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| The first nomination of a drug pacifist for the Nobel Peace Prize
Mauricio Mamani Pocoaca, Aymara anthropologist, was the first to be nominated as 'drug pacifist' for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1994. He co-authored with William Carter in 1986 the innovative study 'Coca in Bolivia', a multidisciplinary research on the traditional use of the coca leaf, in which the authors show the economic and cultural importance of the coca leaf for Andean societies and the ethnocidal nature of the prohibition of their use, planned by the Single Convention of 1961.
The nomination of Mamani constituted an important political declaration as it represented a cross-section of Bolivian society and all major ethnic groups, with the support of the highest Bolivian authorities, including the president, 5 ministers of his cabinet, the president of the Supreme Court, the presidents of both houses of Congress, 19 senators and 58 representatives, as well as university professors of history (12), jurisprudence (15), philosophy (9) and political science (10).
In his words of praise to Mamani, interim president Luis Ossio Sanjinés wrote: “In this struggle to restore, in its fair proportion, the cultivation of the coca leaf as heritage of the Andean cultures, no one has conducted greater scientific research than the anthropologist Maurico Mamani, in authentic representation of the Aymara nation.”
“The struggle to claim the benefits of the coca leaf, as well as all those crops that traditionally represented the culture of the Andean peoples, is and has been long and difficult, often due to ignorance of the public and at other times because of the misrepresentation of its applications. The truth is that the coca leaf should be subject to greater reflection on its intrinsic merits at the service of the Andean peoples and humanity in general.”
Ossio Sanjinés expressed the feelings of disbelief and anger of a nation that, after centuries of inquisition, observed how the newly created United Nations had been forced by Anglo-Saxon white Protestants and their allies to destroy the spiritual life of the Andean peoples by illegalizing coca, while publicly affirming freedom of religion with the adoption of the International Bill of Human Rights.
By nominating Mauricio Mamani, Bolivia honored the pioneer who paved the way for the recognition of the right of the indigenous peoples of the Andes to consume their sacred leaf. We are indebted to Mauricio Mamani Pocoaca for his brave defense of the plant that had sustained his people during 500 years of oppression as well as for his unconditional support for other people's struggles for the recognition of the psychoactive substances of their preference. |
English versión underneath
La Paz, Bolivia 14 de Julio de 1993.
Señor
Adrian Bronkhorst IRDRHR i.o.
 Casilla Posta 1 15563 NL-10 0 NB Amsterdan Holanda
Estimado señor Bronkhorst:
La lucha por reinvindicar los benefi cios de la hoja de coca, así como de todos aquellos cultivos que tradicionalmente representaron la cultura de los pueblos andinos, es y ha sido larga y difícil, muchas veces por desco nocimiento del público y otras por ta tergiv ersación de sus aplicaciones. Lo cierto es que ‘la hoja de coca deberla ser objeto de una reflexión mayor sobre sus méritos intrínsecos al servicio de los pueblos andinos y de la humanidad en general.
En esta lucha por restablecer, en su justa proporción, el cultivo de la hoja de coca como patri mo nio de las culturas andinas, nadie ha realizado mayores inves tigaciones científicas que el antropólogo Mauricio Mamani Pocoaca, actual Diputado Nacional, en auténtica representación de la nación aymara a la que pertenece y defiende denodadamen- te. ·
Es en atención a estos antecedentes que apoyo la nominación del Sr.Mauricio Mamani Pocoaca al Premio Nobel de La Paz 1994.
Con este grato motivo, reitero a Ud., las expresiones de mi consideración más distinguida.
  
Dr. Luis Ossio Sanjinés PRESIDENTE CONSTITUCIONAL INTERINO DE BOLIVIA
PRESIDENTE DEL CONSEJO NACIONAL DE CIENCIA Y TECNOLOGIA
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English version
La Paz, Bolivia, July 14th, 1993.
Señor
Adrian Bronkhorst
IRDRHR i.o.
 Casilla Posta 1 15563
NL-10 0 NB Amsterdan
Holanda
Dear Mr.Bronkhorst:
The struggle to claim the benefits of the coca leaf, as well as of all those crops that traditionally represented the culture of the Andean peoples, is and has been long and difficult, often due to public ignorance and others due to misrepresentation of their applications. The truth is that the coca leaf should be the object of greater reflection on its intrinsic merits in the service of the Andean peoples and of humanity in general.
In this struggle to reestablish, in its proper proportion, the cultivation of the coca leaf as a patrimony of Andean cultures, no one has carried out greater scientific research than the anthropologist Mauricio Mamani Pocoaca, current National Deputy, in authentic representation of the Aymara nation to which it belongs and fiercely defends. ·
It is in light of this background that I support the nomination of Mr. Mauricio Mamani Pocoaca for the 1994 Nobel Peace Prize.
With this gratifying reason, I reiterate to you, the expressions of my highest consideration.
Dr. Luis Ossio Sanjinés PRESIDENTE CONSTITUCIONAL INTERINO DE BOLIVIA
PRESIDENTE DEL CONSEJO NACIONAL DE CIENCIA Y TECNOLOGIA |
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