LA PAZ, in Bolivia - Bolivian President Evo Morales Friday inaugurated the construction on a road planned to go through a natural reserve, despite the objections of Indian groups who fear that it will affect their lands.
No protesters appeared at the ceremony, and the leader of the left was surrounded by hundreds of coca growers who support building 192-mile (309-kilometre) road in the town of Villa Tunari West of San Ignacio de Moxos to the East.
The route passes through a national park and the territory which is home to three groups of Aboriginal people, the Yuracare, Chiman and Trinitaria. Their 15,000 members live by hunting, fishing, fruit collecting and agriculture.
Morales, who is the first President of the Bolivia indigenous group, said the highway is needed to open economic opportunities for the villages isolated in the East of the Bolivia.
Adolfo Moye, indigenous leader, said previously Associated Press that Indian communities would object to the road when it enters their lands.
In recent years, the region was the scene of conflicts between indigenous communities and the coca growers, who have started their plants growing there y. The Park is adjacent to the region of Chapare in Bolivia, which is home to the largest Union of coca growers, led by Morales.
Speaking to the city of Eterazama, President did not mention the Indian opposition to the road, but he noted he will cross the indigenous reserves and promised to protect the environment.
Morales "there is always the possibility of conflicts between development and mother earth, but we will be careful to respect nature," said.
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