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/ 8 October 2007

Bolivian town cashes in on Che Guevara legacy

The bearded image of guerrilla leader Ernesto ”Che” Guevara has become a pop icon splashed on mugs, T-shirts and even bikinis 40 years after his death, and Vallegrande, a Bolivian town, is out to cash in on the marketing frenzy. In central Bolivia, where Guevara battled the army before he was captured and killed, tour operators offer a chance to retrace his final steps on the ”Che Trail”.

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/ 16 May 2006

Bolivia moves to gain control of energy firms

The Bolivian government pushed ahead with its moves to re-nationalise its energy industry, ordering foreign financial companies to surrender control over shares they administer for a public pension fund. The Bolivian government on Monday gave Spanish Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA, and Futuro SA of Swiss Zurich Financial Services three days to hand over the assets they administer for a fund used to pay pensions.

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/ 4 May 2006

Morales prepares to defend gas nationalisation

Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez paid a last-minute visit of support to Bolivian President Evo Morales ahead of a hastily-arranged summit to avert a regional crisis over the Andean nation’s nationalisation of its natural gas sector. The socialist Chavez said he came to Bolivia late on Wednesday not to give advice but to offer ”congratulations and learn from Bolivia’s wisdom”.

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/ 3 May 2006

Bolivia defends gas grab

Bolivia defended on Tuesday the government’s seizure of its vast natural gas industry after the move triggered deep concerns among major foreign investors. Brazil, a huge consumer of Bolivian gas, and Spain expressed worry, while the United States said it was keeping an eye on the situation, one day after leftist Bolivian President Evo Morales gave foreign gas and oil investors 180 days to renegotiate their contracts.

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/ 2 May 2006

Morales nationalises natural-gas sector

Soldiers guarded natural gas fields and refineries across Bolivia after President Evo Morales ordered the sector nationalised, threatening to evict foreign companies unless they cede control over production within six months. Reconquering ownership of Bolivia’s natural resources, he said, is ”a fundamental means for recovering our sovereignty”.