Civil War Looms in Bolivia

 

Men dressed in traditional clothing from Bolivia’s eastern province play music in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, Friday, Dec. 14, 2007, in support of a hunger strike by people in favor of an ‘autonomy statute’ for the eastern opposition stronghold of Santa Cruz. (AP)

Earlier this week, Evo Morales, President of Bolivia, noting the failure of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to rewrite his Constitution, decided against a referendum and rammed a new constitution through the Bolivian legislature (a description of the event at English-language Bolivian news blog Mabblog – h/t Gateway Pundit). Yesterday, four Bolivian governors took exception to the process (AFP);

There were fears Bolivia could tip into civil unrest Saturday, as its four wealthiest provinces move to declare autonomy amid warnings from President Evo Morales that the army could intervene.
 
Demonstrations were due to take place during the day in the eastern regions of Santa Cruz, Tarija, Beni and Pando in which the governors were to formally announce greater self-rule.

Chuquisaca, the region that is home to the constitutional capital Sucre, also said it was gathering signatures on a petition with a view to calling a referendum soon on autonomy. A sixth province, Cochabamba, was wavering.

The Miami Herald reports that the Organization of American States has volunteered to mediate the crisis;

OAS Secretary General José Miguel Insulza, who is visiting Colombia, told The Miami Herald by phone that he will travel to La Paz soon. Morales and Insulza agreed to the Alconada mission when the two met in Argentina over the weekend. The governors have also asked the OAS to step in, OAS officials said.

An OAS statement said Insulza’s office would be available to mediate the crisis, if requested.

”This is a positive step that will hopefully help defuse the tensions in Bolivia,” said Michael Shifter, with the Inter-American Dialogue, a Washington think-tank. “Right now, this is the most serious crisis in the hemisphere.”

Robert Amsterdam (h/t Publius Pundit) writes that Putin has insinuted himself into Bolivian politics by attempting an investment in natural gas exploration in the resource-rich Bolivia;

Gazprom is currently negotiating with YPFB (Yacimientos Petrolíferos Fiscales Bolivianos), the Bolivian state energy company, on a $2 billion investment in two gas exploration sites in the resource-rich Tarija region of the South, despite the many difficulties experienced by other energy investors.

So that gives cash for the Bolivian government to use to suppress dissidents.

But [Evo Morales] on Friday threatened soldiers would step in if autonomy was implemented.

“There are the armed forces and the Bolivian people to make sure the country will never disintegrate,” he said.

“The autonomy plans seek to divide Bolivia, but the unity of the country is not up for debate.”

It’s the constitution that’s dividing the country, Evo, not opposition to the newly imposed constitution. Put it to a referendum.

Category: Foreign Policy, Politics