"No podemos ser mojones con caras"

05.22.2005

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Following is my translation of an interview, in today's El Nuevo Día, w/ the president of the Comité Cívico pro Santa Cruz, Germán Antelo:

What is the aim of the self-proclaimed referendum?

We're tired of this day-to-day absorbing centralism, and it's now time that Santa Cruz & other regions begin to change this country's structures. They call us sons of so-and-so, but no more, we won't allow it ever again.

Are these just words or determined decisions?

We can't just talk about deadlines & not do anything for our region knowing that it's now time to assume our own responsibility. Santa Cruz wants to freely elect its authorities by popular vote & manage its own resources.

Is there fear of the armed forces and police?

Before my people I want to say to all, neither the armed forces, nor the national police, and even less the syndicalist groups of the west [Andean regions] can reverse this decision made as a whole, where Santa Cruz will participate this 12 August in the election of prefect & referendum for autonomy.

Will it be an autonomy w/ economic power?

The prefects elected by popular vote, thanks to autonomy, will administer their own resources without waiting for handouts from the central government. With this great step we'll give solutions to many regional needs. What's more I warn them not to abuse our patience, for now the lion has roared & is ready to bite to defend its interests against any meddling.

Notice both the tone & the wording. Santa Cruz civic leaders clearly envision political and economic regional autonomy. This would spell disaster for the radical syndicalists in La Paz, since the natural gas they're fighting about is located principally in Santa Cruz & Tarija.

Interestingly, while Chuquisaca's not yet joined the "media luna" hard line calling for autonomy referendum — w/ or w/o central government sanction — on 12 August, it looks like Potosí will join. If so, it'd be almost impossible to prevent parliament (once it goes back into session on 31 May) from approving the demand as its first order of business.

Chuquisaca is on the verge of joining the "revolt", but seems to be waiting until after its regional holiday commemoration, 25 May (the 196th anniversary of the first pro-independence cry in Spanish America), which will end w/ a regional cabildo (much like the Santa Cruz one a while back which voted for the pro-autonomy hard line).

As expected, Santa Cruz is taking the lead against the La Paz government. What's important to note, is that this has moved beyond just the Comité Cívico; there's now a functioning "provisional legislature" for the department (it even has the support of the department's COB).

Posted by Miguel at 11:00 AM