Chavez, Bolivia Is With You!: A Tale of Two Summits

On November 13, 2003 in Santa Cruz, Bolivia two worlds converged in the form of competing summits: the official Iberoamerican Presidential Summit and an alternative social forum organized by Bolivia’s farmers unions. A month after Bolivians overthrew US-backed President, Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada, in massive street protests, Latin America’s Presidents arrived for their annual meetings...

On November 13, 2003 in Santa Cruz, Bolivia two worlds converged in the form of competing summits: the official Iberoamerican Presidential Summit and an alternative social forum organized by Bolivia’s farmers unions. A month after Bolivians overthrew US-backed President, Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada, in massive street protests, Latin America’s Presidents arrived for their annual meetings. While Latin America is no stranger to social protest and unrest, this summit came at a moment when power seems completely up for grabs. From the leftist governments of Venezuela (Hugo Chavez) and Brazil (Ignacio ‘Lula’ da Silva), and Bolivia’s popular indigenous leader, Evo Morales, to Ecuador’s powerful indigenous union CONAIE and Argentina’s unemployed unions, social movements are showing a surprising ability to challenge the power of ruling elites. Chavez highlighted this trend by leaving the official summit: he crossed town and was greeted as a hero by 25,000 farmers, miners, and students in a stadium blanketed by Cuban, Bolivian, and cocalero flags.

Noah Friedsky is a photojournalist based in Bolivia, where he covers social issues. He has spent years living and reporting in Latin America.

The outgoing President of Guatemala, Alfonso Portillo, arrives in Bolivia for the Iberoamerican Presidential Summit, which was attended by Latin America's 21 Presidents and Cuba's VP.

In a rare occasion, Carlos Medina, an indigenous rights leader, addresses Latin America's 21 Presidents, along with Kofi Annan, at the Iberoamerican Summit in Bolivia. Reminiscent of the reading of the Zapatista's demands in Mexico City, Medina warned that if his movement's demands (including the rejection of the Free Trade Agreement of the Americas) were not met, Bolivia would face more instability.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez speaking at the alternative social forum, told thousands of campesinos about Venezuela's "Democratic Revolution."

Bolivian miners don the Cuban and Bolivian flags atop their helmets in solidarity with Cuba.

Crowds proclaiming support for Fidel Castro and Bolivia's indigenous movements fill a Bolivian soccer stadium for the alternative social forum and to hear Chavez, Evo, and Cuba's VP Carlos Laje speak.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez left the official Presidential Summit to attend the social forum organized by Bolivia's farmer unions.

Indigenous Bolivians perform traditional ceremonies at the alternative social forum. Bolivia's population is nearly 80% indigenous, the most in Latin America.

Cuba's VP Carlos Lage, Hugo Chavez and Bolivia's indigenous leader, Evo Morales greet Bolivian youth on stage at the alternative Social Forum in Bolivia.

Evo Morales, Bolivia's socialist indigenous leader who finished 2nd in Bolivia's last Presidential election, becomes the center of attention as he enters the Iberoamerican Presidential Summit. In a blow to Bolivia's President, Kofi Annan, as well as Presidents Hugo Chavez, Argentina's Nestor Kirchner, and Brazil's President Lula all met privately with Morales.

Bolivian coca growers, draped in their union's flag, anticipate the arrival of their leader Evo Morales. The cocaleros lead Bolivia's powerful unions and helped overthrow US-backed President Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada in Oct. 2003.