Evo: The best contribution to the fight against drug trafficking is to respect the coca cato

Cochabamba, Abi
The Head of State Plurinational of Bolivia, Evo Morales said Saturday that respect the "cato of coca is the best contribution to the fight against drugs, on the occasion of inaugurating the Tenth Congress of the six Federations of the Tropic of Cochabamba.

"The best contribution you brothers and sisters, is that we respect what we have decided on coca cato," he urged, referring to the crop in an area of 40 x 40 meters that are allowed for these plantations.

The decision of the sector provides a growing coca cato affiliate, the same shall be maintained with strict social control to ensure implementation on the terms set and prevent its diversion to the illegal market.

The President said that if the coca leaf does not have an illegal market its cultivation would be free, "but unfortunately there is an illegal market and therefore we have to limit it."

He stressed that "we all know that some of the coca is diverted to other purposes while there is an illegal market." Our best contribution unions, is to limit the production and that is recognized by the international community, "he said.

He predicted that at this conference which will run until Monday there will be initiatives in the social, economic and financial, not only in favor of the six federations, the department of Cochabamba, but from Bolivia.

Before the mass meeting of industry leaders and other unions, including the general secretary of the Central Obrera Boliviana (COB), Pedro Montes, the Head of State mentioned the international campaign to decriminalize the coca leaf and committed to this sector rationalize its production, as a positive way to combat drug trafficking.

Morales, however regretted that some people divert coca for the illegal market for the manufacture of cocaine, in fact, he said, that discredits Bolivia, "despite having launched a global campaign to wash the defending national image of coca in its natural state .