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By Indymedia

In the wake of the September 11 attacks on the U.S., in the name of the "war against terrorism," the United States has moved to increase funding for its support of certain South American governments such as that in Bolivia.

Confrontations between government troops and indigenous farmers expanded throughout the nation this week as Bolivia's farmers responded by stepping up their battle against U.S. and World Bank/IMF-backed policies of coca crop eradication and privatization.

In Chapare, farmers have been blockading army bases to halt the U.S.-imposed "Plan Dignity," an effort to completely eradicate the nation's coca crops by 2002.

Since former ruler Hugo Banzer's re-election in 1997 Bolviain troops have destroyed 95% of Chapare's coca fields, primarily of poor, indigenous farmers, even though farmers demand to be allowed to keep some coca to use in traditional culture and medicine.

This month, three farmers were killed during a road block and another died from gases used to break up protests, adding to the rising toll of activists killed since the protests began.

Farmers are preparing to escalate blockades on November 6. Farmers from organizations like the Confederaci? de Campesinos (Confederation of farmers), the Movimiento Sin Tierra and the Indigenous Confederation (CIDOB) are also fighting the reclaim the nation's lands.

Bolivians also continue to fight World-Bank backed privatization. In April of 2000 the people of Cochabamba forced construction multinational Becthel to withdraw from its ownership of the recently privatized water system. Today Bolivians fighting against the privatization of an airline which is now on the verge of collapse.

The recent confrontations have connected with strikes of transport workers, teachers and a growing strike in the mining area of Poposi, as well as with protests against the U.S.-led bombing of Afghanistan, to contribute to a nationwide escalation of tensions.

The international corporate and governmental media have rarely reported on the situation in Bolivia. Participate in a project by the Argentina IMC to gather independently-written articles about the crises in Bolivia by adding your links the Argentina IMC's Bolvia dossier.