U.S. waives Bolivia drug sanctions

The Bush administration cannot seem to make up their mind on whether Bolivia should be praised or admonished in its counter narcotics efforts.

Six months ago, the Department of State issued a report on Latin American and the “war on drugs”, and saved its strongest language to criticize Venezuela and Bolivia. Regarding the Andean government led by ex-coca farmer Evo Morales:

“Over the past year, Bolivia experienced an erosion of previous successes…While Bolivia met its eradication goal by destroying 5,000 hectares of coca in 2006, this represents the lowest amount of eradication in ten years. Moreover, President Morales announced a plan to increase legal coca cultivation…which would be in violation of international agreements if implemented. Bolivia's interdiction and seizure efforts did improve all around, but this may be due, in part, to increased cultivation and trafficking.”

Yet according to the Associated Press a separate report to be released today by the Department of State will waive drug sanctions against Bolivia. According to Reuters, the report cited two reasons as to why Bolivia will go unpunished despite the harsh language in the earlier study:

“First, Bolivia met a U.S. target of eradicating at least 5,000 hectares (12,360 acres) of coca crop. Second, U.S. officials believe placing it on the list could undercut counter-narcotics cooperation.”

Both Department of State accounts continue to reprimand Venezuela’s anti-drug policy by “failing to take steps to curb the transit of narcotics through its soil to the United States and Europe.” For that matter, Venezuela will be one of two countries in he world that will face drug sanctions from the U.S.

Sources- The Latin Americanist, Department of State, White House, Voice of America, Reuters, Associated Press

Image- BBC News (Bolivian coca farmers)