Yungas propose a national referendum on the consumption of coca leaf

COCA LEAF • President of Departmental Association of coca leaves Producers (ADEPCOCA La Paz), Ernesto Cordero, said the producers of coca leaf in La Paz want to know if Bolivian people chew coca leaves and what a kind of coca leaves chew: from Yungas or from Chapare .

By EUGENE ROXAS

President of Departmental Association of coca leaves Producers ADEPCOCA La Paz, ERNESTO CORDERO. Photo © LA PRENSA®

LA PAZ, Bolivia .— Departmental Association of coca leaves Producers (ADEPCOCA) in La Paz reported that will ask Evo Morales’ government the realization of a national referendum on the use of coca in Bolivia.

He said at Erbol broadcasting station:

"We want to go to a referendum to know what kind coca leaf nationwide pijchea (in quichua language chewing coca leaves)."

An analysis by the representative for the country of the United Nations Organization on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Cesar Guedes, suggests that the total production of coca leaf in Bolivia, was 31 000 hectares in 2010, two thirds (more than 20 000 hectares) were and are being used for the production of prohibited drugs as cocaine.

MAS Senador JULIO SALAZAR. Photo © FmBolivia®

These figures were rejected by the former coca leaves farmer and now Senator Julio Salazar, who said that these statements are not only seeking to discredit the work being undertaken by the current government of Evo Morales in its fight against the ilegal drug trafficking of cocaine.

"It's a shame that the United Nations wants to lie and deceive the world, This institution should first go to see where exactly is the 31000 Has.”

He also justified the existence of 20 000 hectares of coca destined to chewing and other derivatives of the coca leaves.

Act Nº 1008 recognizes as legal only 12,000 hectares. To these were added the 8,000 ha, that legalized President Evo Morales through a decree to favor their supporters in the Chapare.

Source: ERBOL^®