“As we struggle to respond to this human disaster, we’re proud that we’re sending to the Philippines the right person for the job,†US Secretary of State John Kerry said as he swore in Goldberg.
The right person indeed...
Bolivia expels US ambassador Philip Goldberg
By Jeremy McDermott, Latin America Correspondent
8:21AM BST 12 Sep 2008
"Without fear of the empire, I declare Mr Goldberg, the US ambassador, 'persona non grata,"' said Mr Morales, echoing the anti-US rhetoric of his friend and close ally, Hugo Chavez of Venezuela.
"He is conspiring against democracy and seeking the division of Bolivia."
The announcement came after protests against Mr Morales escalated and turned violent. Earlier in the week opposition protesters burnt and pillaged government offices in city of Santa Cruz, which was followed by an attack on a gas pipeline that feeds the neighbouring giant of Brazil. Gas is the lifeblood of the Bolivian economy and the source of much of government revenue.
Washington replied, through a State Department spokesman, that the accusations against Ambassador Philip Goldberg were "baseless"
Mr Goldberg last week infuriated President Morales when he met with Ruben Costas, the governor of Bolivia's richest province, that of Santa Cruz, which wants autonomy and has threatened secession. Santa Cruz is predominantly white, whilst the capital La Paz, set in the highlands, is more indigenous.
The province is one of five that voted for more autonomy in a series of referendums, which the president has refused to recognise.
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