Bolivia's Vice-Ministry of Lands issued a decree March 11 against US rancher Ronald Larsen for illegally allowing the French oil major Total to explore for hydrocarbons on his sprawling property in Santa Cruz department. The decree nullifies Larsen's 2004 contract with Total allowing an exploration well on his Caraparicito hacienda, finding it had not received approval from the national government. Last year, Total announced that the well, Incahuasi X1, was producing 1 million cubic meter a day. (UPI, March 11)

Ronald Larsen is a prominent leader of the right-wing resistance movement to Bolivia's new land reform.

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