Bolivian president inaugurates anti-imperialist military school

Bolivian President Evo Morales on Wednesday inaugurated the country's anti-imperialist military school, named the Juan Jose Torres School, which will train soldiers in "ideological defense."

In his speech during the school's opening ceremony, Morales said the school "would contribute to a better, fairer and more equal world without violence."

"This school is a political and social commitment to the country, the region and the world. It is morally necessary to live in conditions of equality, dignity and brotherhood," he added.

Also lambasting the United States, Morales said "the enemies of the empire are social movements and the U.S. has always defended its neo-liberal model through communications media. The media publish discouraging messages with some analysts stating Bolivia is a failed state."

The first class to enter the anti-imperialist school will be made up of 200 students, all officers seeking to become captains in the army, who will receive a 12-week training course.

According to Morales, the school will impart a training program to help the officers to identify the enemies of Bolivia. "The nation now has, and has always had, one natural enemy: the empires," he said.

The academy was first announced by Morales in November in a bid to help the army defend national sovereignty and respect peace.

The name of Juan Jose Torres was chosen for the school as this former president (1970-1971) took an anti-imperialist line while in government and expelled the U.S. Peace Corps from Bolivia, for allegedly sterilizing indigenous women in order to avoid the growth of a Communist movement. Endit