Cocalero
Encyclopedia
Cocaleros are the coca
leaf growers of Peru
and Bolivia
. Evo Morales
, who became president of Bolivia
in 2006, is a leader of the cocalero movement in that country.
of La Paz department and the Chapare
of Cochabamba (also referred to as the Tropic of Cochabamba). The main organizations are the Council of Campesino Federations of the Yungas and the Six Federations of the Tropic of Cochabamba . The Yungas is a traditional coca growing region since at least the period of the Inca empire, while most growers in the Chapare are recent migrants since the 1970s and 1980s.
Morales claimed his "life-defining epiphany" came in 1978 when, as a member of the army, he took part in a military action against coca growers' march. "When ordered to shoot,...I saw the biggest defenders of democracy were the cocaleros."
as part of the World Cinema Competition: Documentary section. Executive Producer Ellyn E. Daniels.
Coca
Coca, Erythroxylum coca, is a plant in the family Erythroxylaceae, native to western South America. The plant plays a significant role in many traditional Andean cultures...
leaf growers of Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
and Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
. Evo Morales
Evo Morales
Juan Evo Morales Ayma , popularly known as Evo , is a Bolivian politician and activist, currently serving as the 80th President of Bolivia, a position that he has held since 2006. He is also the leader of both the Movement for Socialism party and the cocalero trade union...
, who became president of Bolivia
President of Bolivia
The President of Bolivia is head of state and head of government of Bolivia. According to the current Constitution, the president is elected by popular vote to a five year term, renewable once...
in 2006, is a leader of the cocalero movement in that country.
Cocalero movement
In Bolivia, the cocalero movement primarily consists of organizations of coca farmers in the YungasYungas
The Yungas is a stretch of forest along the eastern slope of the Andes Mountains from southeastern Peru through central Bolivia. It is a transitional zone between the Andean highlands and the eastern forests. Like the surrounding areas, it has characteristics of the Neotropic ecozone...
of La Paz department and the Chapare
Chapare
Chapare may refer to:* Chapare Province, Bolivia* Chapare RiverIt may also refer to:* Chapare virus...
of Cochabamba (also referred to as the Tropic of Cochabamba). The main organizations are the Council of Campesino Federations of the Yungas and the Six Federations of the Tropic of Cochabamba . The Yungas is a traditional coca growing region since at least the period of the Inca empire, while most growers in the Chapare are recent migrants since the 1970s and 1980s.
Morales claimed his "life-defining epiphany" came in 1978 when, as a member of the army, he took part in a military action against coca growers' march. "When ordered to shoot,...I saw the biggest defenders of democracy were the cocaleros."
Film
Cocalero is also the title of a documentary film directed by Alejandro Landes which chronicles Evo Morales' travels through Bolivia in his political campaign to become the first president of Bolivia of indigenous descent. The film was screened at the BAFICI and shown at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival2007 Sundance Film Festival
The 2007 Sundance Film Festival ran from January 18 until January 28, 2007 in Park City, Utah with screenings in Salt Lake City, Utah and Ogden, Utah. It was the 23-rd iteration of the Sundance Film Festival...
as part of the World Cinema Competition: Documentary section. Executive Producer Ellyn E. Daniels.