Bolivian President
Mobilizes Massive March
To Demand Referendum On
New Constitution
LIMA - Thousands of
Bolivians on Monday
answered a call of
President Evo Morales to
join a week-long march
to demand a referendum
on his proposed
constitution.
Thousands of people from
across Bolivia started
marching towards La Paz,
the administrative
capital of Bolivia from
the western city of
Caracollo, after Morales
finished a speech on
people's rights to
decide on the country's
destiny in democratic
ways.
"If from here we begin
with 5,000
demonstrators, for sure
we will arrive in La Paz
with more than one
million," Morales said,
adding that the massive
march would "persuade
that small group of
opposition to allow us
to change the country."
The president also
called on farmers living
along the route to
provide food and
accommodations for the
marchers, who are
expected to arrive in La
Paz on Oct. 20 after
traveling some 200 km.
The constitution
proposed by Morales,
which was already
approved by the
parliament in December,
is expected to give the
country's indigenous
more rights and
financial benefits.
However, the opposition
is vehemently against a
referendum needed to
turn the draft
constitution into law,
saying the document does
not meet their demand of
greater autonomy in the
opposition-controlled
eastern provinces.
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