Bolivia observes ‘Dia del Mar’ whilst planning to take its case for access to the sea before the Hague; Bolivia plans alternate trade routes through Peru and Brazil; Oruro airport name change is dropped
Bolivia commemorates the ‘Day of the Sea’ amid tensions with Chile
On Saturday, 23 March, Bolivia marked the Day of the Sea (Día del Mar), commemorating the loss of the nation’s outlet to the Pacific 134 years ago after Chile’s victory in the War of the Pacific. Bolivia observed the day with parades and speeches in remembrance of the war. The celebration came amid tensions with Chile, as Bolivia announced plans to sue Chile at the International Court of Justice for Bolivia’s lost access to the sea.
In La Paz, a 19th century flag that had last flown over the territories lost to Chile was brought to the Plaza of San Francisco, and the remains of war hero Eduardo Abaroa were transported from the church of San Francisco to the plaza that bears his name in downtown La Paz. Throughout the country, school children marched in parades commemorating the day.
Meanwhile, newspaper La Razon reported on the Chilean response to Saturday’s pomp—Ministry of the Interior Andres Chadwick dismissed the festivities, saying of Bolivia, ‘They can celebrate whatever they like, including what they don’t have’.
While diplomatic relations with Chile have been suspended since 1962, the relationship between the two countries has deteriorated after a relatively friendly period when Michelle Bachelet was in office. Most recently, three Bolivian soldiers were detained in Chile on 25 January and held for over a month after being suspected of being in country illegally. Their eventual return, on 4 March, underscored the strained state of Bolivian-Chilean relations.
In a special session Friday evening, Congress approved a law that would make an exception to the Bogota Pact of 1948, allowing Bolivia to take its case against Chile before the Hague. The Bogota Pact requires all signatory countries to resolve their differences peacefully and to exhaust all regional mediation before turning to international institutions.
On Saturday, as expected, President Morales announced that Bolivia would be taking its case before the Hague in the next few weeks, attempting to seek international support for an outlet to the sea. The case will likely hinge on the 1904 Treaty of Peace and Friendship between Chile and Bolivia, the conditions of which Chile has not fulfilled, according to Morales .
Bolivia looks to the Atlantic
Meanwhile, Bolivia is increasingly looking towards Brazil—and the Atlantic—as an outlet for international trade. Currently, between 60-70% of Bolivia’s overseas trade is conducted through the ports of northern Chile, which Bolivia has customs-free access to under the terms of the 1904 treaty. However, Morales’s government plans to invest up to $3.000m over the next several years on a network of railways spanning from Ilo, the Peruvian port where Bolivia has a concession, to the Atlantic coast of Brazil.
Earlier this week, the last stretch of road for the transcontinental highway connecting ports and cities in Peru, Chile, Bolivia, and Brazil was completed in eastern Bolivia. The highway is also expected to boost Bolivia’s economy by providing closer ties with Brazil and greater access to ports.
After strikes, Oruro airport’s name will not be changed
On Friday morning, the Oruro Legislature reached an agreement with the Civic Committee of Oruro, dropping the proposed change of the name of that city’s airport to Evo Morales International. After more than 40 days of conflict, including roadblocks, general strikes, and hunger strikes by Civic Committee members, the Oruro legislature has decided to let the airport’s name remain as Juan Mendoza Airport.
Juan Mendoza, a native of Oruro, was the first Bolivian aviator and a hero in the Chaco War between Bolivia and Paraguay.
