Bolivian President, Evo Morales, Says Satan Cuz Autonomy Referendum Illegal

Bolivian president: autonomy referendum "illegal"

www.chinaview.cn 2008-05-05 09:51:50

LIMA, May 4 (Xinhua) --

The autonomy referendum for Bolivia's richest province of Santa Cruz on Sunday was "illegal and unconstitutional," President Evo Morales said in a national broadcast after the poll.

"This illegal and unconstitutional vote didn't have the success hoped for by certain families," he said.

Morales also called for dialog with opposition governors seeking greater political and economic autonomy from the government.

The referendum began at 8 a.m. local time (1300 GMT) Sunday and led to confrontations that left at least one person dead and 30 injured.

According to preliminary results, over 85 percent of Santa Cruz inhabitants voted in favor of autonomy for the province, but Morales said that as many as half the ballots were invalid.

International and regional organizations such as the United Nations, the Organization of American States and many Latin American governments are opposed to the autonomy referendum.

They fear the referendum would plunge Bolivia into chaos and urged dialogue between the two sides.

Bolivian minister: Santa Cruz autonomy referendum fails

www.chinaview.cn 2008-05-05 10:05:54

LIMA, May 4 (Xinhua) --

Bolivian Interior Minister Alfredo Rada said Sunday that the autonomy referendum for the country's richest province Santa Cruz failed completely, according to news reaching here from Bolivia's capital La Paz.

The autonomy vote failed because it divided the people of Santa Cruz (in the east of Bolivia), with violent action at voting centers, Rada said at a press conference.

Rada said violence between supporters of President Evo Morales and his opponents have left at least one person dead and 30 injured.

Over 930,000 voters from Santa Cruz were called to participate in the referendum that aimed to seek greater political and economic autonomy from the government.

But the vote was considered by the government of President Morales as illegal and contrary to the constitution.

Autonomous Statute backed in Santa Cruz, Bolivia

www.chinaview.cn 2008-05-05 08:01:21

LIMA, May 4 (Xinhua) --

Exit polls carried out on Sunday after the popular consultation in Santa Cruz reveal that the Autonomous Statute was backed by 80 percent of the voters, reported Bolivian media.

Bolivia's television channel Red Uno's poll stated that 85.9 percent of the voters said "Yes" to the Autonomous Statute, while Unitel's poll says 85 percent agreed.

Meanwhile, the polls carried out by channel PAT and "El Deber" daily indicate that 82.7 percent of the voters agreed.

None of the poll studies reported what percentage of registered voters participated in Sunday's popular consultation, in a voting day marked by violent clashes between government sympathizers and people that oppose Bolvian President Evo Morales' government.

Editor: Sun Yunlong

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