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Show Page 4 Signpost March 4, 1980 Bolivia struggles with democracy W3 m 9 5 b m some acinar By Holy Montemurro ...Editor's note: Holy Montemurro is a WSC student from Bolivia. His comments on an explanation of his country's development and emergence into democracy provide insight into other world situations as 'hird world nations struggle into independence.Bolivian citizens have always had a belief in constitutionality as well as democracy but the ambition of recent militants for presidential power have oppressed the nation in believing Bolivia will succeed to live into a frame of democracy. Thanks to the United States, under the Carter Administration, Bolivia is now working towards constitutionality and liberty. President Carter has succeeded in persuading and forcing nations in some ways to accept human rights. After 17 years of uncertainty, Bolivia called for a presidential election, turning the power to the citizens to choose their representatives. At that point three major political figures announced their candidacy for the presidential executive office. Former President Hugo Bancer Suarez of the National Democratic Administration was mainly supported by the middle and upper-class. His major issues were meeting the industrial revolution as the main effort ot the national economy, developing greater international trade importing technology from the USA, and opening negotiations with Chile on the issue of returning to Bolivia its way to the Pacific Ocean. Former President Victor Paz Estensoro of the National Revolutionary Movement was supported by the Central Workers Union, the biggest union in Bolivia with over a million members. He managed to get second place in the election with his belief in gradual change and the complete separation of the military and civil government. Former President Siles Zuaso of the Popular Democratic Union was also supported by unions and the poor. Zuaso believed the nation needed an extreme socialism to solve social and economic problems. Major concern was the distribution of wealth. Zuaso said, "Force should be applied if it is necessary to obtain this goal." Zuaso won in the general election but did not obtain the majority that was necessary to become president. Since none of the three candidates obtained the necesary majority to be elected, the Congress became responsible to choose the next president. After 10 days of continuous debate, the Congress was unable to reach a decision. Therefore, according to the constitution, the President of Congress became the President of the country Gevara Arce took office Aug. 10, with strong sup port from unions, students and citizens in general. Arce belongs to the National Revolutionary Movement and has worked under different presidents as Secretary of State and was at one time the Ambassador to the United Nations. Oct. 30 saw a revolution and the National Military Forces overthrew the new president. At (his time Connel Natuch Buch took power with little or no support. Most Bolivians called this an "unspeakable act" managed by the military forces. This action was done on the basis of "the fear of militants of losing power over government in influencing and running it at the national and international level." Natuch Buch, after two weeks of extreme unpopularity, stepped down and left the government to the next civil president N. Gailer, former president of Congress. Comment on the Situation Bolivia may soon learn to live under a frame of democracy if two factors start working in the nation: People should be more socialized toward the importance of democracy. 1'he constitution must limit the destructive ambitiions of militants and politicians to get into power at any cost. As the nation also enters more into democracy, uncertainty will decrease -toward politicalattitudes. Right to knowquestion becomes farcical charade Dear Editor, The Utah Supreme Court has handed down its decision. 1'he administration of Weber State College has prepared the requested salary information for release as ordered by the Utah Supreme Court. Yet the information has not been released simply because the plaintiff is unwilling to pay the expenses involved in preparing the information for release. The $123.70 expended in collating and' preparing the information for the announced Feb. 25 release has already been incurred by the college and will be borne by the taxpayer unless reimbursed from other sources. The once serious question of the public right to know has apparently become a farcical charade. Believing in the public's right to know the salaries of public employees and desiring to resolve this situation in a manner consistent with the court's ruling, to reimburse the college for costs incurred and to finally secure the release of the salary information, each of us pledges five dollars towards reimbursing Weber State College for the expenses incurred in preparing the salary information for release. We encourage others interested in contributing a similar amount to contact us. David N. Cox, Associate Professor of Art, Susan Makov, Assistant Professor of Art, James R. McBeth, Professor of Art, Barbara Shulman, Assistant Professor of Art. In response to tw Russians..lm sMngour best trained, An wi lull i,t ignui ig Torxe u w is m oiai i ouir. . . m Jf 1) wiSA-:' m Dee Center built for students? Dear Editor: As a student of Weber State College, I often wonder if the Dee Events Center was really built for the students. It is considered part of Weber's campus but is it really there for the students benefit? The problem I'm getting at is the fact that students are usually the third in line to purchase tickets for various activities that take place in the D.E.C. The first chance goes to the Wildcat Club. Now this wouldn't be so bad, but why is it the Wildcat Club can purchase not only their season tickets but any amount of tickets they wish even in the student section. Season ticket holders also get this privilege. Then, after the Wildcat Club and season ticket holders have picked over the tickets, the students can get up to bat. Granted the Wildcat Club members do donate a lot of money to help the athletics and various other events at W.S.C., but are we talking about donating or supporting? By supporting I Useless land used for Dear Editor, I am writing in regards to the letter to the editor on Sagebrush Rebellion Act. It seems that Roger Onstad doesn't know all the details. The so-called land that state and private land owners rendered useless was being used for grazing, timber and other things. Besides what gives the federal government the right to just take the land and call it theirs without so much as paying a cent for it. And just exactly what have they restored? It seems that the only thing they are trying to do is kick the people off who are using the land mean the ones who cheer, yell, scream clap and stand for exciting plays. I sit in the student section for the basketball games and rarely find an actual supporter silting on the opposite side the Wildcat Club-season ticket holder side. You mean to tell me that students who go as much as three hours before the basketball game to get a seat do not support the team? I do believe that since the first of January if a student gets to the game as late asone-half-hour before, he must sit up on row 30 and there are only 39 rows total. Also, have you ever noticed just how many employees at the D.E.C. are students? Take a look sometime at the ushers. I'll bet for every student you find, you'll find at least 10 non-students, and for that kind of pay I know students would work. Think about this: If it wasn't for the students of WSC there wouldn't be a college in the first place for the Wildcat . Club to support in the second .1 1 (1 1 IVV3 and turning it into a wilderness, then it is worthless! As for the 74 cents per acre that is put into the land, most of that goes to pay wages, gas and for vehicles and that does not leave much money for them to do anything else. I don't think that Utah is stealing the land, but we are just trying to get control what is rightfully ours. I am behind the Hatch Bill and the Sagebrush Rebellion and I am sick of Washington D.C. telling us what we can and can't do with our land. Dwight Brinkerhoff Reach Isaacson at his level Isaacson honey, Don't mention it. Just trying to reach ycu at your level. JHR SIGNPOST letters to the editor are encouraged. One per month per writer is the limit, however. Letters should be typewritten, and kept to 300 words or less. A typewriter is available in the SIGNPOST office, Room 267 of the Union Building. According to recent Media Board regulations, identity of each writer must be verified. Published twice weekly by the Media Board of Weberl (State College during fall, winter and spring quarters. En tered as second class mail at the Ogden, Utah Post Office. iMailing address: Weber State College Signpost, no. 2110, 3750 Harrison Blvd., Ogden, Utah, 84408. The opinions expressed on the editorial page do not necessarily represent those of the student body, the administration, the WSC Media Board or that of the Signpost. 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