Bolivian President Morales Defends Socialist Policies

Bolivian President Evo Morales rebuffed critics who call him an animal, a terrorist, and a drug-trafficker at his appearance in Low Library on Monday.

“If lawyers tell me what I’m doing is illegal, legalize it!” Morales told an audience of students and faculty.

The socialist president was the latest participant in the University’s annual World Leaders Forum, which began in September. The speech marked Morales’ second visit to Columbia. He spoke on campus in 2006.

In 2005, Morales won nearly 54 percent of the vote to become the country’s first indigenous president. The U.S. denounced him for expelling U.S. Ambassador Philip Goldberg in September.

University President Lee Bollinger alluded to the expulsion in his introductory remarks. “Let us think and decide for ourselves,” he said, reminding attendees of Columbia’s program that sends affiliates to Bolivia each year.

Morales has made headlines for nationalizing major industries—including oil—and redistributing wealth. His policies, which isolated separatists in the oil-rich Eastern regions, are consistent with those of allies Hugo Chávez of Venezuela and Fidel Castro of Cuba.

Morales spent his time on stage defending policies which raised questions about his integrity.

Easterners think, “if oil is in our area, it belongs to us,” he said through an interpreter. “No, it belongs to the people.”

Morales added, “I haven’t taken money from anybody.”

Despite his country’s unprecedented budget surplus, he admitted that the world financial crisis gave Bolivians something to worry about, especially as oil drops below $60 a barrel.

He bolstered his support base in August with a popular referendum, and plans to submit a new constitution to the public in a vote due to take place in January.
Despite his mixed reputation in the West, Morales received a standing ovation several times on Tuesday, and some fans followed him out to College Walk to send him off. A group of fifteen lined up to pose questions after he welcomed criticism.

“We [leaders] think we do everything right, but we make mistakes,” he said.
Still, Morales did not seem to rethink his socialist plans, which he defended as a grassroots struggle.

“It’s about equality and justice to eliminate discrimination,” he said.

lien.hoang@columbiaspectator.com