Potentially Explosive Autonomy Vote Underway In Bolivia
Voters in Bolivia’s richest province of Santa Cruz began casting ballots Sunday in a regional referendum deemed illegal by leftwing President Evo Morales.
There are fears the vote could trigger widespread violence if the indigenous majority in Bolivia supporting Morales intensify protests against it.
Stakes are high, with the country’s military also warning they viewed the referendum as a “threat” to the nation’s territorial integrity.
Within minutes of voting beginning, one rural outdoor polling station set up in the town of Santa Juliana, 140 kilometers (90 miles) north of the province’s main city of Santa Cruz, was destroyed by an angry group of indigenous residents, local television showed.
There were reports of dirt road blocks set up by Indians around the town and other remote communities to prevent access to election workers.
The proposal in Santa Cruz, which lies in Bolivia’s eastern lowlands, is on whether to adopt statutes that would give authorities control over their province and the right to create their own security force.
The issues are key because the region sits atop the country’s biggest gas fields and acts as Bolivia’s economic motor.
Pre-vote surveys suggest up to 70 percent of the province’s 930,000 voters will back the autonomy move.
Three other provinces are to hold their own autonomy votes next month, and another two are thinking of following suit.
Santa Cruz has deployed 1,000 of its lightly armed municipal police officers to ensure security in the 235 polling stations that are to close at 4:00 pm (1200 GMT to 2000 GMT). Initial exit poll data are expected around 6:00 pm.
The government has dispatched hundreds of national police to the province, but with orders they not patrol the voting posts.
Morales has called the referendum unconstitutional and an attempt to split Bolivia.
The 47-year-old leader, an admirer of Cuba’s revolution and leftist Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, has vowed to ignore the result.
Chavez late Saturday sent a message of support, calling Morales “a great patriot” under menace from “the empire” — his typical term for the United States, which he and Morales accuse of meddling in leftleaning Latin American nations.
Amid the crisis, the Bolivian president has been defiantly pushing on with his hardcore socialist agenda, which has fueled resentment in Santa Cruz and the other opposition-run provinces and prompted their autonomy moves.
Morales’s program includes rewriting the constitution to give more land and national wealth to the country’s indigenous Indians — of which he is one — and nationalizing foreign-owned firms.
That is anathema to the big ranchers and company chiefs in the lowlands, who resent an “indigenization” of their economy.
If all lowland provinces declare autonomy, the country — comprised of nine provinces in total — would be split between the eastern half, and the poorer western Andes mountains.
There were fears that clashes could erupt Sunday between referendum supporters and rural groups backing Morales.
Santa Cruz governor Ruben Costas has called on voters to “not be swayed by provocation” from the government and asserted that there was no reason for violence.
Racist currents run deep in the crisis, however.
The inhabitants of Santa Cruz are essentially of European descent, and many of whom view with disdain the Indians who make up 60 percent of the national population but who are a minority on the tropical plains.
Late Saturday, a leader of a pro-Morales peasant organization said the group had begun a blockade of roads leading to Santa Cruz.
“We held a meeting and decided that we will not allow this referendum to take place,” explained Venancio Cortez Mendez, leader of the Peasant Union of San Julian. “We will not become accomplices of attempts to divide Bolivia.”
The leader of a powerful indigenous rural group, Fidel Surco, said during a protest by 5,000 indigenous protesters in Santa Cruz on Friday that “the responsibility for a bloodbath” would rest with the province’s authorities.
© 2008 Agence France Presse
Lucky for Bolivia that the US is broke and has no army - otherwise we’d be there ensuring that the rich stay in control.
Don’t worry Nelson, China will be right along to take our place. Though china might also strike a deal with Morales and help him crush these guys.
I don’t know what side to support. I despise Morales and Chavez, but these rightwinger opposing Morales often march under a swastika! What’s a jew to do?
Murderous ranchers–wow! Who would have thought people who profit off the enslavement and slaughter of others and destruction of the environment would use violence in their political activity.
Why does a “liberal” publication label Morales as “left wing” with all the negative connotations? Shame on you people. If anything, he is a socialist, a man whom the US should have as president rather than the “right wing, christionite, fanatic, war criminal” Bush.
The negative comments about Chavez, linking Morales to him, are humorous….Chavez has offered his people free health care, free higher education, half the country’s natural resources are protected for the good of the people, the country’s energy comes from non polluting hydro power, he has imposed a tax on the excessive profits of oil companies, and a tank full of as costs about $1. American should learn from this person, whom so many unread and uneducated Americans and the US national media label as a “communist” or worse.
Considering past CIA interference in other Countries, I wonder who is really behind this referendum??? Who will benefit from this action?
“The issues are key because the region sits atop the country’s biggest gas fields…”
What did it cost for America’s CIA to overthrow democratic Iran and install it’s Shah?
In political fights, I’m perfectly willing to accept that two sets of “leaders” are both corrupt, and that neither stands for everything that they claim. I think that “socialist” dictators have a few socialist programs and otherwise act like dictators. I think that “free market” dictators are dictators first, and second they come with a free market bent. We all know some Democrats that are almost as bad as Republicans. There used to be a few honest Republicans too, although none lately.
If you want to argue that one set of weasels is being slightly less manipulative than the other set, be my guest. I’m somewhat partial to the socialists for allowing this referendum to take place without a military crackdown.
Didn’t we fight a war over something like this?
Did it make us stronger or weaker to end up as one country?
Wolfytoo says:
“Chavez has offered his people free health care, free higher education, half the country’s natural resources are protected for the good of the people,”
Chavez offered low-cost heating oil to poor residents here in the N.E. USA last year too.
Power Slave wrote: “This vote will only be explosive if Chavez puppet Morales interferes with the will of the crucenos, which they are trying to peacefully express through the ballot box.”
The election is over and Morales and the Indigenous People won. Your characterization of the Euro/Bolivians as peaceful is anything but true. In fact it is a lie. This is an effort to reverse a legal election. Bolivia’s Indigenous People already won the election and are actively ending five hundred years of colonization and resulting poverty. European and American imperialism is dying in Bolivia. If the people of Santa Cruz persist they will likely be crushed. American imperialism is dying there and it is about time that it does. America needs to stop meddling in the affairs of other Democratic Nations. If it does not, then America openly invites blowback.
The Hate of the indigenous people of the world and the love of white suprimists is alive and well here on Common Dreams.
Hell yeah’ that Morales he’s evil he actually wants his people to be treated like f**king humans.
Who could of come up with something like that.
SHAME
The Agence France Presse article is riddled with imperialist contempt for the indigenous Bolivians, repeatedly referring to them as “Indians” and to Morales’ socialist agenda as “hardcore”. Hey Europeans. Stop calling the Americans “Indians” and start calling them “Americans” and yourself “Europeans”. They were here first, you came later to plunder and exploit.
Bolivia’s current crisis is yet another wave of European imperialist assault. The important question is not what is unique but what it shares in common with all imperialist assaults on people in the global class war, the grand-daddy of all wars, conflicts and crises. The European imperialists took the tropical lowlands of Bolivia and drove the indigenous Bolivians up into the mountains. Now we’re not experts in Bolivian history. Rather, we’re all experts in human nature, and we know what happens when greed-stricken gold-seekers invade other people’s territory. Was it Agence France Presse that told us or was it our independent experience and observations? We know things about European imperialists that they wish we didn’t know.
The indigenous Bolivians already came down out of the mountains and ran the imperialists out of the presidential palace on at least two recent occasions. The convenience and luxury that imperialists offer the indigenous are not worth the costs, the enslavement, plunder and destruction. The people need first and foremost, independence, land, water and food rights. The only way to end the class war aggression is for the aggressors to surrender unconditionally their domination agenda. Morales is going to privatize the heavy industry in Bolivia and keep the imperialism under the thumb of the indigenous. Viva La Revolucion Bolivariana!
Oh GOODIE!!! Hey Progs! You’ve shown your true colors. You’re just like everyone else. Democracy ONLY when it works in YOUR favor.
Power_Slave
Presenting Evo Morales as a Chavez puppet is a typical reactionary response, simply blame everything you don’t like going on in Latin America on Chavez. The election of Evo Morales and the indigenous movement in Bolivia has nothing to do with Chavez.
These bastards think they can “elect” to steal a large portion of the nation’s natural gas reserves because they are unhappy with where the democratic process is taking the nation. Dressing this referendum up as “democratic” is simply ridiculous, since only those in Santa Cruz are voting and the natural gas resources belong to the Bolivian people.
Better coverage of the events can be found here
http://www.democracyctr.org/blog/
This stinks of CIA and USAID. Morales could follow the example of shining democracies like US and Israel: declare his opponents terrorists and enemy combatants, and use targeted assassination for homeland security.
VIVA LA REVOLUCION!!!
The OAS (Organization of American States), United Nations, and EU haven’t bought into this bullshit either and have essentially stated that the vote is illegal. Looks like the only ones that will recognize this vote are the ones that initiated it and possibly the US government (for whatever that’s worth).
Don’t feed the CIA trolls.
The Bush Slut Just Bought 100,000 acres in Paraguay.
Paraguay borders Bolivia.
Now there is unrest in Bolivia, w/ the rich seeking to create their own ’security forces.’
Coincidence?
Exit polls indicate the referendum passed http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/7F8E4F62-439C-4955-BD05-114CD668FAB9.htm
I was going to post based on some of Power_Slave’s asinine words, but Doom n Gloom already did this well enough, imo.
” Bubbasouth May 4th, 2008 7:57 pm
This stinks of CIA and USAID. …”
The following article, in part, covers a concrete reason for you to be smelling such stench; USAID and the NED, National Endowment for “Democracy” funding Bolivian opposition groups $120mn or more since 2005 alone, f.e.
The article also isn’t long, but it provides some uplifting quotes from supporters of Pres. Morales’ opposition to the Santa Cruz referendum, as well as a quote stating the various ways in which this is illegal. And there are some statistics on political leanings throughout the country, as well as on the number of people or voters who have read the proposed autonomy description. You should like this article, after the above one from AFP.
“Venezuela Declares Solidarity with Bolivia’s Government in Face of Separatist Effort
by Kiraz Janicke
Global Research, May 4, 2008
Venezuelanalysis.com - 2008-05-03″
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=8891
Massud said:
“Oh GOODIE!!! Hey Progs! You’ve shown your true colors. You’re just like everyone else. Democracy ONLY when it works in YOUR favor.”
Massud - getting a self interested minority to vote for succession outside of the national constitution is hardly being democratic. Any minority or enclave could vote to break away as they usually have majorities in their own region or province.
All power to the majority in Bolivia.
>>a self interested minority to vote for succession<<
You mean secession not succession.
Jan,
Since what you quoted of Massud’s post likely means he or she (?) is for the indigenous peoples of the country, these peoples who were aggressed by hegemonic, imperialist, colonialist, Europeans several hundred years ago and without there ever having been any due reparations provided; well, since Massud seems to be for this majority, and you seem to be criticising Massud’s words, who do you think constitutes the majority segment in or of Bolivia?
Quoting from the article:
“There are fears the vote could trigger widespread violence if the indigenous majority in Bolivia supporting Morales intensify protests against it.”.
Massud was posting based on ‘progs’ and I don’t see any post here by anyone using this username, but see the following.
“Progress May 4th, 2008 2:03 pm
Don’t worry Nelson, China will be right along to take our place. Though china might also strike a deal with Morales and help him crush these guys.
I don’t know what side to support. I despise Morales and Chavez, but these rightwinger opposing Morales often march under a swastika! What’s a jew to do?”
I ASSUME THAT it is not ‘progs’ but “Progress” (double-quotes) that Massud was posting in regard to, and I’ll quote him from your post.
“Massud said:
“Oh GOODIE!!! Hey Progs! You’ve shown your true colors. You’re just like everyone else. Democracy ONLY when it works in YOUR favor.””
I BELIEVE that ‘Democracy ONLY when it works in YOUR favor’ is meant sarcastically, meaning Massud’s with the majority, which is constituted by the [indigenous] Bolivians.
So you both mean the same thing, or else you’re treating the minority as if it’s the majority; erroneously.
If not satisfied with this, then read the article I posted a link for at the end of my first post, above, and others from people who know what the demographics of Bolivia are. One thing is [obvious] today, and should’ve been years ago, that problems like this case in Bolivia often have the U.S. covertly (either fully covert, or else camouflaged, such as with the covers or disguises of entities like USAID and the NED, as well as some complicit NGOs and so on).
Mike- you didn’t get it at all. It was quite the other way around. Jan was defending the indigenous majority against the minority rich wanting to break off with the rest of Bolivia with all the oil (just like Zulia state wanted to do in Venezuela). Massud’s comment to us “Progs” (as in progressives) was saying we were hypocritical in that we only like democracy when it serves our interests. Jan was pointing out that this referendum was hardly what one would call “democratic”.
And yes, we all know have come to recognize the dirty fingerprints of the CIA, NED and USAID in the affairs of other countries. Not terribly creative — sort of like a broken record.
If you want a detailed discussion of the people behind this referendum read Machetera: http://machetera.wordpress.com/2008/05/.
FYI. Machetera is a group of translators who publish articles from Latin America translated into English, and does a very good job of it.
This particular article traces the efforts of US, Spanish fascists, and a Croatian businessman Marinkovic [among other immigrants to Santa Cruz. They were active in the Croatian/Serbian divorce and the breakup of Yugoslavia. They just happens to have a major interest in the Bolivian gas and oil industry, which is 50% owned by Chevron and other major oil companies, and own thousands of acres of prime farm land slated for re-distribution by the Bolivian government.
This ‘referendum’, which is unconstitutional [declared so by the Bolivian Supreme Court], has the support of a bunch of cut throats similar to the ones who installed Pinochet in Chile. It has been denounced by the OAS over US objections] and by the UN.
This isn’t about ‘democracy’ and the right to run your own government, it is about a bunch of big time money men, oil men, and our government deciding to put an end to the foolishness of a bunch of indigenous Indians thinking they have the right to govern in Bolivia.
In other countries, they call efforts like this ‘ethnic cleansing’.
The first time I read about Bolivia, it was in Newsweek in 1953, and I was in 9th Grade. According to the article [which made a big impression on me obviously] The Bolivian tin miners who live in shacks at 13000 feet, so high you cannot heat water, had dared to form a union in attempt to improve conditions in the mines and living conditions.
The union was ‘Communist led’ and an attempt by the Soviets to gain a foot hold in Latin America. Sound familiar?
And, Bolivia was the site of Che’s murder in 1969, by reps of the CIA, in case anyone is unaware of that little fact.
These are the fascist thugs working to form the kinder and gentler government Imperialistic Capitalists want for Bolivia.
And this from an AP Article — 500 Years, and the Conquistadors still live:
To answer that question, Bolivians look back to the 1500s.
The highland capital of La Paz was settled by Spanish conquistadors who crushed strong resistance and enslaved hundreds of thousands of Aymara and Quechua Indians to work the huge silver mine at Potosi.
In the lowland east, the Europeans’ culture clash with the local Guarani, Guarayo and Chiquitano Indians was softened somewhat by Jesuit missionaries and a lack of precious metals to exploit.
So while Morales rails against “500 years of oppression,” his eastern opposition takes a more benevolent view of their European heritage.
A painting in the office of the Santa Cruz Civic Committee, the center of the state’s autonomy movement, shows a crowd of European and mestizo men in powdered wigs and buckled shoes celebrating the state’s 1810 declaration of independence from Spain. Barefoot Indians watch from the sidelines.
“We in this region are positive about the conquest,” said Luis Nunez, the group’s vice president. “We do not in any way resent what that history meant for us. It reflects who we are now.”
And there is also still slavery, yes SLAVERY, in Bolivia:
LA PAZ, May 2 (IPS) - Efforts by Bolivia’s land reform authorities to free 167 Guaraní families living in servitude in Alto Parapetí, a rural area in the eastern Bolivian lowlands province of Santa Cruz, have brought to light a phenomenon that had remained largely hidden and ignored until now in the country’s vast Chaco plains region.
The scandal broke out a few weeks ago in Bolivia as the media began to report on the indigenous families’ appalling living conditions.
In the Chaco grasslands region, which covers the eastern and southeastern part of the provinces of Santa Cruz, Tarija and Chuquisaca and where temperatures regularly climb above 40 degrees Celsius, there are also another 1,050 families living in a kind of modern-day slavery.
A study carried out in 2007 by the German Development Service’s (DED) Programme to Foment Intercultural Dialogue in the Bolivian Chaco identified the municipalities in which the enslaved families live.
Why i`m not surprised?, If I`m not wrong some of the land owners in the Santa Cruz region are from eastern European descendants from the Regions of what it used to be Yugoslavia.
These people know that they are siting in a gold mine,and are very aggressively pushing for secession,and even creating their own private armies with total disregard for the rule of law of the nation.So Bush is spending over 100million $$ to destabilize Venezuela ,Bolivia , who else???, Do I hear Black water looking for contracts in Santa Cruz??, You can keep your eyes in Colombia
becoming the center stage for US cover operations to destabilize or plainly openly attack any country in the South American region they see a threat to the control of important natural resources the the US needs,keep the flow coming. VIVA the Bolivian Revolution, Venezuela Revolution.KEEP the US out.
Having come back from South America, I can say that Americans are backwards. In Colombia yes that bad country, already has nautral gas at their gas stations. It been the same bs here since the 70’s. But take a trip there and see for your self how South America will make you want to end up trading you passport for one of the countries down there. The people are passionate about their lives. But at the same time people are still poor and Bolivia is one of the poorest. So stop reading about places and go see for yourselves.
Yes it is interesting that the rhetoric in this article doesn’t miss an opportunity to cast aspersions on the “left” and “socialist” politicians, but nary a word on the brutal policies of the capitalist-controlled regimes they are trying to overcome.
Secession does not always represent self-determination. The posters who compared a “self-interested minority” to the slave owners’secession in our history were on target. When such as secession takes place, are the riches shared within the region, or do they go to the local oligarchy?
Mineral rich Katanga Province, backed by CIA et al, seceded from Congo after Patrice Lumumba was elected. Evo Morales is another Lumumba, trying to bring his country’s wealth into the hands of its own people. This secession has the stamp of the CIA on it.
Lacking the ability to invade directly, imperialism utilizes selfish and backwards elements in other countries to undermine popular movements when they threaten to erode the domination by multinational companies. The conditions created after overthrowing democratic leaders and installing brutal kleptocrats or religious fundamentalists cascade into hellish chaos and have cost tens of millions of lives from hunger and violence in the last 60 years alone.
Expect more. Expect mega dollars to go into finding flaws in Morales and Chavez and magnifying them constantly in the press. There will be people paid to organize opposition. There will be “supporters” paid to engage in activities that will outrage the population. And of course if manipulation is not enough, there is assassination. But this time, in the memory of Mossadegh, Aristede and Lumumba and so many others, I pray that it does not work.
Feed the hungry. Viva Morales and Chavez!
The key to victory against the enemy to human brotherhood and global union is to strike:
1. Now
2. Globally
3. Directly
4. Separately
5. Asymetrically
There are only approximately 6,000 primary targets scattered across the planet to choose from…I KNOW you can find one near you that will suit your personal requirements and modus operandi to a T.
Just check for yourself, don´t believe me.
The enemy does not now, nor will it, given the impetus of the global thrust, have the capacity to enable multiple fullscale counter-assaults on many fronts around the planet.
The war for the planet progresses, and the enemy is plainly losing the initiative.
All discussions of a “nuke ´em high” strategy in the Persian Gulf are ridiculous.
Posturing is one thing, enacting is another.
Iraq was in fact a cakewalk in, since there was little opposition for various well known reasons, but is and will prove to be a walking deathtrap for tens of thousands of so called citizens entrapped far from the only exit, due to their own citizen decisions.
At 18 I for one lost my family, my culture, and my country, rather than serve one second against the innocent Vietnamese.
I am 56 now, and pretty lonely sometimes for the sounds and the unheard laughter.
But I get over it. Me is one thing, the innocent another.
Global Citizenship is NOT free.
Iran, a nation of 70+ million dedicated, motivated, and above all else, PREPARED innocents, will not be attacked by US forces, although the fascists currently in control of Palestine may elect to try to force the issue on their own, in which case you may want to cancel any vacation plans for jerusalem…as if.
The indigenous peoples of the southern americas are, as always, a true inspiration.
They and the Iraqi resistance are leading the open fight against western corporate dogs pretending to be men.
Don´t see too many posturing westerners doing the same, though. Too gorged to bother, is my reckoning.
The Jesus factor I call it.
Not very many actually possess it.
Viva Zapata!
Viva Chavez!
Viva Morales!
Praise the Almighty that we have such men as Al Sadr!
Stay sane. Band together.
Right on RTDury about the Imperialist implications of this Agence-France press article.
“don’t know what side to support. I despise Morales and Chavez, but these rightwinger opposing Morales often march under a swastika! What’s a jew to do?”
Try minding your own damned business . If you are an American you have a life-times worth of work solving problems at home without trying to decide what is best for Bolivians or Venezuelans . That would take blood , sweat and tears ; you would rather talk
The Plutocracy Strikes Back! Doesn’t have the same ring as the George Lucas titles do, does it? This referendum is nothing more than the reactionaries co-opting the electoral process to subvert the will of the vast majority of the people of Bolivia. I hope Morales kicks their ass!
Well! we all know why they are of European extraction, they had to leave Europe because Europe wouldn’t put up with them any longer. The problem is where they will end up after Bolivia gets rid of them? USA maybe?
USA maybe?
encase you missed the first episode (starting in 1492)I’ll bring you up to speed.
USA is headquarters for the oppression of the worlds people.
including effectively reducing the ability of it’s own sheeple to rationalize.
If you can stomach it, try reading this article in the latest Newsweek:
“The Return of the Old Caudillo” The caudillos being Chavez, Morales,mentioned by name and undoubtedly Correa as well.) It is just filled with unsubstantiated BS. “Suddenly, heavy-handed state interventions into the economy, such as price controls, stiff taxes and loose money are back in fashion….It’s not just Hugo Chavez, the Venezuelan strongman, ….what fuels these rulers is somethihg far more familiar and potentially troublesome: populism.”
The author, Mac Margolis, goes on to quote someone from the Center for Hemispheric Policy at U of Miami, who sets up a false equation with democratic-minded leaders on one side and populists on the other as they (populists) are not committed to strengthening democratic institutions, rather, she claims, the caudillos want to undermine democratic institutions.
And it just keeps on going. Really awful stuff and so insulting to those who know something about history of our Southern neighbors and just who those caudillos were, how they came to power and what they did.
Send your letters to the editors at Newsweek about this piece of one sided editorializing posing as reporting. Hopefully you can stumble across a copy and not have to pay for it,which is how I happened to see it.