I'd been reading recently of the re-emergence of deadly tensions in the Chapare, Bolivia's illicit-coca-growing region. (Narco News has an especially good report.) Thankfully, it seems the government has taken steps to stop the killing and at least provide a meausre of legality to the livelihood of some coca farmers there. The Andean Information Network reports today:

After almost three weeks of tension in the Chapare coca-growing region, the Bolivian government signed a landmark agreement with coca growers to permit 3,200 hectares of coca to remain in the region for one year. Coca growers agreed to voluntarily eradicate approximately 3000 hectares of coca by the end of the year to meet an 8,000-hectare eradication quota. In addition, coca farmers accepted eradication in the two major national parks in the region, although the boundaries of these parks remain poorly defined. The accord represents a dramatic departure from past stilted efforts at dialogue, limited by U.S. government intervention, that had characterized negotiations and agreements since the 1998 initiation of Plan Dignity, an accelerated militarized eradication program, with the unattainable goal of total elimination of the Chapare coca crop, referred to as "zero coca" in Bolivia

The document also stipulates that a study of legal coca markets and consumption in Bolivia, part of a May 15, 2004 agreement, will be carried out within a year and will be used to determine future coca policy. Coca growers applauded the agreement, citing an end to the failed "zero coca" policy in the region. Uncharacteristically, U.S. Embassy officials did not express outright rejection of the accord, and instead chose to emphasize that it confirmed eradication efforts. This more strategic stance is in stark contrast to past blanket opposition to permitted coca production in the Chapare region, that had generated escalating levels of recurring conflict.

The October 3 truce should diffuse tensions and conflict that led to the death of one coca grower, the injury of over thirty others and at least seven members of the security forces. Coca growers agreed to suspend vigils and work with the Joint Task Force to identify and eliminate excess coca plants. There are many potential pitfalls in the agreement, and areas for future misunderstanding and conflict, but the greater flexibility demonstrated by the Bolivian government, coca growers, and the U.S. Embassy has provided a viable short term solution to the present conflict and much-needed breathing space to seek enduring proposals and strategies.

Sure, this is a stop-gap measure. But it gets big ups because it protects the rights of some farmers while also raising a giant middle finger to the U.S. Still, we'll see things come to a head after the U.S. presidential election -- regardless of who wins -- because both Bush/Walters and Kerry/Beers are preternaturally opposed to any legalization of coca anywhere, anyhow, any way.