Bolivians also miffed with 007 filming

Turns out the Bolivian government isn't that pleased either with the new James Bond flick, Quantum of Solace, which was being filmed in northern Chile.

Some Chileans are already irate because its national territory was supposedly used to represent the turf of long-time rival Bolivia. [See earlier La Plaza post.]

Now, reports the Bolivian daily La Razon, a Bolivian official has written a letter to the film's producers, citing an alleged "stigmatization of Bolivians'' in the film. The vice-minister of culture, Pablo Groux, is firstly peeved that Chile was used to represent Bolivia. The two countries haven't gotten over a 19th century war. But the vice minister was also upset at news that Bolivian drug traffickers are depicted in the film. Bolivia is the world's third-largest producer of coca-leaf, the raw material in cocaine.

"This stigma shouldn't characterized Bolivians,'' wrote Groux, "not even in the fictional context of Bond.''

-- Patrick J. McDonnell and Andres D'Alessandro in Buenos Aires.

Comments

[mike]

The Bolivians should have some Absolut and chill...

[pietrocal]

Bolivians, especially representatives of the current government, should not be surprised if they are portrayed as drug traffickers.

The current President of Bolivia has long been a leader of the coca growers syndicates in that country.

Hiding behind Indian ancestory and tauting psuedo - history to promote the illicit narcotics industry in that country, Evo Morales has launched himself to power and launched Bolivia backwards in social and political development.

Anyone who is informed about the coca industry in Bolivia knows that only 3% of the coca grown in that country goes to traditional and legal uses.

The vast majority of the coca is processed into cocaine and feeds the cocaine habits of Brazil, the Rio Plata region and Europe.

The environmental damage caused by the myriad of coca processing labs in that country is one of the great undocumented tragedies of our time.

It is the apex of hypocrasy that the current Government of Bolivia cries foul. They have made their bed with the Narco Traffickers and they have to sleep in it.