tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32492462.post8917478166615644760..comments2023-12-27T05:36:10.037+11:00Comments on Bolivia Rising: Evo Morales: A “grand rebellion” against the exploiters has been bornBolivia Risinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07931217260294325442noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32492462.post-87803122181205195282008-05-05T15:27:00.000+10:002008-05-05T15:27:00.000+10:00Evo Morales just spoke [6:00pm Mountain Standard T...Evo Morales just spoke [6:00pm Mountain Standard Time]<BR/>over radio and tv. The statement was broadcast by TELESUR -<BR/>Caracas.<BR/><BR/>He made several points:<BR/><BR/>1. The government did not mobilize any organizations or<BR/>institutions to stop the so-called referendum. He said,<BR/>instead, that grassroots organizations took the initiative<BR/>to oppose the referendum. He thanked the people for doing so.<BR/><BR/>2. He said that the pro-government media has reported that<BR/>votes against the autonomy and the absentee population<BR/>represented 50% of the people who could vote in Santa Cruz.<BR/>He noted that if one were to look at the real figures, the<BR/>percentage of those opposed to autonomy would be larger.<BR/>Abstained 37%, plus nulls and those not counted - about<BR/>50%. Note: these are the figures provided by the anti-Evo<BR/>forces.<BR/><BR/>3. He stressed that his government favors autonomy for the<BR/>indigenous peoples and for the departments of Bolivia, but<BR/>not an autonomy that benefits the wealthy minority.<BR/><BR/>4. He called on the country's 9 "prefects"/governors<BR/>(including 5 who favor "autonomy") to join him in<BR/>discussing an autonomy that will benefit the lower classes.<BR/><BR/>Prefects will have to answer within hours and reduce<BR/>tensions.<BR/><BR/>He did not refer to those who had been killed or injured in<BR/>confrontations.<BR/><BR/>He noted that the referendum was illegal but did not<BR/>announce any legal steps against those who had violated the<BR/>constitution and the rule of law.<BR/><BR/>Meanwhile, the Santa Cruz opposition are suggesting that<BR/>the "autonomy" forces had "won."<BR/><BR/>We might see, shortly, a "dual power" scenario - usually<BR/>the beginnings of a revolutionary, counterrevolutionary or<BR/>civil war situation.<BR/><BR/>Nelson ValdesBolivia Risinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07931217260294325442noreply@blogger.com