In Until When

By supreme decree, Bolivia's seven-month-old military junta last week took the first step to install itself in power indefinitely. "In view of the chaotic political conditions and the inability of political parties to organize themselves for a democratic electoral process," said the decree, the presidential elections scheduled for Oct. 31 were being postponed. No date was set for new elections. Thus, for the moment at least, Air Force General Rene Barrientos, 45, will continue to rule the troubled Andean nation.

As Barrientos analyzed it, the decision was forced on him by popular will. For months the dashing flyer has wavered back and forth, first, on whether he would be a candidate in the elections, and then, whether he should resign from the junta to run, as the constitution requires. Three weeks ago, in the face of mounting pressure on all sides, Barrientos suddenly announced that he was withdrawing from the elections in the interests of "national harmony and unity." Almost on cue, a series of noisy protest demonstrations erupted among pro-Barrientos peasants in Cochabamba and Sucre, south of La Paz. The peasants set up roadblocks along the highways, invaded and occupied Cochabamba Airport, the air communications hub of Bolivia. At that, Barrientos himself flew down to Cochabamba, and announced that he was putting off the elections.

Diplomats in La Paz tended to believe that the demonstrations were largely directed and engineered by Barrientos. Nevertheless, he does have wide popular appeal among the peasants, who see him as a young and vigorous reformer. He campaigns tirelessly, promises land, food, health and education to all within earshot. How much support he has in the La Paz capital is questionable. His incessant speechifying raises the hackles of some of his fellow generals who fear that he has ambitions to become a Bolivian dictator. Last week army brass were privately demanding that Barrientos share the junta leadership with General Alfredo Ovando Candia, his second-in-command.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.