Santa Cruz Autonomy Referendum Passes Amidst Violence

May 4th, 2008 | By Josh | Category: South America News

Incidentes en Bolivia - Video of violent clashes between political groups.

Residents of Santa Cruz, Bolivia voted overwhelmingly in favor of a resolution authorizing the provincial government to act with greater autonomy from the federal government. According to Ipsos Apoyo Opinión y Mercado , the resolution passed with 86% of the vote. The referendum on autonomy amounts to an act of secession, allowing the province to create a police force, negotiate their own agreements with energy companies operating in the region and enter into international agreements.

President Evo Morales appeared on national television to denounce the referendum, which he views as unconstitutional. Additionally the military warned the province against holding the vote and the federal government stated that it will ignore the results of the poll.

Santa Cruz is the wealthiest province in Bolivia, rich in natural resources with the second largest natural gas deposit in South America. The Morales administration has enacted several changes to land holdings and ownership of the gas reserves. The disputed policies effectively take profits generated in Santa Cruz and redistribute them to the poverty stricken indigenous regions. This has led to social unrest in Santa Cruz and Sunday’s referendum demanding autonomy and control over the land.

The voting took place amidst clashes in the streets Morales supporters and pro-autonomy voters. At least 30 people have been admitted to hospitals with injuries and an elderly man died from inhalation of tear gas. Morales supporters also burned ballot boxes and blocked access to polling locations in many towns. Additionally, the government closed two major routes linking towns within Santa Cruz and there were clashes in the streets between Morales supporters and pro-autonomy groups.

Officials in Santa Cruz made appeals to the citizens throughout the day to not participate in the violence or respond to government instigation.

"These are acts that were predictable… The important thing is not to respond to the provocations, do not go to violence, which is what they are looking for." - Ruben Costas, prefect of Santa Cruz

Morales is now faced with a difficult situation, with Bolivia’s largest and wealthiest province working to separate from the country. Three other provinces announced they intend to hold similar votes. If those resolutions pass the country would be effectively split ethnic lines, with the eastern provinces seceding from the indigenous western states.

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Tags: Bolivia, Evo Morales, frontpage, Nationalize, oil, Santa Cruz

3 comments
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Gringo May 5th, 2008 9:28 am :
The Autonomy referendum for Santa Cruz, to be followed by ones in Tarija, Pando, and Trinidad, were a reaction to the underhanded way in which Morales ( I call him InMorales) “settled” the rewriting of the Constitution. From MABB of Feb 29.

“ “Well, the government has apparently gotten tired of talking and has decided to “push” through its will. Yesterday, the government faction in Congress “approved” three laws, with the help of a ring of security supporters outside the parliament building. Opposition parliamentarians could not enter the building. So, the government approved the referendum law which will ratify the new constitution, the referendum law which will ask people on how large the property of land can be and modified a law which was being interpreted by the departmental governments giving them power to call for referendums. The modification of the last law, of course, is giving the central government the exclusive power to call on such referendums. ” ”

So, Evo tried to pull a fast one, which is unfortunately within the Bolivian tradition of Natush Buschian respect for law, and the Autonomy votes are an attempt to deal with it
ben May 5th, 2008 3:17 pm :
The implication is that the population of Santa Cruz voted overwhelmingly for autonomy. While that may well be true it also may not. The question is how many residents actually voted. Since those who opposed autonomy boycotted the vote it is surprising it wasn’t 100%. When the figures for participation come out we will know what really happened.
Josh May 5th, 2008 3:47 pm :
It’s being reported in the Spanish language press that 39% of the province abstained from voting.

Even if the entire population of abstaining voters was opposed to the referendum (which is unlikely), it would still have passed with 52% of the vote.

61% is a higher participation rate than what is seen in US Congressional elections. I’d caution against invalidating the results simply because 100% didn’t appear at a polling booth. The fact is a huge number of people did go to the polls despite the violence, road closures and government opposition.