Qulla Carnival Festivity: Ch'utas

CH'UTAS • In Bolivia usually people used to dance called chutas. This kind of dance comes from an ancient dance called in aymara language khashwiri.

By EUGEN ROXAS

Ch'uta dancer. In La Paz this character dance totally a week looking for who going to be his wife and his lover. Photo © The Achacachi Post™

ACHACACHI, Bolivia.- People dance khashwiri (now called ch'utas) giving thanks of blossoming the potatoes and all seeded and singles youngs dance looking for get married.

From January to April Qulla people thanks to Gea (mother Earth) to flower their food. This period it is some like north American Thanksgiving Day but more longer in time.

Dancing chutas begin in Achocalla town, first January, then 14^th January in Caquiaviri , then in the mid of February in Chuquiyapu city (today La Paz, Bolivia) and finally near April, this Bolivian some kind Thanksgiving Day to Gea (mother Earth or Pachamama in aymara language) ends in Pucarani, a town of 35 Km from La Paz, city.

The khashwiri dance is for young and single people. It is dance for single people who are looking for get married.

In the week of festivity, single young search a woman a man. After dancing all the week in Sunday called Temptation he or she goes his or her lover home. The man must to send to say her parents that her daughter is in his house. After two or three weeks (after she is pregnant) he will visit and will say that she and he will get married.

In Bolivia this time of Thanksgiving it is usually to become people, which means in aymara language to become person. In Qulla culture person means two, woman and a man but married. The khashwiri dance, contemporary called chutas ot is a dance of love.

Guillermo Mendoza emerges as a possible replacement for Felix Patzi

REPLACEMENT • Guillermo Mendoza, a former deputy and candidate for Councilman by the MAS would be the replacement of Felix “wino” Patzi.

By EUGEN ROXAS

Guillermo Mendoza. Former deputy and candidate for Councilman would replace to Felix “wino” Patzi. Photo © The Achacachi Post™

7:38 PM LA PAZ, Bolivia.- Following the resignation of Felix Patzi, as candidate for governor of La Paz, the Movemiento al Socialismo (MAS) announced in an emergency meeting of social organizations, to name the new replacement, as press statements by its spokesman, former deputy, Jorge Silva who said:

"We regret that error and Felix has to leave the MAS, but hey it is imperative now to fill that place. There are several names but that will come out of the meeting."

Among the possible candidates replacements include former deputy for National Unity, and now candidate for the MAS first councilman, Guillermo Mendoza, besides other leaders of the city of El Alto.

Patzi resigns for Governor because he was driving drunked

RESIGN • Felix Patzi Paco candidate, resigned Thursday to continue in the race for governor of the department of La Paz for the Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS), after admitting driving while intoxicated.

By EUGEN ROXAS

Felix Patzi Paco. Patzi resigns for Governor because he was driving drunked. Photo © The Achacachi Post™

LA PAZ, Bolivia.- Patzi, at a press conference, said he prefers the academic rather than remain immersed in politics.

Patzi was arrested by Police, later released, for driving under the influence of alcohol early Thursday in the city of La Paz.

"In this case we are talking about a fault and traffic violation because he was driving while intoxicated. According to the breath test for alcohol he was 1.5 percent level of alcohol in his blood which is a punishable."

Said Lt. Col. Alfonso Moreno, Transit Operating Police.

According to the report for Traffic, Patzi, who was caught by police at 03:00 am on Thursday on 6 de Augosto Av. He drove a pearl Toyota wagon, model 1998 with license plate 1940-INL. He was punished with 400 bolivianos. His car remains in police custody.

Patzi is a recidivist. In July last year was also caught drunk driving on a road between El Alto and La Paz under 1.5 percent of alcohol in his blood. He was fined economically and covered the cost of the damage caused to public ornament.

According to the Traffic Code, if the driver was driving while intoxicated and is a repeat offender he or her shall be punished with the suspension of his or of her license for one year. In case of recurrence for the third time, the license could be suspended permanently. As it happens in the Patzi case.

Tribunal supremo suizo descongela cuentas de Duvalier

CORRUPCION • El Supremo tribunal suizo emite sentencia por el cual se descongela las cuentas del ex dicitador de Haiti Jean-Claude Duvalier.

By ELIANE ENGELER / (Trad.) EUGEN ROXAS

Jean-Claude Duvalier. (derecha) Ex-dictador de Haiti. Photo © The Concrete Gardener™

GINEBRA , Suiza.- Para vergüenza del gobierno de Suiza, el máximo tribunal del país descongelo al menos 4,6 millones de dólares del ex dictador de Haití, Jean-Claude Duvalier.

La sentencia del tribunal fue hecho horas antes del terremoto que azotó a Haití el 12 de enero, pero sólo fue publicado este miércoles.

Este hecho hizo que el gobierno suizo emitiera un decreto de emergencia para mantener los fondos congelados hasta que una nueva ley permitiera donarlos a los grupos que trabajan en Haití.

"Es un desastre para las relaciones públicas de Suiza", dijo Mark Pieth, especialista casos internacionales de corrupción.”

La Corte Suprema Federal revocó el fallo de un tribunal inferior que ordenaba que el dinero debería ir a los grupos que trabajan en la empobrecida nación.

Más allá de privar a los esfuerzos de socorro de Haití, la sentencia asesta un golpe a los esfuerzos de Suiza para deshacerse de su imagen como un refugio del dinero robado de los dictadores del mundo.

"Asumimos que este dinero no pertenece a la familia Duvalier," dijo Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf, el ministra de Justicia de Suiza. "Hemos bloqueado el dinero de nuevo hoy. Realmente esperamos que este dinero finalmente regresa al país. "

Muchos haitianos acusan a Duvalier y a su séquito por el robo de millones de dólares de fondos públicos haitianos. Duvalier siempre nego haber cometido el delito.

La decisión no puede ser apelada, pero el Ministerio Suizo de Asuntos Exteriores dijo que trataria de mantener el dinero mientras se considera una ley nacional para hacer frente a los activos de "origen criminal".

El gobierno "quiere evitar que el centro financiero suizo actúe como un refugio para los bienes ilícitamente adquiridos", dijo en un comunicado, agregó que una nueva ley con carácter retroactivo podría estar listo este mes.

Widmer-Schlumpf fue menos optimista, pero dijo que la ley podría entrar en vigor tan pronto como 2011.

Source: AP™ / Eliane Engeler. NEW YORK Times Newspaper