Bolivia on the brink
As I was going through my email this morning, I found a CNN alert for Bolivia. The headline reads "Constitutional Battle Threatens to Split Bolivia". Since I'm sure some of you have read this in the papers and on the internet as well (or similar articles), let me explain the situation to you.
Bolivia as I mentioned this summer is in the process of writing a new constitution, something that started in August. This was a demand of the indigenous majority in the country (the same people who voted Bolivian President Evo Morales into power). The opposition is ok with the writing of a new constitution, but insists that changes to each article must be approved by a 2/3 majority of the delegates (for which Evo's party only controls 54% of the 225 delegates). Evo's party on the other hand interprets the 2/3 majority to mean only the final constitution pass with a 2/3 majority, but that individual changes only take a simple majority (which is party alone has). The difference is that if the final constitution fails to get a 2/3 majority, it goes to a countrywide referendum anyway (which Evo and his opposition knows he can win), which takes away the power of the opposition to do anything. The opposition fears that Evo's party is seeking to make Bolivia into a socialist nation like Venezuela or even Cuba. Evo's supporters feel oppressed and that the system isn't giving them a fair shake of the economic landscape.
Now people in the "Crescent" region of Bolivia (Beni (Trinidad, etc.), Santa Cruz, and Tarija) have been protesting for weeks via road blockades (a common protesting tactic) and street protests in Sucre, where the constitution is being written as well as Santa Cruz. Earlier in September there were strikes in both Beni and Santa Cruz by government workers in protest of this same issue.
As if that wasn't complicated enough, in the mix is Evo's promise to the people of the "Crescent" region for greater autonomy seems to not be trusted and people feel like they are going to be deceived. There are some calls now for outright civil war to gain independence from the rest of Bolivia.
Either way, it's not a pretty situation. As for my mission plans, I still have two months before I'm planning to leave (I'm pushing back my departure to Feb. 13), so I'll stay posted on the situation. I am in contact with a missionary family living in Bolivia as well as my organization regarding this. If the situation becomes too dangerous for me to go, my backup option is going to the I-Teams Latin America headquarters in San Isidro, Costa Rica. I hope I can go to Bolivia though, my heart is truly hoping to be able to join my friends down there.
PLEASE PRAY FOR BOLIVIA!!!
Bolivia as I mentioned this summer is in the process of writing a new constitution, something that started in August. This was a demand of the indigenous majority in the country (the same people who voted Bolivian President Evo Morales into power). The opposition is ok with the writing of a new constitution, but insists that changes to each article must be approved by a 2/3 majority of the delegates (for which Evo's party only controls 54% of the 225 delegates). Evo's party on the other hand interprets the 2/3 majority to mean only the final constitution pass with a 2/3 majority, but that individual changes only take a simple majority (which is party alone has). The difference is that if the final constitution fails to get a 2/3 majority, it goes to a countrywide referendum anyway (which Evo and his opposition knows he can win), which takes away the power of the opposition to do anything. The opposition fears that Evo's party is seeking to make Bolivia into a socialist nation like Venezuela or even Cuba. Evo's supporters feel oppressed and that the system isn't giving them a fair shake of the economic landscape.
Now people in the "Crescent" region of Bolivia (Beni (Trinidad, etc.), Santa Cruz, and Tarija) have been protesting for weeks via road blockades (a common protesting tactic) and street protests in Sucre, where the constitution is being written as well as Santa Cruz. Earlier in September there were strikes in both Beni and Santa Cruz by government workers in protest of this same issue.
As if that wasn't complicated enough, in the mix is Evo's promise to the people of the "Crescent" region for greater autonomy seems to not be trusted and people feel like they are going to be deceived. There are some calls now for outright civil war to gain independence from the rest of Bolivia.
Either way, it's not a pretty situation. As for my mission plans, I still have two months before I'm planning to leave (I'm pushing back my departure to Feb. 13), so I'll stay posted on the situation. I am in contact with a missionary family living in Bolivia as well as my organization regarding this. If the situation becomes too dangerous for me to go, my backup option is going to the I-Teams Latin America headquarters in San Isidro, Costa Rica. I hope I can go to Bolivia though, my heart is truly hoping to be able to join my friends down there.
PLEASE PRAY FOR BOLIVIA!!!
posted by Jimmy Bollinger at
10:49 AM
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