Bolivia & Ecuador

These Andean nations have been rocked by a chorus of demonstrations for
months. The contrast in resolutions could not have been more dramatic.
The Ecuadoran President impeached and removed by Congress after what was
perceived as an overreachng Supreme Court packing .. fled instead to
Brasil - seeking asylum. President Gutierriez has hence forfeited his
office.

In Bolivia President Mesa... in a moving address assumed all
resonsibility for the failures and discontent caused by his
administration of government -- and offered his resignation Monday. A
lesser politican --an art historian who became President .. his
socialist politics were controversial as socialsim in Latin America is.
His golden egg taxation of oil & gas developers was seen as premature
... and evidently no patrimonial compromise in 'royalties' revenues
dedicated and combined with energy cost offsets or social programs in
aid to the indigenous 'Techua' Indian minority has been reached.
The latter is certainly Boliia's future - which cannot split east to
west calling highlanders to some urban anonymity for relief.

In Bolivia President Mesa called for new elections -- the constitution
would confirm the Senate President - an eastern province conservative.
Maybe the Senate could caucus and produce a compromise Senate President
to succeed Mr. Mesa .. with a restoration of the former Senate President
to his Senate post.
BBC Television News and WWW BBC website were news sources for this opinion

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/