1 2008
1.1 movements regional autonomy
1.2 autonomy referendums
1.3 recall referendum
1.4 civic coup d état attempt
1.5 autonomy policy
2008
movements regional autonomy
morales s economic policies have generated opposition departments, including santa cruz, have oil , agricultural resources. political parties oppose morales, along pro-market groups disrupted workings of bolivia s constitutional assembly disputing voting mechanisms within assembly , introducing divisive debate city should bolivia s capital. 4 of country s 9 governors demanding more autonomy central government , larger share of government revenues.
the 4 governors of santa cruz, chuquisaca, beni, , tarija. remaining 5 governors part of morales s movimiento al socialismo party. among first generation of popularly (directly) elected governors. before december 2005, governors political appointees of president.
the call autonomy comes wealthy lowland regions of bolivia, centers of opposition against morales. has been alleged autonomy question has relatively little language, culture, [and] religion… money , resources — specifically, controls bolivia s valuable natural gas reserves, second largest in south america after venezuela s. there racial overtones autonomy movement, quasi-fascist groups such nación camba , unión juvenil cruceñista use violence , intimidation tactics against indigenous groups, using autonomy tool subvert elected government. un special rapporteur on human rights of indigenous peoples, rodolfo stavenhagen, published report on situation in santa cruz following visit in december 2007 , observed political climate had give rise ‘manifestations of racism more suited colonial society modern democratic state’.
morales sees of calls autonomy attempt disintegrate bolivia , has vowed fight them. has repeatedly charged rich landowners , businesspeople eastern city of santa cruz, anti-morales stronghold, fomenting , funding autonomy movement in bid grab national resources.
autonomy referendums
four departments, santa cruz, tarija, beni , pando, announced in december 2007, shortly after proposal of new bolivian constitution, seek more autonomy , self-government. santa cruz , beni called referendums on autonomy held on may 4, 2008 , june 1, 2008 respectively. however, autonomy statutes have proposed have been declared illegal , unconstitutional national electoral court of bolivia.
on may 4, 2008, authorities in santa cruz held local referendum on autonomy statutes had been presented in december 2007. scheduled referendum vote struck down bolivia s national electoral court , no international observers present, both organization of american states , european union declined send observers. there high rate of abstention referendum , polling booths blocked , ballot boxes destroyed. protests pronounced in areas of major immigration western highlands, yapacani , san julián, in areas under indigenous control. in guaraní territory, ballot boxes burned in rejection of legitimacy of vote. there allegations of fraud , ballot box interference. reports allege ballot boxes delivered containing pre-marked ballot papers on crosses had been placed next yes option. many of protesters accused santa cruz leaders of trying secede bolivia , expressed support draft constitution written bolivia s constituent assembly grants several different levels of autonomy including departmental , indigenous autonomy. despite this, results showed 85% approval autonomy statute, though abstention recorded @ 39%. santa cruz autonomy movement conflicts constitutional reform proposed evo morales, seeks create, morales , supporters perceive it, fairer state includes full rights , recognition of marginalized indigenous majority.
the results thrilled leaders in eastern bolivian province of santa cruz, had defied order of national electoral court, congress , president evo morales putting statute vote. statute give department additional powers such right form own police, set tax , land-use policies , elect governor.
on may 8, national congress passed law establishing recall election mandates of president, vice president , 8 of 9 departmental prefects (six of whom sympathetic opposition). president evo morales supported initiative.
the elements of autonomy movement came fore in city of sucre on may 24, 2008. peasants settlements outside sucre came centre of city participate in ceremony president morales. instead accosted aggressive group of young people , marched sucre s central square. there made strip waist , burn ponchos, flag of mas party , wiphala (the flag of aymara). while doing forced shout anti-government slogans , physically assaulted. present in square @ time jorge tuto quiroga, former president , leader of opposition party podemos, opposition senator Óscar ortiz , prefect of cochabamba, manfred reyes villa. after these events government declared day of national shame .
recall referendum
on august 10, 2008, recall referendum held in bolivia on mandates of president evo morales, vice-president alvaro garcia linera , 8 of 9 regional prefects. evo morales won referendum resounding 67% yes vote, , , garcia linera ratified in post. 2 of prefects, both aligned political opposition in country, failed gain enough support , had mandates recalled new prefects elected in place. elections monitored on 400 observers, including election observers organization of american states, european parliament , mercosur.
civic coup d état attempt
after morales victory in recall referendum, right wing forces led ruben costas, mario cossio, leopoldo fernandez , ernesto suarez decided ignore result of vote , on september 2008, launched civil coup d état. according bolivian government, there evidence coup attempt had backing of ambassador bolivia philip goldberg. backers of coup seized public buildings , airports in departments of santa cruz, beni, pando , tarija, attacked government officials , morales supporters, , called civil disobedience. people living in media luna, part, favored coup. coup had success porvenir massacre on september 11 , violence , looting carried out coup supporters, turned public opinion against coup little little. coup defeated when morales government decided declare mr. goldberg persona non grata , expel him bolivia. no external support , public opinion against it, attempted coup defeated.
autonomy policy
evo morales , mas government subsequently adopted autonomy government policy , departmental autonomies recognised in new bolivian constitution, approved in referendum in january 2009. departmental autonomy, new constitution recognises municipal, provincial , indigenous autonomies.
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