Clashes amid Bolivia regional vote
Country’s president dismisses a referendum on autonomy in Santa Cruz as “illegal”.
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“They have burned ballot boxes and in some areas there have been various serious clashes between pro and anti-government groups,” she said.
Surveys suggest that 70 per cent of Santa Cruz voters will support greater autonomy [EPA] |
“This is going to force the government to negotiate. Both sides need each other and, despite what the government is saying, neither the state nor the provinces want to break away. There is an impasse here.”
The situation has exposed the divide between the indigenous Indians, who make up 60 per cent of the population and largely live in the Andean mountains, and the better-off inhabitants of the lowlands, many of whom have European ancestors.
About 5,000 indigenous Indians held a rally in the city of Santa Cruz on Friday in protest at the referendum.
Fidel Surco, the leader of a powerful indigenous rural group, told the crowd at the rally that if violence broke out “the responsibility for a bloodbath” would rest with Santa Cruz’s authorities for organising the referendum.
Morales, the country’s first indigenous president, has not followed through with a threat to bring troops into the region, but violence between his supporters and those backing autonomy is feared.
‘Unconstitutional’ poll
Morales has said that he will ignore the result of the vote, calling the move unconstitutional and separatist.
Leaders in Santa Cruz want greater autonomy in order to keep more of the province’s natural gas revenues and to protect their large plantations and ranches from Morales’ plan for land redistribution.
Morales has said that he needs a strong central government to distribute Santa Cruz’s wealth to the rest of the country.
On Friday, Morales suggested that the dispute could be decided by a nationwide referendum.
“If we politicians can’t find a way to agree, let the people decide with their vote,” he said.
Three others provinces are to hold their own votes on autonomy next month, while two more are considering holding a referendum.