Residents of Bolivia’s wealthiest state on Monday welcomed a landslide vote for greater autonomy as a historic shift, even as the Andean nation’s long-standing political battles remained unresolved.
Sunday’s referendum on greater independence from Bolivia’s central government seemed at times more like a hometown pep rally than a contested ballot. It was organized by Santa Cruz’s pro-autonomy state government, monitored by few international observers and boycotted by supporters of Bolivian President Evo Morales. And what self-rule may eventually look like remains far from clear.
“Obviously, it’s very important on a symbolic level. But that’s the only level where Bolivia’s political fight is currently taking place,” said Fernando Molina, editor of the Bolivian newsweekly Pulso. “To convert [the autonomy declaration] to reality will be a big stretch.”
The referendum’s result — early returns show that more than 80 percent of Santa Cruz voters embraced the autonomy measure — has bolstered Bolivia’s decentralization movement. The nation is bitterly divided between a pro-indigenous central government with a socialist vision and a handful of wealthier states where mixed-race governments back pro-market policies.
Three eastern states neighboring Santa Cruz will hold similar autonomy votes next month, and two others are considering a similar move.
Morales has called for negotiations with the states to save the draft constitution. But pro-autonomy groups refused to recognize its framework.
Trinidad and Tobago declared a new state of emergency on Friday after authorities accused a criminal network operating in prisons across the country of plotting to kill key government officials and attack public institutions. It is the second state of emergency to be declared in the twin-island republic in a matter of months. In December last year, authorities took similar action, citing concerns about gang violence. That state of emergency lasted until mid-April. Police said that smuggled cellphones enabled those involved in the plot to exchange encrypted messages. Months of intelligence gathering led investigators to believe the targets included senior police officers,
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