Brazil offers to help calm unrest in Bolivia

The Brazilian government on Saturday offered to help in calming the violent unrest that has rocked Bolivia for more than two weeks.

"The Brazilian government is concerned about the development of the situation that has affected our sister state of Bolivia," said the Brazilian foreign ministry in a statement.

If requested, Brazil would closely cooperate with the other South American countries to help normalize the situation in Bolivia, the statement said.

The current unrest in Bolivia was sparked by a law passed by the congress imposing a 50-percent tax on foreign oil and gas companies operating in the country.

Foreign oil companies operating in Bolivia claim the legislation gives the government far too much control, while the opposition left-wing minority and many protesters say it falls far short of their goal of full nationalization of the oil and gas industry.

Angry demonstrators then erected roadblocks on highways and blocked a downtown square in La Paz, where the executive and legislative departments are located.

They also demanded the resignation of President Carlos Mesa, the nationalization of the lucrative oil and gas industry, the closing of the congress and the establishment of a constitutional assembly.

The Bolivian government rejected any intervention in its internal affairs by the Organization of American States (OAS), which said it may discuss the political situation in Bolivia at a general assembly session starting on Sunday in the US city of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Argentine Ambassador to Bolivia Horacio Mercado said a few days ago that Bolivia has turned down an offer from Argentina to mediate in its internal conflict.

Source: Xinhua