycho-socio-analysis: daily habits, attitudes, sports, preferences in clothing, food, weapons possession, animals, cultural interests, artistic, geographical , levels of academic career ... Plus the background familiales ... and ... the battle name ... etc ... etc. Naturally
replied to all, not suffering any linguistic limitations and having enough clear the stage of events. Slowly getting into my head was the very real sense, probably me out, also based on the q memories memory returned to me, regarding my recent previous experience and what I was telling the captain of the guard, who was always very friendly and attentive, and a young uniformed guarding us in the lounge.
hours in that place never passed and the only contact with the outside world were the newspapers ... there lying on the large antique table, were numerous and extensive in those days the news about what happened and strong statements by Evo Morales and the coca growers and opposition leaders about the absurdity of what was happening q us.
Towards the end of the afternoon of August 10, eil captain sat down with me and invited me Compera soup with him was friendly and I accepted it, then I talked and he told me he was Quechua, her lover land and culture, but forced by circumstances to accept the job in the armed forces, operating against drug trafficking, because there were paid better wages, thanks to international funding of the war against Coke. I said also that the real tragedy of my situation was q I was right, that my actions were in the Chapare ... exactamneto I NEED TO ... but at that time, had it not been me, one as I should have invented it, because they needed a scapegoat, as a spark among coca growers and the forces of repression.
phone allowed me to call my lawyer, whom I left a recorded message on your answering machine, I announced that the next day everything would be solved and I would return to the Chapare and i reported the meeting with a representative of the Bolivian government and an official of the Italian Embassy.
The representative of Government launched an accusatory speech, without stopping to breathe ... I listened and then asked inmnovil ... the word I was granted. I explained what had been my previous humanitarian trip, details of the work being done in the Chapare and the reasons for the Coca green, definitely putting my work against drug trafficking and drugs.
stay a bit pensive, admitted not having all the information I had given him and promised to talk with the Minister of Government, in the evening of that day .. Young funzionario
of the Italian Embassy had just arrived in La Paz from just a month, seemed still disoriented, told me that after all I appeared in good condition, that the Ambassador would talk about my case with the Minister of Government and inviting me to report to the headquarters of the Embassy the next morning, when I would release.
illusion that I was aware of what he was talking, but everything I suggested that my fate was sealed ... ... In vain
direct and requested a personal meeting with the Minister of Government ...
Another freezing night in La Paz and 5.30 in the morning of August 11, she appeared before the captain to take us ... Cochabamba ...
During the car ride, I heard the driver told American Airlines and was confirmation that we expel.
was the only time I lost my self ... I cried with anger, throwing against the Interior Minister [a few months later was taken by the Government and charged with alleged ties to drug trafficking] and saying that farmers continue to fight and mobilized also in my defense.
The captain reassured me, saying that since Europe could communicate with my people who had been supporting the cause and take all possible steps to return, said he was sure that one day we would meet in the Chapare pacified, to eat together a rich fish from his tierrras ...
No authority, not the Embassy Italian, appeared at the airport, the captain complied with all procedures for boarding, I took the bag with Coca leaves and ... in front of the aircraft access gallery ... gave us the tickets and passports ... with. .. a red stamp, as big as the entire page: Expelled from Bolivia by political interference ...
