Picture: Creative Commons
Bolivia is in some respects a country of contradictions. It’s South America’s highest and most isolated nation. While it remains the poorest country on that continent, it’s one of the richest in terms of natural resources, with substantial reserves of hydrocarbons. In the past, it’s been beset by conflict both domestic and international; but today, it’s committed to the paths of peace with a determination to resolve problems through dialogue, helped by building a range of international links.
That is why a delegation from the Bolivian Parliament has been in Edinburgh as part of a fact-finding trip to the UK. They’ve been speaking to politicians from both Westminster and Holyrood, as well as finding out about the cultural diversity of the British Isles. As part of this, they were invited to join in a celebration of Scots song at an event at the University of Edinburgh’s School of Scottish and Celtic Studies.
Senator Eduardo Merdonaldo
Senator Eduardo Merdonaldo told the Caledonian Mercury that the group had been invited by the Interparliamentary Union of Great Britain. He said he’d been impressed by Scotland’s history, the depth and strength of its cultural identity and the great interest in reviving and reinforcing that identity, something, he added, that “is exactly what we are trying to achieve in Bolivia by reviving our own indigenous cultures which we believe is the basis for building a strong society.”
However, this trip was about much more than cultural exchanges. The Senator and his colleagues were also here as part of a long term plan to right a long-held grievance. Today, Bolivia is a land-locked country; but it wasn’t always so. But its access to the Pacific Coast was lost following a war with Chile, something which has been a bone of contention ever since. It’s become even more important since the discovery of natural gas which Bolivia can’t export without going through a third country.
“We are appealing to international solidarity in our justified claim for sovereign access to the coast,” he explained. “In April, we presented our case to the International Court of Justice in the Hague and we’re seeking to build alliances and support from other countries. The whole peace and stability of this part of South America depends on Bolivia reclaiming its access to the sea.”
He was keen to stress however that the Bolivian Government was determined to achieve this by peaceful means. He said that the country’s constitution, approved by a popular vote, says that Bolivia is a pacifist nation. “For this reason,” he said, “we are resorting to the International Court and put our trust in the proceedings of international justice.”