Autonomy Vote in Bolivia's Santa Cruz

The authorities in La Paz have declared the vote illegal, and say they will ignore the results.

Voting has so far been peaceful, but correspondents say the poll is threatening to split the country.

Many in what is Bolivia's richest province are critical of left-wing President Evo Morales.

President Morales has promised radical reforms that he hopes will lead Bolivia, the poorest country in South America, out of poverty.

He is backed by the country's large indigenous community, but many in the oil and gas-rich eastern provinces oppose his policies.

Voters in Santa Cruz will get ballots asking them toanswer ``Yes'' or ``No'' to the following question:

``Do you support the ratification and implementation ofthe Autonomy Statute of Santa Cruz, approved on Dec. 15, 2007,by the provisional autonomy assembly, so that it immediatelybecomes the law of the land for all those who live in and whocarry out public functions in the province?''

 

Bolivia's National Electoral Court said it is the onlyagency authorized to oversee elections and that it won't beinvolved in today's vote. Finance Minister Luis Arce froze bankaccounts belonging to the province on April 24, saying thegovernment hadn't received required reports on the region'sbudget, the newspaper La Razon said.

``I view this as a poll or a survey, not a bindingreferendum,'' Morales, 48, said in an April 22 interview withBloomberg Television. ``We're not going to recognize theresults because they are illegal and unconstitutional.''

Morales's efforts to re-take control of the country'senergy industry, which include forcing foreign companies torenegotiate their contracts, have led to lower investment amidenergy shortages in neighboring Argentina, Brazil and Chile.

Professor Raul Madrid, of the University of Texas at Austin, says there is concern that simmering tensions may explode.

"They are moving into uncharted territories, and I am fearful this could end up being resolved in the streets with protests back and forth," said Madrid.

Three other eastern departments are expected to vote on the autonomy initiative in coming weeks, and leaders in two others are expected to consider votes as well.