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Colonel Hugo Banzer - President of Bolivia
The New York Times article said in 1964 about Bolivia that; "No country in the Western Hemisphere is more dependent on Washington's aid and nowhere has the United States Embassy played a more obtrusive role in establishing that fact."
In 1970 President Juan Jose Torres nationalized Gulf Oil properties and tin mines owned by American 'interests' and tried to establish trade relations with Cuba and the Soviet Union he greatly upset the Americans who had been ripping off Bolivia royaly as they are doing still today. Bolivia is a poor country and America aims to keep it that way by demanding that Bolivia cure America's drug addiction, be creating a trade deficit between Bilivia and the US which cost Bolivia over $100 million yearly.
Also, Bechtel Group of San Francisco, the largest private company in the Bay Area who had contracted to run the water supply and system of Cochabamba, Bolivia's third largest city is claiming millions from Bolivia in a breach of contract. Once the Bechyel Group took over the water supply they immediately tripled the cost of water. The people of this city couldn't afford water and took their protests to the streets. However, the Bechtel Group was able to enact rules where the source of water for anyone within Bechtel's water circut could only be gotten from Bechtel services – no catching of rain water, no wells etc. Many millions of Bolivians would be forced to choose between starving or dying of thirst. This is a crime against humanity at the very least but who will strive against the Bechtel Group when they are well protected by American interests? This is now.
Back to then. A coup was organized to overthrow President Torres and was led by the US trained officer and Gulf Oil beneficiary Hugo Banzer. There was direct support from Washington. At one time Banzer's forces had a communications breakdown which was quickly cured by US Air Force Major Robert Lunden who allowed them to use US Air Force radio.
The coup was a success for Banzer and the USA. Quickly life in Bolivia became much worse as the US puppet Banzer began his reign of terror. Schools were quickly shut down as they were hotbeds of protest and the Soviet Embassy was closed. Banzer got the government a lone backed by otherwise needed tax dollars to pay Gulf Oil rich compensation.
Within two years of the US instigated and backed coup 2 thousand people were arrested and tortured without trial. The native Indians were forced off their lands and deprived of any tribal identity. Tens of thousands of white South Africans were enticed to immigrate with promices of land taken from the Indians who were now homeless and without hope. The UN was told the goal was to create a 'white Bolivia'.
When the Catholic clergy tried to help the Indians Banzer with CIA help attacked them with hired terrorists; thugs. The Banzer Plan was repeated throughout terrorized countries in Latin America.
