OAS warns Bolivian separatists

Caracas, Venezuela, 26 April, 2008. The 34 member Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) warned separatist forces in Bolivia over their planned referendum on 4 May 2008 and its possible violent outcome. It also called on the separatist local government representatives of Santa Cruz to accept the dialogue offer made today by the Evo Morales government.  The OAS Secretary General, Jose Miguel Insulsa, expressed there was consesus an urgent dialogue was both possible and necessary.

The OAS Permanent Council heard this mornings allegations made by the Bolivian Minister of Foreign Affairs, David Choquehuanca Céspedes, on the illegality of the referendum. After citing conspiracy against Bolivia, Minister Choquehuanca Cespedes explained all the negotiations and mediations used during the current crisis in Bolivia. Foreign Minister Cespedes stated his country was in favour of autonomies but within a constitutional legal scheme. Thus, Bolivia was willing to negotiate with the separatists.  Finally and after citing the Democratic Charter of the Americas, he asked OAS to keep an eye on the current crisis in his country.

Argentina, Brazil and Colombia had also intervened to prevent the crisis. During the OAS meeting, Argentinean representative Rodolfo Hugo Hill asked all parties to negotiate without conditions. Venezuelan representative, Jorge Valero, stated the separatists were stimulated by imperial interests over the oil and gas in Bolivia. Ambassador Valero also warned over disguised attempts to divide Bolivia and promote a coup against Evo Morales.

In an earlier report made by OAS representative for the crisis, Argentinean Dante Caputo, it was stated that the cause of the crisis were conflicting legal and illegal views on the autonomies at the regions of Santa Cruz, Cochabamba, Beni y Tarija.  The Caputo report also described challenges to the legal government of Bolivia.

Sources: VTV, OAS, ABI, Unionradio,

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