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68. Responsibility for the resurgence of racism in public life also lies in part with the
communication media, almost all of which are controlled by sectors opposed to the current
Administration. Some indigenous organizations have complained that the real situation of
indigenous people in Bolivia has been distorted and that veritable media campaigns have been
mounted against their leaders. There have been episodes of racially-tinged political violence,
especially in Beni, Santa Cruz and other eastern departments, resulting from current political
tensions, having to do, inter alia, with processes for the recovery and recognition of indigenous
territories. The indigenous organizations in the lowlands complain of a campaign to persecute
indigenous leaders and organizations orchestrated by powerful groups that bring together
business sectors, local authorities, civic committees and other groups, such as the Santa Cruz
Youth Union.
69. Particularly serious among the many cases compiled by the Special Rapporteur were
the 2006 attacks against the participants in the Grand Assembly of the Guarayo People, as well
as a series of attacks against Chiquitano indigenous leaders and other inhabitants of the towns of
San Julián, Guarayos, San Ramón and San Javier, which involved the destruction of offices,
vehicles and other equipment belonging to various branch offices of the Chiquitano Indigenous
Organization.
70. Another outbreak of violence occurred towards the end of 2007 during the last stages of
the debate concerning the new Constitution and its approval, when a series of physical and
verbal assaults of a racist nature were perpetrated against indigenous and peasant organizations
in Sucre - headquarters of the Constituent Assembly - and even against indigenous members of
the Assembly. These attacks included the destruction of the headquarters of the Chuquisaca
Federation of Native Communities in August 2007 and that of the Chuquisaca indigenous
women and workers in November of the same year.
71. In some of these incidents, there is evidence of the involvement of public officials of the
respective prefectures or municipalities opposed to the new Constitution. Likewise, there have
been complaints concerning the participation of students and authorities from the local
universities in setting up assault groups, in blatant violation of the principles of equality and
respect for diversity that should underlie university ethics.
72. In this connection, both the former and current Special Rapporteurs,
Mr. Rodolfo Stavenhagen and Mr. James Anaya, have expressed concern in press releases
dated 10 April 2008 and 29 May 2008, respectively, over the commission of discriminatory
and racist acts towards the indigenous peoples of Bolivia. The former Special Rapporteur noted
with concern and condemned “the recent attacks suffered by government officials and members
of the Guaraní people in the Chaco region of Santa Cruz. The attacks have taken place in the
context of the ongoing process of recognition of the traditional territories of the Guaraní people,
many of whose members still live under conditions of serfdom”. In addition, the current Special
Rapporteur noted with concern and strongly condemned “the racist and discriminatory acts of
violence, threats, and humiliations suffered by at least 20 indigenous people at the hands of
groups intending to prevent the arrival of President Evo Morales to Sucre on May 24”. In
addition, he expressed his alarm at “the violent acts of April 13 in El Chaco, Bolivia, which
resulted in the injuries of some 40 people, including indigenous Guaraní, members of the
Asamblea del Pueblo Guaraní, public officials and journalists who were in the community of
Itacuatía to carry out the title clearance process of the ancestral territories of the Guaraní people”.