Bolivian Region Votes for Autonomy

On first glance, media reports have been branding this as either a racial vote to separate from the country's indigenous population, or the country's wealthy just wanting to rule a wealthy patch for themselves. But the overwhelming passage of the referendum on Santa Cruz's autonomy has everything to do with far-left President Evo Morales, and fears of nationalization and property seizures in the name of a Hugo Chavez-styled "Bolivarian revolution."

Case in point is the reaction from Socialist Worker:

"The referendum was organised to defend the interests of the wealthy landowners and businessmen of the area.

Poor farmers and indigenous Indian communities know that they can expect little in the way of social or economic justice if the elite of the state seizes control of Santa Cruz.

This elite represents the forces that have held power in Bolivia for two centuries.

The Morales government was elected with the promise of challenging these powerful forces in order to redistribute wealth towards those who for centuries had been the victims of the exploitation of the country’s resources."

The Washington Post has the gist of the story:

"Morales had urged his supporters to ignore the referendum, but turnout was unofficially reported at 61 percent. Multiple exit polls suggested Sunday about 85 percent of Santa Cruz voters voted in favor of the proposal, but final results were not expected before Monday.

The measure directs Santa Cruz authorities -- mainly business leaders who detest Morales's socialist initiatives -- to take more control of locally produced tax revenue, police forces and property ownership administration.

The measure, considered the most serious challenge yet to Morales's presidency, intensified long-standing regional divisions that have made social unrest a defining feature of the political landscape. Scattered clashes between voters and Morales's supporters erupted throughout the day, but the massive disorder that some had feared did not occur.

'It's a historic day, and tomorrow we have more work to do,' said Branko Marinkovic, a leader of the Santa Cruz autonomy movement. 'We have to determine a new course for Bolivia, and it won't be an easy task.'

Because the national government considers the referendum illegal, its true effect remains unclear. Morales, who had likened it to a nonbinding opinion poll, on Sunday night dismissed it as 'a failure.'

'This poll, which is illegal and unconstitutional, was not the success that they hoped for,' Morales said during a televised speech, which was delivered while thousands filled the streets of Santa Cruz in a massive victory celebration. '. . . Between the abstention rate of 39 percent, the votes 'no' and the blank ballots, that is practically 50 percent.'

Political analysts predicted that the voters' approval of the measure, however, will give regional leaders traction that could force negotiations in an ideological stalemate over divisions of power. Or it could make an eventual collision even more jarring. ..."

Interestingly, the U.S. has not supported the breakaway region and has backed Bolivian unity, after Chavez and Co. accused the Americans of fueling the opposition behind the scenes. "We urge Bolivia's leaders to use this opportunity to consolidate democracy and promote reconciliation, and build a consensus on Bolivia's future," U.S. State Department spokesman Tom Casey said in a statement after the vote. "We call on all sides to reject violence and exercise restraint during this period. ... And we continue to support Bolivia's unity and territorial integrity and are committed to strengthening democracy and promoting prosperity for all its people."

(Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)