Election results strongly back autonomy for Bolivian region

Kean Wong: Voters in the Santa Cruz region of Bolivia are hoping for a new start. This comes after recent election results in favour of autonomy for the area. Disruptions from the Bolivian President have failed. Let's find out more. Celebrations on the streets of Santa Cruz as Bolivia's wealthiest region delivers an overwhelming 'yes' vote in a referendum on autonomy. The ballot in theory at least gives the region's conservative leaders more control over natural resources which include about a tenth of the nation's oil and natural gas reserves. The referendum is one of four taking place in Bolivia's eastern provinces where the conservative opposition to President Evo Morales is concentrated. Local leaders are welcoming the outcome. [Ruben Costas, Santa Cruz Prefect]: "The abuse and racism by central government have failed because we've been able to express ourselves democratically. We've worked gloriously, with responsibility and humility, to construct a new country." Supporters of Bolivia's President boycotted the referendum and angrily battled to disrupt the voting. At times that anger boiled over into violence and destruction of polling stations. The ballot is widely seen as a rejection of the President's leftist reforms. They include breaking up large land holdings, energy industry nationalisation, and reform of the constitution to empower the poor, indigenous, majority. Morales says the Santa Cruz vote is an attempt to destabilise his government.

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YouTube | May 10, 2008

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