Bolivia: Defiant Santa Cruz votes separatist referendum, Govt says fraud (Updated)

Caracas, Venezuela, 4 May, 2008. Early this morning, Bolivians from eastern province of Santa Cruz started to cast their votes on a separatist referendum. Even though small bursts of violence and twenty already injured have taken place among separatist and pro Evo Morales popular forces, there is a general tense calm in Santa Cruz.  According to the official Agencia Bolivian de Información (ABI) turnout is rather low. The Government has rejected the referendum as illegal.

As events develop, some pro Evo Morales forces intersected some electoral material at Plan Tres Mil in Santa Cruz. To their astonishment, they found ballots were already marked with yes option.  As expected and after voicing their findings, the Bolivian government called the referendum a fraud.   No official, regional or OAS observers were appointed to oversee the electoral process.

 Without OAS or regional backings, the outcome of the referendum would be show the willingness of Santa Cruz to embark into a separatist - autonomous journey. If a majority approves it, other eastern provinces might follow the private consultation referendum in defiance of constitutional provisions violence and civil unrest might follow though. 

 PS: Electoral Universe in Santa Cruz is just over a million voters. Bolivian private TV network Unitel states referendum was decided by a a 85% approval vote. However, Evo Morales government say there was a 35 turnout only.   Thus, such meagre electoral participation diminishes the legitimacy of the referendum. 68 year old Benjamin Ticona died as a result of violence during the referendum today. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez blamed the violence in Bolivia on Bush administration.  

President Evo Morales is expected to address the Bolivian nation at 8:00 pm.

Sources: ABI, El Universal, VTV, Globovison, Union Radio, BBC Mundo, YVKE, Aljazeera, Telesur, El Diario, Los Tiempos,  

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