Bolivian President Evo Morales on Friday renewed call for dialogue with the opposition governors to end the crisis in the country.
According to information reaching here from La Paz, administrative capital of Bolivia, Morales requested a dialogue without conditions to stop violence and plundering in the region of the so called "Half Moon" formed by departments under opposition governors.
"At this moment the Presidency Ministry has sent letters to the governors to meet on Friday at 18:00 local time (2300 GMT) to begin the dialogue," Morales said.
The president said he is ready for dialogue not only with the governors but with the mayors, various sectors of the society, civic organizations, unions and mediators.
Let "the civic and social organizations and the mediator institutions be our best judge to know who is wrong," Morales said.
Morales regretted that the governors only "play lip service with the words of dialogue, without taking any actions."
He urged the governors to understand "deep transformations in democracy," saying "it is possible to understand and unite us to better serve the people."
Before the Aug. 10 referendum, Morales said, the now revoked governor of Cochabamba stirred violence and confrontations. But with his power deprived by the people, there is peace and tranquility in Cochabamba.
During the past few weeks, violence has increased in the opposition-controlled provinces of Santa Cruz, Tarija, Beni and Pando.
The opposition governors and civic committees have been fighting against Morales' government and his sympathizers, provoking clashes, vandalism and plundering. The assailants also attacked a gas station, causing a drop of gas supply to Argentina and Brazil. At least eight civilians in Pando have been killed.
The opposition rightists demanded full restitution of the Direct Tax on Hydrocarbons (IDH), which Morales reduced 30 percent to found the so-called Rent of Dignity, which is aimed at helping people over 60 years old who do not have a pension.
The opposition is also against the holding of the Aug. 10 referendum, which was called by Morales to beat opposition governors who are defying his reforms and asking for autonomy.
Source:Xinhua
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