Coca Or Death - Bolivia

Oct 2001
Sandra Jordan delves into Bolivia -- a country torn apart by the demands of the West for the coca plant.

On a dusty mountain road out of La Paz, armed troops blockade the only route out of town. They are confronted by an angry crowd of desperate Coca farmers shouting 'Coca or death'. Confronted by tear-gas and rubber bullets, they are trying to get out and join their comrades in the coca growing region deep in the Andes. We investigate why bloody battles have broken out between farmers and armed troops on the streets of La Paz. It seems that it is all for a plant the Bolivian people have traditionally grown and used as a herbal pick me up. The US has been implementing an $85 million dollar 'Dignity Plan' -- in an attempt to substitute the economic reliance on coca production with other industries. But oranges are failing to match the coca leaf profits. According to Bolivia's president his country is booming - the success of the coca substitution plan has attracted massive foreign investment. But the substitution plan has stripped the nation of nearly $300 million a year, leaving many coca-growers jobless and angry. Other groups have joined the cocaleros' uprising in the capital as a result of the Government's privatisation policies. Coca has become a symbol of national resistance. Now some regions of the country are virtual war-zones. The uprisings have blocked most of the mountainous roads that link Bolivia's main cities and connect the country to its neighbours.

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[SandStorm7]

The reporter in this video is very cute

[yellowman88]

Bolivia was politically turbulent during 2001. The president made it illegal and did a wipe out of coca plants. Now the president of Bolvia is a coca farmer. Thats why America doesn't like him. The president bans the production of cocaine but allows the growth of coca plants because it is part of their culture.

[emersoul]

Chew coca or die! Lol. the S.O.D. would sing Sniff 'coca' or die! Sniff or chew? Nowadays, the poor miners and campesinos, changed the coca leaves for pot. Believe me, they discovered the funny effects!

[411American]

It ceases to amaze me that America is the number one terrorist that invades other countries yet it cannot protect it's own boarders at home.

Thank you for your professional reporting - here in America the news reporters interrogate and spread propaganda for the government instead of report

[411American]

It ceases to amaze me that America is the number one terrorist that invades other countries yet it cannot protect it's own boarders at home.

[greenGiraffe100]

Fuck the united states coca growing is all these farmers can grow to make a living, coca is the most economical crop that is available, without coca then the poor campesinos would be alot more poor then they already are. Fuck the USA and their corporate drug addiction. Those fucking capitalist want to exploit us just like they do to everyone else.

COCA NO ES COCAINA COCA ES HOJA SGRADA

[CBAsystems]

all this BS why Government are failures and need to be wiped out so fi or when Aliens coem they will slice and dice any resistance Soldier police and other enemies!

[CBAsystems]

@lalolanda77 USA has become so foul it is now sess-pool you cannot disagree with that..just swim in The Gulf ???No need for evidence right just turn on CNN ! black with OIL -------------BP!

[lalolanda77]

@CBAsystems indeed

[HelmetVanga]

The reality is that Bolivia being a poor country and that thise people have been abused since the 16th Century, the coca leaves are their political weapon. Some countries have missles, some countries have the multinationals, oil, etc, Bolivia has coca leaves, take or leave it, it is a fact of life.

[pusarakau]

i like sandra jordan good and nice reporter