Bolivia's Government To
Sue Right-Wingers For
Seeking Autonomy
The Bolivian government
will prosecute the
right-wing leaders of
Santa Cruz state for
organizing a referendum
on autonomy, Interior
Minister Alfredo Rada
said Sunday, according
to news reaching here.
"This is not something
we even have a choice
about. We are obliged to
begin legal proceedings
due to what they have
undertaken: promoting
and setting up illegal
events," the minister
was quoted by Bolivian
Radio as saying.
President Evo Morales,
during a meeting with
coca-leaf growers
earlier in the day,
labeled Santa Cruz's
move for autonomy as
"seditious" and called
for courts to intervene.
Ruben Costas, Santa
Cruz's governor, and his
followers have decided
to go ahead with a May 4
referendum, even though
the country's
government, congress and
national electoral court
have expressed their
opposition to the move.
On March 7, the national
electoral court
postponed a May 4
referendum on the
Morales-backed
constitution draft aimed
at granting more
political power to
indigenous groups, and
suspended referendums
planned in four eastern
states including Santa
Cruz for greater
autonomy.
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