Aymara Indian Evo Morales was inaugurated as President of Bolivia today, making him that country's first-ever indigenous president.
Mr Morales won 54% of the popular vote in elections in December 2005.
'I wish to tell you, my Indian brothers, that the 500-year indigenous and popular campaign of resistance has not been in vain,' he told supporters.
Mr Morales' official inauguration came a day after traditional ceremonies at the ancient Incan site of Tiwanacu where, barefoot and dressed in a red tunic, Mr Morales said, 'Today begins a new era for the native peoples of the world.'
Mr Morales' victory is the latest sign of Indians' increasing visibility in public life across Latin America since the 1970s, as the indigenous movement has gained in strength.
Bolivia's first indigenous president inaugurated
January 22, 2006
Related news articles
- Sign tribal peoples’ law and help save rainforests – call for action on UN Indigenous Peoples’ Day - Thu August 06, 2009
- Two more indigenous leaders seek asylum - Fri July 10, 2009
- Indigenous organisation says Ombudsman's report not 'definitive' - Tue July 07, 2009
- Ombudsman's report says 33 people died in Amazon violence - Mon July 06, 2009
Most recent
- Major victory for Peru’s indigenous peoples: new uncontacted reserve created - Fri July 23, 2021
- First international counter-conference on conservation will denounce “world’s biggest land grab” - Thu July 01, 2021
- UN experts slam Modi’s government for incarceration of indigenous rights defender - Wed June 16, 2021
- Crisis in Yanomami territory as goldminers launch series of attacks - Tue June 15, 2021