THREATS TO BARRIENTOS REGIME IN BOLIVIA

Created: 5/28/1965

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

THREATS TO BARRIENTOS REGIME IN BOLIVIA

turbulent week in Bolivia openedrive by theto assert its authority over the Communist-dominated tin miners and ended with Junta chief Barrien tos acting to save his regime from threats posed by the personal of his principal rival,

armed forces coiw&ander General

Ovando,

The military campaign got offood start on Monday. Before tbe day was over, miner resistance had been reduced to a numberrongholds, Despera te mi ne la bor leaders attempted to avertoccupation of the mines and preserve their personal power by asking tbe sympathetic student organization toruce. General Ovando, for reasons not yet clear, unilaterally concluded an agreement which provided bothease-fire and an end to the miners4 strike. The agreement cost the government the initiative in that It also provided that, byay, government forces would be withdrawn from the mines tbey had occupied. Sporadic street however, continued Paz as late as Thursday.

Ovando may have lost his

It Is more

probable, howeverf that he acted to undermine Barrientos and thus advance his own ambitions. Avictory over the uoruly miners, who for years have been tbef Bolivia's economic and political problems, would

have greatly enhanced Barrlentos' power position.

Skillful politicalby Barrientosoup attempt this week. He arranged the appointment of Ovando as junta co-president and then bad himself appointed co-commander of the arraec forces. Bis aim is to neutralize Ovando by binding him more closely to tbe government and forcing him to share authority over the The reconciliation isand probably impermanent

but has eased tensions in military and civilian sectors. inal showdown seems inevitablet however, and may only have been postponedhort time,

Tbe overthrow of pro-USby Ovando would sees to facilitate an eventual leftist take-over of Bolivia, to sayof tbe encouragement It would give the Communists everywhere In latin America, Successful or not. an Ovando move against Barrlentos couldivil war from which the Communists wouldemerge as the chief.

Page 23 WEEKLY SUMMARY ay 65

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