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'Coca isn't cocaine!'
26/01/2008 22:51 - (SA)
Caracas - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez accepted a handful of coca leaves from his Bolivian ally Evo Morales and chewed them during a summit meeting on Saturday, saying "coca isn't cocaine".
"You know the strength that coca gives," Chavez said. "I've really grown used to it every day in the morning."
The socialist leader joined the Bolivian president, who is a former coca farmer, in defending the leaf that has long been chewed by Andean Indians while condemning its use in making cocaine.
US officials long have been trying to stamp out or restrict cultivation of coca.
Chavez accused US officials of using the issue of drugs to taint his government for political reasons, noting that White House drug czar John Walters has accused him of facilitating the flow of Colombian cocaine through Venezuela.
Chavez called that "a serious thing", but smiled as he thanked Morales for recently sending coca to him and Cuban leader Fidel Castro. Chavez asked for more.
"You didn't bring me the coca leaf? I asked. Where are the coca leaves?" Chavez said. "I want the leaf that Evo produces there, the pure, pure coca leaf."
Standing up from a table, Morales walked to Chavez and opened a drawstring bag.
"Oh, friend, I knew you wouldn't fail me! They were running out," Chavez exclaimed, accepting a handful of leaves and putting some in his mouth.
"The sacred leaf of the Inca, the Aymara" Indians, Chavez said. "Thank you, brother. ... As Evo has said _ and I repeat it, coca isn't cocaine."
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